Category Archives: Royal Weddings

Wedding of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Silvia Sommerlath

by Emily Mc Mahon  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

 

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden married Silvia Sommerlath on June 19, 1976 at the Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) in Stockholm, Sweden.

Carl Gustaf’s Early Life

Carl Gustaf with his sister Christina in 1952; Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus was born during the reign of his great-grandfather, Gustaf V of Sweden, at Haga Palace on April 30, 1946. Carl Gustaf was the fifth child of Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten and Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. His birth following four older sisters (Margaretha, Birgitta, Desiree, and Christina) was greeted with much relief as females were at the time excluded from the succession. Carl Gustaf was third in line to the Swedish throne at birth.

Prince Gustaf Adolf was the eldest son of the future King Gustaf VI Adolf, while Sibylla was the eldest daughter of Charles Edward, the last Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. The two were great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria through her sons Arthur and Leopold. The family had made their home at Haga Palace, a 19th-century residence that had long served as a summer home for the Swedish royal family.

But the young family’s happiness was soon cut short. The Duke of Västerbotten died in a plane crash in Denmark in January 1947, when his son was only seven months old. Carl Gustaf and his sisters later said that the adults in their lives rarely spoke of the tragedy with them and that Carl Gustaf himself did not know how his father died until he was seven years old.

Sibylla and her father-in-law, Gustaf VI Adolf, supervised young Carl Gustaf’s schooling. Carl Gustaf was educated entirely in Sweden, first at the Broms School and later at the Sigtuna School where he graduated in 1966. He was a somewhat indifferent student who had a difficult time with his studies due to dyslexia, a learning disorder not well understood at the time.

Carl Gustaf served in all three branches of the Swedish military between 1966 and 1968. He was treated as an ordinary soldier during his service, where he gained praise from his superiors for his hard work and adaptability. Carl Gustaf also sailed around the world during his training, doing everything from scrubbing decks to washing dishes. The prince flourished during his time in the military but particularly during his naval training, passing the officer’s examination in 1968.

After completing his military service, Carl Gustaf studied a variety of subjects at Stockholm University and Uppsala University. He also interned with numerous welfare organizations, factories, schools, and governmental offices. Carl Gustaf spent time abroad working with the United Nations, as well as various embassies and banks, and organizations dedicated to developing nations. He also began representing his grandfather Gustaf VI Adolf in a limited number of official duties. This work was meant to give Carl Gustaf a broad range of knowledge in Swedish and international affairs in preparation for his future role as monarch. Carl Gustaf succeeded his grandfather as King of Sweden upon the latter’s death in 1973.

Carl Gustaf often said he thought of himself as an ordinary man. He drove his own car, rode by regular passenger train whenever possible, and rarely traveled with an official entourage. Had he not been born in line for the Swedish throne, he claimed he would probably have had, “an earthy job, perhaps as a farmer.”

For more information about Carl Gustaf see:

Silvia’s Early Life

Silvia as a child with her mother, Photo Credit – vivanepotista.com

Silvia Renate Sommerlath was born on December 23, 1943, in Heidelburg, Germany, to Brazilian Alice Soares de Toledo and German Walther Sommerlath. Silvia joined older brothers Ralf, Walther, and Jörg and remained the family’s only daughter. Although her father was a businessman, many of Silvia’s male relatives are and were members of the clergy.

From the ages of 4 to 14, Silvia lived in her mother’s hometown of São Paulo, Brazil. Silvia’s father worked as the head of the Brazilian branch of the Swedish Uddeholm steel company. While living in Brazil, the future Queen attended Colégio Visconde de Porto Seguro, a German-Portuguese school in Morumbi area of Sao Paulo. Silvia has had a fondness for classical music since her youth, playing the piano and organ.

Walther was long suspected of having ties to the Nazi Party before and during World War II. There is some evidence that he joined the party in 1934 while living in Brazil, but no clear record of any specific activities in which Walther may have participated. An examination of German state records revealed that Walther became the head of a company that produced equipment for tanks – a company that had recently been seized from Jewish ownership. Walther’s association with the party later became a point of concern when his daughter announced her engagement but was later dismissed due to a lack of evidence tying Walther to any known Nazi activities.

Upon the family’s return to Germany, Silvia was sent to school near Heidelberg. She completed secondary school in Düsseldorf in 1963. Silvia continued her education at the Munich School of Interpreting (Sprachen and Dolmetscher Institut München) studying the Spanish language. Silvia eventually learned to speak an impressive six languages – French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, English, and Swedish. Carl Gustaf is said to have been intrigued by Silvia’s linguistic ability from the very start of their relationship.

After her graduation from the Munich School of Interpreting in 1969, Silvia worked for a time as a Spanish interpreter at the Argentine consulate in Munich. She was hired on to the staff of the Munich Olympic Games in 1971, serving as the senior hostess and interpreter. She also trained 1,500 other hosts and interpreters in preparation for the 1972 Summer Games. Silvia followed her stint at the Munich Games with a job as the assistant chief of protocol for the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Games.

For more information about Silvia see:

The King In Love

Carl Gustaf was the first modern Swedish king to truly date. Although the Swedish monarch was not prohibited from marrying a commoner, it was expected early on that Carl Gustaf would marry a fellow royal. In fact, at the time Carl Gustaf came of age any Swedish royal other than the monarch would lose his or her royal status through marriage to a commoner. Hence, the earliest talk of a wife for Carl Gustaf centered on fellow royals.

Periodic visits to relatives in Britain in the 1960s caused gossip to flourish that Carl Gustaf was actually courting Princess Anne. During his visits, gossip flew about a possible (or ideal, by some observers) romance between Carl Gustaf and Princess Anne – that the two had made several outings together, or even that they were secretly engaged. Talk of the so-called royal romance continued into the 1970s until Anne’s marriage to Mark Phillips.

Carl Gustaf was attached at one point to Charlotte Klingspor, a wealthy Swedish heiress, and was occasionally seen in the company of Margarita of Romania. None of Carl Gustaf’s relationships with women appeared to be serious, and the King seemed very happy frequenting clubs with a tight circle of noble and royal friends. The Swedish Royal Court suggested that Carl Gustaf, being at the beginning of his reign, was concentrating on his duties rather than finding a wife.

When once interviewed about the type of woman he wanted to marry, Carl Gustaf stated that he wanted someone he loved, but her rank was unimportant. “She may be a secretary or a government official. That does not matter. The important thing is love.” The King also that he was somewhat traditional when thinking of a role for his future wife, noting that he would prefer her to take care of the home and children.

As part of her job duties, Silvia was assigned as hostess and guide to several high-profile attendees at the Games. One of Silvia’s assigned guests was Carl Gustaf. Carl Gustaf asked Silvia for a date on the day they met, and the couple had dinner just a few hours later. Carl Gustaf noted several years afterward that he and Silvia simply “clicked” upon their first meeting and had done so ever since that day.

At the time of her first meeting with Carl Gustaf, Silvia was living in a simple studio apartment in Munich and was unaccustomed to fanfare regarding her personal life. On one of her earliest trips to Stockholm to visit Carl Gustaf, Silvia allegedly disguised herself in a blonde wig to throw the tail off of curious journalists. During her subsequent visits to the Swedish capital, Silvia would stay at an apartment owned by an unnamed friend of Carl Gustaf’s.

In the spirit of keeping their relationship private, Silvia told very few of her friends that she was dating a king. When questioned by a friend about why she moved so frequently (she moved from Munich to Heidelburg to Innsbruck in 1973), Silvia hinted that she was dating someone famous, but did not mention Carl Gustaf’s name. She lamented to her friend that she moved and switched cars frequently to keep reporters away.

In early 1973, a Swedish journalist photographed Silvia and Carl Gustaf driving together. As Silvia was unknown at the time, much speculation was given as to whom Carl Gustaf was seeing. Because Carl Gustaf had previously been linked to Margarita of Romania, the press speculated that she was King’s passenger.

When they wished to escape from the eager Swedish press, Carl Gustaf and Silvia spent time skiing in Switzerland and sunning on the French and Italian Mediterranean. The two were also photographed in Munich nightclubs and on the estate of Prince Otto von Bismarck. In 1974, the couple reportedly hunted at the British royal hunting grounds on the Sandringham estate.

A newspaper report in January 1974 claimed Carl Gustaf and Silvia would marry on April 30 of that year. The report noted that Silvia and Carl Gustaf had become engaged during a visit a few weeks prior. The Swedish royal court declared that talk of an engagement was “a bit premature,” and said that the couple needed some time before deciding something so serious. Later that year, however, Silvia moved into a Stockholm apartment owned by the King’s sister Christina, giving some credence to the rumors of an engagement. However, the world would have to wait a while for the official word.

The Engagement

Together with Silvia’s parents (Carl Gustaf’s mother Sibylla had died four years earlier), Carl Gustaf and Silvia announced their engagement on March 12, 1976. Carl Gustaf and Silvia alluded to being “unofficially” engaged several months prior but had decided to wait until Silvia had completed her duties at the Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck before making it public.

A news conference was held the next day in the King’s official apartment at the palace. Carl Gustaf said that he and Silvia had a date in mind to marry and that the ceremony would definitely take place in the early summer. When asked during the press conference what attracted Carl Gustaf to Silvia, he simply answered, “She is Silvia. You can see for yourself.”

Carl Gustaf said that he recognized his future wife already had an established career. Although he didn’t object to her working on principle, he doubted Silvia could hold a regular job as a translator while married to him. Besides, Silvia would be Queen as soon as she married Carl Gustaf, a job that was not only full-time but would incorporate Silvia’s linguistic skills. The press also asked the couple about their plans for children, to which Carl Gustaf asked to be allowed to get married first.

When asked what type of life she’d like to lead as Sweden’s queen, Silvia said she would like to live as normally as possible given her position. But the country and her new job did interest her a great deal, Silvia added. “I may have to give [up] some things after I marry, but on the other hand, I will get a sort of new job which I am very interested in,” Silvia explained. “I would like to take part in all affairs in Sweden, being a very curious person myself,” she added.

Carl Gustaf gave his fiancée a single solitaire ring set with a 2-carat diamond. The ring once belonged to his mother, Sibylla. Silvia was said to have been touched at receiving a ring with such a history. Carl Gustaf also wore a traditional and customary plain gold engagement ring.

