The Lost Lives of Russia's Last Grand Duchesses

In her latest book, Four Sisters – The Lost Lives of the Romanov Grand Duchesses, Helen Rappaport reveals the true background of Nicholas II's four daughters, Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. Their lives were that of immense wealth and splendor and extreme isolation from public eyes. In Rappaport's book, we will learn that when they were able to start engaging with the wider world, events in Russia overtook them.

Czar Nicholar II's daughters. 

Czar Nicholas II and his family taken c1915.

The Russian Imperial Family

Czar Nicholar II shares a smoke with her daughter, Anastasia.

Empress Alexandra is taking a leisurely moment with her daughter. 

Find out more about Rappaport's latest work here.

In Picture: Princess Maud of Wales's Wedding

The wedding portrait of Prince Charles of Denmark and Princess Maud of Wales.

On July 22, 1896, Princess Maud of Wales, youngest daughter of future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, married her cousin, Prince Charles of Denmark (later King Haakon VII of Norway) at the Private Chapel of Buckingham Palace. Image: Royal Families (Facebook)

Grand Duchess Augusta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Loses English Pension

Princess Augusta of Cambridge, Grand Duchess
of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Image: Wikimedia

September 18, 1914 - A special cable to the New York Times from London can reveal that the British Government has ceased providing the Dowager Grand Duchess Augusta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz with her $15,000-annuity. The Grand Duchess is a member of the British Royal Family, an aunt of Queen Mary, a cousin to Queen Victoria and a grand daughter of King George III. By marriage, she became a German subject.

The British Government made it known that no British money will ever reach the enemy's country.
Questions have been raised in the Parliament since "the payment arpose out of a contract made before the war begun." However, David Lloyd George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced that "payments had been suspended" already.

The Dowager Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was born Princess Augusta of Cambridge in 1822. She is the second child and elder daughter of Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge, youngest son of King George III. In 1843, she married Frederick, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Royal History: Alfonso XIII Punishes Cousin for Marrying Without His Consent

Infante Alfonso of Spain and Princess
Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Image:
Wikimedia Commons

Madrid, July 17, 1909 - A dispatch from Madrid to the New York Times can reveal that King Alfonso XIII has stripped his cousin, Prince Alfonso of Bourbon-Orleans of his title Infante of Spain, as well as his Spanish honors and decorations after marrying Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha without securing royal consent. The marriage took place last July 15 in Coburg, Germany.

A dispatch from Coburg meanwhile revealed that "State Secretary Von Richter performed the ceremony," which was followed by "a wedding according to the rites of the Catholic Church" at St. Augustin's Church. This was followed by a Protestant wedding at the Edinburgh Castle chapel.

Prince Alfonso was born in Madrid in 1886, the son of Prince Antoine-Louis-Philippe, Duke of Galliera, and of Infanta Eulalia of Spain. He is the great-grandson of Louis-Philippe, the king who was dethroned in 1848.
Meanwhile, Princess Beatrice, born 1884, is the youngest son of Prince Alfred,  Duke of Edinburgh, second son of Queen Victoria, who also reigned as Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, making her a cousin to Queen Ena. He died in 1900. Her mother is Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, the only daughter of Czar Alexander II.

The Royal Blogger

Christian George Acevedo is a librarian, mentor, and scholar of wide-ranging interests. He has authored hundreds of articles for various websites, and his expertise ranges from online marketing and finance to history, entertainment and many more. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Tumblr. Contact Christian at powerwordsonlinewriting@gmail.com.

Empress Eugenie Dies

Empress Eugenie of France. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons

Madrid, July 11, 1920 - Europe's Queen of Sorrow, Empress Eugenie of France, died shortly before 8 am due to acute intestinal inflammation, a dispatch from Madrid to the New York Times, reported. Her death came quietly, said her lady-in-waiting the Duchess of Alba, who was the only person right beside her, when she breathe her last. Her nephew, the Duke of Alba, at whose residence he died, was in France, while other members of the family were absent.

