Last modified: 2 October 2022
1 September
King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands had to cancel a visit to California and Texas, USA, from 6 to 9 September because he is still recovering of pneumonia. His wife Queen Máxima is now travelling alone.
The Dutch Royal House has informed that Amalia, The Princess of Orange, is to join her parents King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands on a tour to Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba in the Caribic at the end of January, early February 2023.
The Minister of Culture of Greece, Lina Mendoni, and a delegation paid a visit to Scotland. They signed a cooperation agreement with The Prince’s Foundation of the Prince of Wales. The Greeks want to find out how the Foundation can help the Ministry of Culture restoring and developing the former royal estate of Tatoi.
3 September
A surprise wedding between Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan and Princess Miriam of Bulgaria took place in Amman, Jordan, today. He is divorced and father of four children. She is the widow of Crown Prince Kardam of Bulgaria and mother of two sons. She will keep the Orthodox faith. The couple has already known each other for many years.
4 September
Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands gave an interview in English to Mo Gawdat (Slo Mo), that was published on YouTube. They among others spoke about their pretty normal life, their family, their work, etc.
5 September
Amalia, The Princess of Orange has started her study Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics at the University of Amsterdam. Dressed in white jeans, a blouse and a trench coat, with sneakers on her feet, she shortly posed for picture before going into the building.
Kei Moriya and his wife Ayako, formerly Princess of Takamado (Japan) had a second boy at the Aiiku Hospital in Minato Ward, Tokyo, on 1 September 2022 at 3.14am.
6 September
Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom has said goodbye to her 14th Prime Minister, Boris Johson, and welcomed her 15th Prime Minister, Liz Truss, at Balmoral Castle. Because of mobility issues the Queen didn’t want to make the trip to receive them at Buckingham Palace.
The state visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands is to take place from 31 October to 2 November 2022. They will be visiting Athens and Thessaloniki. The visit has been postponed already twice.
7 September
The British Queen has postponed an online meeting of the Privy Council. Doctors have advised her to rest after a full day on Tuesday. The Queen has accepted the advice of her doctors.
8 September
In the early afternoon Buckingham Palace released a statement saying: “Following further evaluation this morning, the Queen’s doctors are concerned for Her Majesty’s health and have recommended she remain under medical supervision. The Queen remains comfortable and at Balmoral.” That the news was serious was soon understood when the most senior members of the family started travelling to Balmoral. In a statement shortly after 6.30pm Buckingham Palace announced: “The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow.” The death of Queen Elizabeth II is the end of an era. Her eldest son Charles has automatically become King Charles III. The flag at Buckingham Palace was lowered to half mast. Later in the evening a statement by King Charles III was released.
A report about the Buckingham Palace visit of The Royal Watcher on this day
The Duchess of Cambridge remained in Windsor. The family recently moved to Adelaide Cottage, Windsor, and the children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis began their first full day at their new school, Lambrook School, on this Thursday. Photos were already released on Wednesday, taken while the children paid a pre-visit to their new school.
The engagement was made known between Duchess Amélie of Württemberg and Freiherr Franz-Ferdinand von Feilitzsch.
9 September
King Charles III of the United Kingdom has announced a period of Royal Mourning starting today until seven days after the funeral of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. The mourning will be observed by members of the royal family, the royal household staff and representatives of the royal household on official duties and troops committed to ceremonial duties. Flags will remain half mast until 8am on the morning after the final day of Royal Mourning. The royal residences will remain closed until after the funeral.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla, who is now called The Queen Consort according to Buckingham Palace, have arrived at Buckingham Palace and had a look at the floral tributes outside the palace. Royal salutes were fired at 1pm in Hyde Park and at the Tower of London in London, one for each year of the Queen’s life.
In an address to the nation and the Commonwealth King Charles III paid tribute to his mother and thanked the people for their condolences and support. About his eldest son Prince William he said: “Today, I am proud to create him Prince of Wales, Tywysog Cymru. With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations.” It means the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (who also became Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, etc. upon the death of the Queen) are now to be addresses as The Prince and The Princess of Wales, while their children will no longer be refered to as “of Cambridge” but “of Wales”.