Wedding Preparations

Silvia during a fitting for her wedding dress. Credit: hereliesthekingdom.com

The wedding was planned for June 19, 1976, the date of several other Swedish royal weddings. The future King Oscar I and Josephine of Leuchtenberg married on June 19, 1823, in Stockholm. Charles XV married his wife, Louise of the Netherlands on the same date in 1850, while he was still heir to the throne. In 2010, Crown Princess Victoria married Daniel Westling on June 19 as well.

To prepare for the couple’s tour of Stockholm following the religious service, workers created a temporary park beside the palace. This park would serve as an entryway for Silvia and Carl Gustaf to board the royal barge to tour the harbor. More than 1,000 police officers from all over Sweden were brought to Stockholm to provide crowd control and security for the couple and their guests.

The wedding would also be the first Swedish royal wedding to be broadcast on television. The event was televised in accordance with Carl Gustaf’s wish that the wedding celebrations be as open and accessible to as many people as possible. While royal weddings had been televised in other countries for several years, this had yet to be done in Sweden as none of Carl Gustaf’s sisters had had a televised ceremony. The Swedish wedding was also unique in that as soon as the couple was declared married, the country would automatically have a new Queen.

The wedding costs were estimated at $1.1 million, but the wedding itself was expected to be a moneymaker in terms of broadcasting rights and potential tourism dollars spent in and around the city of Stockholm.

Celebrations in Stockholm

ABBA performed the first live and the first Swedish performance of “Dancing Queen” at the Royal Swedish Opera Gala in honor of King Carl Gustaf and his soon-to-be Queen

The wedding celebrations got off to a rough start when, about two weeks before the wedding, Silvia came down with the flu. She was unable to make a planned appearance with the King on June 6 (Sweden’s National Day) due to her condition. Silvia was still feeling under the weather the following day when the banns were read in the palace’s chapel. Although reportedly appearing “pale and tired,” Silvia attended the event with a smile.

When asked if she was nervous about her coming wedding, Silvia said she was not. “[I have] no butterflies in my stomach because of the tremendous reception I have received in Sweden.” On June 17, Silvia received the Order of the Seraphim and officially became a Swedish citizen the following day. On June 18, the King and the soon-to-be-Queen attended a gala performance at the Royal Swedish Opera. The gala was especially notable for the performance of Swedish band ABBA, at the peak of their fame, of the first live and the first Swedish performance of “Dancing Queen,” one of ABBA’s most famous songs. Despite the title, members of ABBA noted that the song had not been written specifically for the event or for Silvia.

The pre-wedding concert at the Royal Opera marked the first time Silvia publicly wore a tiara (the Connaught Diamond Tiara), a favorite of Carl Gustaf’s mother Sibylla. The event was also the first occasion of Silvia’s wearing of her new Order of the Seraphim. A reception and dance for 200 guests at Drottningholm Palace followed the performance at the Royal Opera.

Wedding Ceremony

Carl Gustaf and Silvia during the recessional at their wedding. Photo credit: svspb.net

The ceremony was held on June 19, 1976, at Stockholm’s Storkyrkan (Great Church) with the Archbishop of Uppsala Olof Sundby presiding. Sundby was assisted by Hans Akerhelm, the first chaplain to the court, and the Reverend Ernst Sommerlath, Silvia’s uncle and a former professor of theology at Leipzig University.

The church was decorated with a new breed of red roses named “Queen Silvia”, in honor of the bride and her new role. The roses were held in two silver vases chosen by Silvia that had belonged to Louise, a previous Swedish queen. Two historic crowns were also brought from the Swedish national treasury to be displayed during the wedding. The two crowns displayed were those of King Erik XIV and 18th-century monarch Queen Louisa Ulrika. The crowns rested on blue cushions on either side of the altar. Other decorations included a seventeenth-century crucifix in oak, gold, and silver that had been made for Queen Christina’s coronation. Guests listened to the Swedish Radio symphony orchestra’s performance of various traditional Swedish music.

Mr. and Mrs. Sommerlath took their seats just before noon, not long before the processional began. The couple entered the cathedral to the strain of J. H. Roman’s “Sinfonia de Chiesa.” Carl Gustaf “beamed” as he made his way to the altar holding Silvia’s hand. Silvia and Carl Gustaf had six children serve as their attendants:

  • Prince Hubertus of Hohenzollern (son of Carl Gustaf’s sister Princess Birgitta)
  • Baroness Hélène Silfverschiöld (daughter of Carl Gustaf’s sister of Princess Desiree)
  • Carmita Sommerlath (daughter of Silvia’s brother Ralf Sommerlath; carried the wedding ring)
  • James Ambler (son of Carl Gustaf’s sister  of Princess Margaretha)
  • Sophie Sommerlath (daughter of Silvia’s brother Walther Sommerlath)
  • Amelie Middelschulte (daughter of Silvia’s close friend Beate Middelschulte)

The religious ceremony lasted approximately 40 minutes and included several Swedish hymns. Silvia and Carl Gustaf elected to have a single ring ceremony according to German tradition; thus Carl Gustaf placed a ring on his wife’s finger, but Silvia did not do the same for her husband. Silvia delivered her vows in nearly perfect Swedish, impressing the guests and the Swedish public watching on television. Neither the bride nor groom was asked to obey the other, a somewhat new practice in the church and a sign of changing times.

At the conclusion of the religious service, Silvia and Carl Gustaf made their way down the aisle to J. S. Bach’s “Sinfonia in D Major.” Television broadcasters noted when announcing that at precisely 12:21 PM, Sweden had its first queen in 11 years, since the death of Carl Gustaf’s step-grandmother Louise.

Wedding Attire

Carl Gustaf, Silvia, and their wedding party. Photo credit: royalty online.blogspot.com

Silvia chose Marc Bohan of Dior to design her wedding dress, a floor-length white duchesse silk gown. The dress was very simple in its design as it featured no lace, trim, embroidery, or decorative buttons. The structure of the dress included a very gentle A-line skirt, long bell sleeves, a jewel neckline, and a 12-foot train that fell from Silvia’s shoulders. Carl Gustaf’s sisters Birgitta and Desiree also wore the train as part of their own wedding ensembles.

The dress’s starkness was meant to showcase the other elements in Silvia’s ensemble, particularly the tiara and veil. Silvia wore one of the oldest, most well-known, and arguably most unique tiaras in the Swedish royal collection. The Cameo Tiara was a gift given by French Emperor Napoleon I to his then-wife, Josephine, in the early 19th century. It came into the hands of the Swedish royal family through the marriage of Josephine’s granddaughter (another Josephine) to Oscar I of Sweden. The diadem features cameos of various portraits and scenes from Greek mythology adorned with yellow gold and numerous pearls of various sizes. Although cameo tiaras were once quite commonly worn, the Swedish Cameo Tiara is thought to be one of the only cameo tiaras of its kind still in use. Carl Gustaf’s sisters Birgitta and Desiree had previously worn the Cameo Tiara on their wedding days; Silvia and Carl Gustaf’s daughter Victoria continued the tradition when she wore it for her own wedding in 2010.

Silvia’s lace veil was originally owned by Sofia of Nassau, the consort of Oscar II. Carl Gustaf’s mother Sibylla wore it at her 1932 wedding. Sibylla’s daughters Desiree, Margaretha, and Christina subsequently wore the veil as well. Although the veil was originally intended to cover the length of Silvia’s train, a miscalculation was made in the construction of the train. As a result, Silvia folded part of the lace veil over the tiara in order to compensate for the shorter train and to prevent the lace from being damaged. As with the Cameo Tiara, Victoria also wore the heirloom veil on her wedding day.

Sprigs of myrtle from a plant belonging to Carl Gustaf’s grandmother Margaret trimmed the veil and tiara; the wearing of myrtle in the wedding is thought to bring a Swedish bride good luck. Silvia wore very little jewelry, forgoing a necklace and bracelets, and wearing only a pair of tiny pearl earrings. She carried a bouquet of orchids and jasmine complemented by lilies of the valley and stephanotis, completing the ensemble.

On a somewhat more comical note, Silvia’s simple dress had no pockets or anywhere to discreetly place a handkerchief. Alice Sommerlath insisted her daughter carry one in case she became tearful during the ceremony (she never did). Silvia had little choice but to hastily fasten the handkerchief to her right wrist with a rubber band. Although the handkerchief was not visible during the ceremony due to the long sleeves of the dress, it was very visible whenever Silvia waved.

Carl Gustaf wore his Swedish naval admiral’s uniform. He wore the insignia of all four Swedish orders – the Order of the Seraphim, Order of the Sword, Order of the Polar Star, and Order of Vasa. According to some sources, Carl Gustaf also wore the Order of Merit of the German Federal Republic in honor of his bride’s origins.

The Tour Through Stockholm

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Carl Gustaf and Silvia on their carriage ride through Stockholm

The royal couple was carried in an open horse-drawn landau through the streets of Stockholm waving to the crowds of between 150,000 and 180,000 lining the streets, many of who had been there since the early morning hours. Carl Gustaf and Silvia were greeted by cheers from the spectators, most of who were waving miniature Swedish flags or holding balloons printed with the couple’s pictures.

On Skeppsholmen Island opposite the palace, the King and his new Queen then boarded the royal barge, Vasaorden, to review Swedish naval ships parked in the harbor. As Carl Gustaf and Silvia toured by barge, three divisions of Swedish Air Force jets drew a large white heart in the sky during a 21-gun salute by the Swedish Navy.

The couple then disembarked the Vasaorden and walked into the palace serenaded by over 200 folk musicians from Dalarna playing a Swedish bridal march. The two were greeted by the Governor of the Royal Palace Sixten Wohlfahrt, who formally welcomed the King and new Queen to the palace for the first time. Carl Gustaf and Silvia then appeared on the balcony of the Royal Palace to greet the crowds. Carl Gustaf lifted Silvia’s hand and declared their happiness to a cheering crowd.

Reception

After the harbor tour, the royal couple remained at the Royal Palace for a luncheon with 300 guests in the Vita Havet (White Sea) stateroom. Strolling fiddlers and pipers during the meal serenaded the diners. Carl Gustaf’s uncle Bertil served as the formal host and gave a speech welcoming Silvia into the family and into her new role as Queen.

Royal head chef and renowned restaurateur Werner Vögeli prepared the wedding buffet. The menu included salmon mousse baked in puff pastry, jellied consommé with caviar, Scottish forest pigeon, foie gras, and wild strawberries and ice cream. Croquembouche decorated with pink marzipan flowers served as a wedding cake.