The former empress had suffered from ophtalmia and had undergone surgery to remove her cataract. She will be accorded full imperial honors.

While the empress' health had been in decline for some years now due to old age, her death still came quite a surprise, as she was always seen walking on the grounds of the Duke of Alba's residence. In fact, the empress was planning to visit London next week and her transportation has been arranged already.



Empress Eugenie was born Doña María Eugenia Ignacia Augustina de Palafox-Portocarrero de Guzmán y Kirkpatrick, 16th Countess of Teba and 15th Marquise of Ardales on May 5, 1826. She was the daughter  Scots-born William Kirkpatrick of Closbourn and Marie Françoise de Grevignée. On Jan. 22, 1853, she married Prince Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, who became President of the Second French Republic and later Emperor of the Second Empire as Napoleon III, making her "personally influential in European events and destinies of three generations." During the 1860s, Eugenie's fashiont taste became trending throughout Europe. After the empire was overthrown following France's defeat during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870-1, Eugenie and Napoleon settled in England. Her health steadily declined following the emperor's death and that of her son, her health steadily deteriorated.

The Royal Blogger

Christian George Acevedo is a librarian, mentor, and scholar of wide-ranging interests. He has authored hundreds of articles for various websites, and his expertise ranges from online marketing and finance to history, entertainment and many more. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Tumblr. Contact Christian at powerwordsonlinewriting@gmail.com.

Royal History: The Coronation of King George V

King George V's coronation. Image: Wikimedia Commons

June 11, 1911 - The coronation of King Edward VII was the very first of its kind since her mother's own in 1838; so there was much to discover, consider and devise. When King George V and Queen Mary pass into Westminster Abbey on June 22 this year, the interval will have been only one of nine years; the arrangements will be easier, the experience fresh.

An English sovereign is placed in legal possession of his rights by the Act of Settlement, by his proclamation, by his acceptance in the Privy Council, and by the oath of allegiance taken by the two houses of Parliament. The position is one of enormous responsibility. The Lords and Commons are his advisers; in his name and by his authority power to act is given to judges, magistrates, the colonial parliaments, the navy, the army and all the vast brances of the civil service.
His personal influence with his Minister, as himself the permanent head o the State, should be very great. The effects of his personal character and example are unlimited.

Kings in like manner were annointed with oil. They were annointed on the head, breast and arms as a sign of glory, holiness and courage. The oil used upon kings is an outward sign whereby he received the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit. It was from having been annointed that our kings have received the style "Del Gratia," by the Grace of God, which, according to one medieval writer, could never be given to anyone else in the laity.

The coronation oath was for several centuries taken on a Latin copy of the Four Gospels.

The service as used for King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra was somewhat shorted from previous forms, and may be divided into 19 sections, namely: the preparation, the entrance, the recognition, the litany, communion services, the sermon, the oath, the annointing, the presenting of the spurs and sword, as well as the offering and redeeming of the sword, the investing with the armilia and imperial cope, the investiture of the ring, sceptre with the cross, scepter with the dove and the gloves, putting of the crown by the archbishop of Canterbury, the benediction and te deum, the homage, the coronation of the queen by the archbishop of York, the communion, the recess.

For the coronation service itself, of course, great preparations are needed in the Abbeyl for four five or five months previously it is placed in the hands of the Lord Chamberlain, for the erection of galleries wherever they can be erected; the peers occupy the south transept, the peeresses the northl the princesses and their suites the south side of the choir, especially privileged persons in the north.

About six months before the coronation the Earl Marshal (Duke of Norfolk) opens his court at St. James' Palace for consideration of claims for special offices in the great ceremony which has grown up in the course of centuriesl he is supported by the great officers of State and Court, and other influential and distinguished personages.

(An abridged version of an article written by the Venerable W.M. Sinclair, Archdeacon of London and Canon of St. Paul's)

Christian George Acevedo is a librarian, mentor, and scholar of wide-ranging interests. He has authored hundreds of articles for various websites, and his expertise ranges from online marketing and finance to history, entertainment and many more. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Tumblr. Contact Christian at powerwordsonlinewriting@gmail.com.