Many royal houses and heads of state have sent condolences upon the death of the Queen. The longest reigning royal in the world is now the Sultan of Brunei, while Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is the new longest reigning female monarch in the world.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has decided to modify the celebrations of her 50th Accession to the Throne Jubilee, that is celebrated this weekend. Cancelled are the balcony scene and the guards parade at Amalienborg as well as the visit to Copenhagen City Hall, and the two carriage rides on Saturday. Both the concert at the Royal Theatre on Saturday evening, the church service on Sunday morning and the gala banquet at Christiansborg Palace on Sunday evening have been modified. The celebration at Copenhagen City Hall will take place at a later date. Flags are flying at half-mast at the four palaces of Amalienborg on Friday.
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands ended her four-day working visit to California and Texas. She visited San Francisco and Silicon Valley, as well as Austin and Houston.
10 September
King Charles III was formally proclaimed King of the United Kingdom at the Accession Council held at St James’s Palace in London. The Queen and The Prince of Wales were present at a meeting of the Privy Council, in which the new King was proclaimed. The new King attended the second part of the ceremony. He made a personal declaration and read and signed an oath to uphold the security of the Church of Scotland. After the Accession Council, the Principal Proclamation was made from the balcony overlooking Friary Court at St James’s Palace. Garter King of Arms read the Proclamation.
Princess Maria Laura of Belgium married William Isvy at the Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula in Brussels, Belgium. A report.
On wedding pictures it is clearly visible that Prince Jean-Christophe Napoléon Bonaparte and his wife Olympia expect their first child in a few months time.
11 September
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom has left Balmoral Castle, where she died, and travelled to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, her official residence in Scotland. Her daughter, The Princess Royal and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence accompanied her. On her coffin was a wreath featuring dahlias, sweet peas, phlox, white heather and pine fir from the Balmoral Estate. Upon arrival at the Palace of Holyroodhouse the coffin was met also by her other children The Duke of York, The Earl and Countess of Wessex. The coffin was to rest in the Throne Room until the afternoon of 12 September.
The new Prince of Wales has paid tribute to his grandmother in a statement. In a conversation with the first minister of Wales he is said t have acknowledge the deep affection of his wife and him for wales. Kensington Palace sadi that they will “do their part to support the aspirations of the Welsh people.” They also stated: “The prince and princess look forward to celebrating Wales’s proud history and traditions as well as a future that is full of promise.” A source has said that the Princess of Wales “appreciates the history associated with this role, but will understandably want to look to the future as she creates her own path”. The source also said: “The couple are focused on deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales over time. The Prince and Princess of Wales will approach their roles in the modest and humble way they’ve approached their work previously.”
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark celebrated her 50th anniversary on the throne this weekend.
My photos
The guestlist for the Royal Theatre
Arrival at the Royal Theatre
The evening program
The program for the church service
The guestlist for the church service
Lunch at the Dannebrog yacht
Guestlist for the gala dinner at Christiansborg Palace
Gala dinner at Christiansborg Palace
The Queen’s speech
The speech of the Crown Prince
As usual Crown Princess Kiko of Japan answered a few written questions of the media upon her birthday. She spoke shortly about her daughter Mako, who with her husband is living in New York, and said: “I sincerely hope that they will work together and live their new lives peacefully. I wish them every happiness.” For her son Prince Hisahito she hopes that he will be able to “see the world from a broader perspective” in the future. If her daughter Princess Kako ever gets married, she said: “I will listen carefully to her feelings and thoughts, and then convey my own thoughts and ideas to her.”
12 September
King Charles III and The Queen were welcomed at the Palace of Holyroodhouse where a Ceremony of the Keys took place. Afterwards the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, draped with the Royal Standard in Scotland, was transfered from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. King Charles III, The Princess Royal, The Duke of York, The Earl of Wessex and Sir Timothy Laurence took part in the procession, while The Queen and The Countess of Wessex followed by car. Upon arrival a service was held in the cathedral, that was also attended by friends and family, and representatives of the Armed Forces and her Scottish patronages. For 24 hours people can say goodbye to her here. The new wreath contains white spray roses, white fressias, white button chrysanthemums, dried white heather from Balmoral, spray eryngium (thistle), foliage, rosemary, hebe and pittosporum. The King and Queen also visited the Scottish Parliament.
