the 85th birthday of prince karl of Hesse

Prince Karl of Hesse (1937-2022), Nephew of the Duke of Edinburgh

On 23 March 2022, Prince Karl of Hesse died in Munich. He was eighty-four years-old. The prince was a nephew of the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

 

Princess Sophie of Greece and Prince Christoph of Hesse.

Born on 26 March 1937 at Berlin, Prince Karl Adolf Andreas of Hesse was the first son and third child of Prince Christoph of Hesse (1901-1943) and Princess Sophie of Greece and Denmark (1914-2001), who wed in 1930. Christoph and Sophie were second cousins once removed twice over; their common ancestor in the first case was Landgrave Wilhelm of Hesse-Kassel and their common ancestor in the second case was Queen Victoria. Prince Karl had four full siblings: Princess Christina (1933-2011; married 1st to Prince Andrej of Yugoslavia; married 2nd to Robert van Eyck), Princess Dorothea (b.1934; married Prince Friedrich Karl zu Windisch-Grätz), Prince Rainer (b.1939), and Princess Clarissa (b.1944; married Claude Jean Derrien). 

 

The family of Princess Sophie.
Front row: Princess Christina of Hesse, Prince Welf of Hanover, Princess Sophie with Princess Friederike, Prince Georg of Hanover, and Princess Clarissa of Hesse.
Back row: Prince Rainer of Hesse, Princess Dorothea of Hesse, Prince Georg Wilhelm, and Prince Karl of Hesse.

In 1946, three years after being widowed, Karl's mother Sophie married Prince Georg Wilhelm of Hannover (1915-2006). Both descendants of Queen Victoria through another line, Sophie and Georg Wilhelm were second cousins; their common ancestor was King Christian IX of Denmark. From this marriage, Karl gained three half-siblings: Prince Welf (1947-1981; married Wibke van Gunsteren), Prince Georg (b.1949; married Victoria Bee), and Princess Friederike (b.1954; married Jerry William Cyr).

 

Princess Alice of Greece and the Duke of Edinburgh arriving at the wedding of Prince Karl.

Karl and Yvonne of Hesse on their wedding day.

The prince and princess on their wedding day.

On 26 March 1966 at The Hague, Prince Karl of Hesse civilly married Countess Yvonne Szapáry von Muraszombath, Széchysziget und Szapár on the prince's twenty-ninth birthday. The couple were religiously wed on 18 April at St. Jacobs Kerk. Among others, their nuptials were attended by King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Princess Alice of Greece, the Duke of Edinburgh, Fürstin Margarita zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Margravine Theodora of Baden, Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia, Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofía of Spain, and Princess Irene of Greece.

 

Baroness Ursula von Richthofen with bridesmaids on her wedding day in 1933 to her first husband.
Photo (c) Getty Images.

Princess Yvonne (b.1944) was the only child of Count Béla von Muraszombath, Széchysziget und Szapár (1901-1993) and Baroness Ursula von Richthofen (1907-2002; married 1stly to Godert Willem, Baron de Vos van Steenwijk). Princess Yvonne of Hesse is a fourth cousin of Princess Michael of Kent (née Baroness Marie Christine von Reibnitz); their common ancestors are Count József von Muraszombath, Széchysziget und Szapár (1754-1822) and Countess Johanna von Gatterburg (1779-1812).

Prince Karl of Hesse with his daughter Princess Irina at her wedding, 1999.
Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse

Prince Karl and Princess Yvonne had two children: Prince Christoph (b.1969) and Princess Irina (b.1971). In 1999, Princess Irina married Count Alexander von Schönburg-Glauchau (b.1969), the brother of Fürstin Gloria von Thurn und Taxis.

 

May the Prince Rest in Peace.

A Ruritanian Idea from the 1990s: King Edward of Estonia

Prince Edward in 1994.

Photo (c) Heptagon/Shutterstock.