Celebrating Prince Albert and Princess Charlene’s Wedding

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene after their wedding.
Image: Reuters

The royal wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock was a magical day that evoked some poignant memories in Monaco. As the breathtaking blonde bride stood at the ornate altar in the Palais Princier, royal observers couldn’t help thinking back to the principality’s last wedding of a reigning sovereign in April 1956, when the beautiful actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III and became a Princess.

The glamorous screen legend would surely have been overjoyed to see her son, Prince Albert, wed as elegant and poised a young woman as South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock. And it would have moved the late royal couple to see their own nuptials reenacted decades later, bringing new love to the palace, and ushering in a new era for the Grimaldi dynasty.

But in the absence of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier, Monegasque celebrated for them, gathering to watch the ceremony on giant TV’s throughout Monaco and erupting in cheers as Albert and Charlene exchanged vows in a lavish, multimillion-dollar spectacle that will go down in the Mediterranean enclave’s history.

On July 2, 2011—a day after the couple of five years were legally married in a civil ceremony at the Prince’s Palace—Charlene, 33, was ready to don her wedding dress for the 90-minute Roman Catholic ceremony. At 5 pm, she entered the palace in an off white silk duchesse satin Giorgio Armani Prive gown, its delicate floral pattern embroidered with 90,000 pearl drops, Swarowski crystals and gems. The statuesque beauty held a bouquet of freesias, orchids and lilies of the valley.

Followed by seven bridesmaids—all wearing the nation’s traditional flower girl costume—Charlene made her way down the aisle with her father, Michael, approaching the double spiral staircase in  the 17^th century Courtyard of Honour.

The well-heeled congregation of 850 royals, dignitaries and celebrities leaped to their feet clapping, and Charlene’s husband-to-be, 53, looking dashing in a white summer uniform of the Palace Guards, elicited chuckles from the crowd as he peeked backwards to steal a glimpse of his bride. Sir Paul McCartney’s “Standing Stone,” sung by opera singers Lisa Larson and Kenneth Tarver, filled the space.

Charlene joined her prince at the foot of the spectacular staircase, carved from a single block of Carrara marble, and the pair took their places on the scarlet damask stools in front of the altar, which had been consecrated for the occasion. As the couple’s proud families looked on – including Albert’s sisters, Princesses Caroline and Stephanie – the prince’s nieces Pauline Ducruet and Charlotte Casiraghi delivered readings.

By the time the Archbishop of Monaco, His grace Bernard Barsi, made his stirring address, the emotion in the room was palpable. The couple exchanged vows – each affirming their lifelong commitment with a heartfelt “Oui” – and they were pronounced husband and wife. After the bride and groom exchanged 18-karat white gold platinum Cartier rings, a traditional South African marriage song was performed and communion was taken. Albert the lifted his new wife’s veil and kiss her.

Amid much applause, the delighted groom punched the air in celebration, his look expressing what he would later say to his bride in his wedding speech: “Thank you for allowing me to share my life with you.” Andrea Bocelli then sang “Ave Maria,” and the newly-weds signed the marriage register and left the palace arm in arm, while the elated crowds showered them with white rose petals.

Custom dictates that the bride place her bouquet at the feet of the principality’s patron saint, and as she did so as at the picturesque Church of Sainte-Devote, joyful tears streamed down her face. Charlene had her prince, and Monaco had its new princess.

About the Author: 

Christian George Acevedo loves to write about everything. He has authored hundreds of articles for various websites, and his expertise ranges from online marketing and finance to history and entertainment. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Google, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Tumblr.

Royal History: Prince and Princess of Wales' Baby's Named William

July 2, 1982 - Newsweek reports that the "most famous baby in the world finally got a handle: William Arthur Philip Louis, or Prince William of Wales for short."

However, the magazine was quick to point out the baby's not going to be called Bill, Will, or Will, Buckingham Palace has made that perfectly clear.