Silvia had previously complimented the salmon mousse when she sampled it prior to the wedding. Wanting to do something special for the new Queen, Vögeli copied the recipe for the mousse on a special card, which was placed at Silvia’s seat before the banquet as a keepsake. Vögeli, originally a Swiss citizen, went on to cater many of the official dinners and banquets during the early years of Carl Gustaf’s reign.

Wedding Guests

Silvia and Carl Gustaf with their families and royal and political guests. Photo credit: thepinkroyals.blogspot.com

Although Carl Gustaf’s and Silvia’s wedding was attended by fewer royals than some ceremonies before and since, the ceremony still drew about 1200 guests.

Among the most notable guests at the wedding were:

  • Prince Bertil of Sweden, Duke of Halland
  • Lillian Craig (Lillian became Duchess of Halland later that year)
  • Walther and Alice Sommerlath
  • Ralf and Charlotte Sommerlath
  • Jörg Sommerlath
  • Walther (Silvia’s brother) and Michele Sommerlath
  • Princess Margaretha of Sweden and John Ambler
  • Princess Birgitta (of Sweden) and Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern
  • Princess Désirée of Sweden and Baron Nils-August Otto Carl Niclas Silfverschiöld
  • Princess Christina of Sweden and Tord Magnuson
  • Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
  • Richard and Birgitte, Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (official representatives of the British monarchy)
  • Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus of the Netherlands
  • Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg
  • Queen Ingrid of Denmark
  • King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece (former)
  • King Olav V of Norway
  • Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark
  • Princess Benedikte of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (formerly of Denmark)
  • King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of the Belgians
  • Urho Kaleva Kekkonen, President of Finland
  • Dr. Kristján Eldjárn, President of Iceland, and Halldora Eldjárn
  • Walter Scheel, President of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), and Mildred Scheel

Honeymoon and Afterward

Six hours after the wedding, the bride and groom left Stockholm to begin their month-long honeymoon. Before leaving, Carl Gustaf expressed his belief that the press would likely not follow them. “There’s a good chance,” he said happily, “that we will be left alone.”

The couple first headed to the US state of Hawaii, where they hoped to begin their honeymoon “just like any married couple.” The two were met with a security entourage so vast that Rick Larsen, the Swedish Consul in Hawaii, had a tough time finding the couple to welcome them. Larsen managed to reach Silvia first, who received a traditional lei around her neck. While in Hawaii, Carl Gustaf and Silvia stayed at a private estate owned by Lurline Roth, a shipping heiress.

Carl Gustaf and Silvia then headed to Botswana, where the two stayed in a tent near the Linyanti River. The area in which the two stayed was later renamed Kingspool in honor of its royal guests. The couple followed their Hawaiian and African honeymoon with a short stay at the Solliden Palace in Öland, where they were first pictured together three years prior.

The wedding did a great deal to bolster the popularity of Carl Gustaf and the Swedish monarchy itself. Both had met with considerable criticism from the start of Carl Gustaf’s reign for the usual reasons. Detractors questioned the necessity of the institution and believed Carl Gustaf was too irresponsible for the position. The marriage of Carl Gustaf to Silvia brought stability to the monarchy, and their romance warmed the hearts of even the most virulent critics.

Children

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Carl Gustaf and Silvia with their three children in 1983

Carl Gustaf and Silvia had two daughters and one son:

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Wedding of King Constantine II of Greece and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

source: Zimbio

King Constantine II of Greece and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark were married on September 18, 1964, in the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation in Athens.

Constantine’s Early Life

Constantine was born on June 2, 1940, at Villa Psychiko in Athens to Crown Prince Paul of Greece and Princess Friederike of Hanover. He has one older sister – Queen Sofia of Spain, and one younger sister – Princess Irene of Greece. During World War II, the Greek Royal Family was forced to flee Greece, settling in Alexandria, Egypt, and then Cape Town, South Africa. They returned to Greece in 1946, and the following year, his uncle, King George II died. Constantine’s father became King, and Constantine became Crown Prince.

He attended school in Athens from 1949-1955, followed by all three Greek military academies. He then went to the National University of Athens to study law. An avid athlete, Tino (as he was known in the family) participated in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, winning a gold medal in sailing (Dragon Glass). This was Greece’s first gold medal in 48 years. He became a member of the International Olympic Committee in 1963.

He became King of the Hellenes following his father’s death in March 1964. Just three years after the wedding, following a coup in 1967, the Greek royal family went into exile, living in Rome for several years before moving to Denmark and then finally settling in the United Kingdom. While in exile, King Constantine was deposed and the monarchy was formally abolished in 1974.

For more information about Constantine see:

Anne-Marie’s Early Life

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Princess Anne-Marie Dagmar Ingrid of Denmark was born on August 30, 1946, at Amalienborg in Copenhagen. She is the third and youngest daughter of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Princess Ingrid of Sweden. Her two older sisters are Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Princess Benedikte of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. A year after her birth, her grandfather died, and her father became King Frederik IX. Several years later, the King had the succession laws changed to allow for female succession, putting Anne-Marie third in line to succeed her father.

After attending a private school in Copenhagen from 1952-1961, Anne-Marie was enrolled at the Chatelard School for Girls, a boarding school in Switzerland, from 1961-1963. She then attended the Institut Le Mesnil, a Swiss finishing school.

For more information about Anne-Marie see:

The Engagement

Constantine and Anne-Marie are third cousins, several times over, through their mutual descent from both King Christian IX of Denmark and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. They first met in 1959, when Constantine accompanied his parents on a State Visit to Denmark. Constantine was 19, and Anne-Marie was just 13. They met again in Denmark in 1961, but it was in 1962 that the romance truly began to blossom. Anne-Marie was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Constantine’s sister, Sophia, to Juan Carlos of Spain. By that time, Tino was clearly smitten and the two spent much of the night dancing together. After that, Tino made many visits to Denmark to see Anne-Marie, and the media began to speculate about a romance with Anne-Marie’s older sister Benedikte. In the summer of 1962, Anne-Marie was on holiday in Norway with her governess, and Tino was also there competing in yacht racing. They spent a lot of time together, and soon he proposed, and Anne-Marie accepted. His parents were delighted with the news, but the Danish King was hesitant to give his blessing. Soon, however, he realized that the two were in love and he relented, giving his consent. However, there were several conditions that had to be met. He insisted that the wedding could not take place until Anne-Marie had finished her education and reached her eighteenth birthday and that the engagement could not be made public until the beginning of the next year.

For the next six months, the couple kept their engagement a secret, while Constantine made many trips to Denmark, often using sailing events as an excuse for his visits. Finally, on January 23, 1963, the Danish Royal Court announced the couple’s engagement. Several days later, Constantine and Anne-Marie, along with their parents, appeared at a press conference and then greeted the crowds from the balcony at Amalienborg.

Once the excitement had died down, Anne-Marie returned to School in Switzerland and Tino returned to his official duties in Greece. The wedding was planned for January 1965. However, this would soon change due to the death of King Paul. In early 1964, King Paul was diagnosed with cancer. After undergoing surgery, he suffered from a pulmonary embolism and died on March 6, 1964. Tino assumed the Greek throne as King Constantine II. The wedding plans were moved forward and scheduled for September 18, 1964. This would be just weeks after Anne-Marie’s eighteenth birthday, and days after the end of the official court mourning.

Pre-Wedding Festivities

The celebrations began on September 7, 1964, when Constantine arrived in Denmark. That evening, a private dinner and dance were held at Fredensborg Castle, and the following day they returned to Amalienborg for the official display of the wedding gifts. That evening, they attended a gala performance at the Royal Theatre, followed by a lavish banquet held at Christiansborg Palace, with over 1,000 invited guests. The next morning, Anne-Marie and Tino were guests at a reception held by the City of Copenhagen and rode in a carriage procession through the streets to greet the thousands of Danes who had come out to wish them well.

The festivities then moved to Greece. Constantine, Anne-Marie, and her family sailed to Greece aboard the Danish Royal Yacht, Dannebrog, where they were greeted by Queen Frederica, Princess Irene, and Prince Michael.

King Constantine hosted three large receptions at Tatoi Palace, with more than 6,000 guests invited. A special committee had been formed in Athens to select people from around the country to come – at the Government’s expense – to meet the King and his future Queen. A reception was also held at the Hotel Grande Bretagne, in Athens, in honor of the Danish royal family.

On September 16, most of the royal guests began to arrive, and King Constantine personally greeted most of them as their planes landed in Athens. That evening, a gala ball was held in the gardens of the Royal Palace of Athens, with 1,600 invited guests. The royal guests were resplendent in their gowns and uniforms, with their best jewels on show. The bride wore a light blue gown with the Greek Emerald Parure, which was among the jewels given to her by Queen Frederica. Read more about the parure here.

Wedding Guests

More than 1,200 guests attended the wedding, including many members of royal and noble families from around the world. According to the New York Times, the guest list included “eight reigning monarchs and their consorts, two former kings, more than 55 princes and princesses, and heads of state and representatives from more than 87 countries”. The royal guests included:

Constantine’s Immediate Family

  • Dowager Queen Frederica
  • Princess Sofia and Prince Juan Carlos of Spain
  • Princess Irene
  • Princess Viktoria Luise, Dowager Duchess of Brunswick

Anne-Marie’s Immediate Family

  • King Frederik and Queen Ingrid
  • Princess Margrethe
  • Princess Benedikte

Royal Guests

  • King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium
  • Prince Ingolf of Denmark
  • Prince Michael of Greece
  • Princess Eugenie of Greece, Duchess of Castel Duino
  • Princess Tatiana Radziwill
  • Prince George Radziwill
  • Princess Irene of Greece, Dowager Duchess of Aosta
  • The Duke and Duchess of Aosta
  • Princess Katherine of Greece, Lady Brandram and Sir Richard Brandram
  • Princess Alice of Greece
  • King Hussein and Princess Muna of Jordan
  • Hereditary Grand Duke Jean and Hereditary Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg
  • Prince Rainier of Monaco
  • Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands
  • Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands
  • King Olav of Norway
  • Crown Prince Harald of Norway
  • The Count and Countess of Barcelona
  • King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden
  • Crown Prince Carl Gustaf of Sweden
  • Princess Christina of Sweden
  • King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand
  • The Duke of Edinburgh
  • The Prince of Wales
  • Princess Anne of the United Kingdom
  • Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent
  • Prince Michael of Kent
  • Earl Mountbatten of Burma
  • Tsar Simeon and Tsaritsa Margarita of Bulgaria
  • Prince Georg Wilhelm and Princess Sophie of Hanover
  • Prince Karl of Hesse
  • Princess Clarissa of Hesse
  • King Umberto and Queen Marie-José of Italy
  • King Mihai and Queen Anne of Romania
  • Queen Mother Helen of Romania
  • Princess Margareta of Romania
  • Count Michael Bernadotte
  • Princess Olga of Yugoslavia
  • Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia

Wedding Attire

The bride wore a gown made by a Danish designer, Jørgen Bender. The simple, yet elegant dress featured a wide neckline, empire waist, and three-quarter sleeves, with a split-front skirt with a detailed edge, extending out into a 20-foot train.

