Last modified: 5 April 2021
1 March
Buckingham Palace today said in a press announcement: “The Duke of Edinburgh was today transferred from King Edward VII’s Hospital to St Bartholomew’s Hospital where doctors will continue to treat him for an infection, as well as undertake testing and observation for a pre-existing heart condition. The Duke remains comfortable and is responding to treatment but is expected to remain in hospital until at least the end of the week.”
2 March
After her High Court privacy victory the Duchess of Sussex is demanding £1,539,097.79 in legal costs as well as a front page apology from the Associated Newspapers Ltd, the publishers of the Mail on Sunday and the Mail Online. At today’s hearing the Associated Newspapers Ltd were ordered to make an interim payment of £450,000 to the Duchess over legal costs, and 90% of her legal costs should be paid. The Mail On Sunday and the MailOnline were ordered to publish a statement about the victory of the Duchess on their front/home page. The publisher plans to appeal. The Duchess also wants to get all their copies of the letter she wrote to her father Thomas Markle in August 2018, that was published by the Mail in February 2019.
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands will study at the United World College of the Atlantic in Llantwit Major, Wales, after Summer 2021, to prepare for her international baccalaureate. She will join the Princess of Asturias, whose change of school was already announced a few weeks ago.
Prince Oscar of Sweden celebrated his 5th birthday. Several pictures were released.
Best wishes from Queen Margrethe II of Denmark from Trend, Denmark.
3 March
Buckingham Palace has announced it will investigate allegiations of bullying made against the Duchess of Sussex. A close adviser allegedly was bullied by her during her time as a working royal, as reported in the newspaper “The Times”. Their communications chief Jason Knauf planned to complain in October 2018 because she drove two personal assistants out of the household and was undermining the confidence of a third staff member. Mr Knauf claims they were coming under pressure of the Duchess of Sussex, and that he wanted to protect the members of staff. The Duke of Sussex is said to have pleaded with Mr Knauf not to send the complaint. Results will likely not be released until 2022. The Duchess of Sussex let know: “The duchess is saddened by this latest attack on her character, particularly as someone who has been the target of bullying herself and is deeply committed to supporting those who have experienced pain and trauma. She is determined to continue her work building compassion around the world and will keep striving to set an example for doing what is right and doing what is good.”
After reports that they had received the Covid-19 vaccine already Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina of Spain stated: “My sister and I went to visit my father and in order to be issued with a medical certificate which will allow us to continue to visit him regularly, we were offered the chance to get vaccinated, which we accepted. Had it not been for these circumstances, we would have waited for our turn to get vaccinated to come around in Spain.” They don’t yet qualify for a vaccine in Spain and Switzerland (where they live).
4 March
Buckingham Palace said today: “The Duke of Edinburgh yesterday underwent a successful procedure for a pre-existing heart condition at St Bartholomew’s Hospital. His Royal Highness will remain in hospital for treatment, rest and recuperation for a number of days.”
In an interview on CNBC’s Finding Solutions Princess Eugenie of York was asked about what kind of world she wants her son August to grow up in. She said: “I think my child, hopefully, will be one of those people who will continue to see the world as a place that can be changed. I would love people to continue to have hope that we can make a difference. I hope that the world will be a place where my child can have hope, and continue to know that they can make a big difference.”
97-year-old Princess Yuriko of Japan, the widow of Prince Mikasa, has been released from the St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo. She was admitted to the hospital on Monday as a precautionary measure due to an existing heart condition. She received treatment for an abnormal heart rhythm.
5 March
Princess Beatrice of York wrote a piece for the newspaper “Evening Standard” on the occasion of World Book Day and the Oscars Book Prize. She wrote about lockdown, dyslexia, books and her stepson.
Vanitatis/El Confidencial published a long and interesting interview with the Duke of Bragança. He speaks about his country, Spain, Covid-19, his wife and children, and several other topics. He and his wife Isabel will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in May.
Grand Duke George of Russia and Rebecca Bettarini (Victoria Romanovna) plan to get married in St. Petersburg on 1 October 2021.
Princess Mafalda of Bulgaria, a singer, has released her newest single “Bailando Sin Sentido“.
