Monday, January 3, 2022

The Soi-Disant Princely Bogdanoff Twins: Igor (1949-2022) and Grichka (1949-2021)

Grichka and Igor in the 1990s.

Within the space of less than a week, the well-known Bogdanoff twins, Grichka and Igor, died as the result of complications from Covid-19; the brothers were not vaccinated against the novel coronavirus. The Bogdanoffs had been admitted to the Hôpital Georges-Pompidou in Paris on 15 December. Grichka died on 28 December 2020; Igor followed his twin into eternity on 3 January 2021. The brothers Bogdanoff were seventy-two years-old.

Igor and Grichka on the set of their TV show Temps X, 1980.
Photo (c) Jean Paul Guilloteau / Getty Images.

Born on 29 August 1949 at Saint-Lary, France, the twins Igor Yurevich Bogdanoff and Grichka Yurevich Bogdanoff were the sons of Yuri Mikhailovich Ostasenko Bogdanoff (1928–2012) and Maria Dolores "Maya" Kolowrat-Krakowská (1926–1982). 

 
The twins' maternal grandfather, Roland Hayes.
The twins' maternal grandmother, Countess Berta von Kolowrat-Krakowsky.
Their paternal grandparents were Mikhail Borisovich Bogdanov and Anna Osten-Sacken. Their maternal grandparents were Roland Wiltse Hayes (1887-1977) and Countess Bertha von Kolowrat-Krakowský (1890-1982; formerly married to Count Hieronymus von Colloredo-Mannsfeld). Igor and Grichka were raised by their maternal grandmother.
 
Ludmilla d'Oultremont with her daughters Sacha and Anna, 2009.
Photo (c) Getty Images / Bertrand Rindoff Petroff.
In 1989, Igor Bogdanoff married Countess Ludmilla d’Oultremont (b.1965), the second daughter and child of Count Marc-Antoine d’Oultremont (1927-2005) and Countess Maria-Theresia von Galen (b.1938). Igor and Ludmilla had three children: Sacha Maria Bogdanoff (b.1989), Anna Claria Bogdanoff (b.1991), and Wenceslas Bogdanoff (b.1994). Igor and Ludmilla divorced in 1997.  
 
Igor and Amélie, 2015.
Photo (c) Getty Images / Bertrand Rindoff Petroff.
In 2009, Igor Bogdanoff married Amélie de Bourbon-Parme (b.1977), the daughter of Prince Michel of Bourbon-Parma (1926-2018) and Laure Le Bourgeois (b.1950). The wedding took place at the Chateau de Chambord and was attended by the bride's half-sister Princess Hélène of Yugoslavia. Igor and Amélie had two sons: Alexandre Bogdanoff (b.2011) and Constantin Bogdanoff (b.2014). Igor and Amélie separated in 2016 and divorced in 2018.
 
Geneviève Grad, 1964.
Photo (c) Getty Images.
From a previous relationship, Igor Bogdanoff and French actress Geneviève Grad (b.1944) had a son, Dimitri Bogdanoff (b.1976).
 
The Bogdanoffs, 2004.
Photo (c) Getty Images / Stephane Cardinale.
May the Brothers Bogdanoff Rest in Peace.
 
Sources:

Sunday, January 2, 2022

Caroline Vatcher, Artist and Last Duchess of Leeds

Caroline Vatcher on the eve of her wedding to the Duke of Leeds. Photo (c) Keystone Press / Alamy.

Caroline Fleur Vatcher was born on 31 May 1931 on the Isle of Jersey of the Channel Islands. Her parents had made their home on Jersey at 1 Dummy Lane, St Helier. Caroline was only child of Henry Monckton Vatcher (1887-1954) and Beryl Methwold Walrond (1896-1973), who wed in 1920 at Sudbury, Suffolk. Caroline's father Henry served in the Royal Engineers in France during the First World War. 

The marriage record of James Vatcher and Rosamond Monckton, 1886.
The announcement of the Vatcher/Monckton wedding in The Morning Post of London, 10 July 1886.
A report of the Vatcher/Monkton nuptials in The Nottinghamshire Guardian of Nottingham, 16 July 1886.