Her veil of Irish lace was a family heirloom. It was originally a gift to her grandmother, Princess Margaret of Connaught, for her wedding to the future King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden in 1905. Holding the veil in place, Anne-Marie wore the Khedive of Egypt Tiara, another piece that goes back to her grandmother’s wedding, having been a wedding gift from the Khedive of Egypt. You can read more about the tiara here. Keeping with tradition, both the veil and the tiara have been worn by all of Queen Ingrid’s female descendants.

The groom wore his white Field Marshal’s uniform, adorned with several Greek and Danish orders and medals.

The bride’s attendants (listed below) wore simple gowns of white organza, with white flowers in their hair.

  • Princess Anne of the United Kingdom
  • Princess Christina of Sweden
  • Princess Irene of Greece
  • Princess Margareta of Romania
  • Princess Tatiana Radziwill
  • Princess Clarissa of Hesse

Wedding Ceremony

On the morning of September 18, 1964, with all of the guests already assembled at the Cathedral, King Constantine, accompanied by his mother, left the Royal Palace in an open carriage. Soon, he was followed by Princess Anne-Marie and her father. The bride’s attendants were waiting outside the cathedral to help her with her gown and train, and then the procession began.

The traditional Greek Orthodox ceremony was conducted by Archbishop Chrysostomos, the Primate of Greece. After hearing the sacraments of marriage, the two exchanged rings and took communion. Part of the service involved crowns being held over their heads. This was done first by Queen Frederica, and then by a succession of princes – Crown Prince Harald of Norway, Crown Prince Carl Gustaf of Sweden, The Prince of Wales, Prince Michael of Greece, Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, Prince Ingolf of Denmark, Prince Michael of Kent, Prince Karl of Hesse and Count Michael Bernadotte.

At the end of the service, red and white rose petals fluttered down into the cathedral, as the couple embraced her parents, and the Dowager Queen Frederica curtsied to Greece’s new Queen.

Following the ceremony, the King and his new Queen led a carriage procession back to the Royal Palace where a wedding breakfast was held for 80 guests. Constantine and Anne-Marie then left for Corfu to begin their honeymoon.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld

by Emily McMahon  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Juliana, the future Queen Juliana, and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld were married on January 7, 1937, in a civil ceremony at The Hague Town Hall in the Netherlands and in a religious ceremony at the Great Church (St. Jacobskerk), also in The Hague.

Juliana’s Family

Princess Juliana with her mother Queen Wilhelmina in 1914; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Juliana was born on April 30, 1909, in The Hague, the daughter of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and her consort Prince Hendrik, formerly Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Juliana was born to the couple after eight years of marriage. Wilhelmina was the only surviving child of her father, Willem III of the Netherlands, so it was imperative that she provide herself with an heir. Wilhelmina experienced several miscarriages and a stillbirth before the birth of Juliana who was, incidentally, her only surviving child. Although Juliana’s parents were not happily married, Wilhelmina and Hendrik both doted on their daughter. Juliana was named for Juliana von Stolberg, the mother of Willem I of Orange, the liberator of the Dutch Netherlands from Spanish rule. Juliana spent her childhood at the palaces of Het Loo, Huis ten Bosch, and Noordeinde.

Juliana was educated with a small group of similarly aged girls of the Dutch nobility. Wilhelmina had selected Juliana’s “class” upon advice that she would learn best among children her own age. After her initial education was complete, Juliana enrolled in the University of Leiden. The intellectually curious Juliana spent four years at Leiden and received an honorary degree in literature and philosophy.

Juliana’s beloved grandmother, the former Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont (known as the Queen Mother) passed away in 1935. A few months later, Prince Hendrik died suddenly of a heart attack. This meant that Queen Wilhelmina and Princess Juliana now made up the entire House of Orange. As it had been with her mother, it was necessary for Juliana to marry and produce her own heir to ensure the survival of the Dutch monarchy. While possible contenders for the future role of Juliana’s consort had been bantered about since the mid-1920s, 1935 signaled the year when full-fledged marriage preparations began.

For more information about Juliana see:

Bernhard’s Family

Bernhard with his father in 1914; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Bernhard Friedrich Eberhard Leopold Julius Kurt Carl Gottfried Peter, Graf von Biesterfeld was born on June 29, 1911, in Jena in the Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach now in Germany. He was the elder son of Prince Bernhard of Lippe (younger brother of Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe) and his wife Armgard von Cramm. Bernhard and Armgard’s marriage was considered morganatic, so the younger Bernhard was styled Graf von Biesterfeld (Count of Biesterfeld) at birth. Bernhard had one younger brother Prince Aschwin of Lippe-Biesterfeld (1914 –1988). In 1916, Bernhard’s uncle, the reigning Prince of Lippe, created Armgard Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld with the style Serene Highness and this title and style also was extended to her two sons.

Bernhard started his education with tutors at home and at the age of 12 began to attend a boarding school for boys in Züllichau in the Prussian province of Brandenburg, now Sulechów, Poland. In 1929, he completed his secondary education and then studied law at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland and at the Friedrich-Wilhelm University in Berlin, Germany, now Humboldt University. Bernhard then obtained a job at the Parisian subsidiary of the German chemical company IG Farben, where he continued to work until his engagement to Juliana.

For more information about Bernhard see:

The Engagement

Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard celebrate their engagement in Amsterdam on September 8, 1936

In early 1936, Wilhelmina and Juliana attended the Winter Olympics in Bavaria. The Olympic Games had long since had significant royal connections (the Greek royals had been instrumental in their revival in the late 19th century), and several royals were known to be in attendance. Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld was one of these princes at the Winter Games. Bernhard’s father, also named Bernhard, had been acquainted with Prince Hendrik, but the younger Bernhard had never been considered as a husband for Juliana. Bernhard had suffered from ill-health as a child, was the product of a morganatic marriage, had a bit of a wild side, and was not even officially a prince until after his fifth birthday, but Wilhelmina was growing desperate and consented to Bernhard’s request to meet Juliana. The two took skiing lessons together under Wilhelmina’s watchful eye.

Juliana was finally impressed with a prince – in Bernhard’s case, his intelligence, education (he had studied law in Switzerland for a time), and charisma. For his part, Bernhard found Juliana thoughtful, good-natured, and likewise intelligent. Bernhard asked Wilhelmina if he could further visit Juliana in the Netherlands, which Wilhelmina granted. When these visits went well, Bernhard asked if he could accompany mother and daughter on their summer vacation in Switzerland.

Wilhelmina could see the writing on the wall. Bernhard had obviously caught Juliana’s attention and seemed sincere in his interest in her. Wilhelmina was advised of Bernhard’s previous health issues, but those had seemed to disappear after childhood. Bernhard’s family was unimpressive, but perhaps limited family interference would be a good thing. Bernhard’s mother Armgard was divorced prior to his birth and somewhat of a woman about town in her past. However, her second marriage seemed to have had a calming effect on Armgard and she was quite devoted to her family. There were rumors of Bernhard’s involvement with alcohol, women, and fast cars, but Wilhelmina dismissed these to youth.

Of more concern was Bernhard’s association with Nazism. Bernhard was a member of the honorary motorized SS corps, but this was almost standard for young German men interested in motorcycles at the time. Bernhard’s brother Aschwin was also a follower of Nazism and later became an officer in the German army. After gaining attention as a candidate for Juliana’s hand, Bernhard met briefly with Adolf Hitler. Hitler disliked Bernhard immediately – and the feeling was mutual for Bernhard. Bernhard’s dismissal of Hitler – and Juliana’s growing attachment to him – convinced Wilhelmina to allow Bernhard to propose.

And so Juliana and Bernhard became engaged in Weissenburg, Switzerland, during the summer of 1936. The engagement was announced to the Dutch public on September 8 of that year, with a wedding scheduled for January 7, 1937 – the anniversary of Juliana’s maternal grandparents. Bernhard visited his fiancée at Noordeinde Palace as an accompaniment to the announcement. Bernhard became a Dutch citizen on November 24.

In preparation for her wedding, Juliana followed a German diet plan that allowed her to lose some weight. Her dress had to be fitted multiple times to accommodate her weight loss.

The Wedding

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Juliana and Bernhard registered their marriage (known in Dutch at the “ondertrouw” or “under-marriage”) on December 19, 1936, a few weeks before the wedding. The couple attended an orchestral performance in their honor the night before the wedding. The Nazi and British national anthems were both played, with many guests on both sides visibly uncomfortable.

Dutch cafes and restaurants stayed open all night before the wedding to accommodate many curious visitors to The Hague. Oranges hung from trees in The Hague to celebrate the marriage of the heir of the House of Orange.

On January 7, 1937, Juliana and Bernhard had a civil ceremony in The Hague Town Hall. The couple traveled to the civil ceremony in the State Coach presented to Queen Wilhelmina at the time of her marriage in 1901. A second, religious service took place in the Great Church (St. Jacobskerk). Bernhard received the title of Prince of the Netherlands on the day of the wedding. Given Juliana’s position as heir to the Dutch throne, the usual bride’s vow to obey her husband was eliminated from the wedding ceremony.

Juliana and Bernhard rode to their religious wedding in a coach of glass and gold; Queen Wilhelmina followed behind the couple in a crystal coach. The bridesmaids and groomsmen traveled in three four-horsed coaches escorted by eight Hussar officers.

Juliana’s bridesmaids and child attendants included Princess Thyra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Princess Anastasia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Duchess Woislawa of Mecklenburg, Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia, Princess Helena of Erbach-Schonberg, Princess Sieglinde of Lippe-Detmold, Princess Elizabeth of Lippe-Detmold, Duchess Eilika of Oldenburg, and Countess Svea of Oeynhausen-Sieperstorff.