In July 1994, the Estonian Royalist Party (Eesti Rojalistlik Partei / ERP) sent a letter to Buckingham Palace requesting that Prince Edward, the youngest child of The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, accept their invitation to become King of Estonia. At the time, the party had 8% of the seats in the Estonian Parliament. Estonia had gained independence in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The man behind this eccentric request was Kalle Kulbok, the head of the Royalist Party. In an interview, Mr Kulbok stated: "A British royal on the throne of Estonia would link us closely with Britain, a democracy we would like to emulate. It above all would be a great protection against future Russian attempts to conquer us again." The Estonian would-be-kingmaker went on to elucidate the virtues of Prince Edward that would endear the royal to the people of Estonia: "Estonians admire youth, which is free of Soviet corruption. Prince Edward is young and we are a very young nation ruled by a very young government. We like Prince Edward's artistic interests, which fit very well with Estonia's. I can also promise that Estonian newspapers are a lot nicer and more respectful than the English media." As it turns out, Kalle Kulbok had confided his dreams of a Kingdom of Estonia to the well-known historian Simon Sebag-Montefiore. Mr Kulbok entrusted the letter of the Royalist Party to Mr Sebag-Montefiore to be delivered to Buckingham Palace, which the latter kindly (and likely with a large dose of amusement) did.

When reports of this letter emerged, a spokesperson of the Estonian Embassy to the UK offered some clarification to the British people: "Estonians think very kindly of your royal family. But the Estonian Royalist Party is our equivalent of your raving loony party. They do not represent the government in any way." A Buckingham Palace spokesperson anonymously confided: "It is a charming but unlikely idea."

The Visit of the Prince of Wales to Ukraine in 1996

Prince Charles greeted at the airport in Kyiv by three women in a traditional Ukrainian costume, 11/4/96.
Photo (c) Getty Images / John Stillwell.

The prince speaking to young academics at the Mohyla Academy, 11/4/96.
Photo (c) Getty Images / Tim Graham.

Ukrainian youths hold posters of the Prince of Wales during his visit, 11/4/96.
Photo (c) Getty Images / Tim Graham.

Prince Charles receives a salute from a Ukrainian solider at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, 11/4/96.
Photo (c) Getty Images / Tim Graham.

In November 1996, the Prince of Wales visited Ukraine for two days as part of a nine day tour of formerly Soviet occupied countries. Prince Charles began his visit on Monday, 4 November, when he arrived in Kyiv, then known as Kiev, the nation's capital. He was met at Boryspil International Airport by Hennadiy Udovenko, then Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. As part of that day's schedule, the heir to the British throne took a wreath to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Glory Square, which is dedicated to the Ukrainian soldiers who died fighting against the Nazis in World War II. The prince visited elderly and ill persons at the Novo-Belichi Resident Hospital. Prince Charles participated in a Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum with businesspeople and entrepreneurs at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy; he was met at its entrance by a large group of students carrying photos of the prince and welcoming banners, one of which read: "Dear Prince Charles, You Are The Best Prince We Have Ever Seen." During the business seminar, the Prince of Wales noted, "It is only too clear to all of us that the countries of the former Soviet Union are at an historic crossroads and urgently need the partnership of the West to tackle environmental problems and to alleviate the disillusionment of their young people. If what we call free market systems are to be sustainable in the long run, international management must share its management skills." On Monday evening, Prince Charles attended a dinner given by President Leonid Kuchma at the Mariinskyi Palace.

Prince Charles and local youth greeting one another in Sevastopol, 11/5/96.
Photo (c) Getty Images / Tim Graham.

The prince at the Battle Balaclava lookout, 11/5/96.
Photo (c) Getty Images / Chip Hires. 

The Prince of Wales on the grounds of Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, 11/5/96.
Photo (c) Getty Images / Tim Graham.

On 5 November, the second day of his visit, Prince Charles traveled to Sevastopol in the region of Crimea in southern Ukraine. While there, the prince went to see the historical markers to the Battle of Balaclava, a battle that took place during the Crimean War in 1854. Balaclava witnessed the ill-fated Charge of the Light Brigade. Later that day, the Prince of Wales returned to Kyiv, where he was given a tour of Saint Sophia Cathedral. Prince Charles then departed Ukraine for Turkmenistan.

Head of Serbian Royal House Calls For Peace in Face of Russian Invasion of Ukraine

STATEMENT OF THE CROWN PRINCE OF SERBIA

From Belgrade, HRH Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia has issued an appeal today for a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine:

“With great disturbance and sadness, I have been following the news about the conflict in Ukraine. I want to send my appeal to all parties included, to all world leaders, to find a peaceful solution for this terrible conflict. War is never a good option, it only brings destruction, pain, and suffering to innocent people, and I am deeply worried for the future of the entire society if this conflict continues.