7 March
Several members of the British royal family appeared in a special Commonwealth broadcast. The Prince of Charles spoke in person in Westminster Abbey, while Queen Elizabeth II gave a televized speech. The Duke and Duchess spoke with medical, charity and voluntary staff from across the Commonwealth. Also
The most positive thing in the interview of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex with Oprah Winfrey: they’re having a girl! The baby is going to be born in early Summer. Interesting is also that the couple exchanged vows in private in their backyard already three days before the wedding, in presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury only. This is not regarded as an official wedding though. They describe the wedding day itself as “the day that was planned for the world”. I quite liked seeing that they have chickens, and that their home is called “Archie’s Chick Inn”. The saddest part of the interview was when Meghan told that she had had suicidal thoughts late 2018, when being pregnant with Archie, and received little help at court. She also said there were “concerns and conversations about how dark his skin might be when he’s born”, although Harry later on in the interview appears to indicate that someone discussed that with him much earlier in their relationship. She also suggested that her children wouldn’t become His/Her Royal Highness because of their skin colour. The couple feels they haven’t received enough support and understanding from the family and court, which has led to their decision to leave the royal family.
8 March
Photographer Misan Harriman shared a lovely new photo of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their son Archie.
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg sent a message on the occasion of International Women’s Day to stop violence.
9 March
The Norwegian royal family announced the death of Erling Sven Lorentzen this morning at 1.30am, at the age of 98. He was the widower of Princess Ragnhild of Norway (1930-2012). The statement of the family said: “It is with great sadness that we have received the sad message that Erling Sven Lorentzen has died peacefully. Our thoughts go to his closest, who has lost a good father, father-in-law, grandfather and great-grandfather.”
In a statement Buckingham Palace has said: “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.”
The Société des Bains de Mer et du Cercle des Etrangers à Monaco has announced that the yearly Rose Ball in Monaco has been cancelled for 2021.
The Dutch royal family has published their report for the year 2020.
The Amsterdam Museum has announced that the Golden Carriage of the Dutch royal family will be exhibited at the museum between 18 June 2021 and 27 February 2022.
10 March
The catalogue of the Sotheby’s auction “The family collection of the late countess Mountbatten of Burma” on 24 March 2021 in London can be downloaded online. A 1967 Jaguar 420, one of the luxury customised cars of Louis, the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma is one of the pieces to be auctioned. The car was painted in the colour “Mountbatten Blue”.
11 March
The Swedish royal court announced that Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden have isolated themselves with their children Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar on 10 March. Both tested positive for Covid-19 today, after the Crown Princess had experienced cold symptoms on Wednesday. This means that the couple will not attend the memorial service for Covid-19 victims at Drottningholm Palace Chapel tonight, and will be replaced by Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia. The name day celebrations of Victoria on Friday 12 March were cancelled.
For the first time in 2021 the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge appeared in person. The couple visited a local primary school in Stratford, East London, upon the reopening of schools across the UK. When being asked by a reporter from Sky News whether the British royal family was “racist”, Prince William answered: “We are very much not a racist family”. He also confirmed he would soon speak to his brother Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex.
12 March
The sick leave of King Harald V of Norway has been extended to 11 April. He is on the way of recovery after a knee operation.
14 March
In Luxembourg Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie and their son Prince Charles wished “E schéine Bretzelsonndeg!” (A beautiful Pretzel Sunday) from Fischbach Castle. The day is celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent.
On Mother’s Day the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared the letters and drawings of their children for the late Princess Diana online. They explained that each year on Mother’s Day, George, Charlotte and Louis make cards remembering their Granny, Diana, for William. For their mother they baked a cake.
Princess Eugenie of York celebrated her first Mother’s Day. On Instagram she shared a photo of her son August between the daffodils.
Buckingham Palace is said to have hired independent external investigators – a third-party law firm – to research claims by former and current staff members that the Duchess of Sussex has bullied them.
15 March
Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden are thus far doing fine and are on the way of recovery, the Swedish royal court announced.
James and Pippa Matthews had a baby daughter this morning at 4.22am. The second child of the sister of the Duchess of Cambridge and her husband is called Grace Elizabeth Jane. She weighs 2,920 gramms and mother and daughter are doing fine. In October 2018 they became the parents of a son called Arthur.
16 March
The Duke of Edinburgh has finally been able to leave the King Edward VII’s Hospital in London after four weeks. In a statement Buckingham Palace later said: “The Duke of Edinburgh has today been discharged from King Edward VII’s Hospital and has returned to Windsor Castle, following treatment for an infection and a successful procedure for a pre-existing condition. His Royal Highness wishes to thank all the medical staff who looked after him at both King Edward VII’s Hospital and St Bartholomew’s Hospital, and everyone who has sent their good wishes.”
Queen Sofia of Spain received her first Covid-19 vaccin at the El Pardo-Fuencarral Health Center in Madrid.
Japan is to set up an advisory panel on imperial succession next week. The panel has to listen to views from experts on the ways to secure a stable imperial succession now the number of (male) royal family members is dwindling. The panel will exist of six people. A conclusion will be expected in about one year.