Sophie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, Juliana’s second cousin, was originally chosen as a bridesmaid but could not attend as the Nazi government refused to issue her a visa. Though her visa was issued at the last moment, Sophie did not attend the wedding. Baroness von Heeckeren van Kall, a lady-in-waiting to Juliana, served as a bridesmaid in her place.

Bernhard’s supporters included four Dutch nobles, four German counts, two German barons, a French cavalry officer, the Prince von Windishgraetz. Professor Huizenga of the University of Leyden took the place of the Prince of Wied who, like Sophie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was denied a visa from Germany. His child attendants were Prince Armin of Lippe and Kaspar of Oeynhausen-Sieperstorff.

Wedding Guests

The wedding guests were made up mostly of family members of the couple, the majority of whom were German nobles and royalty. More guests were expected but many German royals and nobles did not get their expected visas from the Nazi government.

  • Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
  • Princess Armgard zur Lippe-Biesterfeld
  • Prince Viktor Adolf & Princess Rosa, Prince & Princess zu Bentheim und Steinfurt
  • Princess Elisabeth, Princess zu Erbach-Schönberg
  • Prince George, Duke of Kent (representing HM George VI)
  • Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone & HSH the Earl of Athlone
  • Major Henry & Lady May Abel Smith
  • Prince Leopold & Princess Anna, Prince & Princess of Lippe
  • Prince Armin of Lippe
  • Prince Aschwin zur Lippe-Biesterfield
  • Prince Julius & Princess Marie of Lippe
  • Prince Ernst August of Lippe
  • Princess Karola of Lippe
  • Grand Duke Friedrich Franz & Grand Duchess Alexandra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
  • Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich Franz of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
  • Duke Adolf Friedrich & Duchess Elisabeth of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
  • Grand Duchess Elisabeth of Oldenburg
  • Hereditary Grand Duke Nikolaus & Hereditary Grand Duchess Helena of Oldenburg
  • Duchess Eilika of Oldenburg
  • Prince Friedrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont
  • Count Paul & Countess Allene Kotzebue
  • Count Rabe & Countess Margarethe von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff
  • Count Caspar von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff
  • Countess Svea von Oeynhausen-Sierstorpff
  • Count & Countess von der Goltz

Wedding Attire

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

For her wedding, Juliana wore five diamond rose brooches connected with small pearls. The rose is in the family coat of arms of the House of Lippe. The brooches were bought at Mellerio and a gift from King Willem III to Queen Emma. Juliana wore an ivory satin draped dress designed by Masion Kühne of The Hague. The dress was inspired by the clothing of ancient Greece. Juliana’s veil was of white tulle with silver embroidery. The veil hung from a diadem of diamonds in the shape of a rose in honor of the House of Lippe, a gift to Juliana from Bernhard’s mother Armgard. Roses and orange blossoms also adorned her veil.

Bernhard wore the uniform of the Royal Dutch Hussars, as an honorary captaincy had been bestowed upon him when he renounced his German citizenship. Bernhard also wore a cluster of Dutch military orders on the uniform. Bernhard long wore his medals in the English style, while most Dutch wore theirs in Prussian style. The twelve bridesmaids wore satin dresses of differing pastel colors (blue, lilac, green, yellow, pink, and orange) to form the appearance of a rainbow.

Juliana and Bernhard appeared on the balcony of Noordeinde Palace after the wedding. Following a mock departure from the wedding banquet, Juliana and Bernhard left for the honeymoon the day after the wedding.

The Honeymoon

Wawel Castle; Photo Credit – By Kriskros – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21142368

Juliana and Bernhard embarked on a 3-month tour of Europe immediately after the wedding. They spent much time in Poland, skiing in Krynica Zdroj in the southern part of the country. The newly-married couple also visited Wawel Castle in Krakow. Juliana and Bernhard also visited Vienna, Budapest, Nice, Monaco, Paris, and Rome.

Children

Embed from Getty Images 
Juliana, Bernhard and their four daughters

Juliana and Bernhard had four daughters:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Prince Rainier III of Monaco married Grace Kelly on April 18, 1956, in a civil ceremony in the Throne Room of the Prince’s Palace in Monaco-Ville, Monaco, and in a religious ceremony on April 19, 1956, at St. Nicholas’ Cathedral in Monaco-Ville, Monaco.

Prince Rainier’s Family Rainier family

His Serene Highness Prince Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi was born on May 31, 1923, in Monaco. His parents were Count Pierre de Polignac and Princess Charlotte of Monaco, Duchess of Valentinois. Princess Charlotte was born Charlotte Louise Juliette Louvet, the illegitimate daughter of Marie Juliette Louvet, a cabaret singer, and Prince Louis II of Monaco. Prince Louis had no legitimate children and to prevent a cousin from succeeding to the Monegasque throne, in 1911 a law was passed recognizing Charlotte as his daughter and as a member of the princely family. Later, legislation made Charlotte legitimate, allowed her father to adopt her, and gave her the surname Grimaldi, and the title Duchess of Valentinois for life. Charlotte was, in effect, her father’s heiress presumptive.

Perhaps surprisingly, the Grimaldis have a number of major and minor royal ancestors including King James IV of Scotland (via three of his illegitimate daughters); Stéphanie de Beauharnais, Napoleon Bonaparte’s adopted daughter and later the Grand Duchess of Baden; William I (the Silent), Prince of Orange; King Charles IX of Sweden; Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor; Claude de Lorraine, duc de Guise; and Hortense Mancini, Duchess of Mazarin, a mistress of King Charles II of England.

Rainier’s father, Count Pierre de Polignac, was the son of Count Maxence de Polignac, a French aristocrat, and Susana María de la Torre y Mier, whose family were descendants of Mexican nobility. On the de Polignac side of his family, Pierre was a descendant of Yolande de Polastron, Duchesse de Polignac, a favorite of Queen Marie Antoinette of France, and Gabrielle de Rochechouart de Mortemart, older sister of Françoise-Athénaïs de Rochechouart de Mortemart, better known as Madame de Montespan, the most celebrated mistress of King Louis XIV of France.

Charlotte and Pierre were married in a civil ceremony on March 19, 1920, and had a religious ceremony the following day. The day before the wedding an ordinance changed Pierre’s surname to Grimaldi and his coat of arms to those of the princely house. Pierre had been made a citizen of Monaco the month before the wedding. After the religious ceremony, he was known as Prince Pierre of Monaco, Duke of Valentinois. In addition to their son Rainier, the couple had a daughter Antoinette Louise Alberte Suzanne who was born December 28, 1920. Charlotte and Pierre’s marriage was an unhappy one. They separated on March 20, 1930, and were divorced by the ordinance of Prince Louis II on February 18, 1933.

On the day before Prince Rainier’s twenty-first birthday, Princess Charlotte renounced her claim to the throne of Monaco in favor of her son. Five years later, upon the death of his grandfather, Prince Louis II on May 9, 1949, Rainier became Rainier III, Sovereign Prince of Monaco. He died on April 6, 2005, after ruling Monaco for nearly 56 years.

For more information about Rainier see:

Grace Kelly’s Family

rainier_kelly-family

Grace Patricia Kelly was born on November 12, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her parents were John Brendan Kelly, the son of Irish immigrants, and Margaret Katherine Majer, the daughter of German immigrants. Grace’s mother Margaret, a former fashion model, had studied physical education at Temple University in Philadelphia and was the first woman to be head of the Physical Education Department at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Grace’s father, known as Jack, had won three gold medals in rowing in the 1920 and 1924 Olympics. Jack had started his work career as a bricklayer and after serving in World War I, he created a bricklaying business that made him a millionaire.

Besides Grace, the Kellys had three other children: Margaret Katherine, known as Peggy, born on June 13, 1925; John Brendan, Jr., known as Kell, born on May 24, 1927, and Elizabeth Anne, known as Lizanne, born June 25, 1933. Grace’s brother Kell followed his father’s athletic footsteps and competed in rowing at the 1948, 1952, and 1956 Summer Olympics. He won a bronze medal in the 1956 Olympics. Interestingly, Grace’s son Albert participated in bobsledding in the Winter Olympics of 1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, and 2002 and has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985.

Grace Kelly was a well-known film actress before her marriage. Among her films are: High Noon with Gary Cooper, Mogambo with Clark Gable, three Alfred Hitchcock films: Dial M for Murder with Ray Milland, Rear Window with James Stewart, and To Catch a Thief with Cary Grant, The Country Girl with Bing Crosby and William Holden for which Grace won an Academy Award for Best Actress, and her last film High Society with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

Tragically, Princess Grace died on September 14, 1982, from injuries received in an automobile accident.

For more information about Grace see:

 

Engagement and Ring

rainier_Engagement

Since much of both Grace and Rainier’s lives were in the public eye, a private courtship was something of a task, especially considering the distance between the United States and Monaco. After meeting the Prince in Monaco during the Cannes Film Festival in May of 1955, Grace corresponded quietly with Rainier until he made a trip to the United States in December of that year. He asked Grace to marry him over the Christmas holiday, and on January 5, 1956, their engagement was announced in a press conference held at her family’s home in Philadelphia.

When Rainier proposed to Grace during the Christmas holiday of 1955, he gave her a “friendship” ring: a band set with diamonds and rubies. He also told her he was having a ring created especially for her.

An engagement ball was held in their honor at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York on January 6, 1956, but by January 17th, Grace was due in Hollywood to begin filming “High Society” for MGM. When she went to California, Rainier went with her for a short time. In the film, Grace plays a young woman engaged to be married. She had selected a large, emerald cut, paste diamond engagement ring from MGM’s prop department to wear for the film, and when asked about her engagement ring, Grace would often flaunt the paste ring, claiming it was hers. During filming, the ring from Prince Rainier arrived, and Grace was astounded to find it remarkably similar to the paste ring she’d been wearing. She switched the rings immediately; which means the lovely diamond she’s seen polishing on a throw pillow in the movie is her actual engagement ring.

Rainier_GraceKellyEngagementRinginfilm

Before filming ended in February, Rainier returned to Monaco, and Grace began throwing herself actively into wedding plans and closing her New York apartment. She would not see Rainier again until she arrived in Monaco in April.