"It is a very nice name," said the baby's pop Prince Charles, "and it doesn't exist in the immediate family." Of course, Prince Philip is for grandpa Philip and Louis is Charles' adored great-uncle, the Earl Mountbatten, who was killed by an IRA bomb in 1979. William and Arthur are both find old names for British kings; the baby will likely become King William V one day. Besides having a lot of names, royal babies get plenty of godparents: six have been named, including former King Constantine of Greece, a cousin and chum of Charles who lives in exile in London.

Duke of Cambridge dead at 84

Prince George, Duke of Cambridge

March 17, 1904  - The last surviving grandson of King George III, Prince George, Duke of Cambridge passed away this morning in his residence, Gloucester House, London.

The New York Timesreports that the Duke, a few days shy of his 85th birthday, had been "confined to his house for weeks."

King Edward and Queen Alexandra had paid him regular visits, while his sons Admiral and Col. FitzGeorge were always at his bedside. Hearing the news of his death, the King and Queen went to Gloucester House to "offer their condolences" to the grieving family.

In the House of Commons, Prime Minister Balfour and Liberal Leader Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman delivered a eulogy, thanking the Duke for "his devotion to the service of his country," expressing the House's sympathy to the Royal Family.

The Duke was known for his staunchly conservative leanings on crucial issues during his days, but he remained a "popular figure." Not even his vocal opposition against modernizing and liberalizing the armed forces tarnished the respect "with which all ranks regarded their old Commander in Chief."

The death of the Duke puts the Court in mourning, although the King and Queen's trip to Ireland will not be postponed. However, flags on the buildings all throughout London have been already lowered to a half-mast.

The Duke's Fortune

A speculation on the Duke's fortune can reveal that he was a relatively wealthy man. Upon the death of his father and after inheriting the dukedom of Cambridge, Parliament granted him around $300,000 in annuity. As Commander-in-Chief, he received $22,500 until 1887. This figure increased to $33,160, and as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, he was paid $11,000 a year. Other appointments also paid him well.

Marriage and Mrs. FitzGeorge

In 1837, the Duke fell in love and married the actress Sarah Fairbrother, despite the opposition of his family. Since Queen Victoria refused to grant consent on this marriage, the bride took the name Mrs. FitzGeorge. Nevertheless, she remained respected by her friends, including many members of the Royal Family and the Court and their marriage was a very happy one. She even went to Crimea to nurse the wounded duke after the Battle of Inkerman. The marriage produced three sons, George, Adolphus and Augustus, who all bore the surname FitzGeorge.

Mrs. FitzGeorge's death in 1890 took a hard blow on the Duke. Queen Victoria finally took her resentment aside and sent a letter of condolence to her grieving cousin. Her Majesty's equerry was present at the funeral.

Life and Career

The Duke of Cambridge was born on March 26, 1819. His father was Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, while her mother was Princess Augusta of Hesse-Cassel. Her sister, Princess Augusta became the consort of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, whose son was the last-reigning sovereign of the German grand duchy. Her youngest sister, Princess Mary Adelaide was the mother of the future Queen Mary, consort of King George V.

He was educated both in Hanover and England and at the age of 18, he joined the British Army. From 1838-1839, he was stationed in Gibraltar and later on in Ireland before he was promoted lieutenant-colonel of the 8th Light Dragoons and as colonel of the 17th Lancers in 1842.

From 1843-45, he was colonel on the staff in the Ionian Islands. He was promoted Major-General in 1845.

On July 8, 1850, he succeeded his father as Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Tipperary and Baron Culloden.

In 1852, he served as Inspector of the Cavalry.

 In 1854, he saw active service in the Crimean War, where he commanded the 1st Division of the British Army. He was promoted lieutenant-general the same year and was present at the battles of Alma, Balaclava and Inkerman, as well as at the siege of Sebastopol. However, he fell ill and was forced to retreat to Malta and return home before the end of the war.

