You Can Now Watch "A Berry Royal Christmas" On YouTube

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The charming BBC Christmas special "A Berry Royal Christmas" can currently be viewed on YouTube. As alluded to by the programme's title, Mary Berry is a star in the special - which should really be an ongoing series every Christmas. Many viewers will recall that Berry was a judge on The Great British Backoff from 2010 until 2016. In the special, Berry is joined by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. During "A Berry Royal Christmas," Mary Berry visits numerous charities around the United Kingdom, where the staff of these organisations work throughout the holidays.

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Peggy, the American Duchess of Nemours, Will Be Returning to the United States

SAR la Princesse Marguerite D'ORLÉANS, DUCHESSE DE NEMOURS née Marguerite Carrington Watson

Well, this is to say that a portrait of the Duchess of Nemours (which, I am thrilled to write, I have recently acquired) will be relocating from France to the United States. The duchess was born Marguerite "Peggy" Watson on 12 February 1899 in Richmond, Virginia. In 1928, Peggy married Prince Charles-Philippe d'Orléans (1905-1970), Duke of Nemours: he was the only son of Prince Emmanuel, Duke of Vendôme, and Princess Henriette of Belgium, the daughter of the Count and Countess of Flanders and the sister of King Albert I of the Belgians. To state that Charles-Philippe's parents were not initially pleased with their son's marriage to Miss Watson would be a massive understatement.

Marguerite, Duchesse de Nemours, in the late 1920s.

Peggy Nemours had a rather fascinating life. The details of her early life, her family background, and her marriage to a French Prince are likely enough to fill a small book. Peggy survived her husband Chappy by over two decades, and died in 1993, having lived well into her nineties. She will be the subject of an upcoming article in the European Royal History Journal...so stay tuned.

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Photos from the 75th Birthday of Prince Franz-Friedrich of Prussia, Great-Grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II

The birthday cake with the Prussian coat of arms
Photograph © AM ENDE DES TAGES

While realising that this is a quite belated post, one wishes to note that Prince Franz-Friedrich of Prussia celebrated his seventh-fifth birthday on 17 October. The prince was joined by numerous family members and friends in celebrating his special day in a party on 19 October 2019. The prince's only child, Princess Christine of Prussia (b.1968), helped to plan her father's birthday celebration, which included a wild boar roast.

Prince Franz-Friedrich of Prussia and Margrave Alexander of Meißen, Prince of Saxony
Photograph © AM ENDE DES TAGES

Prince Franz-Friedrich of Prussia and Princess Christine of Auersperg
Photograph © AM ENDE DES TAGES 

(left to right) Princess Sibylle of Prussia, Margrave Alexander of Meißen, Countess Tini Rothkirch, & the birthday boy
Photograph © AM ENDE DES TAGES

 

Prince Georg-Dietrich of Schoenaich-Carolath and Prince Franz-Friedrich of Prussia
Photograph © AM ENDE DES TAGES

Duke Eduard of Anhalt, Princess Christine of Prussia, and her father Franz-Friedrich
Photograph © AM ENDE DES TAGES

Among others, Prince Franz-Friedrich was joined by the following guests: Duke Eduard of Anhalt (b.1941; first cousin once removed of Franz-Friedrich); Margrave Alexander of Saxony (b.1953), Princess Sibylle of Prussia (b.1952; née Kretschmer; widow of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia), Princess Christine of Auersperg, Prince Georg-Dietrich of Schönaich-Carolath (b.1943; first cousin of Franz-Friedrich), and Countess Christiane "Tini" von der Asseburg-Falkenstein-Rothkirch (b.1954; née Struck). The birthday party took place at Rudelsburg Castle in the village of Saaleck.

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On 17 October 1944, Prince Franz-Friedrich Maximilian Hans Georg Joachim Ernst of Prussia was born at Grünberg. He is the third son of Prince Karl Franz Josef of Prussia (1916-1975) and his first wife Princess Henriette of Schönaich-Carolath (1918-1972), who married in 1940 and divorced in 1946. Franz-Friedrich had been preceded by twin older brothers: Prince Franz Wilhelm (b.1943) and Prince Franz Joseph (b. and d.1943). From his father's third marriage to Eva Herrera-Valdeavellano, Franz-Friedrich has two half-sisters: Princess Alexandra (b.1960) and Princess Desirée (b.1961). From his mother, Franz-Friedrich has one half-brother: Udo Ernst Prinz von Schoenaich-Carolath-Schilden (b.1956).

