With the world on heightened baby bump watch looking for any sign that The Duchess of Cambridge might be pregnant, here is a royal quiz to test your knowledge of the royal babies and nurseries. You may send your answers via the comments section, e-mail them to princessesreign@gmail.com or direct message (DM) them on Twitter to @palaceprincess.
1. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is due to have her first child in 2012. Who was the last heiress to a throne to give birth while still heiress?
2. Which two current heirs to thrones married within days of each other and had each of their first two children within days of each other?
3. Which current reigning monarch was "betrayed" when a former governess wrote a book about the royal nursery?
4. Which former monarch is said to have developed a debilitating disability partly because of an abusive nanny?
5. How many of Queen Elizabeth II's grandchildren were christened in a gown created for the children of Queen Victoria?
View answers.
21 December 2011
18 December 2011
Royal Holidays Answers
For this quiz, we asked our royal experts how well they know royal holiday destination and activities.
1. One skiing holiday turned into a nightmare for Prince Charles and his guests at this continental destination.
In 1988, Prince Charles' annual visit to Klosters turned tragic during a day of off-piste skiing. His then-wife, Diana, and sister-in-law, the Duchess of York, were back at the chalet when the prince and his friends heard an avalanche rumbling down the mountain. All were able to escape except Patricia Palmer-Tomkinson, who spent four months in a Swiss hospital, and Major Hugh Lindsay who was killed. Maj. Lindsay was one of the Queen's equerries and his wife was pregnant at the time.
2. Which royal family helped Princess Diana escape the dreary Scottish summer with a little Mediterranean sunshine in the mid-1980s?
In August 1987, the Spanish royal family invited the Prince and Princess of Wales to join them at Marivent Palace on the island of Majorca. While the Windsors traditionally spend the summer holiday wearing tweed in the Scottish Highlands at Balmoral, the Borbons can be found sailing and soaking up the sun in the Mediterranean. Click here to see footage of the joint photocall during this holiday. (Most of you will love seeing the baby Princes William and Harry, but be sure to notice the teenaged Prince Felipe, too!)
3. Most people want to escape the family during their honeymoon, but Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip spent theirs nestled at which relative's home?
In 1947, the royal newlyweds spent the first part of their honeymoon in Hampshire at Broadlands, home of Philip's uncle Earl Mountbatten. During their stay, they were swarmed by hundreds of well-wishers when they attended church services at Romsey Abbey. (See the video.) From there, they decamped to Birkhall, now the Scottish home of the Prince of Wales. Definitely a chilly location for a November honeymoon!
4. Which current Crown Princess had to cancel an official royal tour because she was suffering from sunburn?
Okay, Crown Princess Mette-Marit was not on vacation when she acquired her sunburn in 2002 (but a sunburn is a common holiday injury). She was actually filming a piece with a news crew in an anticipation of an official visit to Berlin, when the natural blonde endured from the effects of the spring sun and the bright light reflectors of the television crew. Not only did the princess have painful damage to her skin, but she also suffered injuries to her corneas, similar to snow blindness. Her doctors advised her to say home, and her husband went to Germany alone.
5. Which royal cougar won notoriety for entertaining her toy boy in Mustique?
Queen Elizabeth II's sister, Princess Margaret, ran with a "fast" set and is said to have many lovers among the nobility, actors, artists and musicians. However, the revelation of her affair with Roddy Llewellyn, a gardner 17 years her junior, seems to have put the nail into the coffin of her marriage to the Earl of Snowdon. In 1976, Roddy and the Princess were photographed together at her holiday home in the West Indies. Soon after the photos appeared in the papers, the Snowdons divorced. The relationship with Roddy seems fairly serious; the couple stayed together for eight years. However, some members of Parliament actually called her a "floosie" because of it.
6. What was the Duchess of York photographed doing on vacation that led to her divorce?
Unfortunately, Princess Margaret's niece-by-marriage, Sarah Ferguson learned nothing from her about taking vacations with men who aren't your husband. With Prince Andrew often away on naval duty, Sarah found companionship with at least two different men. When photos of her poolside with Steve Bryan were published in 1992, it led immediately to a royal separation. Unlike Margaret and Roddy, who were just seen on the beach in their bathing suits, Sarah was not only topless in some of the pics, Steve was sucking her toes. Perhaps worst of all, her two young daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, were playing nearby.
7. Which royal lady was inspired by holiday snaps to take up marathon running?
Like her mother before her, Princess Beatrice of York, inherited bright red hair and a tendency toward shapeliness that is not well-tolerated in today's media-crazy world. In 2007, bikini photos of the princess in the Caribbean led some of the media to attack the 19-year-old, size-10 princess for being too heavy. Beatrice responded by adopting a sensible eating and physical fitness plan. She took up running and became the first royal to complete the London Marathon in 2010. Through it all, her family and her boyfriend, Dave Clark, have been at her side, encouraging and supporting her.
8. Which senior royal made up an excuse to miss his Easter vacation because he was ill this year?
When the rest of his family made their annual Easter trip to Palma de Mallorca, King Juan Carlos of Spain announced that he was staying home to prepare for an official visit from the Emir of Qatar. However, speculation was rife that he was in ill health, a rumor that seemed to be confirmed when he had knee surgery a few weeks later. A few months after that, he had surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon. Rumors about a possible abdication have been high since at least 2010 when he had a benign tumor removed from his lung. However, the official word is that he will remain king until his death.
9. Which royal lady had her summer sojourn spoiled this year when her estranged husband became ill?
Princess Caroline was photographed on holiday with her daughters, Charlotte Casiraghi and Princess Alexandra, in Capri in late July, while her estranged third husband, Prince Ernst of Hanover, was being rushed to the hospital in Ibiza, where he was on a separate vacation. He stayed in intensive care for several days suffering with pancreatitis, but he was soon seen back out boating with a 23-year-old female companion. It is not believed that his wife or his daughter visited him during his hospitalization. Caroline and Ernst appear to have been separated for a couple of years, during which time, he has not been seen at official events in her native Monaco, including this summer's princely wedding.
10. Historical: Which two royal/imperial families exchanged Black Sea visits hoping (unsuccessfully) to encourage a royal romance?
In early 1914, Crown Princess Marie of Romania visited her cousins Tsar Nicholas and Empress Alexandra of Russia at Tsarskoe Selo to discuss a possible marriage between her oldest son, Prince Carol, and their oldest daughter, Grand Duchess Olga. During the visit, the two mothers agreed to create "occasions" to throw the young people together. But, with World War I looming, only one such occasion occurred, when the Russian imperial family docked the imperial yacht at the Romanian Black Sea port of Constantza. The two families spent the day together on the yacht while the Russian Foreign Minister and Romanian Prime Minister worked on details of marriage alliance. The young people in question, however, were not in the least attracted to each other and the issue was soon dropped, partly because Olga did not want to leave Russia. Three years later, she was murdered with her entire family at Ipatiev House.
Prince Carol went on to two failed, unapproved marriage, and a spectacularly unsuccessful royal marriage with a Greek princess. Although he renounced his right to the throne in favor of his young son, he returned from exile to take the crown away from him in 1930. Ten years later, he abdicated, leaving his teenaged son, King Michael, as the puppet of the Germans during World War II.
1. One skiing holiday turned into a nightmare for Prince Charles and his guests at this continental destination.
In 1988, Prince Charles' annual visit to Klosters turned tragic during a day of off-piste skiing. His then-wife, Diana, and sister-in-law, the Duchess of York, were back at the chalet when the prince and his friends heard an avalanche rumbling down the mountain. All were able to escape except Patricia Palmer-Tomkinson, who spent four months in a Swiss hospital, and Major Hugh Lindsay who was killed. Maj. Lindsay was one of the Queen's equerries and his wife was pregnant at the time.
2. Which royal family helped Princess Diana escape the dreary Scottish summer with a little Mediterranean sunshine in the mid-1980s?
In August 1987, the Spanish royal family invited the Prince and Princess of Wales to join them at Marivent Palace on the island of Majorca. While the Windsors traditionally spend the summer holiday wearing tweed in the Scottish Highlands at Balmoral, the Borbons can be found sailing and soaking up the sun in the Mediterranean. Click here to see footage of the joint photocall during this holiday. (Most of you will love seeing the baby Princes William and Harry, but be sure to notice the teenaged Prince Felipe, too!)
3. Most people want to escape the family during their honeymoon, but Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip spent theirs nestled at which relative's home?
In 1947, the royal newlyweds spent the first part of their honeymoon in Hampshire at Broadlands, home of Philip's uncle Earl Mountbatten. During their stay, they were swarmed by hundreds of well-wishers when they attended church services at Romsey Abbey. (See the video.) From there, they decamped to Birkhall, now the Scottish home of the Prince of Wales. Definitely a chilly location for a November honeymoon!
Okay, Crown Princess Mette-Marit was not on vacation when she acquired her sunburn in 2002 (but a sunburn is a common holiday injury). She was actually filming a piece with a news crew in an anticipation of an official visit to Berlin, when the natural blonde endured from the effects of the spring sun and the bright light reflectors of the television crew. Not only did the princess have painful damage to her skin, but she also suffered injuries to her corneas, similar to snow blindness. Her doctors advised her to say home, and her husband went to Germany alone.
Queen Elizabeth II's sister, Princess Margaret, ran with a "fast" set and is said to have many lovers among the nobility, actors, artists and musicians. However, the revelation of her affair with Roddy Llewellyn, a gardner 17 years her junior, seems to have put the nail into the coffin of her marriage to the Earl of Snowdon. In 1976, Roddy and the Princess were photographed together at her holiday home in the West Indies. Soon after the photos appeared in the papers, the Snowdons divorced. The relationship with Roddy seems fairly serious; the couple stayed together for eight years. However, some members of Parliament actually called her a "floosie" because of it.
6. What was the Duchess of York photographed doing on vacation that led to her divorce?
Unfortunately, Princess Margaret's niece-by-marriage, Sarah Ferguson learned nothing from her about taking vacations with men who aren't your husband. With Prince Andrew often away on naval duty, Sarah found companionship with at least two different men. When photos of her poolside with Steve Bryan were published in 1992, it led immediately to a royal separation. Unlike Margaret and Roddy, who were just seen on the beach in their bathing suits, Sarah was not only topless in some of the pics, Steve was sucking her toes. Perhaps worst of all, her two young daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, were playing nearby.
7. Which royal lady was inspired by holiday snaps to take up marathon running?
Like her mother before her, Princess Beatrice of York, inherited bright red hair and a tendency toward shapeliness that is not well-tolerated in today's media-crazy world. In 2007, bikini photos of the princess in the Caribbean led some of the media to attack the 19-year-old, size-10 princess for being too heavy. Beatrice responded by adopting a sensible eating and physical fitness plan. She took up running and became the first royal to complete the London Marathon in 2010. Through it all, her family and her boyfriend, Dave Clark, have been at her side, encouraging and supporting her.
When the rest of his family made their annual Easter trip to Palma de Mallorca, King Juan Carlos of Spain announced that he was staying home to prepare for an official visit from the Emir of Qatar. However, speculation was rife that he was in ill health, a rumor that seemed to be confirmed when he had knee surgery a few weeks later. A few months after that, he had surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon. Rumors about a possible abdication have been high since at least 2010 when he had a benign tumor removed from his lung. However, the official word is that he will remain king until his death.
9. Which royal lady had her summer sojourn spoiled this year when her estranged husband became ill?
Princess Caroline was photographed on holiday with her daughters, Charlotte Casiraghi and Princess Alexandra, in Capri in late July, while her estranged third husband, Prince Ernst of Hanover, was being rushed to the hospital in Ibiza, where he was on a separate vacation. He stayed in intensive care for several days suffering with pancreatitis, but he was soon seen back out boating with a 23-year-old female companion. It is not believed that his wife or his daughter visited him during his hospitalization. Caroline and Ernst appear to have been separated for a couple of years, during which time, he has not been seen at official events in her native Monaco, including this summer's princely wedding.
In early 1914, Crown Princess Marie of Romania visited her cousins Tsar Nicholas and Empress Alexandra of Russia at Tsarskoe Selo to discuss a possible marriage between her oldest son, Prince Carol, and their oldest daughter, Grand Duchess Olga. During the visit, the two mothers agreed to create "occasions" to throw the young people together. But, with World War I looming, only one such occasion occurred, when the Russian imperial family docked the imperial yacht at the Romanian Black Sea port of Constantza. The two families spent the day together on the yacht while the Russian Foreign Minister and Romanian Prime Minister worked on details of marriage alliance. The young people in question, however, were not in the least attracted to each other and the issue was soon dropped, partly because Olga did not want to leave Russia. Three years later, she was murdered with her entire family at Ipatiev House.
03 December 2011
Royal Holidays
Our favorite royals often have dozens of holiday options to choose from: hidden private estates, exclusive homes of welcoming friends, elegant five-star-plus destinations, but not every vacation is what it's cracked up to be. For this quiz, see if you can identify the royal destination. You may send your answers via the comments section, e-mail them to princessesreign@gmail.com or direct message (DM) them on Twitter to @palaceprincess.
1. One skiing holiday turned into a nightmare for Prince Charles and his guests at this continental destination.
2. Which royal family helped Princess Diana escape the dreary Scottish summer with a little Mediterranean sunshine in the mid-1980s?
3. Most people want to escape the family during their honeymoon, but Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip spent theirs nestled at which relative's home?
4. Which current Crown Princess had to cancel an official royal tour because she was suffering from sunburn?
5. Which royal cougar won notoriety for entertaining her toy boy in Mustique?
6. What was the Duchess of York photographed doing on vacation that led to her divorce?
7. Which royal lady was inspired by holiday snaps to take up marathon running?
8. Which senior royal made up an excuse to miss his Easter vacation because he was ill this year?
9. Which royal lady had her summer sojourn spoiled this year when her estranged husband became ill?
10. Historical: Which two royal/imperial families exchanged Black Sea visits hoping (unsuccessfully) to encourage a royal romance?
1. One skiing holiday turned into a nightmare for Prince Charles and his guests at this continental destination.
2. Which royal family helped Princess Diana escape the dreary Scottish summer with a little Mediterranean sunshine in the mid-1980s?
3. Most people want to escape the family during their honeymoon, but Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip spent theirs nestled at which relative's home?
