Death of the Mother of the Head of the House of Bagrationi-Mukransky

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Doña María de las Mercedes de Zornoza y Ponce de León

(1942 - 2020)

Doña María de las Mercedes de Zornoza y Ponce de León marries Prince George Bagration-Mukhransky Photograph (c) Corbis Images

On 17 March 2020, doña María de las Mercedes de Zornoza y Ponce de León passed away at Madrid. She was seventy-seven years-old. María was born at Madrid on 2 August 1942 as the daughter of don José de Zornoza and doña María de los Dolores Ponce de León y Puicercus (d.Madrid 28 February 2008).

In March 1968, Maria de las Mercedes de Zornoza y Ponce de León married Prince George (Jorge) Bagration-Mukhransky (1944 - 2008). George was the son of Prince Irakly Bagration-Mukhransky (1909 - 1977) and Nobile Maria Antonietta Pasquini dei Conti di Costafiorita (1911 - 1944). George's aunt Leonida married Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich of Russia; George's first cousin is Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, Head of the Imperial House of Romanov. George and María had three children: Princess Maria Antonieta (b.1969), Prince Irakly (b.1972), and Prince David (b.1976). The couple eventually divorced, and María never remarried. María remained a close friend of her former sister-in-law, Princess Mariam Bagration-Mukhransky, who never really forgave her brother for divorcing his first wife.

María is survived by her three children and two grandsons: Jaime Gaixas y Bagration and Prince Giorgi Bagration-Bagration (b.2011), who is the son of Prince David and Princess Anna Bagration-Gruzinsky (b.1976). The marriage of María's son David and the heiress of the Bagration-Gruzinsky branch of the Georgian royal families led to a brief rapprochement between the two leading lines of the Bagrationi royal house.

Sources:

Fallecimiento de S.A.R. la Princesa Da. María de las Mercedes de Georgia (17.III.2020)

Twins Expected In The Royal House Of Hannover!

This week, amidst some rather bleak news, there was an happy announcement from the Royal House of Hannover. Prince Christian and Princess Alessandra of Hannover are expecting twins in Summer 2020. The children will be the first offspring for the couple.

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On 24 November 2017, Prince Christian of Hannover and Alessandra de Osma were married in a civil ceremony at London. On 16 March 2018, the pair celebrated their religious union at Lima, Peru. Prince Christian of Hannover (b.1987) is the second son of Prince Ernst August of Hannover (b.1954) and Chantal Hochuli (b.1955). Alessandra de Osma (b.1988) is the daughter of Felipe de Osma (b.1956) and Elizabeth Foy.

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The twins will be the third and fourth grandchildren of Prince Ernst August of Hannover and Chantal Hochuli. They will join their first cousins, the children of their uncle Prince Ernst August ("Junior) and his wife Princess Ekaterina: Princess Elisabeth (b.2018) and Prince Welf August (b.2019). At the time of Ernst August Junior and Ekaterina's marriage, dynastic approval was withheld from recognising the union by Prince Ernst August Senior.

Coronavirus At The Botanical Garden: Brazilian Royals Possibly Infected At Family Engagement Party

As of now, there are four members of the Brazilian imperial family who have been diagnosed with the coronavirus: Prince Antônio, Prince Alberto, Princess Maritza, and Prince Francisco. On Tuesday, 17 March, it was reported that Prince Alberto of Orleans and Bragança and his wife Princess Maritza had tested positive for COVID-19. According to the Brazilian press, members of the Brazilian imperial family had attended an engagement party at the Jardim Botânico in Rio de Janeiro. This event was held to celebrate the eventual marriage of Alberto and Maritza's son Prince Pedro Alberto to Alessandra Haegler Fragoso Pires. Yesterday, Wednesday, 18 March, Prince Bertrand, who is considered Prince Imperial by Brazilian monarchists, released a video statement in which he announced that his brothers, the Princes Antônio, Alberto, and Francisco, had tested positive for COVID-19. Prince Antônio is next in line to the headship of the Brazilian imperial family, after his eldest brother, Prince Luiz, and his brother Prince Bertrand. Prince Alberto and Prince Francisco are not in the line of succession, as they contracted marriages which were not considered dynastic. Of the four family members, only Prince Antônio has been hospitalised. However, he is in good condition. Many members of the Orleans and Bragança family, including the four members who are ill, reside in Rio de Janeiro. Luiz, Head of the Imperial House, lives in São Paolo, together with his brother Bertrand. Prince Luiz is almost eighty-two years-old and in fragile health. Prince Bertrand is seventy-nine years-old and the next in line to the headship of the imperial house: he was hospitalised last year.  It is unlikely that Luiz and Bertrand were present at the engagement party in Rio de Janeiro where many of their closest relatives caught coronavirus. Source: https://vejario.abril.com.br/beira-mar/coronavirus-pandemia-atinge-socialites-e-a-familia-imperial/

