Last modified: 5 December 2021
1 November
Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain delivered her COP26 speech via video message. She had recorded the speech already late October 2021 and let know on 26 October that she wouldn’t attend the event, as she had planned. Many world leaders attend the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow this year. The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and The Duchess of Cambridge attended the first day of the conference.
2 November
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has attended the first rehearsal for the upcoming ballet performance “The Snow Queen” of Tivoli. She has been involved in designing the clothes for the ballet. She said she intends to celebrate Christmas at Marselisborg Castle in Aarhus.
King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway have received their booster vaccination against the Covid-19 virus.
Grand Duke Henri, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg attended a service at the Cathedral of Our Lady in Luxembourg to remember the family members that have died.
The first Halloween outfit of August Brooksbank, son of Princess Eugenie of York.
3 November
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands have visited the World Expo 2020 in Dubai to attend the Dutch national day. The king officially opened the Dutch pavillion. They arrived in Abu Dhabi yesterday and visited the company Pure Harvest there this morning.
Several royals and aristocrats glitter in an advertisement for the hotel chain Raffles Hotels & Resorts. The video is called “Hotel Royalty Since 1887” and is a masterpiece by Peter Greenway. 1887 was the year the flagship location in Singapore was opened. The video shows an imaginary day in the life of Raffles, sharing love and heritage. The ambassadors are Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece, Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur, Archduchess Catharina of Austria, Prince Nikolai of Denmark, the Marquess of Blandford and Archduchess Anna Gabriele of Austria.
One of the pieces of jewelry that will be auctioned at the “Treasures” auction of Sotheby’s in London on 7 December 2021 is a stunning tiara which is believed to have been owned by Empress Joséphine of the French. For nearly 100 years the tiara was part of the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Already on 10 November Sotheby’s Geneva will offer Russian royal jewels, that were smuggled out of the country during the 1917 revolution. This includes an orange-pink diamond weighing 25.62 carats set in a ring. On sale is also an oval sapphire and diamond brooch and earclips that once were in the possesion of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna.
Among the pieces of jewelry auctioned at Christie’s in Geneva, Switzerland, on 9 November are not only diamond bracelets once belonging to Queen Marie-Antoinette of France, but also a ruby and diamond bangle that was gifted to the Duchess of Windsor by her husband, former King Edward VIII of Great Britain, on their first wedding anniversary.
4 November
Her doctors have given Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain permission to leave Windsor Castle and spend the weekend at Sandringham House. She left this morning by helicopter.
The lawyers of the Duke of York are expected at a hearing on 4 January 2202 to argue for a dismissal of the lawsuit of sexual abuse of Virginia Giuffre against the Duke. If not settled or dismissed the case is expected to go on trial between September and December 2022. The Duke’s lawyers hope to be able to dismiss the legal action.
Queen Letizia of Spain has visited Paraguay in the past two days, as part of a visit in connection with the projects of the Cooperación Española there.
The German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender were received at the Royal Palace in Oslo by King Harald V, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon on the occasion of their two-day official visit to Norway. There was an audience and a lunch.
The father of Crown Princess Kiko of Japan, Tatsuhiko Kawashima, has died at St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo today aged 81. He was admitted to hospital on 19 October. He was a professor of economics.
5 November
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg and the French-Luxembourg author Stéphane Bern have received RTL for a short documentary and interview on the occasion of the publication of their book “Un amour souverain”. The book will be published on 10 November and tells the story about the relationship and marriage of the Grand Duchess and her husband Grand Duke Henri.
6 November
Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg has visited the Expo 2020 in Dubai.
7 November
King Abdullah II of Jordan has returned to his country after a tour through Europe. He visited Austria, Poland, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Maria-Alexandra, the daughter of Nicholas de Roumanie Medforth-Mills and his wife Alina-Maria celebrated her first birthday today.
8 November
Princess Charlène of Monaco has finally been able to return to Monaco. She arrived this morning after a flight by private jet from Durban, South Africa, to Nice, France, and a helicopter flight to Monaco. Her husband Sovereign Prince Albert II of Monaco and her children Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, as well as her sister-in-law Princess Stéphanie, waited for her. The family was very happy being reunited again.