4. Which current Crown Princess had to cancel an official royal tour because she was suffering from sunburn?
5. Which royal cougar won notoriety for entertaining her toy boy in Mustique?
6. What was the Duchess of York photographed doing on vacation that led to her divorce?
7. Which royal lady was inspired by holiday snaps to take up marathon running?
8. Which senior royal made up an excuse to miss his Easter vacation because he was ill this year?
9. Which royal lady had her summer sojourn spoiled this year when her estranged husband became ill?
10. Historical: Which two royal/imperial families exchanged Black Sea visits hoping (unsuccessfully) to encourage a royal romance?
16 October 2011
Royal Pets Answers
In this quiz, royal expert Christina Croft D.C.R.E. challenged your knowledge of royal pets.
1. How did a fox terrier named Caesar rise to fame in 1910?
Edward VII’s dog, Caesar, walked behind the coffin in his funeral procession. Following the king’s death, the dog was inconsolable and spent many days searching for him throughout Buckingham Palace. See Caesar in this 2010 Daily Mail article about him.
2. Queen Elizabeth II is known for her love of corgis but what was the name of her first one?
Dookie – named as a joke, since this was Wallis Simpson's pet name for the Duke of Windsor. See Dookie in this 2007 Telegraph article about him.
3. One of King George V’s favourite hobbies was shooting birds and yet one of his most faithful companions was a parrot. What was her name?
Charlotte – a pink parrot given to him by his sister, Victoria. George V was so devoted to Charlotte that she ate breakfast with him and sat on his desk as he worked through official business.
4. Dogs are renowned for being faithful to those who love them. Geddon and Joy are two royal dogs who even accompanied their owners to their executions. Who were those royalties?
Geddon was Mary, Queen of Scots’ little dog, who hid under her skirts during her execution and later, having refused to eat, appeared to die of grief. Joy belonged to Tsarevich Alexei of Russia and went with the Imperial Family to Ekaterinburg. Following the murder of the family, the dog was found wandering alone and half-starved. Happily he was rescued and taken to England where he lived out the rest of his life peacefully.
5. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were extremely attached to their dogs and were both opposed to any form of cruelty to animals. Prince Albert’s dog, Eos, and later, Queen Victoria’s dog, Noble, are seen on several painting and mentioned in letters. What breeds of dog were they?
Eos was a greyhound. There is even a statue of him at Osborne House. Read more. Noble was a collie.
BONUS QUESTION #1
Queen Victoria, when presented with an ostrich egg, asked indignantly why her own ostrich at Windsor had not yet laid any eggs. What reason was she given in reply?
“Yours is a male, ma’am.”
BONUS QUESTION #2
Which royal lady was in the news this summer for adopting her latest pet from a shelter?
In summer 2011, The Duchess of Cornwall made news when she adopted a rescued Jack Russell terrier named Beth, who joined two other Jack Russells already in the family. Read the news story and see Beth.
1. How did a fox terrier named Caesar rise to fame in 1910?
Edward VII’s dog, Caesar, walked behind the coffin in his funeral procession. Following the king’s death, the dog was inconsolable and spent many days searching for him throughout Buckingham Palace. See Caesar in this 2010 Daily Mail article about him.
2. Queen Elizabeth II is known for her love of corgis but what was the name of her first one?
Dookie – named as a joke, since this was Wallis Simpson's pet name for the Duke of Windsor. See Dookie in this 2007 Telegraph article about him.
3. One of King George V’s favourite hobbies was shooting birds and yet one of his most faithful companions was a parrot. What was her name?
Charlotte – a pink parrot given to him by his sister, Victoria. George V was so devoted to Charlotte that she ate breakfast with him and sat on his desk as he worked through official business.
 |
| The ill-fated Grand Duchesses Tatiana and Anastasia with their dog Ortino, who escaped the family's fate. |
Geddon was Mary, Queen of Scots’ little dog, who hid under her skirts during her execution and later, having refused to eat, appeared to die of grief. Joy belonged to Tsarevich Alexei of Russia and went with the Imperial Family to Ekaterinburg. Following the murder of the family, the dog was found wandering alone and half-starved. Happily he was rescued and taken to England where he lived out the rest of his life peacefully.
 |
| Prince Albert with his dog, Eos, and his oldest daughter. |
Eos was a greyhound. There is even a statue of him at Osborne House. Read more. Noble was a collie.
BONUS QUESTION #1
Queen Victoria, when presented with an ostrich egg, asked indignantly why her own ostrich at Windsor had not yet laid any eggs. What reason was she given in reply?
“Yours is a male, ma’am.”
BONUS QUESTION #2
Which royal lady was in the news this summer for adopting her latest pet from a shelter?
In summer 2011, The Duchess of Cornwall made news when she adopted a rescued Jack Russell terrier named Beth, who joined two other Jack Russells already in the family. Read the news story and see Beth.
05 September 2011
Royal Pets Quiz
Everyone needs a companion who really understands them. For many of us, that dear friend is of a feathered or furry nature. In this quiz, royal expert Christina Croft D.C.R.E. challenges your knowledge of royal pets. You may send your answers via the comments section, e-mail them to princessesreign@gmail.com or direct message (DM) them on Twitter to @palaceprincess.
1. How did a fox terrier named Caesar rise to fame in 1910?
2. Queen Elizabeth II is known for her love of corgis but what was the name of her first one?
3. One of King George V’s favourite hobbies was shooting birds and yet one of his most faithful companions was a parrot. What was her name?
4. Dogs are renowned for being faithful to those who love them. Geddon and Joy are two royal dogs who even accompanied their owners to their executions. Who were those royalties?
5. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were extremely attached to their dogs and were both opposed to any form of cruelty to animals. Prince Albert’s dog, Eos, and later, Queen Victoria’s dog, Noble, are seen on several painting and mentioned in letters. What breeds of dog were they?
BONUS QUESTION #1
Queen Victoria, when presented with an ostrich egg, asked indignantly why her own ostrich at Windsor had not yet laid any eggs. What reason was she given in reply?
BONUS QUESTION #2
Which royal lady was in the news this summer for adopting her latest pet from a shelter?
View Answers
1. How did a fox terrier named Caesar rise to fame in 1910?
2. Queen Elizabeth II is known for her love of corgis but what was the name of her first one?
3. One of King George V’s favourite hobbies was shooting birds and yet one of his most faithful companions was a parrot. What was her name?
4. Dogs are renowned for being faithful to those who love them. Geddon and Joy are two royal dogs who even accompanied their owners to their executions. Who were those royalties?
5. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were extremely attached to their dogs and were both opposed to any form of cruelty to animals. Prince Albert’s dog, Eos, and later, Queen Victoria’s dog, Noble, are seen on several painting and mentioned in letters. What breeds of dog were they?
BONUS QUESTION #1
Queen Victoria, when presented with an ostrich egg, asked indignantly why her own ostrich at Windsor had not yet laid any eggs. What reason was she given in reply?
BONUS QUESTION #2
Which royal lady was in the news this summer for adopting her latest pet from a shelter?
View Answers
31 July 2011
Asian Royals Answers
It may come as a surprise to some, but there are royal families outside of Europe. In this very interesting quiz, Certified Royal Expert Yvonne challenged our experts on some Asian royals.
1. Which Middle Eastern king took part in an episode of Star Trek Voyager before his accession?
Abdullah II of Jordan was given a non-speaking role in the second-series Star Trek Voyager episode "Investigations" in 1996 during a visit to the USA while he was still crown prince. Since he isn't a member of the Screen Actors' Guild, he wasn't able to take a speaking role in the episode. Among his other interests (skydiving, scuba diving, motorcyle racing), he's also a Trekkie, a relatively safe interest compared with the others.
2. Which Asian ruler was reputed to have used his Rolls Royces to haul garbage, and why?
This story is probably apocryphal because it's told in different forms about different Indian rulers and there don't seem to be any photos available. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala (also sometimes identified as the Maharaja of Punjab) is said to have been offended by being snubbed by a Rolls Royce salesman, and retaliated by sending some of the older Rolls Royces in his fleet to haul garbage and dung in Patiala City; he never bought any Rolls Royces again, opting for the less snobby American cars. The Maharaja of Bharatpur reputedly registered his displeasure with the Rolls Royce company for slow response to a request for mechanics by threatening to convert the entire fleet to garbage carriers. Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar, a generally fairly unpleasant piece of work who ended up being exiled from his state after constant complaints about his profligacy and sadism, was also reported to have taken offence at the attitude of a Rolls Royce salesman who didn't recognise him and acted as though he wouldn't be able to afford their cars, bought several cars, and shipped them home for use as garbage trucks. The same story is told about the Nizam of Hyderabad (aka the world's richest man), Osman Ali Khan.
3. Which Asian king married four sisters on the same day? (Hint: his son has recently become engaged to one woman.)
In 1979, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, father of the present king, privately married four sisters, Ashi Dorji Wangmo, Ashi Tshering Pem, Ashi Tshering Yangdon, and Ashi Sangay Choden, daughters of Yab Ugyen Dorji of the Shabdrung lineage (in other words, a descendant of the founder of Bhutan). The marriages were not celebrated publicly until 31 October 1988. They have five sons and five daughters between them. The present king, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, is the son of the third wife, and recently announced his engagement to Jetsun Pema. See a photo of bridalcouple quintet.
4. Which Asian ruler used to be a ballet dancer in Czechoslovakia?
King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia was a ballet dancer, teacher, and choreographer in Paris before returning to Cambodia in 2004 to become king after his father's abdication. As a child he studied dance and music at the National Conservatory and the Academy of Musical Art in Prague, Czechoslovakia, where he was sent for his education. He studied cinematography in North Korea in the 1970s, and returned home to Cambodia shortly after the Khmer Rouge takeover, when he was put under house arrest with several other family members. After the Vietnamese invasion in 1979 he moved to Paris, where he was professor of classical dance at the Marius Petipa Conservatory and started his own dance troupe, Ballet Deva. He also worked as a cultural delegate for UNESCO during his time in Paris, and was President of the Khmer Dance Association. His half-sister Princess Norodom Bopha Devi is also a trained ballet dancer as well as a Khmer classical dancer.
5. Hanwant Singh, Maharaja of Jodhpur, was an accomplished polo player, like several other Indian princes. However, he had another hobby that was unique to him. What was it?
He was a talented amateur magician. At one point he was invited to give a display of his talents to a large group of magicians in London, and according to Ann Morrow's book "Highness: the Maharajas of India," he was admitted to the Magic Circle as a result of his performance. He was one of the more progressive Indian rulers, handling the transition to independence with more success than many others and getting involved in the political system. He was unfortunately killed in a plane crash during the elections (which he would have won), at the age of only 28.
Abdullah II of Jordan was given a non-speaking role in the second-series Star Trek Voyager episode "Investigations" in 1996 during a visit to the USA while he was still crown prince. Since he isn't a member of the Screen Actors' Guild, he wasn't able to take a speaking role in the episode. Among his other interests (skydiving, scuba diving, motorcyle racing), he's also a Trekkie, a relatively safe interest compared with the others.
2. Which Asian ruler was reputed to have used his Rolls Royces to haul garbage, and why?
This story is probably apocryphal because it's told in different forms about different Indian rulers and there don't seem to be any photos available. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala (also sometimes identified as the Maharaja of Punjab) is said to have been offended by being snubbed by a Rolls Royce salesman, and retaliated by sending some of the older Rolls Royces in his fleet to haul garbage and dung in Patiala City; he never bought any Rolls Royces again, opting for the less snobby American cars. The Maharaja of Bharatpur reputedly registered his displeasure with the Rolls Royce company for slow response to a request for mechanics by threatening to convert the entire fleet to garbage carriers. Maharaja Jai Singh of Alwar, a generally fairly unpleasant piece of work who ended up being exiled from his state after constant complaints about his profligacy and sadism, was also reported to have taken offence at the attitude of a Rolls Royce salesman who didn't recognise him and acted as though he wouldn't be able to afford their cars, bought several cars, and shipped them home for use as garbage trucks. The same story is told about the Nizam of Hyderabad (aka the world's richest man), Osman Ali Khan.
3. Which Asian king married four sisters on the same day? (Hint: his son has recently become engaged to one woman.)
In 1979, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, father of the present king, privately married four sisters, Ashi Dorji Wangmo, Ashi Tshering Pem, Ashi Tshering Yangdon, and Ashi Sangay Choden, daughters of Yab Ugyen Dorji of the Shabdrung lineage (in other words, a descendant of the founder of Bhutan). The marriages were not celebrated publicly until 31 October 1988. They have five sons and five daughters between them. The present king, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, is the son of the third wife, and recently announced his engagement to Jetsun Pema. See a photo of bridal
King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia was a ballet dancer, teacher, and choreographer in Paris before returning to Cambodia in 2004 to become king after his father's abdication. As a child he studied dance and music at the National Conservatory and the Academy of Musical Art in Prague, Czechoslovakia, where he was sent for his education. He studied cinematography in North Korea in the 1970s, and returned home to Cambodia shortly after the Khmer Rouge takeover, when he was put under house arrest with several other family members. After the Vietnamese invasion in 1979 he moved to Paris, where he was professor of classical dance at the Marius Petipa Conservatory and started his own dance troupe, Ballet Deva. He also worked as a cultural delegate for UNESCO during his time in Paris, and was President of the Khmer Dance Association. His half-sister Princess Norodom Bopha Devi is also a trained ballet dancer as well as a Khmer classical dancer.
5. Hanwant Singh, Maharaja of Jodhpur, was an accomplished polo player, like several other Indian princes. However, he had another hobby that was unique to him. What was it?
He was a talented amateur magician. At one point he was invited to give a display of his talents to a large group of magicians in London, and according to Ann Morrow's book "Highness: the Maharajas of India," he was admitted to the Magic Circle as a result of his performance. He was one of the more progressive Indian rulers, handling the transition to independence with more success than many others and getting involved in the political system. He was unfortunately killed in a plane crash during the elections (which he would have won), at the age of only 28.
18 July 2011
Asian Royals: DOUBLE points
It may come as a surprise to some, but there are royal families outside of Europe. In this very interesting quiz, Certified Royal Expert Yvonne challenges you on some Asian royals. Correct answers on this quiz will earn you double points toward your certification. Get all five right and you will earn an Asian Designation. You may send your answers via the comments section, e-mail them to princessesreign@gmail.com or direct message (DM) them on Twitter to @palaceprincess.