Prince Ernst August of Hannover senior is to appear in court at Wels, Austria, next Tuesday. If he doesn’t appear, the case will be postponed. More than ten witnesses were called and a psychiatric expert is to be heard. In case of a conviction he could face up to three years in prison. He is accused of injuring a police officer, threatening another officer and his own employees under influence of alcohol and medication. He could be charged of bodily harm, dangerous threats and property damage.
The new Point de Vue magazine reveals that Rebecca Bettarini will wear the Chaumet Lacis Tiara at her wedding to Grand Duke George of Russia in October.
An interesting interview with the Cambodian Princess Soma Norodom, who grew up in California, USA, has appeared online at ABC 7 News. Her father was the third cousin of the King of Cambodia.
17 March
Prince Albert II of Monaco has official introduced the initiative Grace Influential.
18 March
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge met teams from the London Ambulance Service at Newham ambulance station to hear about what it has been like responding to the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact on their mental health and wellbeing.
Private investigator Daniel Hanks, from the USA, has told “BBC News” that the British newspaper “The Sun” has paid him to find personal information about the Duchess of Sussex. This happened when her relationship to Prince Harry had just become known. The publisher of the newspaper says that they had ordered him to do legitimate research and act lawfully.
39 Cards, notes and letters written by the late Diana Princess of Wales between 1990 and 1997 to family friend Roger Bramble are sold at auction today at David Lay Auctions in Penzance, Cornwall.
King Albert and Queen Paola of Belgium received their first Covid-19 vaccine today at the Heysel Plateau in Brussels.
Princess Charlène of Monaco travelled to South Africa to attend the memorial service of King Goodwill Zwelithini. The Zulu King died in Durban, South Africa, on 12 March of diabetes related complications. He was a supporter of the Princess Charlène of Monaco Foundation. No successor has been chosen yet, the sister of the late King, Princess Thembi Ndlovu said.
The Danish Royal House published its annual report 2020.
The Queen’s official birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, will not take place in its traditional form in London, Great Britain, this year due to Covid-19. There might be an alternative celebration. Also the annual Garter service in June has been cancelled.
19 March
The Bhutanese royal family shared some lovely photos on the occasion of the first birthday of Gyalsey Ugyen Wangchuck, second son of the King and Queen of the country. They were taken outside the Lingkana Palace.
Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau received her first Covid-19 vaccine. The Princess is living in London, where it is already the turn of the group of 50+. She called for all her followers to donate to Vaccine Forward to make it possible for people in the world’s poorest countries to get vaccinated as well.
In the German magazine Bunte it is revealed that Grand Duke George of Russia and Rebecca Bettarini will marry at the Saint Isaac’s Cathedral in St. Petersburg, Russia, in October.
The commemorations for the 275 anniversary of the Battle of Culloden on 17 April will be held online, the National Trust for Scotland has announced. Events begin at 11am with a special service to remember the events of 16 April 1746 and the many who fell.
22 March
King Harald V, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner, attended the funeral of Erling Sven Lorentzen, the widower of Princess Ragnhild at Asker Church. For a somewhat longer report see here.
23 March
The advisory panel of the Japanese government on securing a stable line of succession to the throne held its first meeting today. In the coming months they will discuss whether Japan should allow female members of the family to ascend the throne or allow matrilineal imperial members in the line of succession. The six-member panel will speak with about 20 experts about their views.
After the British newspaper “The Sun” published a copy of the wedding certificate of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, confirming the wedding took place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, on 19 May 2018, the couple through their spokesperson once again confirmed that they exchanged personal vows a few days before their official/legal wedding. They already did shortly after the interview with Oprah Winfrey on 7 March in which the Duchess said that they were married by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in their back garden three days before the wedding.
Pieter van Vollenhoven, the husband of Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, has received the Covid-19 vaccine. Also Princess Sirivannavari of Thailand, aged 34, was vaccinated with AstraZeneca at the Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok.
24 March
In a rugby podcast Mike Tindall has announced that the third child of him and his wife Zara, a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, has been born on Sunday 21 March. The boy was born at home on the bathroom floor, as they were unable to make it to the hospital in time. The baby was called Lucas Philip and is currently 22nd in line to the British throne. He is the 10th great-grandchild of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who announced they look forward to meeting him when circumstances allow. The couple already had two daughters: Mia and Lena. After four granddaughters he is the first grandson of the Princess Royal.
The Princess of Asturias had her first solo engagement today. Princess Leonor attended the celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the Cervantes Institute in Madrid.
The British royal family is still very popular, surveys by Ipsos MORI shows. Not only do the Brits think that the future of their country would be worse without a monarchy. Also their opinions on individual members of the family remain stable.