On July 5, 1856, the Duke was promoted general commanding-in-chief of the British army, which was later renamed into field marshal commanding-in-chief in 1862. By Letters Patent, his post was renamed commander-in-chief of the forces in 1887, serving as chief military advisor to the Secretary of State for War. 

He was promoted general in 1856 and field marshal in 1862. He held the post until 1895.

The duke was criticized for his bitter opposition in reforming the army, calling the plans as merely "fads," using "considerably stronger language when he talked of the various suggested changes to his brother officers." He also earned the reputation for promoting officers based on social standing rather than merit. In 1890, a royal commission headed by Lord Hartington criticized the administration of the War Office and proposed that the powers of the commander-in-chief be transferred to a number of army officers. The Duke forcibly resigned on Nov. 1, 1895 and was succeeded by Lord Wolseley.

The Duke was highly regarded as being the most imposing member of the royal family. A tall, handsome man with "soldierly bearing," he had always commanded attention whenever present in public.

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

Duchess of Kent dies

Victoria Mary Louisa, Duchess of Kent 

March 16, 1861 - Queen Victoria’s mother, the Duchess of Kent passed away shortly before 10 o'clock this morning. She was 75.

The Duchess was reported to have been suffering from cancer and during the week, her health had been steadily declining.

On Tuesday the Queen and the Prince Consort hastened to Frogmore to frail mother. Princess Alice followed on Thursday. Yesterday, 6 o'clock, a telegram has been sent to Buckingham Palace informing the Queen that her mother’s condition had worsened. The Queen, Prince Consort and Princess Alice immediately hurried to her mother’s side riding a special train to Windsor. The Duchess “passed an unfavorable night” until her death came earlier today.

The Queen and the Prince Consort were beside her. News of Her Royal Highness’ death reached Buckingham Palace past 10, after which Princess Helena and other members of the royal family left for Windsor. The Prince of Wales, who was at Cambridge, was immediately telegraphed. The Duchess’ brothers, the King of the Belgians and the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha were also informed of her passing.

The Duchess of Kent was born Victoria Mary Louisa on August 17, 1756.  She was the fourth daughter of Francis Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfield. On December 21, 1803, she married Emich Charles, Prince of Leiningen, who died July 4, 1814. The marriage bore a son, Charles Frederick William, who succeeded his father as reigning Prince of Leiningen, and Princess Feodore, who married the Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.

On May 29, 1818, he married Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent, fourth son of King George III, in Coburg. Their wedding ceremony was repeated at Kew on July 11. The following year, she gave birth to their only child, Alexandrina Victoria, who ascended to the British throne in 1837 as Queen Victoria. The Duke of Kent died in January 1820. 

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

Prince Arthur confers Garter to the Japanese emperor

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, confers the Order of the Garter 

to the Japanese Emperor. (Image source Wikimedia Commons)

Tokyo, Feb. 20, 1906—Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, has invested Japan's Emperor Meiji with the Order of the Garter, reports the New York Times. The event has been described as an "impressive ceremony" witnessed by around 80 people, including the "Crown Prince and other imperial princes." Also present in the event were the Japanese premier and other ministers of His Imperial Majesty's government. The British delegation also witnessed the occasion. The Emperor expressed his "grateful appreciation" for Britain's cordiality.

A "wildly enthusiastic" welcome for the prince

Prince Arthur arrived on Feb. 19.  The locals welcomed King Edward's envoy (and brother) with wild enthusiasm. The Emperor broke precedence and himself welcomed the British prince at the Shisabi station. The streets of Tokyo were bedecked with "flags, lanterns, flowers and triumphal arches."

Prince Arthur rode a Court carriage and was taken to Kasumigaseki Palace, accompanied by Crown Prince Arisugawa. Accompanying him were the Imperial Lancers with the military band playing British anthem. A royal salute was fired upon the party's arrival, while throngs of crowd lines the streets and flocked Hibya Park to enthusiastically welcome the Prince.

The British visit was declared a special holiday, given that the occasion will forevermore remain as "one of the most important events in the history of Japan."