1. Which Middle Eastern king took part in an episode of Star Trek Voyager before his accession?
2. Which Asian ruler was reputed to have used his Rolls Royces to haul garbage? Note: Amazingly enough, there may be more than one correct answer; just one name will be fine.
3. Which Asian king married four sisters on the same day? (Hint: his son has recently become engaged to one woman)
4. Which Asian ruler used to be a ballet dancer in Czechoslovakia?
5. Hanwant Singh, Maharaja of Jodhpur, was an accomplished polo player, like several other Indian princes. However, he had another hobby that was unique to him. What was it?
1. Which Middle Eastern king took part in an episode of Star Trek Voyager before his accession?
2. Which Asian ruler was reputed to have used his Rolls Royces to haul garbage? Note: Amazingly enough, there may be more than one correct answer; just one name will be fine.
3. Which Asian king married four sisters on the same day? (Hint: his son has recently become engaged to one woman)
4. Which Asian ruler used to be a ballet dancer in Czechoslovakia?
5. Hanwant Singh, Maharaja of Jodhpur, was an accomplished polo player, like several other Indian princes. However, he had another hobby that was unique to him. What was it?
05 July 2011
Illegitimate Monaco Answers
In light of the rumors swirling around the princely wedding in Monaco (See wedding pics, it is worth remembering that Prince Albert is not the only Grimaldi to let passion carry him away. This quiz challenged your knowledge of this unusual Grimaldi tradition.
1. Which illegitimate daughter was officially adopted by her princely father so that he might have an heir?
You have to go back a few generations for this answer. Prince Albert's great grandfather Prince Louis II also waited until late in life to marry--he was 76 when he married a forty-something divorce comedy actress. Unlike Albert, Louis had no siblings who could succeed him, so he formally adopted his illegitimate daughter Charlotte to be his heir. Elevated to Princess and forced into an arranged marriage, Charlotte had two children before divorcing her husband and surrendering her right to the throne to her son, Prince Rainier III. Princess Caroline's daughter, Charlotte Casiraghi is named for her. Incidentally, both Caroline and her daughter look strikingly like their ancestress. (Read more about this.)
2. Which prince altered the succession laws so that illegitimate children could not inherit the principality?
Shortly before his death, probably having learned of rumors about Prince Albert's illegitimate children, Prince Rainier III altered the laws so that no illegitimate child could lay claim to the principality. After Rainier's death, Prince Albert publicly acknowledged they he had fathered illegitimate children.
3. Which Grimaldi descendant's parents received official permission to marry, even though the groom lost his right to a throne?
Princess Alexandra of Hanover. This one seems to have caused the most difficulty for our Royal Experts. When Princess Caroline married Prince Ernst August of Hanover, he sought formal permission from his distant cousin Queen Elizabeth II. As a descendant of the Hanoverian kings of England, he is technically required to receive such permission under the Royal Marriages Act of 1772. However, because Caroline is Catholic, their marriage also meant that he gave up his place in the British Line of Succession. Of course, he was very far down the line. So, why is this question on the Illegitimate Monaco quiz? Because Caroline was already pregnant with their daughter Princess Alexandra at the time of their wedding. Incidentally, Alexandra is being raised as a Protestant so she could one (very unlikely) day be Queen of England.
4. How many children has Princess Stephanie had out of wedlock?
All three of Princess Stephanie's children were born out of wedlock. The first two, Louis and Pauline Ducruet, were both born before she married their father, Daniel Ducruet, her former bodyguard. The third, Camille, was born after her divorce from Ducruet and Stephanie did not list the father on the birth certificate. She is believed to be the daughter of Jean-Paul Gottlieb, another royal bodyguard. Stephanie had no children with her second husband, circus performer Adans Lopez Peres.
5. How many children did Prince Albert publicly acknowledge before his marriage to Charlene Wittstock?
Prince Albert publicly acknowledged two children before his marriage: Jazmin Grace Grimaldi and Alexandre Coste. Born in 1992, Jazmin is the daughter of Tamara Rotolo, who met the prince while vacationing with her husband in Monaco. Jazmin was raised in Southern California. Prince Albert has said she is welcome to live and study in Monaco, but she has chosen instead to attend Fordham University in New York. Born in 2003, Alexandre is the son of Nicole Coste of Togo, who had been an air hostess. Alexandre and his mother live in France on an estate near Monaco, that has been provided by his father.
You have to go back a few generations for this answer. Prince Albert's great grandfather Prince Louis II also waited until late in life to marry--he was 76 when he married a forty-something divorce comedy actress. Unlike Albert, Louis had no siblings who could succeed him, so he formally adopted his illegitimate daughter Charlotte to be his heir. Elevated to Princess and forced into an arranged marriage, Charlotte had two children before divorcing her husband and surrendering her right to the throne to her son, Prince Rainier III. Princess Caroline's daughter, Charlotte Casiraghi is named for her. Incidentally, both Caroline and her daughter look strikingly like their ancestress. (Read more about this.)
2. Which prince altered the succession laws so that illegitimate children could not inherit the principality?
Shortly before his death, probably having learned of rumors about Prince Albert's illegitimate children, Prince Rainier III altered the laws so that no illegitimate child could lay claim to the principality. After Rainier's death, Prince Albert publicly acknowledged they he had fathered illegitimate children.
Princess Alexandra of Hanover. This one seems to have caused the most difficulty for our Royal Experts. When Princess Caroline married Prince Ernst August of Hanover, he sought formal permission from his distant cousin Queen Elizabeth II. As a descendant of the Hanoverian kings of England, he is technically required to receive such permission under the Royal Marriages Act of 1772. However, because Caroline is Catholic, their marriage also meant that he gave up his place in the British Line of Succession. Of course, he was very far down the line. So, why is this question on the Illegitimate Monaco quiz? Because Caroline was already pregnant with their daughter Princess Alexandra at the time of their wedding. Incidentally, Alexandra is being raised as a Protestant so she could one (very unlikely) day be Queen of England.
All three of Princess Stephanie's children were born out of wedlock. The first two, Louis and Pauline Ducruet, were both born before she married their father, Daniel Ducruet, her former bodyguard. The third, Camille, was born after her divorce from Ducruet and Stephanie did not list the father on the birth certificate. She is believed to be the daughter of Jean-Paul Gottlieb, another royal bodyguard. Stephanie had no children with her second husband, circus performer Adans Lopez Peres.
5. How many children did Prince Albert publicly acknowledge before his marriage to Charlene Wittstock?
Prince Albert publicly acknowledged two children before his marriage: Jazmin Grace Grimaldi and Alexandre Coste. Born in 1992, Jazmin is the daughter of Tamara Rotolo, who met the prince while vacationing with her husband in Monaco. Jazmin was raised in Southern California. Prince Albert has said she is welcome to live and study in Monaco, but she has chosen instead to attend Fordham University in New York. Born in 2003, Alexandre is the son of Nicole Coste of Togo, who had been an air hostess. Alexandre and his mother live in France on an estate near Monaco, that has been provided by his father.
02 July 2011
Illegitimate Monaco Quiz
In light of the rumors swirling around the princely wedding in Monaco (See wedding pics), it is worth remembering that Prince Albert is not the only Grimaldi to let passion carry him away. This quiz challenges your knowledge of this unusual Grimaldi tradition. You may send your answers via the comments section, e-mail them to princessesreign@gmail.com or direct message (DM) them on Twitter to @palaceprincess.
1. Which illegitimate daughter was officially adopted by her princely father so that he might have an heir?
2. Which prince altered the succession laws so that illegitimate children could not inherit the principality?
3. Which Grimaldi descendant's parents received official permission to marry, even though the groom lost his right to the throne?
4. How many children has Princess Stephanie had out of wedlock?
5. How many children did Prince Albert publicly acknowledge before his marriage to Charlene Wittstock?
View Answers
1. Which illegitimate daughter was officially adopted by her princely father so that he might have an heir?
2. Which prince altered the succession laws so that illegitimate children could not inherit the principality?
3. Which Grimaldi descendant's parents received official permission to marry, even though the groom lost his right to the throne?
4. How many children has Princess Stephanie had out of wedlock?
5. How many children did Prince Albert publicly acknowledge before his marriage to Charlene Wittstock?
View Answers
01 July 2011
Regnal Names Answers
When they come to the throne, monarchs have to decide how they wish to be known. While many choose the name they've had since birth, others select something else for various reasons. In this quiz, Royal Expert Goddess Robyn H. wants to know if you know who is who.
1. By what name is Princess Alexandrina of Kent better known?
Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
Don't mistake her for her descendant, Princess Alexandra of Kent (also known as The Hon. Lady Ogilvy). Queen Victoria was born Princess Alexandrina Victoria, daughter of the Duke of Kent, fourth son of King George III. Her nickname was Drina, but she had stopped using that name by the time she became queen.
2. This Queen could have reigned as Queen Alexandra or as Queen Mary III, but chose "my own name, what else?"
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary after her mother, great-grandmother and grandmother, each of whom was a queen consort, Her Majesty has always used her first name both informally and officially.
3. Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I was born under this name, which is lent to a popular movement in the Caribbean (as well as being slightly less fun to say).
Tafari Makonnen
After a militant political struggle, Regent Tafari succeeded the Ethiopian empress in 1930 and held power for more than 40 years. He is said to be descended from the legendary Queen of Sheba.
4. After a Japanese emperor has died, he is posthumously given the name of the era in which he reigned. By what name does the West better know Emperor Showa, and what name will be eventually given to the current emperor?
Emperor Hirohito; Emperor Heisei
Renaming a person--particularly a royal person--is a longstanding tradition throughout East Asia. It is still followed in Japan, where the posthumous name corresponds to the era in which the emperor reigned. Members of the Japanese imperial family also have personal as well titular names. This means that the next emperor, commonly known in the west as Crown Prince Naruhito should actually be referred to as Prince Hiro and his little daughter Aiko is actually Princess Toshi.
5. The name John is considered cursed or unlucky by some (considering the disastrous reign of King John in the late 12th century), and it prompted this 14th century king to forgo his birth name and choose the name of his father and great-grandfather.
Robert III of Scotland
Changing his name to Robert not only dissociated him with the unfortunate English King John but also from the Scottish King John Balliol, known as empty shirt. The name change also allowed the illegitimate John Stewart to emphasize his ties with the Bruce kings of Scotland from whom he was descended.
Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
Don't mistake her for her descendant, Princess Alexandra of Kent (also known as The Hon. Lady Ogilvy). Queen Victoria was born Princess Alexandrina Victoria, daughter of the Duke of Kent, fourth son of King George III. Her nickname was Drina, but she had stopped using that name by the time she became queen.
2. This Queen could have reigned as Queen Alexandra or as Queen Mary III, but chose "my own name, what else?"
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Christened Elizabeth Alexandra Mary after her mother, great-grandmother and grandmother, each of whom was a queen consort, Her Majesty has always used her first name both informally and officially.
Tafari Makonnen
After a militant political struggle, Regent Tafari succeeded the Ethiopian empress in 1930 and held power for more than 40 years. He is said to be descended from the legendary Queen of Sheba.
4. After a Japanese emperor has died, he is posthumously given the name of the era in which he reigned. By what name does the West better know Emperor Showa, and what name will be eventually given to the current emperor?
Emperor Hirohito; Emperor Heisei
Renaming a person--particularly a royal person--is a longstanding tradition throughout East Asia. It is still followed in Japan, where the posthumous name corresponds to the era in which the emperor reigned. Members of the Japanese imperial family also have personal as well titular names. This means that the next emperor, commonly known in the west as Crown Prince Naruhito should actually be referred to as Prince Hiro and his little daughter Aiko is actually Princess Toshi.
Robert III of Scotland
Changing his name to Robert not only dissociated him with the unfortunate English King John but also from the Scottish King John Balliol, known as empty shirt. The name change also allowed the illegitimate John Stewart to emphasize his ties with the Bruce kings of Scotland from whom he was descended.
25 June 2011
Regnal Names
When they come to the throne, monarchs have to decide how they wish to be known. While many choose the name they've had since birth, others select something else for various reasons. In this quiz, Royal Expert Goddess Robyn H. wants to know if you know who is who. To submit your answers, use the comment option, e-mail princessesreign@gmail.com or direct message @princesspalace on Twitter.
1. By what name is Princess Alexandrina of Kent better known?
2. This Queen could have reigned as Queen Alexandra or as Queen Mary III, but chose "my own name, what else?"
3. Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I was born under this name, which is lent to a popular movement in the Caribbean (as well as being slightly less fun to say).
4. After a Japanese emperor has died, he is posthumously given the name of the era in which he reigned. By what name does the West better know Emperor Showa, and what name will be eventually given to the current emperor?
5. The name John is considered cursed or unlucky by some (considering the disastrous reign of King John in the late 12th century), and it prompted this 14th century king to forgo his birth name and choose the name of his father and great-grandfather.
View Answers
1. By what name is Princess Alexandrina of Kent better known?
2. This Queen could have reigned as Queen Alexandra or as Queen Mary III, but chose "my own name, what else?"
3. Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I was born under this name, which is lent to a popular movement in the Caribbean (as well as being slightly less fun to say).
4. After a Japanese emperor has died, he is posthumously given the name of the era in which he reigned. By what name does the West better know Emperor Showa, and what name will be eventually given to the current emperor?
5. The name John is considered cursed or unlucky by some (considering the disastrous reign of King John in the late 12th century), and it prompted this 14th century king to forgo his birth name and choose the name of his father and great-grandfather.
View Answers
Prince Philip Answers
In honor of HRH The Prince Philip's 90th birthday, we asked our experts to tell us all about him.
1. Who were Prince Philip's parents?
He was the youngest child and only son of Prince Andrew of Greece, fourth son King George I of Greece, and Princess Alice of Battenberg, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
2. Why was he a Prince of Denmark?
Philip's grandfather was elected King of Greece by the Greek National Assembly, before that he was Prince William of Denmark. William was the second son of King Christian IX of Denmark. He and his descendants retained their royal Danish titles. Even today, the exiled Greek royals are still have Danish royal titles.