There is no issue that can not be resolved with open talks; negotiating table is always the only proper place to resolve conflicts. When guns start to speak, humanity suffers. I wish and pray to see all parties included in this conflict to sit down and find a peaceful solution.

I am strongly supporting the official position of the Republic of Serbia, not to take sides in this tragedy, but to remain neutral, to respect the territorial integrity and international law, which is of high importance for our country as well, and to appeal for and keep peace. People of Serbia know very well how much terror conflicts like this bring, we have suffered a lot in the past. And no one should suffer like that anymore. The world that we all live in, needs peace desperately!”

The 70th Birthday of Prince Andreas of Liechtenstein

Prince Andreas of Liechtenstein in London, 1998.

Photo © Desmond O’Neill Features.

 

Today, Prince Andreas of Liechtenstein celebrates his seventieth birthday!

 

Born on 25 February 1952 at Vienna, Prince Andreas Duarte Emanuel Ulrich Benedikt Josef Maria Karl Rafael Ignatius Mathias Paulus of Liechtenstein was the second child and son of Prince Karl Alfred of Liechtenstein and Archduchess Agnes of Austria. Andreas has six siblings: Prince Dominik (1950-2009), Prince Gregor (b.1954), Princess Alexandra (1955-1993), Princess Maria (b.1960), Princess Katharina (b.1964), and Princess Birgitta (b.1967). 

 

On 29 September 1978 at Madrid, Prince Andreas married Silvia Prieto Figueroa (b.1952). The couple do not have children.

 

Our best wishes to the Prince on his birthday!

Head of Imperial House of Russia Calls for Peace

FROM THE HEAD OF THE IMPERIAL HOUSE OF RUSSIA

"Events taking place in our Homeland have been very alarming and deeply grieving.

Fully recognizing the independence and sovereignty of all the states that were formed after the fall of the USSR, I am at the same time convinced that all of the peoples who historically belonged to the civilizational space of the former Russian Empire are united by the concept of a Homeland in the highest spiritual and cultural sense of the word.

It is frightful and painful to see how, for the past 8 years, brothers and sisters, whose fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers together defended their common Homeland, have been pitted against each other and spilt their blood; how peaceful citizens are dying and suffering; how parents shed inconsolable tears over the coffins of their children. Now the course of these events has culminated in an even greater cataclysm.

The Russian Imperial House does not make statements of a political nature, and in any event, in the current conditions we do not have complete information that would allow us to make them without risking unintended harm. But we are utterly convinced and will always affirm that Russia and Ukraine—all their populations—must never be enemies. This is as monstrous and unnatural a thing as members of the same family murdering each other.

I, my son and heir, The Grand Duke George of Russia, and his spouse, Princess Victoria Romanovna, pray for the immediate implementation of peace.

We are deeply grateful to those who are now making efforts to prevent war and provide assistance to the suffering: the wounded, those who have lost their homes and belongings, and refugees. 

May Almighty God save our peoples and may He free us from fratricidal enmity."

H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia
Madrid, 11/24 February 2022

Luxembourg/Sirgue Engagement Called Off

Louis and Scarlett-Lauren.
Photograph (c) Grand Ducal Court.

Today, Prince Louis of Luxembourg and Mademoiselle Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue announced in an interview with Point de Vue that their engagement has been cancelled, but that they remain friends. They noted that they had realised they had differences of opinions which made it best for them to end their romantic relationship. On 6 April 2021, the Grand Ducal Court had announced the engagement of Prince Louis and Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue. The couple had been in a relationship for some time. Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa issued the following statement: "We are very happy to announce the engagement of our son, Prince Louis, to Miss Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue. Princes Gabriel and Noah join us in surrounding the new couple with all our affection. We wish them immense happiness."

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Prince Louis, Scarlett-Lauren Sirgue, and Grand Duke Henri.
Photograph (c) Grand Ducal Court.

 

Source: https://www.pointdevue.fr/royal/luxembourg/louis-de-luxembourg-et-scarlett-lauren-sirgue-rompent-leurs-fiancailles