Brunei’s Crown Prince, H.R.H Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah has married a seventeen year-old commoner of Swiss-Bruneian origin, Sarah Salleh, in a lavish ceremony in the tiny sultanate. Royalty and political leaders from around the world gathered for Asia’s most spectacular wedding in years. The guest list included Japan’s Crown Prince Naruhito (significantly without Crown Princess Masako who is suffering from a stress induced illness); Bahrain’s King Hamad; Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia; and the Duke of Gloucester, representing H.M. Queen Elizabeth II. Brunei’s neighbours were also represented with most of Malaysia’s nine royal families attending, as were the political leaders…
Author: Royalty
Long held up as a paradigm of modern monarchy for his historic role in bringing Spain to democracy and prosperity, King Juan Carlos has recently run into a spate of troubles that some are now referring to 2007 as the monarch’s very own annus horribilus. The turnabout in royal fortunes has been swift as it was only in May that Spaniards voted the King the “greatest Spaniard of all time”. Since the King’s heroic stand against the attempted coup d’etat of February 1981, the monarchy has been largely above criticism. Whilst that reflects the respect and widespread support for the…
Prince Harry paid an official visit to Monte Cassino, the rocky hill eighty miles outside the Italian capital, Rome, for a commemorative service in honour of the “Forgotten Campaign” of World War Two. The famous Abbey of Monte Cassino was first established in the sixth century by St. Benedict of Nursia. Its strategic position however made it a target over the centuries and sacked repeatedly. The last and perhaps most important occasion came seventy years ago, between January-May 1944, when The Allies fought a vital battle with Axis Forces to gain access to Rome. The campaign was protracted and hard fought and…
The four hundredth anniversary of the arrival of the Dutch in North America was an occasion of both symbolic and contemporary significance. Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Crown Princess Maxima’s official visit to the USA celebrated the historic journey of Henry Hudson in 1609 and looked forward to a continuation of the alliance between the Netherlands and the USA, which the Crown Prince passionately believes is of vital importance to the challenges of our times. The royal tour kicked off in New York, the natural starting point for the anniversary celebrations. The city was founded after Dutch fur traders bought the…
The funeral of His Serene Highness Prince Rainier of Monaco was held on April 15, 2005, in the tiny Mediterranean principality. Europe’s longest reigning monarch was laid to rest in Monaco’s St. Nicholas Cathedral, in the family crypt next to his late wife, Grace Kelly. Rainier’s grieving family were joined by around half of Monaco’s six thousand residents who were given places in the square outside the palace and along the route taken by the funeral cortege to the cathedral. Amongst the mourners were representatives from around the world. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II was represented by the Duke of York;…
President Sarkozy’s state visit to Britain, the first by a French head of state in twelve years, was a resounding success, marked by his call for a strengthening of Anglo-French relations and the introduction of a new icon on the world stage – Sarkozy’s new wife and now French first lady, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. President Sarkozy has begun his term of office with a great sense of purpose and re-vitalising Anglo-French relations is high on his agenda. With that aim in mind, he could not have a better host than Queen Elizabeth II, whose diplomatic skills have been honed over more…
Fashion has always been at the heart of royal courts. Long before photography was invented we have the old masters’ paintings to give us a taste of the beautiful, richly ornate gowns worn by the aristocracy and royalty. Such was the prestige of a royal commission that great efforts were taken to avoid imitiation. It is said that Jane Bidney ordered the destruction of the lace design she had made for Queen Victoria’s wedding dress so it could not be copied. Which is nothing compared to the fierce, if possibly apochryphal, tale that would have us believe that Ivan the…
Since her marriage in May 2004, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark has consistently shown she has the knack for fashion and style. It’s a gift that Princess Letizia of Spain has, that the Countess of Wessex has developed. Indeed, most modern princesses, either through their own sense of style or by taking good advice, are keeping up with the supermodels and actresses they vie with for media attention. Whilst there is plenty of fun in fashion, its also a demanding part of the job for today’s royals. And when things go wrong there is a price to pay. Princess Diana had…
The weeks of anticipation were finally over as, on Saturday May 22, 2004, Spaniards gathered excitedly to celebrate the wedding of Crown Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz Rocasalono. Along with the thousands lining the streets of Madrid many viewed the event in city squares, restaurants and bars across the country. In all, twenty-five million Spaniards watched the wedding and the global audience estimated at more than one hundred million. The festive mood displayed the enthusiasm with which Prince Felipe’s decision to marry has been received and the handsome heir and his radiant bride amply fulfilled the high expectations. It was a…
The first of Europe’s spring weddings took place in Copenhagen when Crown Prince Frederik married his Australian born fiance, Mary Donaldson. It was a great day for the Danish royal family and Mary Donaldson, who captivated the nation with her charm and grace. Beautiful,confident,cool and charismatic are all epithets that have been given to Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, the Australian born girl of Scottish parentage, who became Crown Princess of Denmark on May 14.The highly popular groom, Crown Prince Frederik, has found a partner who seems an ideal match for a future king keenly aware of his duties. Mary Donaldson was born on 5…