3. How many siblings did he have?
Philip had four older sisters Margarita, Theodora, Cecilia and Sophie. They were all married to German princes by the time Philip was 10. World War II was difficult for him and his family because his sisters were in Germany--and he had brothers-in-law serving Hitler--while he was fighting in the Navy of his mother's homeland, England. None of his surviving sisters (Cecilia, her husband, two sons and unborn child were killed in a plane crash in 1937) were invited to his wedding in 1947 and he maintained discreet relationships with them, their children and grandchildren.
4. What was his name when he became engaged to Princess Elizabeth?
At the time of his engagement, he was known as Lt. Philip Mountbatten, R.N. He had voluntarily surrendered all of his royal titles and adopted the surname of his mother's English brothers at the time of his naturalization as a British subject earlier in 1947.
5. How many British Prince Consorts have been consorts longer than he has?
Technically, Prince Philip does not hold the title Prince Consort, although some hoped he would receive it as a 90th birthday honor. However, he is the longest serving male consort in British history: Philip of Spain was consort of Mary I for three years, George of Denmark was consort of Queen Anne for seven years, and Albert of Saxe-Coburg was Victoria's consort for nearly 22 years. Philip has been Elizabeth II's princely consort for 59 years as of February 2011. The longest-serving female consort was his and Elizabeth's shared great-great-great-great grandmother Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III.
6. What titles did his father-in-law give him?
King George VI gave his soon-to-be son-in-law the British royal titles of Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich on his wedding day. The day before the wedding, he made him a Knight of the Order of the Garter. (The last Duke of Edinburgh before him was Queen Victoria's second son, Prince Alfred.)
7. Who made him a Prince of the United Kingdom?
Even though he was a royal duke, he was not officially a prince again until his wife gave the title in 1957, nearly 10 years after their marriage and five years after her accession.
8. Which of his children will inherit his title when he dies?
The answer to this question is a very solid "it depends," and it depends on who's living and who's dead at the time. If The Queen is still alive, then Prince Charles, as the eldest son of a peer, will inherit Philip's title. When Charles eventually becomes king, the title will merge with the Crown and it can be recreated for someone else. If The Queen is alive and Charles is dead or he dies before becoming king, Prince William becomes Duke of Edinburgh. Then Harry, then Andrew, then Edward, then Edward's son James. If all of his male-line heirs are dead (a highly unlikely scenario), the title becomes extinct.
If Prince Philip outlives his wife, his title would merge with the crown immediately upon his death. In 1999, it was announced that The Queen intends for Prince Edward, their third son, to receive the title Duke of Edinburgh in the future. Whether he actually gets it or not depends on whether the new king, presumably his brother Charles, recreates it and gives it to him. Many people believe that this intended future inheritance is why Prince Edward was made an earl rather than a royal duke, as was traditional, upon his marriage.
9. What is his last name and what is its origin of his last name?
Philip's last name is Mountbatten. He chose this name for himself at the time of his naturalization. It was the name of his maternal uncles, the Marquess of Milford Haven and Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who helped raise him, helped him get into the British navy and championed him as a candidate for the hand of Princess Elizabeth. However, his uncles were not born with this name; they adopted it in 1917 when they renounced all of their German titles. They were descendants of a morganatic branch of the German ducal house of Hesse. Their branch of the family was known as Battenberg. When World War I caused massive anti-German feeling in Britain, their father First Sea Lord Prince Louis of Battenberg anglicized the name to Mountbatten and accepted the lower British title of Marquess of Milford Haven, which was later inherited by eldest son. His youngest son later was made an earl. Incidentally, despite having lived in England and served honorably and well in the British navy in 50 years, Prince Louis was forced to retire as First Sea Lord before the end of the war. The name change and demotion in rank did not affect his daughters, one of whom was Philip's mother, because they were already married.
The choice of his mother's "family" name likely reflects Philip's feeling of closeness to her family as well as his own desire to appear more British at the time of his marriage to the British heiress presumptive. It was also a simpler name to use as his father's royal house was Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg. Anglicizing that would have been far more complicated!
10. Where in the world is he worshipped as a god?
Among the islands of the South Pacific, there is a family of religions referred to as "cargo cults." Inspired by the arrival of ships full of white men and life-altering supplies, as well as luxury items, especially during and immediately after World War II, the local peoples came to believe that these items were being sent to them by their deities. One cultural group on the island of Tanna in Vanautu had a legend that one of their ancient spirits had traveled over the sea to marry a powerful lady. Stories about the husband of the Queen of England apparently convinced them that Prince Philip was that divine spirit. When he and The Queen visited Vanautu in 1974, they thought their god was returning. A reality show in 2007 brought several members of the group to Britain to experience British culture and to (hopefully) see their god again. Although the audience was not filmed for the program, the men did get to meet Prince Philip in person to give him gifts. He gave them a photograph of himself.
He was the youngest child and only son of Prince Andrew of Greece, fourth son King George I of Greece, and Princess Alice of Battenberg, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
2. Why was he a Prince of Denmark?
Philip's grandfather was elected King of Greece by the Greek National Assembly, before that he was Prince William of Denmark. William was the second son of King Christian IX of Denmark. He and his descendants retained their royal Danish titles. Even today, the exiled Greek royals are still have Danish royal titles.
3. How many siblings did he have?
Philip had four older sisters Margarita, Theodora, Cecilia and Sophie. They were all married to German princes by the time Philip was 10. World War II was difficult for him and his family because his sisters were in Germany--and he had brothers-in-law serving Hitler--while he was fighting in the Navy of his mother's homeland, England. None of his surviving sisters (Cecilia, her husband, two sons and unborn child were killed in a plane crash in 1937) were invited to his wedding in 1947 and he maintained discreet relationships with them, their children and grandchildren.
4. What was his name when he became engaged to Princess Elizabeth?
At the time of his engagement, he was known as Lt. Philip Mountbatten, R.N. He had voluntarily surrendered all of his royal titles and adopted the surname of his mother's English brothers at the time of his naturalization as a British subject earlier in 1947.
5. How many British Prince Consorts have been consorts longer than he has?
Technically, Prince Philip does not hold the title Prince Consort, although some hoped he would receive it as a 90th birthday honor. However, he is the longest serving male consort in British history: Philip of Spain was consort of Mary I for three years, George of Denmark was consort of Queen Anne for seven years, and Albert of Saxe-Coburg was Victoria's consort for nearly 22 years. Philip has been Elizabeth II's princely consort for 59 years as of February 2011. The longest-serving female consort was his and Elizabeth's shared great-great-great-great grandmother Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III.
6. What titles did his father-in-law give him?
King George VI gave his soon-to-be son-in-law the British royal titles of Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth and Baron Greenwich on his wedding day. The day before the wedding, he made him a Knight of the Order of the Garter. (The last Duke of Edinburgh before him was Queen Victoria's second son, Prince Alfred.)
7. Who made him a Prince of the United Kingdom?
Even though he was a royal duke, he was not officially a prince again until his wife gave the title in 1957, nearly 10 years after their marriage and five years after her accession.
8. Which of his children will inherit his title when he dies?
The answer to this question is a very solid "it depends," and it depends on who's living and who's dead at the time. If The Queen is still alive, then Prince Charles, as the eldest son of a peer, will inherit Philip's title. When Charles eventually becomes king, the title will merge with the Crown and it can be recreated for someone else. If The Queen is alive and Charles is dead or he dies before becoming king, Prince William becomes Duke of Edinburgh. Then Harry, then Andrew, then Edward, then Edward's son James. If all of his male-line heirs are dead (a highly unlikely scenario), the title becomes extinct.
If Prince Philip outlives his wife, his title would merge with the crown immediately upon his death. In 1999, it was announced that The Queen intends for Prince Edward, their third son, to receive the title Duke of Edinburgh in the future. Whether he actually gets it or not depends on whether the new king, presumably his brother Charles, recreates it and gives it to him. Many people believe that this intended future inheritance is why Prince Edward was made an earl rather than a royal duke, as was traditional, upon his marriage.
9. What is his last name and what is its origin of his last name?
Philip's last name is Mountbatten. He chose this name for himself at the time of his naturalization. It was the name of his maternal uncles, the Marquess of Milford Haven and Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who helped raise him, helped him get into the British navy and championed him as a candidate for the hand of Princess Elizabeth. However, his uncles were not born with this name; they adopted it in 1917 when they renounced all of their German titles. They were descendants of a morganatic branch of the German ducal house of Hesse. Their branch of the family was known as Battenberg. When World War I caused massive anti-German feeling in Britain, their father First Sea Lord Prince Louis of Battenberg anglicized the name to Mountbatten and accepted the lower British title of Marquess of Milford Haven, which was later inherited by eldest son. His youngest son later was made an earl. Incidentally, despite having lived in England and served honorably and well in the British navy in 50 years, Prince Louis was forced to retire as First Sea Lord before the end of the war. The name change and demotion in rank did not affect his daughters, one of whom was Philip's mother, because they were already married.
The choice of his mother's "family" name likely reflects Philip's feeling of closeness to her family as well as his own desire to appear more British at the time of his marriage to the British heiress presumptive. It was also a simpler name to use as his father's royal house was Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg. Anglicizing that would have been far more complicated!
10. Where in the world is he worshipped as a god?
Among the islands of the South Pacific, there is a family of religions referred to as "cargo cults." Inspired by the arrival of ships full of white men and life-altering supplies, as well as luxury items, especially during and immediately after World War II, the local peoples came to believe that these items were being sent to them by their deities. One cultural group on the island of Tanna in Vanautu had a legend that one of their ancient spirits had traveled over the sea to marry a powerful lady. Stories about the husband of the Queen of England apparently convinced them that Prince Philip was that divine spirit. When he and The Queen visited Vanautu in 1974, they thought their god was returning. A reality show in 2007 brought several members of the group to Britain to experience British culture and to (hopefully) see their god again. Although the audience was not filmed for the program, the men did get to meet Prince Philip in person to give him gifts. He gave them a photograph of himself.
11 June 2011
Royal Hobbies Answers
As the summer roars in, it seems appropriate to think about the royals in a more relaxed, off-duty mode. For this quiz, our experts were asked to identify the royal associated the following hobbies.
1. This royal declared he was no damn alien, but he was a recognized philatelist.
King George V was an avid stamp collector. He amassed a collection that is probably one of the most valuable in the world. It is now owned by his granddaughter Queen Elizabeth II. As for the alien statement, during World War I, when the royal family came under criticism for its German origins, he was accused of having "an alien and uninspiring court," to which he responded testily, "I may be uninspiring, but I'll be damned if I'm an alien."
2. Having earned the nickname "Farmer George" for his agrarian interests, this royal required his children maintain their own individual vegetable gardens.
King George III may be best remembered today for his illness and/or for 'losing' the American colonies, but one of the idiosyncracies that his contemporaries ridiculed was an interest in farming and farmers. Wherever he was, he would often walk about asking questions of rural people. He longed to pass this interest along to his 15 children and required each of them to cultivate their own fields. However, his kids were much more interested in having a rollicking good time.
3. This royal lady was not only a prolific letter writer, she also was a talented artist who created many sketches and paintings of her husband and nine children.
Queen Victoria, who wrote thousands upon thousands of letters and journals in her life, also was a talented artist. The people, animals and scenery around her were usually the subject of her drawings and paintings. She seems to have passed this talent to her descendants. For example, her great-great-great grandchildren Charles Prince of Wales and Lady Sarah Chatto have both exhibited their own artwork.
4. These royal sisters spent part of World War II creating musical theatre productions to entertain their parents.
While many English children were sent far, far away from the urban centers during the war, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret were only sent as far as Windsor Castle. They really grew up there, taking their lessons and helping tend victory gardens (King George III would have been proud). Although their parents spent a lot of time in London, they were frequently at Windsor with their daughters. Each Christmas, the princesses--joined by royal relatives and staff members--would stage a pantomime to entertain their parents, estate personnel and guests. Distant cousin Prince Philip of Greece even attended the performance of "Old Mother Riding Boots" in 1944. Three years later, he married the show's co-star, the future Queen Elizabeth II. Here's a news article about the recently rediscovered program from that pantomime: http://bit.ly/ktEmyj
5. This staunchly dignified royal lady had one very naughty hobby of collecting; that is, collecting other people's stuff. Because of her notorious habit of acquiring things from other people's houses, this lady's mother-in-law sometimes hid her personal treasures during visits from her.
While it might not be quite appropriate to call Queen Mary a cleptomaniac, she developed a habit of admiring things in such a way that her host or hostess would feel compelled to make a gift of it to her. The only person in the realm who could avoid her acquiring ways was her mother-in-law Queen Alexandra. Of course, Mary's skills as a collector--she often actually purchased things too!--helped expand the royal art collection and contributed greatly to the royal jewel collection.
And, for those of you who could use an extra point to level up (or to guard against imperfect quiz answers in the future!), here is an incredibly easy bonus question.
BONUS: Known for his self-deprecating wit, this royal gent poked fun at much lampooned personal interests on his 40th birthday. "Only the other day, I was inquiring of an entire bed of old-fashioned roses, who were forced to listen to my demented ramblings on the meaning of the universe as I sat cross-legged in the lotus position on the gravel path in front of them. I was inquiring of them what they thought would happen on my birthday in a Birmingham tram shed. At this point, a row of prized Welsh leeks (cocky little things) who were lurking in a nearby vegetable patch chipped in to say that they expected the shed to be filled with groups of semi-naked Kalahari bushmen gyrating wildly;in the reenactment of primeval fertility dance and also a troupe or two of Tibetan Buddhist monks who had proceeded to the shed by levitational means."
Perhaps Charles Prince of Wales was a man before his time. He was outspoken on environmentalism, urban renewal, mysticism and organic farming long before these things became more popular.
1. This royal declared he was no damn alien, but he was a recognized philatelist.
2. Having earned the nickname "Farmer George" for his agrarian interests, this royal required his children maintain their own individual vegetable gardens.
King George III may be best remembered today for his illness and/or for 'losing' the American colonies, but one of the idiosyncracies that his contemporaries ridiculed was an interest in farming and farmers. Wherever he was, he would often walk about asking questions of rural people. He longed to pass this interest along to his 15 children and required each of them to cultivate their own fields. However, his kids were much more interested in having a rollicking good time.
3. This royal lady was not only a prolific letter writer, she also was a talented artist who created many sketches and paintings of her husband and nine children.