The Duke of Sussex in the past few days announced two jobs. He is to become chief impact officer at the coaching and mental health firm BetterUp, and he will join the new Commission on Information Disorder of the Aspen Institute as a commissioner. They will conduct a six-month study on the state of misinformation and disinformation in the USA. His new role at BetterUp will be to “lift up critical dialogues around mental health, build supportive and compassionate communities, and foster an environment for honest and vulnerable conversations”.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark this year will celebrate her 81st birthday on 16 April privately at Fredensborg Palace. It will be possible to send her birthday greetings via the website of the Royal Danish House and its social media, where the birthday will be marked throughout the day also.
Prince Ernst August of Hanover has received a ten-month suspended jail sentence at court in Wels, Austria, and has to attend psychotherapy. He was also expelled from his home in the area and will have to find himself another home. He was sentenced for violence against a police officer and for threatening employees.
376 items of the late Patricia, The 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma (who died in 2017), were auctioned at Sotheby’s in London today. They fetched £5.6 million and many items were sold for much more than the estimated price. The items came from her family home, Newhouse. The family previously let know: “Our overriding desire when organising our mother’s affairs is to honour her wishes and celebrate the memory of both our mother and our father. They had discussed these arrangements with us, and we are simply putting their plans into effect. We are of course keeping many things and importantly amongst these are objects which are of sentimental value and much loved.”
The Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who was also Minister of Finance and Industry of the United Arab Emirates, died aged 75. His death was announced by his brother Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Ruler of Dubai.
25 March
In an interview with the British tv-channel BBC Reigning Prince Albert II of Monaco reacted to the interview of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. He said to understand the pressure, but also said that it bothered him that they spoke out publicly and said: “I think this type of public display of dissatisfaction, to say the least, these types of conversations should be held within intimate quarters of the family.”
26 March
Princess Sofia of Sweden has given birth to a healthy baby boy, who was born at Danderyd Hospital near Stockholm today at 11.19am. Both mother and child are in good health. The third son of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia weighs 3220 grams and is 49 centimetres tall. Prince Carl Philip was present at birth. In a statement the couple said: “We are so happy and grateful to be able to welcome our third son to our family. Princess Sofia and I, and his two big brothers, have all been longing for this day. And now we are looking forward to getting to know this new little member of our family.” Hardly seven hours after the birth, mother and son were able to leave hospital.
Here is the Easter wish of King Harald V of Norway.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain paid a two-day state visit to the tiny principality of Andorra. Not only was it the first state visit of a Spanish monarch to Andorra ever, but also the first royal state visit of 2021.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall paid a two-day visit to Greece to attend the 200th Independence Day celebrations in Athens.
The Japanese imperial family has presented their New Year’s Waka poems, with a delay because of Covid-19. This year’s theme was fruit. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako read their poems during the ceremony, as did other members of the family. Here you can find the English translation of the poems (PDF), as well as the Waka poems by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
28 March
During a special Council of State King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden announced that his newborn grandson will be named Julian Herbert Folke. Prince Julian will be the Duke of Halland. He will not be styled Royal Highness.
The Duchess of Cambridge and the National Portrait Gallery have launched the book “Hold Still: A Portrait Of Our Nation In 2020”, after the successfull initiative of portraits taken during the first lockdown last year. The book depicts 100 photographs and will be a “lasting record of what we were all experiencing” during the past year of the pandemic. The book will be available on 7 May.
Reigning Prince Albert II of Monaco gave an interview on the occasion of one year Covid-19 in his country. He says he feels good after having been one of the first people to contract Covid-19, although he still has moments of fatigue. The pandemic however also meant that he has been able to spend more quality time with his family.
29 March
The confirmation of Prince Christian of Denmark will take place at the Fredensborg Palace Church on Saturday 15 May 2021 at 3pm. The service will be led by Chaplain-in-Ordinary, bishop Henrik Wigh-Poulsen. The family will celebrate afterwards in private.
In an interview with the Foro Económico Hispano-Luxemburgués Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg spoke about language and her Cuban background.
Peter Phillips, a grandson of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, has been critized for travelling to Scotland despite of the lockdown. As he told the police, he had travelled for business, which is allowed.
30 March
King’s Day in the Netherlands (27 April) this year will almost fully be held on tv and online. King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, the Princess of Orange, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane will travel to the city of Eindhoven where they will be present in a studio at the High Tech Campus. The theme of the celebration will be “KennisMaken” (making knowledge). As usual the royal program will take place from 11am to 1pm.
A cousin of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Prince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, received the Corona-vaccine at the UMC Amsterdam today. He had lymph node cancer a few years ago.
31 March
Easter wishes from the Danish royal family.
The newest royal to be vaccinated against Covid-19 is Princess Ubolratana of Thailand.