Archduchess Regina is dead (1925-2010)

08:40 o’clock this morning Archduchess Regina of Austria, wife of emperor son Archduke Otto von Habsburg of Austria, the country’s former crown prince, died at the age of 85 in the couple’s home Villa Austria in Pöcking in Bavaria. Regina received the last rites before she peacefully left this world in the circle of several close family members.

- My mother was the model for all of us, with her we lose a great personality who was influenced us all with her unwavering faith and her positive outlook on life, eldest son Karl said in a brief written statement. (more…)

Nikolaos and Tatiana met the press

On the occasion of their engagement, which was announced after the Christmas holidays last year, Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark and his fiancée Tatiana Blatnik met with the Greek and international press at a rather informal gathering at The Yacht Club of Greece around noon today.

With them were Nikolaos parents, King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie and they told, among other things, that the prince proposed to Tatiana during a boat trip around the Christmas holidays and that his parent’s response had been a happy “finally!” upon the news. The wedding will probably take place in Greece but no date has yet been finally determined yet, according to Swedish Damtidning however, they are leaning towards 24 August. Before the marriage, the couple will not only have the usual wedding arrangement tasks to deal with, Tatiana will also convert to the Greek-Orthodox faith and will soon be baptized in the Greek church. Marshalls, however, they have already chosen, they will be Nikolaos older brother Crown Prince Pavlos, Tatiana’s brother and one of the groom’s best friends. (more…)

Princess Nathalie is engaged

In early January the Danish Royal Court announced that Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (34) has become engaged to her boyfriend Alexander Johannsmann (32). The Princess is the daughter of Princess Benedikte of Denmark, sister of Queen Margrethe and Prince Richard zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.

Nathalie and Alexander became an item in the autumn of 2006 and as recently as late last year, Nathalie answered “not yet “on the question of they were engaged.

The Princess breeds and trains dressage horses at the family’s stud farm in Bad Berleburg and belongs to the top tier of the best dressage riders on the World Cup tour for which she travels around the world to competitions with their best horses, Digby and Rigoletto. Her foremost achievement in dressage this far is an Olympic bronze medal along with the rest of the Danish team in Beijing 2008. Alexander’s family also has a long history in the equestrian world. Among other things, his father was once a famous show jumping rider and is now coach while Alexander himself works for a renowned equine transport company owned by an uncle.

When or where the wedding will be has not yet been announced.

From Queen: “The billionaire’s daughter that became a princess”

Issue 2/2009 of Swedish magazine Queen carried an interview with Crown Princess Pavlos of Greece, it was done by Cajsa Jansson and I have translated it.

The billionaire’s daughter that became a princess

Crown Princess of Greece, mother of five and successful self-employed. In an exclusive interview for Queen, Marie Chantal tells about her different roles, why she loves to vacation with a car in Sweden and about the friendship with our own Crown Princess. – Victoria is the godmother of my son. She is a wonderful person and we meet as often as we can!

BY: CAJSA JANSSON

Queen’s office at 14:30
- Yes, hello?
- God day. I’m calling from the Swedish magazine Queen. We had scheduled an interview with Crown Princess Marie Chantal today…
- Yes, that’s me.
Completely unexpected I’m sitting with the Greek Crown Princess on the other side of the line.
- Oh, I thought that the Crown Princess’ secretary would answer…
- Haha, no. I heard that it called so I answered myself. (more…)

Princess Margarita turned 60, Princess Astrid on malaria advocacy tour

This past Thursday, 26 March, Princess Margarita of Romania celebrated her 60th birthday. Her parents King Michael and Queen Anne posed for photographs together with Margarita and her sisters Elena and Irina and their respective families in the Elisabeta Palace before attending a birthday gala dinner at the CEC Palace in Bucharest.

On Friday the family visited Peleş Castle in Sinaia and in the evening returned to Bucharest for a gala at The Romanian National Opera, over one thousand people, some ordinary citizens with normal opera tickets, got a chance to see some of the best music entertainment the country has to offer. (more…)

Pronunciation: Danish royals

Since I know that non-Danish often have issues when they try to figure out how some of the Danish royal names are pronounced – I pestered a Danish friend of mine, Stine, into helping me make an audio-file so you all could enjoy it. 

Well, only that it’s not one audio file. We ended up making two. One for just the brief names, they are known as in every day conversations. And one for their full names. 

With many thanks to Stine. 

(more…)

The Danish Home Guard

With Crown Princess Mary in training for the Danish Home Guard: Army, Billed Bladet has pulled out pictures from the time her mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe II, went through the training for the Airforce branch of the Home Guard.

The Home Guard stands strong among the Danish female royals: the Queen’s sister, Princess Benedikte is a member of the Navy branch of the organization. 

The Danish Home Guard is a part of the Danish military. It has around 50,000 volunteers, and 650 full-time employees. It was formed in 1945, by former resistance fighters, who wanted to ensure that Denmark had a wide network of people who knew how to fight, if Denmark was to be invaded again. Today, the organization deals with education of military forces sent out for deployment, and with more civilian matters inside Denmark, such as handling environmental or other emergencies where the government is in need of extra hands.