4. These royal sisters spent part of World War II creating musical theatre productions to entertain their parents.
While many English children were sent far, far away from the urban centers during the war, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret were only sent as far as Windsor Castle. They really grew up there, taking their lessons and helping tend victory gardens (King George III would have been proud). Although their parents spent a lot of time in London, they were frequently at Windsor with their daughters. Each Christmas, the princesses--joined by royal relatives and staff members--would stage a pantomime to entertain their parents, estate personnel and guests. Distant cousin Prince Philip of Greece even attended the performance of "Old Mother Riding Boots" in 1944. Three years later, he married the show's co-star, the future Queen Elizabeth II. Here's a news article about the recently rediscovered program from that pantomime: http://bit.ly/ktEmyj
5. This staunchly dignified royal lady had one very naughty hobby of collecting; that is, collecting other people's stuff. Because of her notorious habit of acquiring things from other people's houses, this lady's mother-in-law sometimes hid her personal treasures during visits from her.
While it might not be quite appropriate to call Queen Mary a cleptomaniac, she developed a habit of admiring things in such a way that her host or hostess would feel compelled to make a gift of it to her. The only person in the realm who could avoid her acquiring ways was her mother-in-law Queen Alexandra. Of course, Mary's skills as a collector--she often actually purchased things too!--helped expand the royal art collection and contributed greatly to the royal jewel collection.
And, for those of you who could use an extra point to level up (or to guard against imperfect quiz answers in the future!), here is an incredibly easy bonus question.
Perhaps Charles Prince of Wales was a man before his time. He was outspoken on environmentalism, urban renewal, mysticism and organic farming long before these things became more popular.
09 June 2011
Prince Philip Quiz
In honor of HRH The Prince Philip's 90th birthday, here's a special quiz all about him. You may send your answers via the comments section, e-mail them to princessesreign@gmail.com or direct message (DM) them on Twitter to @palaceprincess. You'll receive half a point for each correct answer.
1. Who were Prince Philip's parents?
2. Why was he a Prince of Denmark?
3. How many siblings did he have?
4. What was his name when he became engaged to Princess Elizabeth?
5. How many British Prince Consorts have been consorts longer than he has?
6. What titles did his father-in-law give him?
7. Who made him a Prince of the United Kingdom?
8. Which of his children will inherit his title when he dies?
9. What is his last name and what is its origin of his last name?
10. Where in the world is he worshipped as a god?
2. Why was he a Prince of Denmark?
3. How many siblings did he have?
4. What was his name when he became engaged to Princess Elizabeth?
5. How many British Prince Consorts have been consorts longer than he has?
6. What titles did his father-in-law give him?
7. Who made him a Prince of the United Kingdom?
8. Which of his children will inherit his title when he dies?
9. What is his last name and what is its origin of his last name?
10. Where in the world is he worshipped as a god?
08 June 2011
Royal Hobbies
As the summer roars in, it seems appropriate to think about the royals in a more relaxed, off-duty mode. For this quiz, identify the royal associated the following hobbies. Submit your answers via comments or e-mail it to princessesreign@gmail.com.
1. This royal declared he was no damn alien, but he was a recognized philatelist.
2. Having earned the nickname "Farmer George" for his agrarian interests, this royal required his children maintain their own individual vegetable gardens.
3. This royal lady was not only a prolific letter writer, she also was a talented artist who created many sketches and paintings of her husband and nine children.
4. These royal sisters spent part of World War II creating musical theatre productions to entertain their parents.
5. This staunchly dignified royal lady had one very naughty hobby of collecting; that is, collecting other people's stuff. Because of her notorious habit of acquiring things from other people's houses, this lady's mother-in-law sometimes hid her personal treasures during visits from her.
And, for those of you who could use an extra point to level up (or to guard against imperfect quiz answers in the future!), here is an incredibly easy bonus question.
BONUS: Known for his self-deprecating wit, this royal gent poked fun at much lampooned personal interests on his 40th birthday. "Only the other day, I was inquiring of an entire bed of old-fashioned roses, who were forced to listen to my demented ramblings on the meaning of the universe as I sat cross-legged in the lotus position on the gravel path in front of them. I was inquiring of them what they thought would happen on my birthday in a Birmingham tram shed. At this point, a row of prized Welsh leeks (cocky little things) who were lurking in a nearby vegetable patch chipped in to say that they expected the shed to be filled with groups of semi-naked Kalahari bushmen gyrating wildly in the reenactment of a primeval fertility dance and also a troupe or two of Tibetan Buddhist monks who had proceeded to the shed by levitational means."
View answers
1. This royal declared he was no damn alien, but he was a recognized philatelist.
2. Having earned the nickname "Farmer George" for his agrarian interests, this royal required his children maintain their own individual vegetable gardens.
3. This royal lady was not only a prolific letter writer, she also was a talented artist who created many sketches and paintings of her husband and nine children.
4. These royal sisters spent part of World War II creating musical theatre productions to entertain their parents.
5. This staunchly dignified royal lady had one very naughty hobby of collecting; that is, collecting other people's stuff. Because of her notorious habit of acquiring things from other people's houses, this lady's mother-in-law sometimes hid her personal treasures during visits from her.
And, for those of you who could use an extra point to level up (or to guard against imperfect quiz answers in the future!), here is an incredibly easy bonus question.
BONUS: Known for his self-deprecating wit, this royal gent poked fun at much lampooned personal interests on his 40th birthday. "Only the other day, I was inquiring of an entire bed of old-fashioned roses, who were forced to listen to my demented ramblings on the meaning of the universe as I sat cross-legged in the lotus position on the gravel path in front of them. I was inquiring of them what they thought would happen on my birthday in a Birmingham tram shed. At this point, a row of prized Welsh leeks (cocky little things) who were lurking in a nearby vegetable patch chipped in to say that they expected the shed to be filled with groups of semi-naked Kalahari bushmen gyrating wildly in the reenactment of a primeval fertility dance and also a troupe or two of Tibetan Buddhist monks who had proceeded to the shed by levitational means."
View answers
05 June 2011
Golden Oldies Answers
Throughout the ages, royals have tended to live about the same life expectancy as others of their day, but on occasions, a really long-lived royal has demonstrated an excellent combination of good genes, good living and good luck. For this quiz, our experts were asked to name these golden royal oldies.
1. This Greek-born royal will join the nonagenarian club in June 2011.
Born June 10, 1921 as the youngest child and only son of Prince and Princess Andrew of Greece, Prince Philippos fled into exile with his family when he was still an infant. He spent a good part of his childhood in Paris, then in school in Germany, then joined the British navy. Until he married the heir to the British throne. He led a very peripatetic life bouncing between relatives and navy posts. He gave up his Greek titles and became simply Philip Mountbatten before being created HRH The Duke of Edinburgh by his father-in-law and Prince of the United Kingdom by his wife.
2. Both born as daughters of Scottish peers, these two ladies married royal brothers
The most famous of these ladies, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was the youngest daughter of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. In 1923, she married the second son of King George V and became HRH The Duchess of York. In 1936, her husband ascended the throne and she became HM Queen Elizabeth, but she is most beloved as the Queen Mother, a title she held from the death of her husband in 1952 until her own death 50 years later at the age of 101.
The second Scottish lass was Lady Alice Montagu-Douglas-Scott, the middle child of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch. Having traveled around the world, she finally married at the age of 33 to the third son of George V and became HRH The Duchess of Gloucester. Both of her sons were born when she was in her forties; the eldest Prince William died in a flying accident in 1972. After the Duke's death in 1974, the Queen allowed her aunt to use the style HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester although she had never been a princess in her own right. Princess Alice holds the record as the longest lived British royal: she died in 2004 just eight weeks before her 103 birthday.
3. This imperial heir became a pretender at age nine and a European parliamentarian at 67
Now simply known as Otto von Habsburg, Archduke Otto of Austria was the oldest son of the last Austrian emperor Karl. Born in 1912, Otto became the Crown Prince with his father's succession in 1916. Following his father's abdication in 1918 and early death in 1922, Otto assumed the role of pretender to the nonexistent throne, a claim he renounced in 1961 in order to launch a political career in Austria. He served as president of International Paneuropean Union for 31 years and was a member of the European Parliament for 20. He is 98 years old. (Update: Archduke Otto passed away on 4 July 2011 at his home in Germany.)
4. At age 30, this empress was a widow with eight children
If you know the story of #3 above, you probably know that this woman is Otto's mother, Zita of Bourbon-Parma, who was Empress of Austria for less than two years. Born in 1892, as one of 24 children of Robert Duke of Parma, she apparently inherited the family's fecundity giving her husband eight children in their 11-year marriage. In 1918, the imperial family was sent into exile after World War I. When her husband died of pneumonia in 1922, his reported last words to her were, "I love you so much," and she wore black in his memory until her own death in 1989 at the age of 96. Two of her sons are still living: Otto (above) and Felix who is 95. A third son, Carl Ludwig, died last year at age 90.
5. Born a Spanish aristocrat, she married a president and became an empress
Renowned for her beauty, Eugenie de Montijo caught the wandering eye of Napolean's nephew, Louis-Napolean who was elected president of the Second Republic of France. Before the end of his term, he staged a coup d'etat and seized dictatorial powers. One year later, he declared himself Emperor Napoleon III. One month later, he married Eugenie "for love", so he was technically no longer president. Ironically, just two generations removed from his family's lower class origins in Corsica, Napoleon believed he married beneath him despite Eugenie's centuries of noble descent. The Empire fell after less than two decades and family made their new home in England, where they were very close to Queen Victoria and her family. In fact, it is believed that Eugenie hoped to marry her only son to Victoria's youngest daughter, Beatrice, who later named her daughter Victoria Eugenie. The ex-Emperor died two years after arriving in England and their son died brutally while fighting the Zulus at age 21 a few years after that in 1879. Empress Eugenie remained in England but died in Spain during a visit to family in Spain in 1920. She was 94. Her name lives on today in a namesake, Princess Eugenie of York, whose mother, the former Sarah Ferguson has a strong interest in the Victorian royals.
1. This Greek-born royal will join the nonagenarian club in June 2011.
2. Both born as daughters of Scottish peers, these two ladies married royal brothers
3. This imperial heir became a pretender at age nine and a European parliamentarian at 67
4. At age 30, this empress was a widow with eight children
5. Born a Spanish aristocrat, she married a president and became an empress
27 May 2011
Golden Oldies
Throughout the ages, royals have tended to live about the same life expectancy as others of their day, but on occasions, a really long-lived royal has demonstrated an excellent combination of good genes, good living and good luck. For this quiz, name these golden royal oldies. You may post your responses as a comment or e-mail them to princessesreign@gmail.com.
1. This Greek-born royal will join the nonagenarian club in June 2011
2. Both born as daughters of Scottish peers, these two ladies married royal brothers
3. This imperial heir became a pretender at age nine and a European parliamentarian at 67
4. At age 30, this empress was a widow with eight children
5. Born a Spanish aristocrat, she married a president and then became an empress
View Answers
1. This Greek-born royal will join the nonagenarian club in June 2011
2. Both born as daughters of Scottish peers, these two ladies married royal brothers
3. This imperial heir became a pretender at age nine and a European parliamentarian at 67
4. At age 30, this empress was a widow with eight children
5. Born a Spanish aristocrat, she married a president and then became an empress
View Answers
22 May 2011
Sisterly Love Answers
With The Duchess of Cambridge (a.k.a Princess Catherine) and her sister Philippa 'Pippa' Middleton making headlines lately, I thought a quiz about royal sisters would be a nice challenge. Our Royal Experts were asked to identify the following pairs.
1. The Queen of England and the Empress of Russia
In the 19th Century, two European monarchs became the heads of two intertangling dynasties that would separately and jointly place descendants on nearly every European throne. The lines of King Christian IX of Denmark and Queen Victoria of England first intertwined when his oldest daughter Alexandra married her heir, the future King Edward VII. Christian's second daughter Dagmar (later Marie) married the Russian Czar Alexander III and the two lines crossed again in the next generation when Marie's son Nicholas married Victoria's granddaughter Alix of Hesse. Raised in a cadet branch of the Danish royal house, Alexandra and Marie grew up relatively poor for royals and only rose to distinction when the complex line of succession landed on their dad. The two girls were always very close. Even after they each married, they continued to holiday together and even bought a home together in their native Denmark. There was a remarkable likeness between their sons, King George V and Czar Nicholas II.
2. Two discarded queens: One gone mad and One who 'lost' two English husbands
Having a powerful mother did not protect these two princesses from their powerful husbands. Although Queen Isabella of Castile had clearly proven that a woman could rule a kingdom, her daughters Juana and Catalina (Catherine) of Aragon were to suffer from prejudice against female rulers. Juana married and fell in love with the heir of the Holy Roman Empire. Her jealous behavior toward him quickly became overwrought. When Isabella died, Juana inherited Castile and a power struggle ensued between her husband and her father, King Ferdinand of Aragon, for control of Juana's throne. Whether she was insane or simply highly strung, Juana's behavior was odd enough after her husband's early death to enable her dad to lock her away for the rest of her life. Meanwhile, Catherine was sent to marry the English heir, Prince Arthur. When he died soon after the wedding, Catherine was a more-or-less a prisoner of her father-in-law who didn't want to relinquish her dowry. When Juana and her husband were temporarily shipwrecked in England, Catherine appealed to her older sister for help, but Juana was too focused on her handsome husband. So, Catherine languished for seven years until her father-in-law's death and the new king, her brother-in-law Henry VIII decided to marry her. Flash forward 20 son-less years later, Henry divorces Catherine to marry the second of his six wives. Both sisters died devoted to their husbands.
3. Queens of Revolution: One who lost her head and one who led a counter-revolution
Empress Maria Theresa of Austria also ruled as monarch. She had 11 daughters, all named Maria. The most famous of these are undoubtedly the two youngest Maria Carolina, Queen of Naples, and Maria Antonia, best remembered as Queen Marie Antoinette of France. The two archduchesses were very close as children until their mother separated them in adolescence for bad behavior. Soon afterward, Maria Carolina was sent to marry the King of Naples and Sicily as a replacement for an older sister who had died of small pox. Despite an inauspicious beginning, the couple produced 18 children and Maria Carolina essentially took over the government from her ineffectual husband, who much preferred hunting to governing. 
