Princess Sofia of Bulgaria Graduates from Swiss University

Princess Sofia with her parents, Prince Konstantin and Princess Maria, with her brother Prince Umberto at the release of her grandfather King Simeon's autobiography, 2016.
Photo (c) Shutterstock.

Princess Sofia of Bulgaria recently graduated with a bachelors from EHL Hospitality Business School at Lausanne, Switzerland. The name of the princess appeared on her diploma as Sofia Sajonia Coburgo Gotha Garcia de la Rasilla. Born on 20 November 1999, Princess Sofia of Bulgaria was born with her twin brother Prince Umberto in Madrid. Sofia and Umberto are the only children of Prince Konstantin-Assen of Bulgaria, Prince of Vidin, and his wife Princess Maria (née Garcia de la Rasilla y Gortazar), who married in 1994.

 

Our congratulations to Princess Sofia on her graduation!

Exclusive: Hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern Weds American Partner

We can report that Hereditary Prince Alexander of Hohenzollern married Michelle V. Keith, a US citizen and his girlfriend, last year. Alexander is the only son of Fürst Karl Friedrich of Hohenzollern and his first wife Countess Alexandra Schenk von Stauffenberg.

In November 2021, Alexander and Michelle celebrated their religious marriage in a small Roman Catholic church in Sigmaringen. We have not yet learned when the couple’s civil wedding occurred. After his religious wedding, Alexander informed his father Fürst Karl Friedrich of his marriage. It is quite likely that the new Erbprinz will be the Fürst’s next eligible brother.

Alexander and Michelle von Hohenzollern reside in Sigmaringen.

Our best wishes to the couple on their union!

The Funeral of Prince Luiz of Brazil

The coffin of Prince Luiz. Members of the Brazilian Navy surround the coffin. Photo (c) Pró Monarquia.

On Monday, 18 July 2022, the funeral of HIH Prince Luiz  of Brazil took place at the Church of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in São Paulo. The burial took place following the funeral at the Consolação Cemetery.

Prince Bertrand, the new Head of the Imperial House, Prince Antonio, and Prince Rafael. Photo (c) Pró Monarquia.

The coffin of the prince was carried by members of the Brazilian Navy, who did state honours. The Brazilian Republic officially observed a day of mourning following the death of Dom Luiz. Present at the funeral were Prince Bertrand of Brazil, Prince Imperial Antônio of Brazil, and Prince Rafael, Prince of Grão-Pará. Also in attendance were Prince Casimir of Bourbon-Two-Sicilies and his wife Princess Maria Cristina (née Savoy-Aosta); their children Prince Luís, Princess Elena and Prince Alessandro of Bourbon-Two-Sicilies; Princess Maria Isabella of Savoy-Genoa; and Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein.

For more information:

Death of Prince Luiz (1938-2022), Head of Brazilian Imperial Family

Brazil Government: Official Mourning for Late Head of Imperial House

A Baby Boy for the Romanovs!

Photo (c) David Nivière.

 

The Russian Imperial Chancellery released a statement today from Moscow announcing that Princess Victoria Romanovna Romanoff is expecting a baby boy. The princess is in very good health, and her pregnancy is progressing smoothly. She and her husband, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich, thanked everyone who has sent them good wishes as they prepare to welcome their first child in October 2022. Baby Romanov will be the first member of the dynasty born in Russia since that of Princess Catherine Ivanovna of Russia, who was born at Pavlovsk on 25 July 1915 and that of Grand Duke Vladimir Kirillovich of Russia (the baby's great-grandfather), who was born at Porvoo, Finland, on 30 August 1917.

The Russian Imperial Couple Prepare to Welcome Their First Child!

The elated expectant parents!

Photo (c) David Nivière.

Courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Princess Victoria Romanovna Romanoff are happily awaiting the arrival of their first child. On May 21st, the Chancellery of the Imperial House of Romanov announced the news that Princess Victoria was pregnant. The baby is expected this autumn!

Princess Victoria and Grand Duke George.

Photo (c) David Nivière.

Courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

The couple, who married in a magnificent religious ceremony last year in Saint Petersburg, recently visited members of their family in Rome. They were able to spent time with Prince Franz-Wilhelm of Prussia and his wife Princess Nadia, Grand Duke George's father and stepmother, along with the parents of Princess Victoria, Ambassador Roberto Bettarini and Carla Virginia Cacciatore.

Grand Duke George and Princess Victoria.

Photo (c) David Nivière.

Courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

The baby will be the first grandchild of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, Head of the Imperial House, and Prince Franz-Wilhelm of Prussia, who wed in 1976. It will also be the first grandchild of Ambassador Roberto Bettarini and Carla Virginia Cacciatore, who wed in 1977. Both the grand duke and the princess are the only children of their parents.

Grand Duke George and Princess Victoria.

Photo (c) David Nivière.

Courtesy of the Russian Imperial Chancellery.

We continue to wish the imperial couple all of the best while they await the arrival of their first child!

Brazil Government: Official Mourning for Late Head of Imperial House

The Government of Brazil, in an extra edition of the Official Gazette, has declared official mourning for the death of HIH Prince Luiz of Brazil. The decree, signed yesterday by the President of the Republic, Mr Jair Bolsonaro, and by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Carlos Alberto Franco, reads:

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, in the use of the powers conferred on him by art. 84, caput, items IV and VI, item “a”, of the Constitution, and in view of the provisions of art. 18, caput, item I, of Law No. 5,700, of 1 September 1971,

DECREE:

Art. 1 Official mourning is declared throughout the country, for a period of one day, counted from the date of publication of this Decree, as a sign of sorrow for the death of Dom Luiz Gastão Maria José Pio Miguel Gabriel Rafael Gonzaga de Orleans e Bragança, Head of the Imperial House of Brazil.

Art. 2 This Decree enters into force on the date of its publication.

Brasilia, 15 July 2022; 201st of Independence and 134th of the Republic.

Source: Bolsonaro decreta luto oficial pela morte de d. Luiz de Orleans e Bragança

Note: Sincere thanks to my friend Arthur Brum for his translation of this decree.

+ Dom Luis of Brazil (Orléans-Bragança): 1938-2022

 News has just broken that Dom Luiz, Head of the Imperial House of Brazil (Bassouras Branch), has passed away.

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