On 8 December Amalia, the Princess of Orange, will officially be introduced to the Council of State at the Kneuterdijk Palace in The Hague in presence of her parents King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. She will celebrate her 18th birthday the previous day.
The Royal Collection Trust has presented its official range to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain in 2022. The design is inspired by the purple Robe of Estate worn by The Queen at her Coronation. The border decoration is based on the gold embroidery on the robe, which incorporates olive branches and wheat ears, symbolising peace and prosperity.
Ferdinand Habsburg (Archduke Ferdinand of Austria) and his WRT team mates Robin Frijns and Charles Milesi have won the LMP2 title in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The team won the last long distance race in Bahrain this weekend with their Oreca 07 Gibson. In just over eight hours they covered a distance of almost 1,299 kilometers and secured their world champion title. This achievement crowns a season of superlatives for Habsburg that started with winning the Asian le Mans Series in LMP2, followed by a victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
9 November
Princess Delphine of Belgium is the surprise contestant in the TV-Show “Dancing with the Stars” of the Belgian channel “Play 4”. Together with her Dutch dance partner she will take part in the challenge. With the charity Make-A-Wish she hopes to raise awareness for the charity and make the dream of a brave young boy come true. Delphine confussed by the way she is not a good dancer.
10 November
A sapphire and diamond brooch and matching ear clips once belonging to Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia sold for $850,000 at auction at Sotheby’s in Geneva, Switzerland. Two bracelets once owned by Queen Marie-Antoinette of France sold earlier this week for more than $8m.
11 November
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands ended a three-day state visit to Norway. The couple arrived in Oslo on 9 November and was received by King Harald V, Queen Sonja and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. Princess Märtha Louise joined them for lunch. It was the 100th state visit for the Norwegian royal couple. Crown Prince Haakon only joint the royal couple of The Netherlands and his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit on the last day, when they visited Trondheim. He had a cold and tested negative for Covid-19 several times before he dared to meet with them.
State Visit day 1
More from the first day
Speech of King Willem-Alexander at the state banquet
Speech of King Harald at the state banquet
We share core values
Speech of Willem-Alexander at the government lunch
The visit to Trondheim
Photos of the state visit
NOS Koningspaar in Noorwegen
This is what a state visit looks like
On the occasion of his 40th birthday several photos of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg were released. He also gave a few interviews to Luxemburger Wort and Point de Vue that were unfortunately not fully available online.
The witness statement of Jason Knauf, the former communications secretary of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, to the Associated Newspapers was made public following a ruling from the High Court in London. The statement is part of the appeal of the Associated Newspapers against the Duchess of Sussex. The documents reveal that she already feared that her letter to her father Thomas Markle would be leaked. Meghan also states she was pressured by senior royals to deal with her father. The Duchess has apologised to the court for forgetting she did contribute indirectly to the Finding Freedom book, after Jason Knauf said the book had been discussed on a routine basis and that he passed on background information for the book on her request.
13 November
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark paid a state visit to Germany from 10 to 13 November. Her son Crown Prince Frederik joined her on the first two days in Berlin. The Queen spent the other two days in München, Bavaria. Unfortunately the state banquet at the Residenz in München on 12 December had to be cancelled because of Covid-19.
The Program of the state visit
State visit day 1
The Queen’s speech at the state banquet
State visit day 2
The Queen’s speech at the return banquet
State visit day 3
State visit day 4
14 November
As usual the British royal family gathered for a ceremony at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Day. Last minute Queen Elizabeth II had to cancel because she had sprained her back. She was said to be very disappointed. A wreath was laid on her behalf by the Prince of Wales. During her reign she had only missed the occasions six other times. Other activities during the previous days included the opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey and the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark surprisingly didn’t return to Denmark immediately after her state visit to Germany. She spent the weekend privately at the Bavarian Alps it was announced.
