The Duke of Kent to Release Memoirs in 2022

This is certain to be exciting news for royal watchers and historians!

In July 2022, the memoirs of the Duke of Kent will be published by Hodder & Stoughton, Ltd. Entitled A Royal Life, the tome was compiled based on conversations between the duke and royal historian Hugo Vickers. The book will be slightly over 300 pages. Following is an overview of the memoirs from its publisher:

The Duke of Kent has been at the center of Royal life since he was born. On his father's side he is a first cousin of The Queen, the grandson of King George V and Queen Mary, the nephew of King George VI - and on his mother's side he is a cousin of Prince Philip and descends from Greek, Danish and Russian Kings, Queens and Emperors. The Duke has been involved in all key royal events through his life - after the early death of his father he walked in the procession behind the King's coffin in 1952 and he paid homage to his cousin, the new Queen, at the Coronation in 1953. He was riding with her when the blanks were fired at the Trooping of the Colour in 1981 - and he was the only member of the Royal Family to stand alongside the Queen to celebrate her official birthday in June 2021. He is now 85 years old. A Royal Life, which includes never before seen photographs from the Duke's own collection, is based on a set of conversations between Prince Edward and Royal historian Hugo Vickers. The conversations focus on the most important moments and themes of The Queen's life and seventy-year reign. They offer a unique and unprecedented set of insights into life as a working royal and behind the scenes of the world's most celebrated family.

The Duke of Kent to Release Memoirs in 2022

This is certain to be exciting news for royal watchers and historians!

In July 2022, the memoirs of the Duke of Kent will be published by Hodder & Stoughton, Ltd. Entitled A Royal Life, the tome was compiled based on conversations between the duke and royal historian Hugo Vickers. The book will be slightly over 300 pages. Following is an overview of the memoirs from its publisher:

The Duke of Kent has been at the center of Royal life since he was born. On his father's side he is a first cousin of The Queen, the grandson of King George V and Queen Mary, the nephew of King George VI - and on his mother's side he is a cousin of Prince Philip and descends from Greek, Danish and Russian Kings, Queens and Emperors. The Duke has been involved in all key royal events through his life - after the early death of his father he walked in the procession behind the King's coffin in 1952 and he paid homage to his cousin, the new Queen, at the Coronation in 1953. He was riding with her when the blanks were fired at the Trooping of the Colour in 1981 - and he was the only member of the Royal Family to stand alongside the Queen to celebrate her official birthday in June 2021. He is now 85 years old. A Royal Life, which includes never before seen photographs from the Duke's own collection, is based on a set of conversations between Prince Edward and Royal historian Hugo Vickers. The conversations focus on the most important moments and themes of The Queen's life and seventy-year reign. They offer a unique and unprecedented set of insights into life as a working royal and behind the scenes of the world's most celebrated family.

Marie-Thérèse de Damas (1920-2021), Aunt of the Margrave of Meissen

The birth registration of Maria Teresa Afif, 1920.

According to Le Figaro, Madame Marie-Thérèse de Damas died in France on 13 December 2021; she was 101 years-old. Marie-Thérèse was the widow of René de Damas, who she married in 1948. The couple had five children: Carmen, Etienne, Chantal, Anne, and Elisabeth. Marie-Thérèse was born Maria Teresa Afif on 11 November 1920 at Puebla, Mexico, as the daughter of Alejandro (Alexander) Afif and his wife Maria (née Attye). Her parents had emigrated to Mexico from Lebanon and Syria. Contemporary genealogies give her birth year as 1926; however, having researched the databases of Puebla, Mexico, it appears that several years were subtracted from not only Maria Teresa's age, but that of her siblings as well. Marie-Thérèse was the sister-in-law of Prince Karl Anton of Hohenzollern and Princess Maria Anna of Saxony. The nephew of the deceased is Prince Alexander of Saxony, Margrave of Meißen.

May Marie-Thérèse Rest in Peace.

Paul Lambrino, Wanted for Crimes in Romania, Possibly Spotted In Paris

Late in November 2021, Paul Lambrino (aka Prince Paul of Hohenzollern / Prince Paul of Romania) appears to have been photographed in the French capital. Monsieur Lambrino was seemingly shown attending a dinner for the Club des Leaders in Paris. As reported by Romania-Insider in December 2020, "Paul-Philippe al Romaniei, also known as Prince Paul of Romania, the grandson of King Carol II of Romania, has become a wanted person as the Police are trying to get him to jail, where he has to serve a 40-month sentence in a corruption case. Romania’s High Court (ICCJ) on December 17 announced the final sentences in the 'Royal Farm' corruption case, including a final 40-month sentence for Prince Paul." Paul Lambrino is the subject of an arrest warrant by the Romanian government for the crimes of which he was found guilty. Hopefully, he will be found and brought to justice.

The "Wanted Person" notice of Paul al Romaniei.

Sources:

Romanian prince becomes wanted person to serve jail sentence in corruption case

Prince Paul of Romania is now a wanted fugitive

The 80th Birthday of the Fürst zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg

Today, Fürst Alois-Konstantin zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg celebrates his eightieth birthday!

Fürst Alois, Hereditary Prince Karl and Hereditary Princess Carolina, and Fürstin Josephine, 1935.