13 September
King Charles III and The Queen visited Northern Ireland, where they were received at Hillsborough Castle. They also attended a service at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast.
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II was transfered by airplane from Edinburgh to London. Again The Princess Royal and Sir Timothy Laurence accompanied her. The deceased Queen will stay one one last night at Buckingham Palace. Also the family gathered in the palace.
14 September
The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, draped in the Royal Standard, was transfered from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall in London. On top of the coffin the Imperial State Crown rested on a velvet cushion. The wreath contained white roses, spray white rosese, white dahlias, pine from Balmoral and pittosporum, lavender and rosemary from the Windsor Castle gardens. Several members of the family followed on foot or in a car, while almost all other members of the family waited in Westminster Hall, where a short service was held. At 5pm the Lying-in-State began, until Monday morning 19 September the public will have the opportunity to visit Westminster Hall to pay their last respect to the Queen. On the 19th the coffin will be taken in procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey for the State Funeral.
In Monaco Princess Grace was remembered on her 40th death anniversary. On social media the Prince’s Palace shared several pictures of the Princess. In an interview with the newspaper Monaco Matin her son Sovereign Prince Albert II said he tells his children Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella about their grandmother. He was planning family time and a visit to her grave. In the meantime Henry-Jean Servat is busy making a documentary about the film career of the Princess called “Grace, Princess of Hollywood”. Filming is expected to finish at the end of 2022.
Amalia, The Princess of Orange surprisingly turned up for her first gala dinner in the Netherlands. With her parents she attended a gala dinner for the Council of State at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague.
15 September
Queen Letizia of Spain celebrated her 50th birthday in private. Not even new pictures were released.
16 September
King Charles III and The Queen visited Wales where they attended a service of prayer and reflection at Landaff Cathedral, Cardiff. They also visited the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament, and the King and Queen also held audiences at Cardiff Castle.
17 September
The eight grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom held a vigil beside her coffin in Westminster Hall. On Friday evening her four children already did.
Duke (Hereditary Prince Alexander zu Mecklenburg married Hande Macit in Neustrelitz, Germany.
My report and photos
18 September
King Charles III of the United Kingdom has received foreign heads of state, who have arrived in London for the funeral of his mother Queen Elizabeth II, at Buckingham Palace. Many of them also have visited Westminster Hall to say farewell to the Queen.
Crown Princess Mary who was initially confirmed to attend the State Funeral of The Queen, was removed from the Danish royal calendar already on 15 September. The Danish Royal Court reported that the British Foreign Office had made an error in the invitation. Because there is not enough space in Westminster Abbey only, and only two dignitaries per country can attend, Queen Margrethe II and Crown Prince Frederik will come alone.
19 September
The State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom took place in Westminster Abbey. Afterwards for one last time the procession passed Buckingham Palace. At Wellington Arch the coffin was placed in a car, and taken to Windsor. In the late afternoon a Committal Service was held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
The Order of Service for the State Funeral
The Order of Service for the Committal Service
In Stockholm between noon and 1pm the traditional Seraphim Toll took place at Riddarholmen Church for Queen Elizabeth II. The bells were rung and her Seraphim arms were taken in a procession from the Royal Palace in Stockholm to the Riddarholmen Church. The Queen was made a member of the Royal Order of the Seraphim in May 1953 and she received the Chain of the order in 1975. She held the order for 69 years, longer than anyone else. Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel visited the English Church and the British Embassy in Stockholm this Monday to burn a candle and write something down in the book of condolences.
100 classical poems by the Japanese Emperor Meiji have been translated into English. “Bridge on the Shikishima Way” was released last month by Harold Wright, who spent over 30 years translating the poems.
20 September
In The Netherlands the opening of the parliamentary year, Prinsjesdag, took place. For the first time since 2019 King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien travelled by carriage again. The King and Queen for the first time were accompanied by the Princess of Orange. Amalia celebrated her 18th birthday in December 2021. Exceptionally, they were whistled and booed at, especially by farmers, who have been protesting in the country already for months.