Princess Christine of Prussia and her father Prince Franz-Friedrich of Prussia
Photograph © AM ENDE DES TAGES

In 1970, Prince Franz-Friedrich married Gudrun Winkler (b.1949); the couple had already had one child, daughter Christine (b.1968). Franz-Friedrich and Gudrun divorced in 1996. In 1998, Franz-Friedrich married Susann Genske (b.1964).

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Duchess of York Interviewed by Vogue Arabia: Talks Duchess of Sussex, Late Princess of Wales, & Epstein

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On Wednesday, 11 December, Sarah, Duchess of York (née Ferguson) gave an interview to Alexandria Gouveia of Vogue Arabia. Sarah is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. She is the mother of Princess Beatrice of York and Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank.

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Sarah discussed how she related to the press coverage that the Duchess of Sussex was experiencing. The Duchess of York stated: "It must be hard for Meghan, and I can relate to her. I believe she is modern and fabulous. She was famous before. She is great." When discussing the late Diana, Princess of Wales, Sarah said: "Oh, I brought modern etiquette and fun, with Diana, Princess of Wales. Me and Diana had the best time. We really did, no question. I loved her with all my heart."

Sarah, Duchess of York (2009)

For the full interview by Sarah, Duchess of York, please visit the following link: Exclusive: Sarah, Duchess of York Talks Meghan Markle, Princess Diana, and Those Jeffrey Epstein Claims

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The Greek and Russian Royals Prepare Their Homes for Christmas!

Princess Olympia of Greece helps decorate her family's Christmas tree Photograph (c) Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece

Members of royal families around the world are now preparing for the holidays. Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, wife of Crown Prince Pavlos and daughter-in-law of King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie, shared an image of her daughter Olympia putting the finishing touches on the family's impressive Christmas tree at their home.

Grand Duke George of Russia begins putting the decorations on his Christmas tree Photograph (c) Grand Duke George of Russia

Over to the Romanovs, Grand Duke George of Russia, son of Grand Duchess Maria of Russia and Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia, appears to have just put up his Christmas tree. George recently added an addition to his family by adopting an older pup named King; in addition, George (amazingly) walking away, sans injury, from a brutal-looking car accident last month in St. Petersburg.

The common ancestors of Olympia of Greece and George of Russia around their Christmas tree many years ago: Queen Victoria and Prince Consort Albert

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Christening of Hereditary Prince Franz of Isenburg, Nephew & Godson of Sophie of Prussia

The Fürst and Fürstin of Isenburg with their son Franz Photograph (c) Sabine Brauer Photos

On Saturday, 7 December, Hereditary Prince Franz of Isenburg was christened at the Katholische Pfarrgemeinde Mariae Heimsuchung in Birstein.

Photograph (c) Sabine Brauer Photos

Hereditary Prince Franz Salvator Ferdinand Bonifatius Wilhelm Maria of Isenburg was born at Munich on 8 August 2019. Franz is the third child and first son of Fürst Alexander of Isenburg (b.1969) and his wife Fürstin Dr. Sarah (b.1981; née Lorenz), who married in 2014. Franz has two elder sisters: Princess Alix (b.2015) and Princess Zita (b.2017).

Franz of Isenburg with his parents and godparents Photograph (c) Sabine Brauer Photos

Franz of Isenburg received five godparents: Princess Sophie of Prussia (his paternal aunt), Hereditary Prince Casimir zu Ysenburg and Büdingen, Baron Franz Mayr-Melnhof-Saurau, Dr. Simon Lorenz (his maternal uncle), and Kai-Harald Solmitz.