Sources:
“The Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, and Six Intimate Friends” by Judith Balaban Quine
“Princess Grace” by Sarah Bradford
“Rainier and Grace: An Intimate Portrait” by Jeffrey Robinson
“Grace: The Secret Lives of a Princess” by James Spada

Grace’s Trip to Monaco

rainier_grace_ship

Because air travel was not, in 1956, what it is today, Grace Kelly traveled to her wedding in Monaco by ship. She boarded the U.S.S. Constitution with her family, her bridal party, their families, and assorted friends for the voyage. There were 66 members of the party, plus the Weimaraner puppy Grace received as a wedding gift and her pampered poodle, Oliver.

Grace and her party boarded the ship at New York’s Pier 84 on April 4, 1956. Grace had intended to have a small press conference to announce her departure. Unfortunately, the media was overly anxious to get a few words and a few photos. Approximately 250 members of the press swarmed Grace as she stood on deck. Eventually, she was escorted away to the bridal suite by security, and the press was removed, in some cases bodily, to the dock.

Rainier_G-Kelly-at-sea2

Grace at sea

The voyage lasted eight days. The days were spent visiting with friends and family and making last-minute preparations. Each evening there was a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and a party. Grace’s friends and family were fond of word games, cards, and charades and all these were played with great gusto.

Early on the morning of April 12, Prince Rainier boarded his yacht, the Deo Juvante, and set out into the Bay of Hercules. At approximately 9:45, the Constitution dropped anchor in the Bay, and the Prince’s yacht moved forward to meet it. As Grace’s party waited on deck, they could hear bands on the shore and on nearby boats playing American tunes and every window in Monte Carlo appeared to be open and filled with people. At that moment, a seaplane belonging to Aristotle Onassis flew over the harbor, dropping thousands of red and white carnations, the colors of Monaco, on the ships and crowds below. A gangway was extended between the two ships, and the Prince stepped forward to meet his fiancée. The whole country of Monaco held its breath… and was terribly disappointed when they actually saw Grace. For her arrival, she had chosen a navy blue coatdress and a broad-brimmed white hat. It was beautiful, but it prevented the crowds from seeing her face. The Prince, however, seemed overwhelmed by her appearance. After clasping her hand warmly and taking a moment to wave at the people both on boats and ashore, the Deo Juvante turned toward Monaco.

Sources:
“The Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, and Six Intimate Friends” by Judith Balaban Quine
“Princess Grace” by Sarah Bradford
“Rainier and Grace: An Intimate Portrait” by Jeffrey Robinson
“Grace: The Secret Lives of a Princess” by James Spada

The Trousseau

Grace began shopping for her trousseau at Neiman Marcus in Dallas. The exclusive store made suits, several gowns, numerous street dresses, and an entire wardrobe of sports clothes especially for her.

Her shopping continued in Los Angeles where she purchased negligees, nightgowns, and other lingerie items in pink, peach, and black. Other items such as stockings were purchased in New York, in addition to a number of everyday dresses and shoes. “Not too high in the heel,” the media noted of Grace’s new shoes, probably because she and Rainier were close in height. While in New York, Grace had many elegant hats made by prominent millinery designer, Mr. John. Last on the list were sable, mink and leopard skin coats.

When Grace Kelly left America for Monaco, she had four enormous steamer trunks and fifty-six other pieces of luggage holding not only her beautiful new clothes but a few well-worn sweatshirts and pairs of jeans, too.

Sources:
“The Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, and Six Intimate Friends” by Judith Balaban Quine
“Princess Grace” by Sarah Bradford
“Rainier and Grace: An Intimate Portrait” by Jeffrey Robinson
“Grace: The Secret Lives of a Princess” by James Spada

The Wedding Attendants

rainier_grace-kelly-bridal-party

For the civil ceremony that took place on April 18, 1956, Grace and Rainier had five official witnesses. Grace’s sister Peggy and Rainier’s sister, Princess Antoinette, acted as her witnesses, and Rainier had his cousin Count Charles de Polignac, his good friend Lieutenant Colonel Jean-Marie Ardant, and Grace’s brother Kell.

For the religious ceremony on April 19, 1956, Grace asked six American friends and one of her sisters to attend her. Grace’s sister, Margaret (Peggy) Kelly Davis, was her matron of honor. The bridesmaids included Bettina Thompson Gray and Sally Parrish Richardson, with whom Grace had attended The American Academy of Dramatic Arts; Maree Frisby Pamp, who had known Grace since high school; Carolyn Scott Reybold, who had lived in the same residence hotel with Grace as they began their acting careers in New York; Rita Gam Lumet, another young actress from New York; and Judith Balaban Kanter who was, at that time, married to Grace’s agent, Jay.

The Prince had also asked his cousin, Count Charles de Polignac, Lieutenant Colonel Ardant, and John (Kell) Kelly to stand for him at the religious ceremony. In addition to these men, he had four spiritual advisors. One of them, Father Tucker, a priest from the United States, acted as “stage director” for Grace’s non-Catholic attendants. It was he who told them when to stand, to sit, and to kneel during the course of the ceremony and wedding Mass.

There were also four flower girls, Peggy’s daughters Meg and Mary Lee, and Princess Antoinette’s daughters Christine and Elisabeth, and two pages, Rainier’s cousin Sebastian Von Furstenberg, and Antoinette’s son, Christian.

Sources:
“The Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, and Six Intimate Friends” by Judith Balaban Quine
“Princess Grace” by Sarah Bradford
“Rainier and Grace: An Intimate Portrait” by Jeffrey Robinson
“Grace: The Secret Lives of a Princess” by James Spada

The Wedding Attire

Rainier_Grace-Kelly-Civil-Wedding

Civil Ceremony Attire

For the civil ceremony, Grace wore a two-piece dress of light pink taffeta overlaid with champagne lace. She accessorized the dress with matching Cuban heeled shoes, a pleated chiffon turban adorned with flowers, and white gloves. The Prince wore a morning coat, gray trousers, white waistcoat, and gray silk tie. The gentlemen witnesses wore dark suits, and the ladies wore tea-length dresses and hats.

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rainier_grace gown_frontrainier_Gracegown_back

Grace’s wedding gown for the religious ceremony was a gift from MGM. It was created by Helen Rose, MGM’s costume designer and personal friend of Grace. The nearly 320 yards of lace used for the bodice and train was antique and had been purchased from a museum for an estimated $2,500. In addition, Ms. Rose used 25 yards of silk peau de soie, 25 yards of silk taffeta, and approximately 100 yards of silk tulle. The gown had a high, stiffened lace collar with a close-fitting bodice and arms. It buttoned down to a silk cummerbund and then descended in a perfect bell shape to the floor. The back of the gown was a marvel, the silk skirt dividing in such a way that the antique lace and tulle seemed to flow from the waist into a long, graceful train. The three petticoats beneath were so well made that the designer admitted they could have been worn separately as evening dresses. Each was decorated with tiny blue bows, “something blue”. The bodice and Grace’s lace Juliet cap were re-embroidered with seed pearls, as were her shoes. Ninety yards of tulle tied with bows of taffeta and lace constituted her veil.

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Rainier wore a dress uniform he had designed himself, which included a black tunic with gold leaves on the cuffs, sky blue trousers with a gold stripe down the side, and a dark blue tricorn hat with a white ostrich plume. The tunic was graced with medals representing the Prince’s links with Italian and French military history, and across his chest hung the red and white sash representing the Order of St. Charles.

The bridesmaids wore pale yellow organdy dresses which had been custom-made at Neiman Marcus, with yellow organdy hats and wrist-length white gloves. The pages were dressed in white suits with trousers banded at the knee, and the four flower girls wore mid-calf length dresses of white broderie anglaise from Neiman Marcus, short white socks, and white shoes from J.C. Penney.

Sources:
“The Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, and Six Intimate Friends” by Judith Balaban Quine
“Princess Grace” by Sarah Bradford
“Rainier and Grace: An Intimate Portrait” by Jeffrey Robinson
“Grace: The Secret Lives of a Princess” by James Spada

The Wedding Guests

Given the diverse backgrounds of the bride and groom, the guest list for their wedding ceremonies was equally unusual. Representatives of dozens of nations and royal families were in attendance, including Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones representing the British royal family, Conrad Hilton who represented President Eisenhower, and Francois Mitterrand, then Minister of Justice, representing France. The Aga Khan, in his wheelchair, made the trip to Monaco, accompanied by his wife and guards who protected them 24 hours a day.

Ex-King Farouk of Egypt and Randolph Churchill, personal friends of the Prince’s, were present. Churchill and the Duchess of Westminster were invited guests who also provided insights on the pageantry to the British press. Conversely, Hollywood columnist Dorothy Kilgallen was a reporter first and a guest second.

Aristotle Onassis, who had showered Monaco with flowers when Grace arrived, was also there for the religious ceremony accompanied by his wife, Tina. Barney Balaban, a founder of Paramount Pictures, and his wife made the trip from America. Their daughter, Judy Kanter, was one of Grace’s bridesmaids. Somerset Maugham, along with other luminaries, boarded small buses for the trip to the church since parking was unavailable. Monseigneur Paul Marella, the Apostolic Nuncio of Paris, represented Pope Pius XII and carried blessings from the Pontiff.

Also included were Grace’s showbiz friends. Broadway producer Gant Gaither and actor Donald Buka made the trip with the Kelly family aboard the U.S.S. Constitution. Grace’s close friend from Hollywood, Rupert Allen, sat with Ava Gardner, whom Grace had befriended when they worked on “Mogambo”. Actress Gloria Swanson also attended along with MGM publicist Morgan Hudgins and Mr. and Mrs. David Niven.

The most prominent guest at both ceremonies was the world. MGM, in exchange for releasing Grace from her contract, was permitted to film both events for broadcast on television and the silver screen.

Sources:
“The Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, and Six Intimate Friends” by Judith Balaban Quine
“Princess Grace” by Sarah Bradford
“Rainier and Grace: An Intimate Portrait” by Jeffrey Robinson
“Grace: The Secret Lives of a Princess” by James Spada

The Ceremony

rainier-grace-kelly_ceremony

Because of the intricacies of Monegasque law, Grace and Rainier were married twice, once in a civil ceremony and once in a religious ceremony. The civil ceremony took place on April 18, 1956, in the Throne Room of the palace. At eleven o’clock, Monsieur Marcel Portanier, President of the State Council of Monaco began the ceremony by asking Prince Rainier if he had permission to proceed. After Rainier answered, “Oui,” Monsieur Portanier read the Articles of the Civil Code detailing the rights and obligations of the pair, followed by the vows, and a list of the Prince’s 142 official titles. Once they were finished, they had to go through the entire 40-minute ceremony again for the MGM cameras present.