Unfortunately perhaps, Marie Antoinette was unable/incapable of governing in place of her also ineffective husband and both of them were guillotined in the French Revolution. Following her sister's execution, Maria Carolina abandoned the ideals of enlightened absolutism and launched a counter-revolution in her kingdome. Eventually deposed by Napolean, Maria Carolina died in exile just one year before her husband's restoration.
4. The pair who introduced Rasputin to the Imperial Family
This proved to be the most challenging pair for our Royal Experts. Most respondents selected a non-royal pair: Empress Alexandra's confidant Anna Vyrobova and her sister, also named Alexandra. However, the royal sisters responsible for helping make the naughty monk acceptable in Russian imperial and aristocratic circles were Anastasia and Militsa of Montenegro, daughters of King Nicholas I of Montenegro who married Russian Grand Dukes. Anastasia married Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaeivich and Militsa married his brother Peter. Both of the princesses were deeply religious and drawn to the more occult aspects of the Russian Orthodox Church. 
They championed several mystics including Rasputin. Although the Empress did not consider the princesses to be her friends, she became deeply attached to their protege Rasputin, which ultimately helped lead to the Russian Revolution. The sisters and their husbands all escaped the revolution, unlike many other members of the imperial family.
5. Scandalous sisters: One married a playboy but became an HRH and one ran away with the circus.
Technically these sisters are daughters of a princely house, and therefore were born serene highnesses rather than royal highnesses, however, they (and their children) are regarded as "royals" by the world's media. Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie of Monaco have each embarked on a number of escapades that brought little honor to their heritage or to the memory of their beloved mother Princess Grace. Caroline started by rebelling against her parents as a teenager and marrying a renowned playboy against their better judgement. With that marriage annulled, she started an affair with an Italian and soon became pregnant. After a shotgun wedding and two more children, Caroline was devastated by her husband's tragic death in a high-speed boat race. This and motherhood seemed to have settled her down. However, she married one more time to another playboy although this one is a prince of a deposed royal house. Once again, however, she was already pregnant at the time of the wedding. Little sister Stephanie was undoubtedly the most physically and emotionally scarred by their mother's untimely death since she was still a teenager and was in the car at the time of the accident. She launched into several un-princessly and largely unsuccessul careers like swimsuit model and rock singer and indulged in numerous unseemly love affairs. In fact, her name has been in the news lately with the release of her former lover Rob Lowe's memoirs. After that she had a child by her bodyguard, married him, had another child and divorced him. Then, she had a third child by a still unnamed father. Then, she began a love affair with a married circus trainer and took her children to live with him in a caravan following the circus. Stephanie and Caroline's brother has also led a rather undignified personal life filled with many high-profile romances and two acknowledged illegimate children. Now 53, he is set to marry his 33-year-old girlfriend after a year-long engagement. It will be interesting to see if his Princess Grace lookalike bride will restore some decorum to the princely palace.
1. The Queen of England and the Empress of Russia
2. Two discarded queens: One gone mad and One who 'lost' two English husbands
Having a powerful mother did not protect these two princesses from their powerful husbands. Although Queen Isabella of Castile had clearly proven that a woman could rule a kingdom, her daughters Juana and Catalina (Catherine) of Aragon were to suffer from prejudice against female rulers. Juana married and fell in love with the heir of the Holy Roman Empire. Her jealous behavior toward him quickly became overwrought. When Isabella died, Juana inherited Castile and a power struggle ensued between her husband and her father, King Ferdinand of Aragon, for control of Juana's throne. Whether she was insane or simply highly strung, Juana's behavior was odd enough after her husband's early death to enable her dad to lock her away for the rest of her life. Meanwhile, Catherine was sent to marry the English heir, Prince Arthur. When he died soon after the wedding, Catherine was a more-or-less a prisoner of her father-in-law who didn't want to relinquish her dowry. When Juana and her husband were temporarily shipwrecked in England, Catherine appealed to her older sister for help, but Juana was too focused on her handsome husband. So, Catherine languished for seven years until her father-in-law's death and the new king, her brother-in-law Henry VIII decided to marry her. Flash forward 20 son-less years later, Henry divorces Catherine to marry the second of his six wives. Both sisters died devoted to their husbands.
3. Queens of Revolution: One who lost her head and one who led a counter-revolution
4. The pair who introduced Rasputin to the Imperial Family
5. Scandalous sisters: One married a playboy but became an HRH and one ran away with the circus.
Technically these sisters are daughters of a princely house, and therefore were born serene highnesses rather than royal highnesses, however, they (and their children) are regarded as "royals" by the world's media. Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie of Monaco have each embarked on a number of escapades that brought little honor to their heritage or to the memory of their beloved mother Princess Grace. Caroline started by rebelling against her parents as a teenager and marrying a renowned playboy against their better judgement. With that marriage annulled, she started an affair with an Italian and soon became pregnant. After a shotgun wedding and two more children, Caroline was devastated by her husband's tragic death in a high-speed boat race. This and motherhood seemed to have settled her down. However, she married one more time to another playboy although this one is a prince of a deposed royal house. Once again, however, she was already pregnant at the time of the wedding. Little sister Stephanie was undoubtedly the most physically and emotionally scarred by their mother's untimely death since she was still a teenager and was in the car at the time of the accident. She launched into several un-princessly and largely unsuccessul careers like swimsuit model and rock singer and indulged in numerous unseemly love affairs. In fact, her name has been in the news lately with the release of her former lover Rob Lowe's memoirs. After that she had a child by her bodyguard, married him, had another child and divorced him. Then, she had a third child by a still unnamed father. Then, she began a love affair with a married circus trainer and took her children to live with him in a caravan following the circus. Stephanie and Caroline's brother has also led a rather undignified personal life filled with many high-profile romances and two acknowledged illegimate children. Now 53, he is set to marry his 33-year-old girlfriend after a year-long engagement. It will be interesting to see if his Princess Grace lookalike bride will restore some decorum to the princely palace.
06 May 2011
Sisterly Love
With The Duchess of Cambridge (a.k.a Princess Catherine) and her sister Philippa 'Pippa' Middleton making headlines lately, I thought a quiz about royal sisters would be a nice challenge. See if you can identify each pair. You may submit your answers using the comments button or e-mail them to princessesreign@gmail.com.
1. The Queen of England and the Empress of Russia
2. Two discarded queens: One gone mad and One who 'lost' two English husbands
3. Queens of Revolution: One who lost her head and one who led a counter-revolution
4. The pair who introduced Rasputin to the Imperial Family
5. Scandalous sisters: One married a playboy but became an HRH and one ran away with the circus.
View Answers
1. The Queen of England and the Empress of Russia
2. Two discarded queens: One gone mad and One who 'lost' two English husbands
3. Queens of Revolution: One who lost her head and one who led a counter-revolution
4. The pair who introduced Rasputin to the Imperial Family
5. Scandalous sisters: One married a playboy but became an HRH and one ran away with the circus.
View Answers
04 May 2011
Royal Wedding Gowns Answers
In this fashionable quiz, our experts could earn half a point each for correctly naming the designer(s) of the wedding gowns for the following royal brides. Here are the answers.
1. Lady Diana Spencer
The then-little-known-and-now-divorced couple David and Elizabeth Emanuel were shocked to receive a phone call from the newly engaged Diana. It has recently been revealed that they designed two gowns, in case one was discovered by the media. Diana's gown now tours regularly as part of the Diana: A Celebration exhibition. See the dress.
2. Sarah Ferguson
When she married Prince Andrew in 1986, Sarah also chose a little-known designer Lindka Cierach to make her dress, which incorporated bows galore and embroidery and beading that included the couple's initials, their crests, their careers and their love--which took a detour to the divorce courts six years later. They reportedly remain great friends. As for Cierach, recent headlines alleged that Catherine Middleton's mother hired her and then fired her for her own mother-of-the-bride look. See the dress.
3. Letizia Ortiz
News reporter and anchor Letizia Ortiz selected Spanish designer Manuel Pertegaz to create her gown when she married the future King of Spain. Her skirt, train, sleeves and collar of her gown were encrusted with symbols of Spanish heraldry and history. See the dress.
4. Crown Princess Victoria
When she wed in the summer of 2010, Crown Princess Victoria wore an elegantly tailored gown by Swedish designer Par Engsheden. Instead of V-neck front like Letizia, Victoria wore a deep v back. Although her sleek dress was very modern she paid tribute to the past by wearing her mother's wedding veil and the 19th-century cameo tiara that has worn by generations of Swedish royal ladies. See the dress.
5. Charlene Wittstock
Although Charlene has not yet married her prince--the wedding is in July 2011--it has been announced that her designer is Giorgio Armani. As the future princess of a principality nestled between France and Italy, she has made an excellent choice with such an iconic fashion house. In fact, she often wears Armani, however, this particular dress itself has yet to be revealed. (Update: Armani designed Charlene's gown for the religious ceremony; Chanel for the civil ceremony.)
6. Grace Kelly
Who else would an Oscar-winning screen actress turn to when she needs the most important ensemble of her career? A Hollywood wardrobe designer, of course. Grace selected Helen Rose of MGM Studios. The ideal dress of the 1950s, it included a full silk taffeta skirt with a button-up antique Valenciennes lace bodice and a wide sash at the waste. See the dress.
7. Queen Elizabeth II
In post-war Britain, the economy was very tough so women sent their clothing ration coupons to their future queen so that she could have a gown suitable for a princess. Created by a favorite royal designer, Sir Norman Hartnell, who drew inspiration from Botticelli for his petite but shapely client. He brought the seed pearls for the dress through customs from the U.S. but controversy later arose when reports circulated that the silk was produced by enemy silkworms. (Actually, it came from friendly Chinese worms.) Hartnell also created her coronation gown six years later. See the dress.
8. Mary Donaldson
To marry the Danish heir, Australian-born Mary selected Danish designer Uffe Frank. See the gown. The skirt of the gown included long panels that were pinned back to reveal 100-year-old Irish lace. The dress also included Chantilly lace from France and her ensemble included a fan that belonged to the groom's Swedish grandmother and a veil that had been worn when British Princess Margaret of Connaught married the Crown Prince of Sweden in 1905, when Danish Princess Anne-Marie married the King of Greece in 1964, when Greek Princess Alexia married her Spanish husband in 1999 and when several other princesses married. It was truly an international affair. See the dress.
9. Princess Margaret
The gorgeous Princess Margaret used the same designer as her sister: Sir Norman Hartnell, but with their varied personalities and more than 12 years between their weddings, their dresses were in no way similar. Where Elizabeth was ethereal and dripping in embellishment, Margaret was clean lines and stylish simplicity, not a single stitch of embroidery from the high v-neck to the wide skirt and short train. The classic look inspired her daughter-in-law's dress three decades later. See Margaret's dress. See Serena Linley's dress.
10. Maxima Zorreguieta
When Argentinian Maxima married the Dutch heir, she opted not to use a designer from either country, choosing instead to use legendary Italian designer Valentino. Highlights of the gown included a high cowl neck, three-quarter sleeves and lace details down the side of the flared skirt matched by lace along the edge of the train. Maxima must have loved the dress because she continues to wear Valentino quite frequently.See the dress.
BONUS: Catherine Middleton
Quiz takers were asked to hazard a guess as to the identity of this top-secret designer. Our responders decided to be more cautious than the media but they mostly agreed that it would likely be "sleek and modern."
Of course we now know that Catherine's dress was designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. I would certainly classify it as a "sleek and modern" re-imagining of the classic princess gowns of Princess Grace and Princess Margaret. Its sweetheart neckline covered in lace with long lace sleeves may inspire bridal fashions to turn away from the current strapless trends.
Photo by Hugh Burnand. From The British Monarchy on Flickr.
1. Lady Diana Spencer
The then-little-known-and-now-divorced couple David and Elizabeth Emanuel were shocked to receive a phone call from the newly engaged Diana. It has recently been revealed that they designed two gowns, in case one was discovered by the media. Diana's gown now tours regularly as part of the Diana: A Celebration exhibition. See the dress.
2. Sarah Ferguson
When she married Prince Andrew in 1986, Sarah also chose a little-known designer Lindka Cierach to make her dress, which incorporated bows galore and embroidery and beading that included the couple's initials, their crests, their careers and their love--which took a detour to the divorce courts six years later. They reportedly remain great friends. As for Cierach, recent headlines alleged that Catherine Middleton's mother hired her and then fired her for her own mother-of-the-bride look. See the dress.
3. Letizia Ortiz
News reporter and anchor Letizia Ortiz selected Spanish designer Manuel Pertegaz to create her gown when she married the future King of Spain. Her skirt, train, sleeves and collar of her gown were encrusted with symbols of Spanish heraldry and history. See the dress.
4. Crown Princess Victoria
When she wed in the summer of 2010, Crown Princess Victoria wore an elegantly tailored gown by Swedish designer Par Engsheden. Instead of V-neck front like Letizia, Victoria wore a deep v back. Although her sleek dress was very modern she paid tribute to the past by wearing her mother's wedding veil and the 19th-century cameo tiara that has worn by generations of Swedish royal ladies. See the dress.
5. Charlene Wittstock
Although Charlene has not yet married her prince--the wedding is in July 2011--it has been announced that her designer is Giorgio Armani. As the future princess of a principality nestled between France and Italy, she has made an excellent choice with such an iconic fashion house. In fact, she often wears Armani, however, this particular dress itself has yet to be revealed. (Update: Armani designed Charlene's gown for the religious ceremony; Chanel for the civil ceremony.)
6. Grace Kelly
Who else would an Oscar-winning screen actress turn to when she needs the most important ensemble of her career? A Hollywood wardrobe designer, of course. Grace selected Helen Rose of MGM Studios. The ideal dress of the 1950s, it included a full silk taffeta skirt with a button-up antique Valenciennes lace bodice and a wide sash at the waste. See the dress.
7. Queen Elizabeth II
In post-war Britain, the economy was very tough so women sent their clothing ration coupons to their future queen so that she could have a gown suitable for a princess. Created by a favorite royal designer, Sir Norman Hartnell, who drew inspiration from Botticelli for his petite but shapely client. He brought the seed pearls for the dress through customs from the U.S. but controversy later arose when reports circulated that the silk was produced by enemy silkworms. (Actually, it came from friendly Chinese worms.) Hartnell also created her coronation gown six years later. See the dress.