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70th Birthday of Prince Georg of Hannover; Nephew of Duke of Edinburgh & Cousin of Prince of Wales

Prince Georg of Hannover and his mother Princess Sophie in 1996 Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse

Today, 9 December, Prince Georg of Hannover marks his seventieth birthday. Through his father Georg Wilhelm, Georg of Hannover is a nephew of Prince Ernst August of Hannover (1914-1987), Queen Frederica of Greece (1917-1981; wife of King Paul of the Hellenes), Prince Christian of Hannover (1919-1981), and Prince Welf of Hannover (1923-1997). Through his mother Sophie, George of Hannover is a nephew of Princess Margarita (1905-1981; wife of Fürst Gottfried zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg), Princess Theodora (1906-1969; wife of Margrave Berthold of Baden), Princess Cecilie (1911-1937; wife of Hereditary Grand Duke Donatus of Hesse and by Rhine), and Prince Philip (b.1921; husband of Queen Elizabeth II; Duke of Edinburgh).

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Prince Georg Wilhelm and Princess Sophie of Hannover

Ernst August of Hannover and Viktoria Luise (née Prussia) with their grandsons Welf and Georg in 1953

Prince Georg Paul Christian of Hannover was born at Salem on 9 December 1949 as the second son and child of Prince Georg Wilhelm of Hannover (1915-2006), son of Prince Ernst August of Hannover, Duke of Brunswick (1887-1953), and Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia (1892-1980), and his wife Princess Sophie (1914-2001; née Greece and Denmark; formerly Hesse), who had married in 1946. Sophie was the daughter of Prince Andreas of Greece and Denmark (1882-1944) and his wife Princess Alice of Battenberg (1885-1969). Georg was preceded by an elder brother, Prince Welf (1947-1981), and followed by a younger sister, Princess Friederike (b.1954).

Princess Sophie of Greece and Denmark with her first husband Prince Christoph of Hesse Photograph (c) Mary Evans Picture Library/Charlotte Zeepvat

Civil wedding of Princess Christina of Hesse and Prince Andrej of Yugoslavia

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From his mother's first marriage to Prince Christoph of Hesse (1901-1943), Georg has five half-siblings: Princess Christina (1933-2011; former wife of Prince Andrej of Yugoslavia, and then of Robert van Eyck), Princess Dorothea (b.1934; wife of Prince Friedrich zu Windisch-Graetz), Prince Karl (b.1937; husband of Countess Yvonne Szápáry de Muraszombath, Széchysziget et Szapár), Prince Rainer (b.1939), and Princess Clarissa (b.1944).

Prince Georg of Hannover and Victoria Bee on their wedding day in 1973. Also pictured is Georg's paternal grandmother Viktoria Luise, daughter of Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Countess Eleonore Fugger von Babenhausen, mother of Princess Victoria of Hannover

Prince Burchard and Princess Eleonore of Prussia, mother and stepfather of Victoria of Hannover (née Bee)

In 1973, Georg of Hannover married Victoria Ann Bee (b.1951), the daughter of Robert Bee (1920-1994) and Countess Eleonore Fugger von Babenhausen (1925-1992), who married in 1946 and divorced in 1959. In 1961, Victoria's mother Eleonore took as her second husband Prince Burchard of Prussia (1917-1988), son of Prince Oskar of Prussia (1888-1958) and his wife Countess Ina Marie von Bassewitz (1888-1973; created Countess von Ruppin in 1914; recognised as Princess of Prussia in 1920). Victoria of Hannover's mother Eleonore was thus married to the first cousin (Prince Burchard of Prussia) of Victoria's father-in-law Prince Georg Wilhelm of Hannover.

Princess Sophie of Hannover, the Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Philip), and the Landgrave of Hesse (Prince Moritz) Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse

Princess Sophie, mother of Prince Georg of Hannover, sister of the Duke of Edinburgh

Prince Georg of Hannover, Princess Marianne and Prince Ludwig of Baden, Margrave Moritz of Hesse, and Prince Georg Wilhelm of Hannover (1997) Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse

Prince Georg and Princess Victoria of Hannover have two daughters: Princess Vera Alice (b.1976) and Princess Nora Sophie (b.1979). In 2006, Princess Vera married Manuel Dmoch (b.1977), with whom she has two children. Princess Nora is married to Christian Falk (b.1972), with whom she has two children.

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