Caroline Vatcher descended from several aristocratic and landed British families. Her paternal grandparents were the Reverend James Raynold Morley Vatcher (1861-1931), Rector of Whitcombe, and Rosamond Isobel Monckton (1860-1946), who married on 8 July 1886 at All Saints' Church in Knightsbridge, London. The Rev. James Vatcher was the son of Henry Vatcher (1809-1886) and Eliza Frances Tonkin Higgs (d.1912). Rosamond Monckton was the daughter of Colonel Edmund Gambier Monckton (1809-1872) and Arabella Martha Robinson (1824-1880). Caroline Vatcher's paternal great-grandfather was William George Monckton-Arundell, later Monckton, 5th Viscount Galway (1782-1834); Caroline's second cousin was George Rupert Monckton-Arundell, 12th Viscount Galway (1922-2017).

The notice of the impending Walrond/Methold union in The Morning Post of London, 25 March 1895.
The obituary of Colonel Henry Walrond, Marquis de Vallado, in The Times of London, 21 June 1917.

Caroline's maternal grandparents were Francis Arthur Walrond (1866-1942) and Muriel Gwendoline Methwold Methold (1872-1957), who married on 24 April 1885 at Christ Church, Lancaster Gate, London. Francis Walrond was the son of Colonel Henry Walrond, 9th Marquis de Vallado (1841-1917) and Caroline Maud Clark (1837-1915). Muriel Methold was the daughter of Frederick John Methold (1841-1908) and Edith Caroline Taylor (1841-1908). Caorline's maternal great-great grandfather was James St Clair-Erskine, 2nd Earl of Rosslyn (1762-1837). Caroline's aunt was the British novelist Norah Aileen Burke (1907-1976), the wife of Caroline's maternal uncle Henry Humphrey R. Methwold Walrond (1904-1987).

The Duke of Leeds and his fiancée Caroline Vatcher, 1955.

In early 1955, the twenty-three year-old Caroline Vatcher and the fifty-three year-old John "Jack" Francis Godolphin Osborne, 11th Duke of Leeds, became engaged. Caroline had become a talented painter; she studied with Philip Lame and Bernard Adams. The Duke of Leeds and his fiancée visited London for a week in order for the future duchess to choose her trousseau. Tall and slender with long golden brown hair, Caroline told the London Evening Standard: "We shall be married in Jersey on February 22. Then we are flying to Cyprus for about three weeks. It will be the first time for me to go abroad. I expect we shall spend most of our time in Jersey with occasional trips to London.

The wedding of Jack Leeds and Audrey Young in the Evening Standard of London, 21 December 1948.
The birth of Lady Camilla Osborne as noted by the Evening Standard of London, 16 August 1950.
The Duke and Duchess of Leeds with their daughter Lady Camilla, 1950. Photo (c) ANL/Shutterstock.
John "Jack" Francis Godolphin Osborne, Marquess of Carmarthen, was born on 12 March 1901. Jack was the fifth child and only son of George Godolphin Osborne, 10th Duke of Leeds and Lady Katherine Frances Lambton. Upon his father's death in 1927, Jack succeeded to the dukedom of Leeds. In 1933, the 11th Duke of Leeds married Irma Amelia de Malkhozouny (1908-2000), an Italian-born ballerina of Serbian descent. Jack and Irma did not have children. Their marriage foundered: Jack and Irma separated in 1944 and were the subjects of two divorces (a Nevada divorce granted in November 1947 initiated by Irma, and a British divorce granted in October 1948 initiated by Jack) following the duchess's romance with American millionaire Frank Atherton Howard, whom she married the day after her American divorce was granted. In December 1948, the Duke of Leeds married for a second time to Audrey Young (b.1924; firstly married to Brigadier Arthur Evan Bedward Williams), the daughter of Brigadier Desmond Young. In 1950, Jack and Audrey, Duke and Duchess of Leeds, welcomed the birth of their only child, Lady Camilla Dorothy Godolphin Osborne. In 1951, the duke and duchess moved to Jersey for tax reasons. Several years later, in 1954, Jack and Audrey Leeds divorced after the duchess admitted to an affair with Sir David Roland Walter Lawrence, 3rd Bt., whom Audrey married in 1955.
Announcement of the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Leeds. This appeared on 23 February 1955 in The Guardian.
The Duke and Duchess of Leeds, 1955.
The Leeds/Vatcher marriage as reported in The Age of Melbourne, Australia, 24 February 1955.
The Duke and Duchess of Leeds were married on 22 February 1955 at the St. Helier Register Office on the Isle of Jersey. Much in love with her husband, the duchess was disappointed when she learned that she could not have children. 
The Leeds attend the opening of the Columbia Theatre in the West End, February 1959.
Caroline, Duchess of Leeds.
The Duke and Duchess of Leeds viewing Goya's painting of the Duke of Wellington, June 1961.
In May 1960, the Duchess of Leeds, who signed her works "Leeds," held an exhibition of her works at the Milton Gallery on Witcomb Street in London. Among the works was a full-length portrait of Caroline's nine year-old stepdaughter Lady Camilla, who also attended the cocktail party to launch the showing. This was the first time that the Duchess of Leeds publicly exhibited her works, which also included a painting of Gabrielle, the daughter of the Leeds' laundress at their villa near Cap Martin in the South of France. The Duke of Leeds suffered from poor health, and in the last years of his life the duke underwent double leg amputations. In June 1961, the Duke of Leeds sold Goya's painting of the Duke of Wellington (which was stolen in a sensational art theft shortly after it was sold) in addition to other works. The auction fetched nearly £300,000. The month after the art sale, Jack and Caroline moved into a flat in Eaton Square; this was their ninth move in the previous year. Jack dearly wanted to return to his home on Jersey, but he was not yet well enough. The duke repeatedly took short leases of apartments in London, optimistic that at the end of each lease he would in a good condition to return to Jersey, but this strategy became quite expensive. At the time, Caroline Leeds confessed, "We are still not sure when we shall return home. We hope it may be in September, when we leave this flat.
The Duke of Leeds.