Video of the event
It was announced by the Royal Collection Trust that the Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and The Queen’s Gallery in Edinburgh will reopen on Thursday 22 September. Windsor Castle will reopen on Thursday 29 September. However the summer opening of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace and the Royal Mews will not reopen in 2022, neither will the special displays at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse about the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.
21 September
For the second time Queen Margrethe II of Denmark yesterday evening tested positive for Covid-19. She resides at Fredensborg Castle and has cancelled her activities for this week.
Photos were released of a visit by Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg and their youngest grandchildren Princess Amalia, Prince Liam and Prince Charles to the Parc Merveilleux in Bettembourg.
22 September
In an interview with Good Morning America Queen Rania of Jordan has revealed that both Crown Prince Al Hussein and Princess Iman will get married in 2023. She is also longing to become a grandmother.
23 September
Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark hosted a gala dinner at Christiansborg Palace for the Danish government, Parliament and Danish members of the European Parliament. A wonderful video was released of the dance “Les Lanciers”.
25 September
A picture of the new ledger stone of the grave of Queen Elizabeth II, The Duke of Edinburgh, King George VI and Queen Mother Elizabeth at George VI Memorial Chapel, St George’s Chapel, Windsor, has been released. The stone was made of hand-carved Belgian black marble. From Thursday the chapel will reopen for visitors again, apart from Sundays.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito of Japan underwent cataract and glaucoma surgery on his right eye today at University of Tokyo Hospital. On Monday he already underwent cataract surgery on his left eye.
Two mummies in the Valley of Kings, stored in tombs KV21 and KV35, are currently undergoing DNA tests. Experts think they could be the remains of Ankhesenamun, the wife of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, and her mother Queen Neferteti. The renowned Egyptian archaeologist Mr Zawi Hawass hopes to be able to announce the results in October 2022.
26 September
The cypher of King Charles III has been revealed.
The program for the state visit of the Dutch royal couple to Sweden from 11 to 13 October has been released.
Prince Johann-Wenzel of Liechtenstein and Countess Felicitas von Hartig have announced that they got engaged on 25 August 2022 during their holiday in Sicily. He is a son of Prince Gundakar and Princess Marie (née Princess of France). The couple met in 2012, and remet in 2017. They are planning to get married in Summer 2023.
A rare event in the Netherlands where Jonkheer Frans Lauta van Aijsma (born 1945) received the noble diploma during a meeting at the Supreme Court of Nobility (Hoge Raad van Adel). He was the first person in 20 years to be recognised as a member of the Dutch nobility. His daughter Miranda has become a Jonkvrouw. He could prove he descends in male line from the noble family Lauta van Aijsma, that was thought to have become extinct late 19th century.
27 September
It seems the date of the coronation has already been set, although the date thus far remains a secret. The Duke of Norfolk, who is in charge of organising the coronation as Earl Marshal had to appear in court on Monday for using his mobile phone while driving his car in April 2022. He argued that he shouldn’t be banned driving, as he needs his car while organising the coronation and other business interests. His lawyer however said: “Details will be provided that have not yet been discussed with His Royal Highness King Charles, not yet discussed with the Prime Minister, not yet been discussed with the Archbishop of Canterbury. It would be unacceptable for these details to be public or made known, to risk the escape of that information of a very sensitive nature.” The Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court however was banned from driving for six months.
On the day of the first visit to Wales by the new Prince and Princess of Wales it seems that the couple do not intend to have a big investiture ceremony for Prince William as the Prince of Wales, like his father had in 1969.
The Swedish royal family attended the Opening of Parliament.
King Salman of Saudi Arabia has appointed his son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as prime minister of the kingdom. Prince Khalid bin Salman has been appointed the new defense minister.
Several Japanese royals – Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko, Princess Kako, Princess Tomihito of Mikasa, Princess Akiko, Princess Takamado and Princess Tsuguko attended the state funeral of the late former prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, who was murdered earlier this year. Also a few foreign royals attended, including King Abdullah II and Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad of Jordan, Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani Emir of Qatar and Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck of Bhutan.