A dinner was held in honor of Prince Arthur on the eve of the Emperor's investiture.

Royal History: Queen Victoria's will

Feb. 6, 1901  - The New York Times reveals that Queen Victoria leaves L140,000 each to Prince Arthur, Princess Christian, Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice. The dowager Duchess of Albany and a number of her grand children is also provided with "liberal legacies."


Meanwhile, her eldest son and successor King Edward VII inherits the lion's share of her fortune. That includes Balmoral, her country home in Scotland, and Osborne, the stately residence in the Isle of Wight. Princess Beatrice inherits two small houses on the Osborne ground.

Queen Victoria's private quarters in Osborne and even in Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle remains unaltered. In fact, even her living rooms have not been occupied and are expected to remain so for quite a some time.

DNA test results confirm Richard III’s skull

King Richard III
(image source Wikimedia Commons)

Experts from the University of Leicester confirmed that the skull unearthed beneath a car park in Leicester actually belongs to King Richard III. In a press conference, lead archeologist Richard Buckley confirmed: "Beyond reasonable doubt it's Richard." The bones have undergone "rigorous academic study" and have been “carbon dated to a period from 1455-1540."

Another member of the archeological team, Dr, Jo Appleby, announced that the bones belonged to a man in his late 20s or early 30s. True because Richard III was killed at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485. He was 32.

Research further shows that the “skeleton had suffered 10 injuries, including eight to the skull, at around the time of death. Two of the skull wounds were potentially fatal,” reports BBC.

"One was a 'slice' removing a flap of bone, the other was caused by bladed weapon which went through and hit the opposite side of the skull - a depth of more than 10cm (4ins)."

Richard III reigned from 1483 until 1485. He was the last member of the House of York to rule England. His death marked the end of the Middle Age in England. Immortalized in Shakespeare’s classic, Richard III, he was also the only English king, after Harold II to die in the battlefield.

Denmark commemorates 100th anniversary of King Frederick VIII’s death and King Christian X’s succession

King Frederick VIII

May 14—Exactly 100 years ago, King Frederick VIII died and was succeeded by his son, who assumed the name Christian IX.  The king, stricken by acute cardiac arrest, unexpectedly fell on the ground and died in Hamburg.

The king’s death came near Hotel Hamburger Hof, where he and his entourage were staying while on the way home after a hunting trip in southern France. Frederick VIII was born in 1843, the eldest son of Prince Christian, later Christian IX, and the former Princess Louise of Hesse-Cassel. His father, who succeeded the Danish throne in 1863, ruled until 1906. The king reigned from 1906 until 1912.

King Christian X

News of the king’s death reached Copenhagen on the 15th and the council of state was immediately held, presided by Klaus Berntsen at Amalienborg Palace. King Christian X was proclaimed King. His reign, which lasted until 1947, was considered as the most dramatic in all of Denmark’s history. It began at the dawn of World War I and ended in the last year of World War II and saw a huge political, economic, and social upheavals that swept the whole world.

Marie de Medici’s diamond that made royals cry

The Beau Sancy goes off to auction

The 35-carat 'Beau Sancy' diamond - passed down through the centuries on to the crowns of monarchs in France, England, the Netherlands and Prussia - forms part of a magnificent gems collection owned by queens, film stars and billionaires alike that is being sold off in Geneva.
 

The Beauy Sancy has an estimated worth of £3 million. The pear-shaped diamond's royal connections date back to 1604 when it was bought for Henri IV of France at the insistence of his wife Marie de Medici who wore it atop her crown at her coronation. 

Marie de Medici wore Beau Sancy on top of
her coronation crown

It then passed on to the hands of William II, prince of Orange who gave it as a wedding present to her wife Mary Stuart, daughter of Charles I of England, who in turn sold it to provide funds for her brother, Charles II, in his quest to regain the English throne. In 1702, Frederick I, first king of Prussia, made it the center piece of the new royal crown. Since then, it passed to the hands of the house of Hohenzollern.