Kei and Mako Komuro have left Japan to start a new life in New York, USA. In the morning they departed from Haneda Airport in Tokyo to John F. Kennedy Airport, observed by about 100 reporters. On 12 November Kei has met his mother’s former fiancé and they agreed on settlement money to be paid by Kei.
15 November
On the occasion of the Fête du Roi (King’s Day) in Belgium. King Albert II and Queen Paola attended a service at the cathedral of Brussels, and afterwards visited the Palace of the Nation, where they attended a government meeting and saw an exhibition about 100 years females in the Belgian politics. At the Te Deum in the Cathedral they were also joined by Prince Laurent.
King Abdullah II of Jordan inaugurated the first ordinary session of the 19th Parliament and delivered the Speech from the Throne.
The Emir of Kuwait has asked his half-brother Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal al-Ahmed al-Sabah to temporarily carry out some of his constitutional duties. Both of them are in their 80s.
16 November
The book on the occasion of the 18th birthday of The Princess of Orange “Amalia” by Claudia de Breij was published today.
The ceremonies in connection to the coming of age of Princess Aiko of Japan, who celebrates her 20th birthday on 1 December, will be held on 5 December, as her birthday falls on a weekday. Because of the pandemic there will not be any banquet. She will wear a tiara borrowed from her aunt Sayako Kuroda, and be awarded with the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown at the Imperial Palace. The princess will also meet her parents and grandparents, as well as receive well-wishes and hold a press conference.
The Princely Palace of Monaco announced that Princess Charlène needs a period of calm and rest to recover from the past months in South Africa and the operations she underwent. She will not attend the National Day on 19 November.
The Royal Albert Hall in London has commissioned two new life-size sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and the late Duke of Edinburgh on the occasion of their 150th anniversary. They will be permanently shown at the South Porch of the venue. Two new statues of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, will stand in niches at the North Porch. The statues will be unveiled next summer.
17 November
The Italian president Sergio Mattarella and his daughter Laura Mattarella paid a two-day state visit to Spain. For the first time in two years a state banquet was being held in the Royal Palace in Madrid, although masks were worn most of the time.
18 November
The Duchess of Sussex has appeared in the talkshow “Ellen” of Ellen DeGeneres. She spoke about her work, her small family and celebrating Halloween and Thanksgiving in California. She said that Archie “loves being a big brother”. Here is a video of a prank she took part in.
A man has been charged with trespassing the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace on 10 May 2021, allegedly carrying cocaine and a knife.
19 November
National Day in Monaco was celebrated today.
The Te Deum in the Cathedral
The ceremony at the palace
Photos of National Day
In an interview with the magazine “People” Sovereign Prince Albert II of Monaco has said that his wife Princess Charlène is suffering of “exhaustion, both emotional and physical”. She has been admitted to a clinic abroad for at least a few weeks. Her health problems don’t have anything to do with a marital crisis, Covid or cancer, or plastic surgery. The Prince asked for privacy for both his wife and his family.
Their Autumn Tour brought the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to Jordan and Egypt this year. In Jordan they were received by King Abdullah II and Queen Rania. Also Crown Prince Hussein was present.
The surprising winner of a poll run by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook on their podcast “The Rest Is History”, was 10th century King Athelstan. About 84.000 people voted on Twitter for the greatest British monarch. Athelstan received 50,5 % of the votes, while Queen Elizabeth I ended up in second place with 49,5 %.
20 November
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway visited the Jegertroppen (hunter troops) at Rena Camp in Østerdalen today. It was a confirmation gift from the Armed Forces. She was informed about the activities of the Norwegian Special Operation Forces nationally and internationally. Wearing a uniform the princess received a tour and saw demonstrations. She also got to simulate a parachute jump from a so-called jump tower.
21 November
August Brooksbank and Lucas Tindall were baptised in a joint royal christeining at the All Saints Chapel at Royal Lodge, Windsor. Their great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain attended the event. Several other family members attended the event.