28 September
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has announced that she has decided that, as of 1 January 2023, the descendants of her second son Prince Joachim will no longer be princes and princesses, and will become count(ess) of Monpezat only, and will be addressed as excellencies. She wishes to create the framework for the children to be able to shape their own lives without being limited by the special considerations and duties that a formal affiliation with the Royal House of Denmark as an institution involves. Nikolai, Felix, Henrik and Athena will keep their places in the order of succession. The mother of Nikolai and Felix, Countess Alexandra of Frederiksborg has said that the whole family is confused by the decision, that came “like a bolt from the blue”.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden will celebrate his 50th anniversary on the throne in 2023. Also the 500th anniversary of the election of Gustav Vasa as King of Sweden will also be marked during the year. The jubilee year will start with a Sweden Dinner at the Royal Palace in Stockholm in January. The King and Queen Silvia will travel throughout Sweden from February to September. The national day celebrations on 6 June will be more extensive because the day marks 500 years since Gustav Vasa was elected king. The anniversary on the throne will be celebrated on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 September in Stockholm. Also the jubilee emblem was launched today.
Sovereign Prince Albert II, Princess Charlène, Princess Caroline and Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, accompanied by Louis and Marie Ducruet and Camille Gottlieb, unveiled the first details of the centenary year of the birth of Sovereign Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The commemoration starts with a big birthday party on 31 May 2023 including a birthday cake for thousands of people. There will also be other events and exhibitions, ending with a special edition of the Monte Carlo Circus Festival in January 2024.
29 September
It was announced that Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg expect their second child in April 2023. Their son Charles was born on 10 May 2020.
Also Prince Joachim of Denmark has said that the decision of his mother to take away his children’s princely title has made him and his family very sad, and that the children have lost their identity. Although the Danish royal court says, he had been informed that a decision would be taken in May, he says that he was presented with the final plan only five days before it was published. The original plan he saw in May 2022 was to remove the title from the children upon their 25th birthday.
The National Records of Scotland have released the death certificate of Queen Elizabeth II. The records state that she died at 3.10pm on 8 September 2022 in Balmoral Castle of “old age”. Her daughter The Princess Royal is the person that provided the information about her death. Dr Douglas Glass, Apothecary to the Queen, certified the death of the Queen, whose occupation is given as “Her Majesty The Queen”, and her surname as “Windsor”
Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands has presented the non-profit project “Better Time Stories” initiated by Andriy Shmyhelskyy, owner of the company iKS (Interactive Kids Stories. He joined forces with the Number 5 Foundation of Laurentien and her husband Prince Constantijn. Laurentien and the First Ladies of Ukraine, Germany and Austria have become the patrons of the project. As there are almost one million Ukrainian refugees in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, among them a lot of children, “Better Times Stories” have presented five bilingual picture books by Ukrainian authors and illustrators that should help the children to cope with their new situation and bring a piece of home to the children. Fathers and other relatives in Ukraine will be able to narrate the books, so the children can hear their voice. The books are both in Ukrainian and in the language of the host country. By donating 15 Euro via the website one package can be handed out to a family in the above host countries (it is hoped more countries will follow). You will be matched with a family in need and “Better Time Stories” will directly ship the package to the family.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have put up Barnwell Manor for sale for £4.75 million. The couple left the Duke’s childhood home in 1995 due to costs, his mother Princess Alice stayed and died a few years later. The Duke let the manor, while he himself moved to Kensington Palace. Items from the house were put up for auction several weeks ago.
The new Netflix Series “The Empress” (Die Kaiserin) about the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria “Sisi” is now available. On 5 October the latest original Peacock documentary “Prince Andrew: Banished” will be available on the streaming platform.
Trailer of The Empress
Trailer of Prince Andrew: Banished
30 September
Prince Gabriel of Belgium, the second child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, has completed his military initiation, that started on 22 August. He received his blue beret during a parade at the Royal Military School in Brussels. The King, Queen and Elisabeth, The Duchess of Brabant, were present. He can now officially start his study Social and Military Sciences in Dutch at the Royal Military School (162nd Promotion).
The Swedish royal court announced that King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia will pay a state visit to Jordan from 15 to 17 November 2022 at the invitation of King Abdullah II of Jordan.
Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where the British Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September, will reopen its grounds on 3 October. Admission will be free to allow visitors to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the castle grounds. Also The Mews giftshop and the coffee shop will be open again.