Margarita of Romania Opens Peleș For People Needing A Place to Quarantine

Margarita, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, and the Royal Family continue to work with society and the authorities of the Romanian state to strengthen the national response to the threat posed by COVID-19.

Following the declaration of the state of emergency in Romania, the Crown Custodian and her sisters made the decision to make available to the National Committee on Special Emergency Situations, free of charge, a number of fifty-three individual accommodation spaces in hotel units and villas on the Royal Peleș Domain, for individuals who will have to quarantine.

The Crown Custodian’s Household has received approval of this decision from the National Committee on Special Emergency Situations.

 

Prince Albert II of Monaco Tests Positive for COVID-19

Today, the Princely Palace announced that HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco has tested positive for Coronavirus. The Palace will continue to issue updates on the condition of the Sovereign’s state of health. Albert II has received treatment at the Princess Grace Hospital on Monte Carlo; he is currently still working on affairs of state from his home office. The prince joins Archduke Karl of Austria and three of the Brazilian imperial brothers. The Monegasque sovereign is the fifth royal known to have contracted COVID-19.

Belated News Of A Divorce In The Extended Romanian Royal Family

In August 2018, Angelica Kreuger filed for a dissolution of her marriage to Richard Knight, and a divorce was granted in November 2018. The couple married in 2009. Angelica and Richard have two daughters: Courtney (b.2007) and Diana (b.2011).

King Michael of Romania with three of his daughters: Helen, Irina, and Sophie.

Angelica is the only daughter of Princess Irina of Romania (b.1953) and her first husband John Kreuger (b.1945). Irina is the third daughter of King Michael of Romania (1921 - 2017) and Queen Anne (1923 - 2016; née Bourbon-Parma). Irina of Romania and John Kreuger were married in 1983 and divorced in 2003.

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From 2007 until 2014, Angelica Kreuger was seventh-in-line to the Headship of the Royal House of Romania, according to the Fundamental Rules. Angelica's daughter Courtney was the first great-grandchild of Michael and Anne, the last King and Queen of Romania. As far as is known, Courtney Knight is the only great-grandchild of the King and Queen who was able to meet the Romanian royal couple; this took place during a private visit to Switzerland in 2009. Source: Oregon Judicial Department

HM The Queen Addresses Her People From Windsor

Having arrived at Windsor Castle along with the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen has released the following statement of solidarity to her people: As Philip and I arrive at Windsor today, we know that many individuals and families across the United Kingdom, and around the world, are entering a period of great concern and uncertainty. We are all being advised to change our normal routines and regular patterns of life for the greater good of the communities we live in and, in particular, to protect the most vulnerable within them. At times such as these, I am reminded that our nation’s history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one, concentrating our combined efforts with a focus on the common goal. We are enormously thankful for the expertise and commitment of our scientists, medical practitioners and emergency and public services; but now more than any time in our recent past, we all have a vitally important part to play as individuals - today and in the coming days, weeks and months. Many of us will need to find new ways of staying in touch with each other and making sure that loved ones are safe. I am certain we are up to that challenge. You can be assured that my family and I stand ready to play our part.

Elizabeth R.