Born on 16 December 1941 at Würzburg, Prince Alois-Konstantin Karl Eduard Joseph Johann Konrad Antonius Gerhard Georg Benediktus Pius Eusebius Maria zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg was the fifth child and first son of Hereditary Prince Karl zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg (1904-1990) and his wife Carolina dei Conti Rignon (1904-1975), who married in 1935. Alois-Konstantin's father succeeded his grandfather Alois as Fürst zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg in 1952 upon Alois's death. Aloys-Konstantin has six sisters: Princess Maria (b.1935; married Archduke Joseph of Austria), Princess Josephine (b.1937; married Prince Alexander of Liechtenstein), Princess Monika (b.1939; married Don Jaime Mendez de Vigo y del Arco), Princess Christiane (b.1940; married Archduke Michael of Austria), Princess Elisabeth (b.1944; married José Maria Trénor y Suarez de Lezo, Marchese de Cerdanyola), and Princess Lioba (b.1946; married Fürst Moritz Eugen zu Oettingen-Oettingen und Oettingen-Wallerstein).

In 1965, Hereditary Prince Alois-Konstantin married Princess Anastasia of Prussia (b.1944), the eldest and only surviving daughter of Prince Hubertus of Prussia and his wife Princess Madgalene (née Reuß). Alois-Konstantin and Anastasia have four children: Hereditary Prince Carl Friedrich (1966-2010; married Baroness Stephanie von Brenken), Prince Hubertus (b.1968; married Baroness Iris von Dörnberg), Princess Christina (b.1974; m. Guido von Rohr), and Prince Dominik (b.1983; married Countess Olga zu Castell-Rüdenhausen). Fürst Alois-Konstantin and Fürstin Anastasia have nine grandchildren.

Alois-Konstantin and Anastasia.

Our best wishes to the Fürst on his birthday! 

Countess Marianne "Bunny" Esterházy (1938-2021)

Countess Marianne Esterhazy in 1998.

Photo (c) Desmond O'Neill Features Ltd. 

Announcements in The Times and The Telegraph have noted that Countess Marianne "Bunny" Esterházy died on 27 November 2021 at the age of eighty-two. 

 

The death announcement in The Telegraph.

The countess was a private person, with many fascinating connections, and she will surely be deeply missed by her surviving son, her grandchildren, her family, and her friends.

 

Bunny's mother Etti.
Photo (c) Getty Images / Central Press.

Born on 12 December 1938 at Budapest, Countess Mária Anna "Bunny" Berta Felicie Johanna Ghislaine Theodora Huberta Georgina Helene Genoveva Esterházy was the first and only child of Count Mária Tamás "Tommy" Pál Esterházy (1901-1964) and Countess Maria "Etti" von Wurmbrand-Stuppach (1914-2003), who married in 1938 and divorced in 1944. Bunny's mother Etti was married six times. Etti's memoirs, Horses and Husbands, are a fascinating read; they were published after her death with the great assistance of royal and noble biographer Hugo Vickers. 

Countess Bunny Esterhazy in 1956.

In her memoirs, Bunny's mother recalls with a touching dose of self-reflection: "We had one daughter... Of course, I did not look after Bunny myself when she was little. We had lovely English nurses. One of them had been nurse to the Queen and Princess Margaret and she loved dogs. So there were always dogs in the nursery. We were not very happy about that, but she assured us that in England babies and dogs were always together. It was so funny. I know that I was neither a good nor attentive mother. Both Tommy and I adored Bunny, but we either left her with the nannies or despatched her to stay with friends." Despite the divorce of Bunny's parents, it is clear from her mother's memoirs (which are really a must have!) that they both fiercely loved their daughter, in their own way. In April 1956, Bunny's mother Etti and her stepfather Arpad Plesch hosted a ball for the young countess at Claridges in London. The then seventeen year-old Bunny had been presented to society the previous month. In 1957 and 1958, it was reported that Bunny Esterhazy was a good friend of the Aga Khan, who was only a few years older than her. 

Dominic Elliot and Bunny Esterhazy upon their engagement.

Photo (c) Keystone Press / Alamy Stock Photo.

On 4 May 1962 at London, Countess Bunny Esterházy married London 4 May 1969 the Honourable George Esmond Dominic Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound (1931-2018), the youngest son of the 5th Earl of Minto. The wedding of the Countess and the son of the Earl of Minto was attended by The Queen as well as her sister The Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon in addition to the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. Dominic Elliot had been a youthful beau of Princess Margaret. The reception following the wedding was held at Lord Astor's Carlton House Terrace alongside the Mall. 

Dominic Elliot and Bunny Esterhazy on their wedding day.

Photo (c) mauritius images / TopFoto.

The Elliots went on to have two children: sons Alexander (1963-1985) and Esmond (b.1965). Dominic and Bunny divorced in 1972, having separated some years before. In 1970, Bunny Esterhazy was romantically linked to the Earl of Carnarvon, a connection which her mother Etti strongly denied when asked for comment. In 1974, Bunny Esterhazy and Keith Mason, 4th Baron Blackford, were reported to be in a relationship; however, this did not result in a marriage.

Countess Bunny Esterhazy with the then Marchioness of Tavistock (later Duchess of Bedford), 1980.
Photo (c) ANL/Shutterstock.

May the Countess Rest in Peace.

The Baptism of the Heir to House Murat

Photo (c) Cyrille Boulay.

On Sunday, 12 December, Prince Joachim Murat was baptised at the Cathédrale Saint-Louis des Invalides in Paris. Prince Joachim Georges Laurent Napoléon Murat was born on 3 August as the first child of Prince Joachim Murat and his wife Princess Yasmine (née Briki). Among the godparents of the little prince were Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Princess Noal Zaher of Egypt (née Afghanistan). Numerous royal relations and friends were also present at this happy occasion: Prince Charles Bonaparte (father of the Prince Napoléon), Prince Mohammed Ali of Egypt, and Princess Victoria Romanovna Romanoff (wife of Grand Duke George).