Royal Coronavirus Count Grows: The Prince of Wales Tests Positive

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This morning, Clarence House announced that Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne, has tested positive for coronavirus. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are self-isolating at Balmoral. Charles is said to be experiencing mild symptoms. Camilla was also tested and her results were negative for the virus. In a statement from Buckingham Palace, it was noted that The Queen is in "good health" and last saw her eldest son on 12 March. Her Majesty is at Windsor Castle with the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Prince of Wales is the seventh known royal COVID-19 case:

1. Archduke Karl of Austria (born 1961)
2. Prince Antônio of Orleans and Bragança (born 1950)
3. Prince Francisco of Orleans and Bragança (born 1955)
4. Prince Alberto of Orleans and Bragança (born 1957)
5. Princess Maritza of Orleans and Bragança (born 1961)
6. Prince Albert II of Monaco (born 1958)
7. The Prince of Wales (born 1948)

Prince Charles has been in touch with his sons, the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex. Certain members of staff at Balmoral are self-isolating as a precautionary measure.

Joachim and Marie of Denmark Return Home Due to Son Henrik’s Illness

On Monday, 23 March, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, together with their children Prince Henrik and Princess Athena, returned to Denmark from France. Prince Henrik was examined at the Rigshospitalet for breathing problems caused by asthmatic bronchitis. The prince was also tested for coronavirus. Thankfully, the result was negative.

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.