The religious ceremony took place the following day. At 10:30 a.m., Grace and her attendants arrived at the church which was filled with white lilacs and lilies of the valley. When Rainier arrived a few minutes later, the ceremony began. As with many weddings, there were a few small glitches. One page dropped Rainier’s ring, and the Prince struggled to put Grace’s ring on her finger. The Choir School of the Cathedral sang Bach’s “Uxor Tua” and Purcell’s “Alleluia”. After both Grace and Rainier had quietly answered “Yes” to the vows posed to them, Monseigneur Paul Marella, representative of Pope Pius XII, gave a blessing from the Pope and the ceremony was complete.

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The Blessing from the Pope

Sources:
“The Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, and Six Intimate Friends” by Judith Balaban Quine
“Princess Grace” by Sarah Bradford
“Rainier and Grace: An Intimate Portrait” by Jeffrey Robinson
“Grace: The Secret Lives of a Princess” by James Spada

The Reception

Rainier_Grace_reception

Since Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly had two wedding ceremonies, they also had two receptions. For the first reception, following the civil ceremony, the courtyard of Monaco’s pink palace was opened and approximately 3,000 Monegasques sipped champagne and ate cake along with the members of the wedding party and other family members.

The second wedding reception, following the religious ceremony, was much more elaborate and limited to the 600 guests who attended the service. The luncheon buffet included caviar, smoked salmon, shrimp, ham, salami, soup, cheese, jellied eggs, salmon with cucumber salad, cold lobster, and chicken, accompanied by champagne. Because seating space was limited, attendees had to juggle not only their plates and glasses, but also gloves, programs, hats, handbags, or anything else they had been carrying.

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Grace and Rainier’s wedding cake was a culinary masterpiece. There were six tiers in all, making it taller than both the bride and groom. The first level was decorated with three-dimensional replicas of Monaco’s pink palace carved from sugar. Each of the other layers held scenes from Monaco’s history crafted gently into the sides, and between the fourth and fifth layers, the Monegasque crest was duplicated in red and white spun sugar. The top held two cherubs standing upon clouds of filigreed icing, with a replica of the crown of Monaco suspended above their heads.

As with so many royals, the Prince and Princess used Rainier’s ceremonial sword to cut the cake which was then packaged in white faille boxes decorated with white and gold rope and the intertwined initials “R” and “G”, tied with a golden cord, and distributed amongst the guests.

Sources:
“The Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, and Six Intimate Friends” by Judith Balaban Quine
“Princess Grace” by Sarah Bradford
“Rainier and Grace: An Intimate Portrait” by Jeffrey Robinson
“Grace: The Secret Lives of a Princess” by James Spada

The Honeymoon

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Leaving for the honeymoon

Following the religious ceremony on April 19, 1956, Grace and Rainier sailed into the sunset aboard the royal yacht, Deo Juvante. They did not get very far at first. Once the yacht had left the Bay of Hercules, Rainier and the crew gave in to Grace’s obvious illness and anchored the ship for the night to allow her a chance to adjust. Unfortunately, it proved to be a bit more than seasickness, and Grace spent the first week of her honeymoon with the flu. After that, the couple spent several weeks cruising the Riviera, the coast of Spain where they met and spent time with friends, and Corsica, where days were spent lounging on sun-drenched beaches.

Sources:
“The Bridesmaids: Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco, and Six Intimate Friends” by Judith Balaban Quine
“Princess Grace” by Sarah Bradford
“Rainier and Grace: An Intimate Portrait” by Jeffrey Robinson
“Grace: The Secret Lives of a Princess” by James Spada

Children

Rainier, Grace and their three children; Photo source: The Telegraph

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of King Hussein I of Jordan and Lisa Halaby (Queen Noor al-Hussein)

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Image by © Genevieve Chauvel/Sygma/Corbis

King Hussein I of Jordan and Lisa Halaby, known as Queen Noor al-Hussein after her marriage, were married on June 15, 1978, at Zahran Palace in Amman, Jordan, home of the Queen Mother Zein, the mother of King Hussein, and the traditional site of Jordanian royal marriages.

King Hussein’s Background

King Hussein in 1950; Photo Credit – By Willem van de Poll – Nationaal Archief, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30224627

Hussein bin Talal was born November 14, 1935, in Amman, Jordan, the eldest son of the future King Talal bin Abdullah and Zein al-Sharaf Talal. At the time, Hussein’s grandfather was the Emir of Transjordan, becoming Abdullah I, the first King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan in 1946 (the name was later changed to simply ‘Jordan’). Hussein began his education in Amman, after which he attended Victoria College in Alexandria, Egypt. He then attended the Harrow School in England before enrolling in the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

On July 21, 1951, Prince Hussein was accompanying his grandfather King Abdullah I to a mosque in Jerusalem when the king was killed by an assassin’s bullet. Hussein was at his side and was hit too, but a medal that had been pinned to Hussein’s chest at his grandfather’s insistence deflected the bullet and saved his life.

With his father now becoming King, Hussein was named Crown Prince in September 1951. His father King Talal suffered from mental illness and was forced to abdicate just a year later. The 16-year-old Crown Prince became King Hussein I with a regency council established until he reached the age of 18.

King Hussein’s mother Queen Zein played a major role in the early years of her son’s reign, guiding him in both political and personal matters. She arranged his first marriage, when Hussein was just 19 years old, to Sharifa Dina bint ‘Abdu’l-Hamid, a third cousin of his father. The couple separated and were divorced in 1957. They had one daughter: Princess Alia (1956).

The King married a second time in 1961 to the British-born Antoinette Gardiner, who took the title HRH Princess Muna al-Hussein. This marriage, too, ended in divorce in 1971. The couple had four children: King Abdullah II (1962), Prince Feisal (1963), and twins Princess Aisha (1968) and Princess Zein (1968)

In December 1972, the King married Alia Baha ad-Din Toukan, the daughter of a Jordanian diplomat. Upon marriage, she became HM Queen Alia al-Hussein. Tragically, Queen Alia was killed in a helicopter crash in 1977. The couple had two children, as well as an adopted daughter: Princess Haya (1974), Prince Ali (1975), and Abir Muhaisen (1972, adopted in 1976).

Lisa Halaby’s Background

Lisa Najeeb Halaby was born on August 23, 1951, in Washington DC in the United States, the eldest child of Najeeb Halaby and Doris Carlquist. Her father, of Syrian descent, held several prominent positions including head of the Federal Aviation Administration and CEO of the airline Pan Am. Coming from an affluent family, Lisa attended private schools: The National Cathedral School in Washington DC, The Chapin School in New York City, and Concord Academy in Massachusetts. She went on to attend Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey, as a member of the first coeducational class, graduating in 1974 with a degree in architecture and urban planning.

The Engagement

In the winter of 1976, Lisa Halaby traveled with her father Najeeb Halaby, then the chairman of the International Advisory Board for Royal Jordanian Airlines, for a ceremony celebrating the purchase of Royal Jordanian Airline’s first Boeing 747. There she met King Hussein and his wife Queen Alia. Around the time of Queen Alia’s tragic death in a helicopter crash on February 9, 1977, Lisa agreed to fill in for an ill manager of her father’s aviation company in Jordan, Arab Air Services, which provided aviation design, engineering, and technical support to Middle East countries.

By the middle of 1977, the ill employee had returned to work and Lisa had been accepted to Columbia University’s School of Journalism. However, she received an interesting job offer. Ali Ghandour, the founder and chairman of Royal Jordanian Airlines, offered Lisa a job heading up a department within Royal Jordanian Airlines to coordinate planning, design, and maintenance of the airline’s facilities in Jordan and throughout the world. It would be a challenging job, but Lisa accepted the challenge, a challenge that would change her life.

In the course of her work, Lisa’s path occasionally passed the path of King Hussein. On April 6, 1977, Lisa’s father insisted that she accompany him to an audience with King Hussein. At the audience, King Hussein asked Lisa if she could come to his home Hashimaya to take a look at some construction problems. A lunch appointment was made for the next day. Little did Lisa know that the next day would be the start of a whirlwind courtship. In her autobiography, Queen Noor wrote: “Hash, 12:30 reads my diary entry for April 7. What it does not say is that I did not get home until 7:30 that evening.”

One week after that first lunch, King Hussein invited Lisa for a weekend at Aqaba, a seaport popular with tourists, with his children and a group of friends. After the weekend, Hussein and Lisa had numerous dinners at his home Hashimaya. They watched videos of films, went on motorcycle rides, and Hussein flew her in his helicopter, but most of all they talked and shared their thoughts and feelings.

On April 28, 1978, King Hussein said that he wanted to see Lisa’s father, and Lisa knew what he meant. The next day, King Hussein went out of the country on official business, but when he returned, he mentioned Lisa’s father in every conversation and finally, with a few chosen words, proposed marriage. For eighteen days, Lisa agonized over the decision, but finally, on May 18, 1978, Lisa agreed to marry King Hussein. Hussein called Lisa’s father at his home in Alpine, New Jersey, and said, “I have the honor to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.”

The Wedding

Zahran Palace; Photo Credit – The Royal Hashemite Court

King Hussein I of Jordan and Lisa Halaby were married on June 15, 1978, at Zahran Palace in Amman, Jordan, home of Queen Mother Zein, the mother of King Hussein, and the traditional site of royal marriages. King Hussein wanted the marriage to occur as soon as possible but was persuaded to allow some time for family members to come to Amman. King Hussein gave Lisa a new, Arabic name: Noor al-Hussein, “Light of Hussein.”

King Hussein’s secretary commissioned a wedding dress from the French fashion house Dior. Two Dior designers came to Amman with sketches of elaborate wedding dresses, but Noor did not like the dresses. She wanted a simple dress that would be in line with Islamic ideals, so she showed the designers her favorite dress from her own closet, a Bohemian style Yves Saint Laurent boutique dress, and asked the designers to use that style as a model. The final design was a simple white silk crepe dress with a high neckline, long bell sleeves, and a plain long skirt.

During the brief engagement, Noor studied books on Islam and Jordanian history. Her parents had not brought her up in any particular religion. The Jordanian Constitution does not require that the King’s wife be Muslim, but there was no question in Noor’s mind that she would become Muslim. She became a Muslim on the morning of her wedding by proclaiming the testimony of faith: “I declare there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger.” King Hussein decided that Noor would receive the style and title Her Majesty Queen Noor al-Hussein. Only one other of King Hussein’s previous three wives, Queen Alia, had been so honored.