8. Mary Donaldson
To marry the Danish heir, Australian-born Mary selected Danish designer Uffe Frank. See the gown. The skirt of the gown included long panels that were pinned back to reveal 100-year-old Irish lace. The dress also included Chantilly lace from France and her ensemble included a fan that belonged to the groom's Swedish grandmother and a veil that had been worn when British Princess Margaret of Connaught married the Crown Prince of Sweden in 1905, when Danish Princess Anne-Marie married the King of Greece in 1964, when Greek Princess Alexia married her Spanish husband in 1999 and when several other princesses married. It was truly an international affair. See the dress.
9. Princess Margaret
The gorgeous Princess Margaret used the same designer as her sister: Sir Norman Hartnell, but with their varied personalities and more than 12 years between their weddings, their dresses were in no way similar. Where Elizabeth was ethereal and dripping in embellishment, Margaret was clean lines and stylish simplicity, not a single stitch of embroidery from the high v-neck to the wide skirt and short train. The classic look inspired her daughter-in-law's dress three decades later. See Margaret's dress. See Serena Linley's dress.
10. Maxima Zorreguieta
When Argentinian Maxima married the Dutch heir, she opted not to use a designer from either country, choosing instead to use legendary Italian designer Valentino. Highlights of the gown included a high cowl neck, three-quarter sleeves and lace details down the side of the flared skirt matched by lace along the edge of the train. Maxima must have loved the dress because she continues to wear Valentino quite frequently.See the dress.
BONUS: Catherine Middleton
Quiz takers were asked to hazard a guess as to the identity of this top-secret designer. Our responders decided to be more cautious than the media but they mostly agreed that it would likely be "sleek and modern."
Of course we now know that Catherine's dress was designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. I would certainly classify it as a "sleek and modern" re-imagining of the classic princess gowns of Princess Grace and Princess Margaret. Its sweetheart neckline covered in lace with long lace sleeves may inspire bridal fashions to turn away from the current strapless trends.
Photo by Hugh Burnand. From The British Monarchy on Flickr.
10 April 2011
Royal Wedding Gowns
For half a point each, name the designer(s) of the wedding gowns for the following royal brides. You may submit your answers using the comment button or e-mail them to princessesreign@gmail.com.
1. Lady Diana Spencer
2. Sarah Ferguson
3. Letizia Ortiz
4. Crown Princess Victoria
5. Charlene Wittstock
6. Grace Kelly
7. Queen Elizabeth II
8. Mary Donaldson
9. Princess Margaret
10. Maxima Zorreguieta
BONUS: Catherine Middleton (Take a guess; 5 points for correct answers.)
View the Answers
1. Lady Diana Spencer
2. Sarah Ferguson
3. Letizia Ortiz
4. Crown Princess Victoria
5. Charlene Wittstock
6. Grace Kelly
7. Queen Elizabeth II
8. Mary Donaldson
9. Princess Margaret
10. Maxima Zorreguieta
BONUS: Catherine Middleton (Take a guess; 5 points for correct answers.)
View the Answers
Prince Harry Answers
The second son of the Prince of Wales and his late wife, Diana, has attracted a lot of media attention throughout his life. Recent headlines include qualifying as an Apache pilot, serving as his brother's best man at the upcoming royal wedding and making a trek to the North Pole for charity. In this quiz, we asked our experts about this young man who will likely never be king.
1. What is his full name?
Although he has always been called "Harry" by his family and the public, his first name is Henry. Like his brother, father and royal aunt and uncles, he was given four names. His father also registered him with the hyphenated last name that his mother created for her non-royal descendants, although he doesn't use it in his daily life, instead opting to use his father's territorial title as a surname, making him "Harry Wales". His full name is Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor and his style/title is HRH Prince Henry of Wales. When his father becomes king, his title will change to HRH The Prince Henry.
2. What is the name and purpose of the charity he founded with another royal prince and who is his princely partner?
Harry has expressed a deep love of Africa and a keen interest in philanthropy nurtured by both of his parents. These two things combined inspired him to co-found Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who also had lost his charitable and popular mother. Sentebale, which means "forget me not," helps orphans in Lesotho, where so many children have been impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The charity celebrates its fifth anniversary this month.
3. Where did he attend university?
After a gap year that included work missions in Australia and Lesotho and an Argentinian holiday, Harry opted not to attend university, enrolling instead in Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in 2005. He is now an army lieutenant with combat experience, having served in Afghanistan, where his tour was cut short after media reports endangered him and his unit. He recently qualified as an Apache helicopter pilot and may soon be promoted to captain.
4. After the breakdown of his parents' marriage, some people alleged that Prince Charles was not his father. Who did these people claim was his real father?
Many people still continue to claim that he is the natural son of James Hewitt, Diana's riding instructor who became her lover, citing the similar ginger appearance of Hewitt and Prince Harry. These claimants, however, don't seem to accept that Diana's relationship with Hewitt started well after Harry was born--they dispute the start date. They also don't seem to notice the clear physical resemblance between Prince Harry and his royal gandfather Prince Philip at the same age or the fact that red hair is very common in Diana's family: her sister Sarah and brother Charles are both ginger, too.
5. Harry has attracted negative media attention in the past. Identify at least one of the controversies attached to him.
Growing up in the international spotlight is undoubtedly difficult and Harry has certainly had some lapses of judgement that have drawn negative attention. Some of the incidents mentioned by our experts were: getting caught smoking marijuana as a teen, wearing a Nazi uniform to a party, calling someone a "Paki," and saying that he didn't like England. Right now, however, the prince is riding a media high generated by his military accomplishments, his role as best man at his brother's wedding and recent attempt to reach the North Pole in support of the Walking with the Wounded charity.
1. What is his full name?
Although he has always been called "Harry" by his family and the public, his first name is Henry. Like his brother, father and royal aunt and uncles, he was given four names. His father also registered him with the hyphenated last name that his mother created for her non-royal descendants, although he doesn't use it in his daily life, instead opting to use his father's territorial title as a surname, making him "Harry Wales". His full name is Henry Charles Albert David Mountbatten-Windsor and his style/title is HRH Prince Henry of Wales. When his father becomes king, his title will change to HRH The Prince Henry.
2. What is the name and purpose of the charity he founded with another royal prince and who is his princely partner?
Harry has expressed a deep love of Africa and a keen interest in philanthropy nurtured by both of his parents. These two things combined inspired him to co-found Sentebale with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, who also had lost his charitable and popular mother. Sentebale, which means "forget me not," helps orphans in Lesotho, where so many children have been impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The charity celebrates its fifth anniversary this month.
3. Where did he attend university?
After a gap year that included work missions in Australia and Lesotho and an Argentinian holiday, Harry opted not to attend university, enrolling instead in Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in 2005. He is now an army lieutenant with combat experience, having served in Afghanistan, where his tour was cut short after media reports endangered him and his unit. He recently qualified as an Apache helicopter pilot and may soon be promoted to captain.
4. After the breakdown of his parents' marriage, some people alleged that Prince Charles was not his father. Who did these people claim was his real father?
5. Harry has attracted negative media attention in the past. Identify at least one of the controversies attached to him.
Growing up in the international spotlight is undoubtedly difficult and Harry has certainly had some lapses of judgement that have drawn negative attention. Some of the incidents mentioned by our experts were: getting caught smoking marijuana as a teen, wearing a Nazi uniform to a party, calling someone a "Paki," and saying that he didn't like England. Right now, however, the prince is riding a media high generated by his military accomplishments, his role as best man at his brother's wedding and recent attempt to reach the North Pole in support of the Walking with the Wounded charity.
27 March 2011
Prince Harry Quiz
You may submit your answers using the comments button or e-mail them to princessesreign@gmail.com.
The second son of the Prince of Wales and his late wife, Diana, has attracted a lot of media attention throughout his life. Recent headlines include qualifying as an Apache pilot, serving as his brother's best man at the upcoming royal wedding and making a trek to the North Pole for charity. This quiz is designed to find out how much you know about this young man who will likely never be king.
1. What is his full name?
2. What is the name and purpose of the charity he founded with another royal prince and who is his princely partner?
3. Where did he attend university?
4. After the breakdown of his parents' marriage, some people alleged that Prince Charles was not his father. Who did these people claim was his real father?
5. Harry has attracted negative media attention in the past. Identify at least one of the controversies attached to him.
View Answers
The second son of the Prince of Wales and his late wife, Diana, has attracted a lot of media attention throughout his life. Recent headlines include qualifying as an Apache pilot, serving as his brother's best man at the upcoming royal wedding and making a trek to the North Pole for charity. This quiz is designed to find out how much you know about this young man who will likely never be king.
1. What is his full name?
2. What is the name and purpose of the charity he founded with another royal prince and who is his princely partner?
3. Where did he attend university?
4. After the breakdown of his parents' marriage, some people alleged that Prince Charles was not his father. Who did these people claim was his real father?
5. Harry has attracted negative media attention in the past. Identify at least one of the controversies attached to him.
View Answers
26 March 2011
Glorious Bastards Answers
Many royals have enjoyed 'a bit of stuff' on the side, sometimes resulting in illegitimate children. Even some of today's royal men have confirmed that they have fathered children out of wedlock. For this quiz, our Royal Experts were asked to answer, "Who's the daddy?"
1. James Duke of Monmouth
Monmouth is the eldest and probably the most famous of King Charles II's numerous illegitimate children. The son of Lucy Walter, he was born in The Netherlands a few months after his father became king. He was well-liked by his father, who gave him several titles and a rich wife. However, when Monmouth and others claimed that his parents had been married and that he therefore was the rightful heir, the king officially proclaimed that he had not married Lucy. After the king's death, the Protestant Monmouth reasserted this claim and led a rebellion against his Catholic uncle King James II, who had him executed. Sarah Duchess of York is one of Monmouth's many descendants.
2. Robert Earl of Gloucester
Another eldest and most famous illegitimate son, Gloucester was the son of Henry II of England. When the sinking of the White Ship left Henry without a legitimate male heir, the popular and powerful Gloucester might have sought the throne for himself--only two generations had expired since another bastard seized the English throne (see below). Instead, he became a diehard supporter of his royal half-sister Empress Matilda in her war against their usurping cousin King Stephen. He died before Matilda's son succeeded Stephen, but Gloucester's granddaughter Isabella later married Matilda's grandson King John, uniting the legitimate and illegitimate lines, but their marriage was later annulled because they were too closely related.
3. Alexandre Coste
Perhaps the most recent royal bastards, Alexandre is the seven-year-old son of the reigning Prince Albert II of Monaco, who has also acknowledged that he is the natural father of an American teenager named Jazmin Grimaldi. Alexandre's lives on a French estate provided by his father for him and his mother, Nicole Coste a Togolese airline hostess. With Albert planning to marry Charlene Wittstock this summer, he may have legitimate children to succeed him. If not, he has the option of adopting Alexandre or Jazmin and making them his heir; a solution adopted by his great-grandfather, Prince Louis II whose only child was illegitimate. This is unlikely, however, as Albert has confirmed his sister Princess Caroline and her children as his heirs if he has no legitimate children.
4. Henry Fitzroy Duke of Richmond
Richmond was living proof that King Henry VIII was capable of fathering boys, which perhaps helped seal the fate of his many son-less wives. Born not long after his royal half-sister Mary, the future Bloody Mary, the boy was acknowledged by the king: not only does his surname mean "king's son" but his title Duke of Richmond was derived from the family of the king's father, Henry VII. After Henry's second wife failed to have a son, Parliament was preparing an act that could have lead to making Richmond the king's royal heir. However, the 17-year-old boy became ill and died that same summer. A year later, Henry's third wife finally gave him a legitimate son, Edward VI, who outlived his royal father but who, like his bastard half-brother, died as a teenager.
5. William the Conqueror
In an age when might equalled right, William the Conqueror, did not let his bastardy stand in his way. As a child, William the Bastard, as he was known during his lifetime, was selected to succeed his father Robert as Duke of Normandy. Supported by powerful lords, he was able to maintain this position into adulthood. Later, he convinced the childless English king to name him his heir and then used his military prowess to defeat the English earl, Harold Godwinson, whom the king named heir upon his deathbed. In less than a year, William had firmly established himself as King of England. His legacy lives on in the daily life of today's royal family for it was William who first constructed Windsor Castle nearly a millenium ago.
6. The Fitzclarences
Before becoming the "Sailor King", William IV was the very virile Duke of Clarence, who showed great loyalty to one woman, actress Dorothy Jordan. They lived together for more than 20 years and produced 10 children, all of whom lived to adulthood. By the time, William made a royal marriage, Dorothy had died, but his royal wife accepted the lively Fitzclarences, even though she had no living children of her own. The oldest Fitzclarence was made Earl of Munster, a title that passed down through six generations until the 7th Earl died without male heirs in 2000.
7. Enrique II of Castile
Better known as Henry of Trastamara, Enrique was the son of Alfonso XI. He seized the throne from his royal half-brother, Pedro the Cruel, and had him beheaded. He spent much of his reign fighting John Duke of Lancaster who married Pedro's daughter Constance and claimed the Castilian throne through her. When they couldn't beat Enrique, John and Constance married their daughter to his son. Both the royal lines of Aragon and Castile were descended from Enrique. Although his brother was called "The Cruel," it was actually Henry who started the official policy of persecuting Jews that evolved into The Inquisition.
8. William Longespee
An acknowledged son of King Henry II of England. When Henry's royal sons rebelled against him, Longespee remained loyal and was the only one of his numerous children to be with him when he died. Nevertheless, he continued his loyal service to the throne, first to his half-brother Richard the Lionheart who married him to the Countess of Salisbury and later to another half-brother King John, who faced many baronial revolts. Longespee finally broke ranks with John after Magna Carta but again supported the throne when John's son succeeded him as Henry III.
9. Gustav Gustavsson
As the natural son King Gustav Adolphus of Sweden, he was ennobled with the surname af Vasaborg. Much like Robert Earl of Gloucester, Gustav was a royal bastard who supported his royal half-sister. Unlike Gloucester, however, Gustav didn't have to fight for Queen Christina to maintain her throne (although she later gave it up). In recognition of his loyal service, she made him Count of Nystad and later named him Governor of Estonia. Gustav married and had children.