On 26 July 1963, the 11th Duke of Leeds died in his villa, La Falaise, at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin on the French Riviera. Owing to his poor health, the duke had rarely left his room since September 1962. He was sixty-two years-old. The duke was survived by his wife Caroline, a widow at thirty-two, and his twelve year-old daughter Camilla. The Duke of Leeds was buried on 29 July at Roquebrune Cemetery. After his death, the will of the Duke of Leeds revealed that he left 1/3 of his personal fortune to his only child, Camilla, and the remaining 2/3 to his widow, Caroline.

Caroline, Duchess of Leeds, at an art gallery in London, 1964. Photo (c) Getty Images / M. McKeown.
Sir Robert Hobart, 3rd Bt.
Caroline, Duchess of Leeds.

In 1968, the Duchess of Leeds married Peter Hendrik Peregrine Hoos (1937-2003), the son of Edward Jan Hoos married Sarah Marie Adelaide Cust. Caroline's second husband was the maternal grandson of Adelbert Salusbury Cockayne Cust, 5th Baron Brownlow. Caroline Leeds and Peter Hoos divorced in 1975. Later in 1975, Caroline married Lieutenant Commander Sir Robert Hampden Hobart, 3rd Baronet (1915-1988). Caroline later mused: "I've had two happy marriages, and one unhappy one. I wouldn't mind another happy one." The happy marriages were to the Duke of Leeds and Sir Robert Hobart...the unhappy marriage was to the second husband.

Caroline, Duchess of Leeds, with Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

The last Duchess of Leeds died on 16 July 2005. She was seventy-four years-old. Caroline, Duchess of Leeds, requested that she be buried where she was born, on the Isle of Jersey.

Caroline, Duchess of Leeds. Photo (c) Mary Evans / AGE Fotostock.
A painting of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight by Caroline Leeds. This painting is owned by the author of this article.

Monday, December 27, 2021

Princess Maryam Begum of Afghanistan (1936-2021)

Princess Maryam with an Afghan nurse, 1960s.

Over the weekend, it was announced that Princess Maryam Begum of Afghanistan had passed away on 25 December. She was eighty-five years-old. Born on 2 November 1936, Princess Maryam was the fourth child and second daughter of King Mohammed Zahir Shah of Afghanistan (1914-2007) and Queen Humaira Begum (1918-2002), who wed in 1931. The princess was educated at the Malali School in Kabul. In 1960, Princess Maryam married Professor Muhammad Aziz Khan Naim (1935-1978). The couple had one son, Nadir Khan Naim (b.1965). The princess is survived by her son and her death is mourned by the Afghan royal family.

May Princess Maryam Rest in Peace. 

Sources:

https://www.khabaronline.ir/news/1586406/دختر-آخرین-پادشاه-افغانستان-درگذشت-عکس

https://www.royalark.net/Afghanistan/telai2.htm

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

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.

Sunday, December 19, 2021

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.

Thursday, December 16, 2021

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

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