22 November
Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Kensington Palace have issued a joint statement after the new documentary “The Princes and the Press” aired on BBC Two on Monday night. The program, presented by Amol Rajan, deals with the relationship of the Duke of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex with the media, mainly focusing on the Sussex though. In the statement it says: “A free, responsible and open press is of vital importance to a healthy democracy. However, too often it is overblown and unfounded claims from unnamed sources that are presented as facts and it is disappointing when anyone, including the BBC, gives them credibility.” They are not happy with the documentary.
23 November
The Danish Royal Court has announced that Queen Margrethe II will celebrate Christmas Eve at Marselisborg Palace in Aarhus together with the Crown Princely Family. Prince Joachim and his family will celebrate Christmas with the family of his wife Princess Marie in France. Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix will spend the holidays with their mother the Countess of Frederiksborg.
The Princely Palace of Monaco published a special video of the military parade on National Day.
It turns out George Brooksbank, the father-in-law of Princess Eugenie of York, died on 18 November, days before the christening of his grandson August in Windsor.
24 November
It is beginning to look like Christmas at the Grand-Ducal Palace in Luxembourg.
25 November
More glamour in Sweden. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain paid a state visit on 24 and 25 November. They already arrived on the 23rd and attended a reception at the Spanish embassy.
The Spanish state visit to Sweden
The State Banquet
Kungahuset: The Spanish state visit
The end of the Spanish state visit
In the garden of the Romanian Embassy in London, Great Britain, a bronze bust of King Michael of Romania was unveiled by his eldest daughter Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown and the Romanian ambassador.
There is a new French magazine about royal history called “Dynastie”.
26 November
A new portrait of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has been issued in connection with the 50th anniversary of her accession to the throne in January 2022. The photo was taken in the Dome Hall at Fredensborg Palace by Per Morten Abrahamsen.
27 November
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians have postponed their state visit to Italy, that was to take place from 1 to 3 December. They also had to postpone the visit in March 2020. The obvious reason is the corona pandemic. King Philippe is to travel to Italy on Wednesday to meet the president.
29 November
The Belgian princess Astrid has been caught in October 2021 driving 120 km/h (corrected to 112 km/h) on a highway section in Awans, Belgium, where only 90 was permitted. She will have to pay a fine.
30 November
Barbados has officially removed Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. The country has become a republic now on the day the country celebrated its 55th aniversary of independence. At the ceremony in the capital of Barbados, Bridgetown, Dame Sandra Mason was sworn in as the first president. The event was also attended by The Prince of Wales and singer Rihanna. The Prince of Wales received the Order of Freedom of Barbados.
The Queen’s message
The Prince of Wales visits Barbados
The new, more user-friendly design of the website of the Danish royal family was launched today. The most recent update of the design was made in 2016. The new features are a media bank for the news media, a digital photograph database from Queen Margrethe II’s Reference Library, The Royal Danish Collection, as well as a new subpage about the artistic work of the Queen.
For the sixth time the Royal House of Denmark this year presents a digital Christmas calendar. This time the elves, in the company of a Christmas angel, will explore the Danish line of monarchs and follow the traces that Danish kings and queen shave left behind through more than 1000 years. One can follow the royal Christmas calendar as off 1 December on the social media platforms of the family on Facebook and Instagram, as well as on the royal website.
During a press conference on the occasion of his 56th birthday Crown Prince Fumihito of Japan (Crown Prince Akishino) has spoken about the recent marriage of his eldest daughter Mako Komuro. He confessed he was the one who had decided not to hold the traditional ceremonies, based on the financial troubles of Kei Komuro’s family. Although he thinks that one should listen to some opinions about the marriage, he also says that he has read “fabricated stories” and “some quite terrible things”. He added that the post-traumatic stress disorder of his daughter was “probably caused by magazines and online articles”. He thinks that slander and defamation should not be tolerated. He would have prefered a more active press conference after the wedding, but understands that it would have been difficult for his daughter, while he thinks it would have been better if Kei had been able to speak in his own words and answer questions. About Mako’s move to New York he said: “It is their decision, so that’s what is best for them.”