10. The Beauforts
Soon after John Duke of Lancaster married Constance of Castile (see above), he began an affair with one of the noblewomen who had served in the household of his mother and of his first wife Blanche. Katherine Swynford was the widowed sister-in-law of Geoffrey Chaucer, but it was her affair with John that made her notorious. She was labeled a great whore, but the relationship seems to have been a great love match. Four of their children lived to adulthood and were always acknowledged, not only by their father, but by the entire royal family, including their royal half-siblings. Given the surname Beaufort after one of their father's French holdings, they were initially barred from royal inheritances. After Constance died, however, their parents married and first the pope and then the king legitimized them in their adulthood. When their royal half-brother seized the throne as Henry IV, they supported him. Their descendants were loyal Lancastrians in the Wars of the Roses and it was through one of ther granddaughters, Margaret Beaufort, that her son, the future Henry VII claimed royal descent although he claimed the throne by right of conquest and married a daughter of the House of York. So the Beauforts helped start the wars and helped end them.
1. James Duke of Monmouth
2. Robert Earl of Gloucester
Another eldest and most famous illegitimate son, Gloucester was the son of Henry II of England. When the sinking of the White Ship left Henry without a legitimate male heir, the popular and powerful Gloucester might have sought the throne for himself--only two generations had expired since another bastard seized the English throne (see below). Instead, he became a diehard supporter of his royal half-sister Empress Matilda in her war against their usurping cousin King Stephen. He died before Matilda's son succeeded Stephen, but Gloucester's granddaughter Isabella later married Matilda's grandson King John, uniting the legitimate and illegitimate lines, but their marriage was later annulled because they were too closely related.
3. Alexandre Coste
Perhaps the most recent royal bastards, Alexandre is the seven-year-old son of the reigning Prince Albert II of Monaco, who has also acknowledged that he is the natural father of an American teenager named Jazmin Grimaldi. Alexandre's lives on a French estate provided by his father for him and his mother, Nicole Coste a Togolese airline hostess. With Albert planning to marry Charlene Wittstock this summer, he may have legitimate children to succeed him. If not, he has the option of adopting Alexandre or Jazmin and making them his heir; a solution adopted by his great-grandfather, Prince Louis II whose only child was illegitimate. This is unlikely, however, as Albert has confirmed his sister Princess Caroline and her children as his heirs if he has no legitimate children.
4. Henry Fitzroy Duke of Richmond
Richmond was living proof that King Henry VIII was capable of fathering boys, which perhaps helped seal the fate of his many son-less wives. Born not long after his royal half-sister Mary, the future Bloody Mary, the boy was acknowledged by the king: not only does his surname mean "king's son" but his title Duke of Richmond was derived from the family of the king's father, Henry VII. After Henry's second wife failed to have a son, Parliament was preparing an act that could have lead to making Richmond the king's royal heir. However, the 17-year-old boy became ill and died that same summer. A year later, Henry's third wife finally gave him a legitimate son, Edward VI, who outlived his royal father but who, like his bastard half-brother, died as a teenager.
5. William the Conqueror
6. The Fitzclarences
Before becoming the "Sailor King", William IV was the very virile Duke of Clarence, who showed great loyalty to one woman, actress Dorothy Jordan. They lived together for more than 20 years and produced 10 children, all of whom lived to adulthood. By the time, William made a royal marriage, Dorothy had died, but his royal wife accepted the lively Fitzclarences, even though she had no living children of her own. The oldest Fitzclarence was made Earl of Munster, a title that passed down through six generations until the 7th Earl died without male heirs in 2000.
7. Enrique II of Castile
Better known as Henry of Trastamara, Enrique was the son of Alfonso XI. He seized the throne from his royal half-brother, Pedro the Cruel, and had him beheaded. He spent much of his reign fighting John Duke of Lancaster who married Pedro's daughter Constance and claimed the Castilian throne through her. When they couldn't beat Enrique, John and Constance married their daughter to his son. Both the royal lines of Aragon and Castile were descended from Enrique. Although his brother was called "The Cruel," it was actually Henry who started the official policy of persecuting Jews that evolved into The Inquisition.
8. William Longespee
9. Gustav Gustavsson
As the natural son King Gustav Adolphus of Sweden, he was ennobled with the surname af Vasaborg. Much like Robert Earl of Gloucester, Gustav was a royal bastard who supported his royal half-sister. Unlike Gloucester, however, Gustav didn't have to fight for Queen Christina to maintain her throne (although she later gave it up). In recognition of his loyal service, she made him Count of Nystad and later named him Governor of Estonia. Gustav married and had children.
10. The Beauforts
Soon after John Duke of Lancaster married Constance of Castile (see above), he began an affair with one of the noblewomen who had served in the household of his mother and of his first wife Blanche. Katherine Swynford was the widowed sister-in-law of Geoffrey Chaucer, but it was her affair with John that made her notorious. She was labeled a great whore, but the relationship seems to have been a great love match. Four of their children lived to adulthood and were always acknowledged, not only by their father, but by the entire royal family, including their royal half-siblings. Given the surname Beaufort after one of their father's French holdings, they were initially barred from royal inheritances. After Constance died, however, their parents married and first the pope and then the king legitimized them in their adulthood. When their royal half-brother seized the throne as Henry IV, they supported him. Their descendants were loyal Lancastrians in the Wars of the Roses and it was through one of ther granddaughters, Margaret Beaufort, that her son, the future Henry VII claimed royal descent although he claimed the throne by right of conquest and married a daughter of the House of York. So the Beauforts helped start the wars and helped end them.
19 March 2011
Glorious Bastards
Many royals have enjoyed 'a bit of stuff' on the side, sometimes resulting in illegitimate children. Even some of today's royal men have confirmed that they have fathered children out of wedlock. For this quiz, identify the royal father of the following people. Submit your answers via the comments button or e-mail them to princessesreign@gmail.com
1. James Duke of Monmouth
2. Robert Earl of Gloucester
3. Alexandre Coste
4. Henry Fitzroy Duke of Richmond
5. William the Conqueror
6. The Fitzclarences
7. Enrique II of Castile
8. William Longespee
9. Gustav Gustavsson
10. The Beauforts
View answers
1. James Duke of Monmouth
2. Robert Earl of Gloucester
3. Alexandre Coste
4. Henry Fitzroy Duke of Richmond
5. William the Conqueror
6. The Fitzclarences
7. Enrique II of Castile
8. William Longespee
9. Gustav Gustavsson
10. The Beauforts
View answers
British Royal Wedding Answers
Thanks to Certified Royal Expert, Robyn H., for writing this quiz!
1. This special and rare material has been included in royal wedding rings since 1923, and William and Kate may likely follow in the tradition. What is this material?
The material is Welsh gold, which has come from the Clogau and Gwynfynydd gold mines. (Since this is Welsh, spelling does not count.)
2. Since the Royal Family has been mum so far on what royal peerage William will receive (if any), many different ideas on what his new bride will be called have all been batted around. Why are the following title suggestions incorrect?
a. Princess Catherine of Wales Kate will not hold the title of Princess in her own right, and therefore cannot put the title before her first name.
b. Catherine, Princess of Wales First of all, William is not The Prince of Wales yet, and therefore Kate cannot be "Princess of Wales." Secondly, this is the form of title used for women who have divorced their titled husbands. Notable women with this style and title are Diana, Princess of Wales and Sarah, Duchess of York. So Kate could only be "Catherine, Princess of Wales" if she divorced William after Charles had become King and invested William as The Prince of Wales. For the record, Kate's official title will be Princess William of Wales unless the Queen gives William another title (Duke/Earl of Someplace), in which case she'll be Duchess or Countess of Someplace.
3. Kate's engagement has thrown her family into the spotlight, especially her younger sister Pippa, who will be maid of honor. Apart from best man Prince Harry, just who are these people in the wedding party?
Bridesmaids:
a. The Lady Louise Windsor - daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and thus William's cousin
b. The Honourable Margarita Armstrong-Jones - daughter of the Queen's nephew Viscount Linley, and thus William's second cousin
c. Grace van Cutsem - William's goddaughter
d. Eliza Lopes - Camilla's granddaughter
Page boys:
e. Billy Lowther-Pinkerton - son of William's private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton
f. Tom Pettifer - William's godson
4. Part of the royal hullabaloo surrounding the wedding have been calls for William to pass over his father and succeed his grandmother as King. Apart from nullifying the work of a man who has trained to rule for nearly his entire life, why will this not happen?
Simply because the British constitution does not allow it. The Queen does not have the power to choose who inherits the throne (nor do the British people, for that matter). The only ways that William could skip over Charles would be if Charles were to predecease both William and the Queen, marry a Roman Catholic, or abdicate. Furthermore, under the Statute of Westminster 1931, changes to the Constitution regarding succession (e.g., allowing eldest children to succeed, regardless of gender) require the consent of every nation in the Commonwealth.
5. Where are the official sources to get British Royal Wedding information?
Information (such as it is; with six weeks to go, many of the details are still under wraps) can be obtained by following The Prince of Wales' official Twitter account (@ClarenceHouse) or by visiting the official British Royal Wedding website.
1. This special and rare material has been included in royal wedding rings since 1923, and William and Kate may likely follow in the tradition. What is this material?
The material is Welsh gold, which has come from the Clogau and Gwynfynydd gold mines. (Since this is Welsh, spelling does not count.)
2. Since the Royal Family has been mum so far on what royal peerage William will receive (if any), many different ideas on what his new bride will be called have all been batted around. Why are the following title suggestions incorrect?
a. Princess Catherine of Wales Kate will not hold the title of Princess in her own right, and therefore cannot put the title before her first name.
b. Catherine, Princess of Wales First of all, William is not The Prince of Wales yet, and therefore Kate cannot be "Princess of Wales." Secondly, this is the form of title used for women who have divorced their titled husbands. Notable women with this style and title are Diana, Princess of Wales and Sarah, Duchess of York. So Kate could only be "Catherine, Princess of Wales" if she divorced William after Charles had become King and invested William as The Prince of Wales. For the record, Kate's official title will be Princess William of Wales unless the Queen gives William another title (Duke/Earl of Someplace), in which case she'll be Duchess or Countess of Someplace.
3. Kate's engagement has thrown her family into the spotlight, especially her younger sister Pippa, who will be maid of honor. Apart from best man Prince Harry, just who are these people in the wedding party?
Bridesmaids:
a. The Lady Louise Windsor - daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and thus William's cousin
b. The Honourable Margarita Armstrong-Jones - daughter of the Queen's nephew Viscount Linley, and thus William's second cousin
c. Grace van Cutsem - William's goddaughter
d. Eliza Lopes - Camilla's granddaughter
Page boys:
e. Billy Lowther-Pinkerton - son of William's private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton
f. Tom Pettifer - William's godson
4. Part of the royal hullabaloo surrounding the wedding have been calls for William to pass over his father and succeed his grandmother as King. Apart from nullifying the work of a man who has trained to rule for nearly his entire life, why will this not happen?
Simply because the British constitution does not allow it. The Queen does not have the power to choose who inherits the throne (nor do the British people, for that matter). The only ways that William could skip over Charles would be if Charles were to predecease both William and the Queen, marry a Roman Catholic, or abdicate. Furthermore, under the Statute of Westminster 1931, changes to the Constitution regarding succession (e.g., allowing eldest children to succeed, regardless of gender) require the consent of every nation in the Commonwealth.
5. Where are the official sources to get British Royal Wedding information?
Information (such as it is; with six weeks to go, many of the details are still under wraps) can be obtained by following The Prince of Wales' official Twitter account (@ClarenceHouse) or by visiting the official British Royal Wedding website.
13 March 2011
British Royal Wedding Quiz
If you want to try this quiz, written by Robyn E.C.R.E., you can use the comments button to submit your answers or e-mail them to princessesreign@gmail.com.
As the days count down to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, it seems like everybody and their brother is offering some sort of news update. However, while the most basic information is widely available (Westminster Abbey, April 29th, and so on), a lot of the correct royal details seem to be hidden amongst rampant speculation and rumors. Certified Royal Experts can fill in where these professionals are missing the mark.
1. This special and rare material has been included in royal wedding rings since 1923, and William and Kate may likely follow in the tradition. What is this material?
2. Since the Royal Family has been mum so far on what royal peerage William will receive (if any), many different ideas on what his new bride will be called have all been batted around. Why are the following title suggestions incorrect?
a. Princess Catherine of Wales
b. Catherine, Princess of Wales
3. Kate's engagement has thrown her family into the spotlight, especially her younger sister Pippa, who will be maid of honor. Apart from best man Prince Harry, just who are these people in the wedding party?
Bridesmaids:
a. The Lady Louise Windsor
b. The Honourable Margarita Armstrong-Jones
c. Grace van Cutsem
d. Eliza Lopes
Page boys:
e. Billy Lowther-Pinkerton
f. Tom Pettifer
4. Part of the royal hullabaloo surrounding the wedding have been calls for William to pass over his father and succeed his grandmother as King. Apart from nullifying the work of a man who has trained to rule for nearly his entire life, why will this not happen?
5. Where are the official sources to get British Royal Wedding information?
View the answers.
As the days count down to the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, it seems like everybody and their brother is offering some sort of news update. However, while the most basic information is widely available (Westminster Abbey, April 29th, and so on), a lot of the correct royal details seem to be hidden amongst rampant speculation and rumors. Certified Royal Experts can fill in where these professionals are missing the mark.
1. This special and rare material has been included in royal wedding rings since 1923, and William and Kate may likely follow in the tradition. What is this material?
2. Since the Royal Family has been mum so far on what royal peerage William will receive (if any), many different ideas on what his new bride will be called have all been batted around. Why are the following title suggestions incorrect?
a. Princess Catherine of Wales
b. Catherine, Princess of Wales
3. Kate's engagement has thrown her family into the spotlight, especially her younger sister Pippa, who will be maid of honor. Apart from best man Prince Harry, just who are these people in the wedding party?
Bridesmaids:
a. The Lady Louise Windsor
b. The Honourable Margarita Armstrong-Jones
c. Grace van Cutsem
d. Eliza Lopes
Page boys:
e. Billy Lowther-Pinkerton
f. Tom Pettifer
4. Part of the royal hullabaloo surrounding the wedding have been calls for William to pass over his father and succeed his grandmother as King. Apart from nullifying the work of a man who has trained to rule for nearly his entire life, why will this not happen?
5. Where are the official sources to get British Royal Wedding information?
View the answers.
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