Jubilee time! Nearing the 25th anniversary of my website, on 13 September 2023 the first big milestone of the year 2023 arrived: my own 50th birthday. The day itself was not very special. I received a few phone calls and tens of congratulations via e-mail, WhatsApp and social media. I treated my fellow folk dancers […]
Mathilde – The 50th birthday of a perfect Queen
What was the first time I heard of Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz? I think it was on 9 September 1999, one day before the announcement of her engagement to the Belgian heir to the throne, Prince Philippe. They had managed to keep their relationship a good secret. However, the official presentation was held on my 26th […]
19 January 1943 – The Birth of Princess Margriet
On 19 January 1943 – today 80 years ago – a little princess was born, far away from home. The third daughter of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands was named Margriet Francisca. Her elder sisters Princess Beatrix and Princess Irene had been born at home at Soestdijk Palace in the Netherlands. Their […]
Royal News December 2022
Last modified: 7 January 2023 1 December The sapphire tiara of Princess Thyra of Denmark and other royal jewellery were sold at auction at Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen, Denmark, today. The tiara, that last belonged to Princess Elisabeth of Denmark, was sold for 650.000 DKK, her art deco bracelet with emeralds and diamonds fetched 700.000 DKK. […]
Royal News September 2022
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 […]
Royal News June 2022
Last modified: 3 July 2022 1 June A guide to the Platinum Jubilee. The Queen is the first British monarch to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee. A new portrait by Ranald Mackechnie was released to mark the beginning of the celebrations. In her Jubilee message the Queen said: “I continue to be inspired by the goodwill […]
Royal News May 2022
Last modified: 19 June 2022 2 May New pictures were released upon the 7th birthday of Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. It was also revealed that the family’s new black cocker spaniel is called Orla. The coronation of Zulu King Misuzulu, that was supposed to take place on 28 May, has been indefinitely postponed, as KwaZulu-Natal […]
Royal News April 2022
Last modified: 3 May 2022 1 April In an interview with the NPO-Radio program FunX Queen Máxima of the Netherlands remembered growing up in a country with huge inflation. That’s why she studied economics and learned that “handling money well is an important part of a better life”. As a parent one should be strict […]
Royal News January 2022
Last modified: 6 February 2022 1 January In his New Year’s greeting Emperor Naruhito of Japan offered prayers for the people who have died during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also praised doctors and health care workers for their work, and spoke about his concern for countries lacking access to vaccines and adequate hospital systems. He […]
The name of … Catharina-Amalia
On Sunday 7 December 2003 at 5.01pm a Princess was born at the Bronovo Hospital in The Hague, The Netherlands. Originally the little Princess was only announced for January 2004, but being 52 cm tall and having a weight of 3,310 grams hardly anybody believed that she was born several weeks early. The name was […]