Noor prepared for her wedding in a simple manner. She persuaded the hairdresser to arrange her hair as simple as possible, a band of white flowers holding her long blond hair in place with a simple veil, and she wore no makeup. She partially followed the Western tradition and wore “something blue and something new.” The something blue was a wedding present from her father, a sapphire stick pin from Tiffany. The something new was a pair of diamond drop earrings from a set of jewelry, a gift from Crown Prince Fahd of Saudi Arabia. The diamond drop earrings were quite dramatic, so Noor decided to remove the drops and wear only the tops.

Photo Credit – www.kinghussein.gov.jo/

YouTube: King Hussein marries Lisa Halaby

While 500 guests waited on the lawn of the Zahran Palace, Hussein and Noor were married in an oriental-style sitting room in the palace. Noor was the only woman allowed and the witnesses were Noor’s father and brother and the male members of the Jordanian Royal Family. A Muslim wedding ceremony is basically a contract in which the bride and groom agree to the contract and sign it in front of witnesses. Noor and King Hussein sat on a damask settee during the ceremony. They repeated simple marriage vows in Arabic. Noor said: “I have betrothed myself to thee in marriage for the dowry agreed upon.” King Hussein replied: “I have accepted thee as wife, my wife in marriage for the dowry agreed upon.” No rings were exchanged, instead, the vows were sealed by the couple clasping their right hands and looking at each other.

A two-hour reception was held on the lawn of Zahran Palace. The couple emerged from the ceremony to cut the seven-tier, three feet high fruitcake wedding cake with a golden Hashemite sword and then mingled for ten minutes with family members that had gathered to congratulate them. Soft drinks were substituted for champagne at the reception as Islamic law prohibits alcohol. The armed forces band played lively music in the background

The guests included the elite of Jordanian society, the diplomatic corps, government officials, and senior officers of the armed forces. There were no foreign guests except the Halaby family, Mrs. Cyrus Vance, the wife of the then-American Secretary of State, and a handful of Noor’s friends from the United States. One of King Hussein’s former wives, the British-born Princess Muna, was also present.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

  • Khouri, Rami, and Rami Khouri. “Royal Wedding In Amman”. Washington Post. N.p., 2017. Web. 17 May 2017.
  • “King Hussein I Of Jordan”. Unofficial Royalty. N.p., 2017. Web. 17 May 2017.
  • Queen Noor. Leap Of Faith. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2003. Print.
  • “Queen Noor Of Jordan”. Unofficial Royalty. N.p., 2017. Web. 17 May 2017.

Wedding of King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and Princess Margaret of Connaught

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

On Thursday, June 15, 1905, Prince Gustav Adolf of Sweden, the future King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden, and Princess Margaret of Connaught were married at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.

Gustaf Adolf’s Early Life

Gustaf Adolf (left) with his brother Wilhelm, c1885

Gustaf Adolf of Sweden (Oscar Fredrik Wilhelm Olaf Gustaf Adolf) was born on November 11, 1882 at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. At birth, he was created Duke of Skåne by his grandfather, King Oscar II. He was the eldest of three sons of the future King Gustav V and Victoria of Baden. Along with his two brothers – Prince Wilhelm and Prince Erik – Gustaf Adolf began his education at home, with a governess and then with tutors. In 1901, he began his formal education, studying history, economics, political science, and archeology at Uppsala University. He also received military training at the Military Academy Karlberg, becoming an officer in the Swedish Army. He would eventually rise to the rank of Lieutenant-General.

In 1907, Gustaf Adolf became Crown Prince upon his father’s accession to the Swedish throne. He would hold this title for nearly 43 years before becoming King himself in 1950.

For more information about Gustaf Adolf see:

Unofficial Royalty: King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden
Swedish Royal Court: King Gustaf VI Adolf

Margaret’s Early Life

Margaret (standing) with her parents and younger siblings, 1893. source: Wikipedia

Princess Margaret Victoria Charlotte Augusta Norah of Connaught (known in the family as Daisy) was born at Bagshot Park, Windsor, on January 15, 1882, the eldest of three children of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn and Princess Luise Margarete of Prussia. Her godparents included her grandmother, Queen Victoria and the German Emperor Wilhelm I.

Margaret and her siblings were raised at Bagshot Park and at Clarence House, her family’s home in London, and was educated privately at home. As a member of the British Royal Family, she often took part in family functions and events and served as a bridesmaid (along with her sister) at the wedding of the future King George V and Queen Mary in 1893.

Sadly, Margaret died before her husband became King of Sweden. She was eight months pregnant with her sixth child in 1920 when she underwent mastoid surgery. An infection set in, killing Margaret, at the age of 38, and her unborn child.

For more information about Margaret see:

Unofficial Royalty: Princess Margaret of Connaught
Swedish Royal Court: Princess Margareta

The Engagement

source: Wikipedia

Margaret and her sister, Patricia, were considered two of the most eligible princesses in Europe, and their parents set out to find suitable royal husbands. After visiting the court of King Carlos of Portugal, the family traveled to Cairo to attend a birthday banquet for Khedive Abbas Hilmi Pasha of Egypt in January 1905. Also invited was Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden, who had been visiting his mother, Queen Victoria of Sweden, at her home in Capri. The couple met and were instantly smitten. Ironically, it was Margaret’s sister Patricia who had been rumored as a possible bride for Gustaf Adolf, but he quickly determined that he only had an interest in Margaret. Fully supported by Margaret’s parents, the Prince proposed on February 25, 1905, at a dinner at the British Consulate, and Margaret quickly accepted. The news came as a great surprise to the people of Sweden and was received with great joy by the Prince’s grandfather, King Oscar II.

On their way back to Britain at the end of March, the newly engaged couple – and her parents – stopped in Rome. There, they were invited to a grand dinner at the Quirinale Palace, hosted by King Vittorio Emanuele III and Queen Elena, in honor of their visit.

Pre-Wedding Festivities

Clarence House. photo: CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=735793

On June 9, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught hosted a Garden Party at Clarence House, where the wedding gifts were all displayed. The following day, the groom left Stockholm to travel to London, while his father and uncle, Prince Eugen, traveled on the 11th.

The festivities began with two large dinner parties held at Windsor Castle on June 12 and June 13. On June 14th, with all of the royal guests having arrived, a Garden Party was held at Windsor Castle, followed by a State Banquet that evening in St. George’s Hall, Windsor Castle.

Wedding Guests

Abbas II Hilmi Bey, The Khedive of Egypt, one of the wedding guests. source: Wikipedia

The wedding was attended by many of the British and Swedish Royal Families, as well as numerous foreign royal guests. Below is a partial listing of the guests.

The Groom’s Family
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Sweden – the groom’s parents
Prince Wilhelm of Sweden – the groom’s brother
Prince Erik of Sweden – the groom’s brother
Prince Eugen of Sweden – the groom’s paternal uncle
Prince Carl and Princess Ingeborg of Sweden – the groom’s paternal uncle and aunt

The Bride’s Family
The Duke and Duchess of Connaught – the bride’s parents
Prince Arthur of Connaught – the bride’s brother
Princess Patricia of Connaught – the bride’s sister

The British Royal Family
King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom
The Prince of Wales (future King George V)
The Princess Victoria
The Duchess of Albany
Princess Alice and Prince Alexander of Teck
The Princess Helena and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
The Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll and the Duke of Argyll
The Princess Beatrice, Princess Henry of Battenberg
Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg

Royal Guests
Prince and Princess Christian of Denmark (future King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine)
The Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Baden
Prince and Princess Maximilian of Baden
Prince Georg of Brunswick-Luneburg
The Khedive of Egypt
Prince and Princess Friedrich Karl of Hesse
Prince and Princess Heinrich of Prussia
The Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Duke and Duchess of Sparta
Prince and Princess of Waldeck and Pyrmont
Hereditary Prince and Princess of Wied

The Wedding Attendants

(l-r) Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Princess Mary of Wales (in front), Gustav Adolf, Margaret, and Patricia of Connaught

The bride’s attendants were:

  • Princess Patricia of Connaught – the bride’s sister
  • Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg – the bride’s first cousin
  • Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha – the bride’s first cousin
  • Princess Mary of Wales – the bride’s first cousin once removed

The Wedding Attire

Princess Margaret’s gown, made in France, was white satin with orange blossoms and myrtle, covered with white Irish lace. Instead of a tiara, she wore a floral crown that held her veil in place. The veil was a gift from the Ladies of Ireland and was later worn by her daughter, Ingrid, and all of Ingrid’s female descendants.

The flowers in her hair and the bridal bouquet featured daisies – a nod to her name (Margaret comes from Marguerite, which is the French word for daisy).

Gustaf Adolf wore full military uniform with several orders of chivalry:

  • The Star and Collar of the Order of the Seraphim (Swedish)
  • The Sash and Star of the Order of the Sword (Swedish)
  • The Necklet of the Order of the Polar Star (Swedish)
  • The Star and Collar of the Order of the Bath (British)

Wedding Gifts

An illustrated depiction of some of the wedding gifts

Included in the wedding gifts were some prominent pieces of jewelry, including three tiaras that are still in use today.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden wearing the Connaught Tiara. source: Zimbio

The Connaught Tiara was a gift from The Duke and Duchess of Connaught.  The all-diamond tiara features a looped garland of diamonds with several large diamonds suspended. The tiara remains part of the Swedish collection today.

 Queen Silvia of Sweden wearing the Edward VII Ruby Tiara

The Edward VII Ruby Tiara was a gift from King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom. The tiara of diamonds and rubies was later left to Margaret’s second son, Sigvard, and then bought back by King Carl XVI Gustaf, and remains part of the Swedish collection today.

Queen Anne-Marie of Greece wearing the Khedive Tiara. source: Zimbio

The Khedive of Egypt Tiara, as its name suggests, was a gift from the Khedive of Egypt, recognizing that the couple had first met while in Cairo. The diamond tiara was left to Margaret’s daughter, Ingrid, who became Queen of Denmark. Since then, it has been used as a wedding tiara by all of Ingrid’s female descendants. Upon Ingrid’s death, it passed to her youngest daughter, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.

Sofiero Castle, photo by Abelson at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12847343

In addition to the jewelry and other gifts, the couple also received Sofiero Castle, in Helsingborg, Sweden, as a gift from the groom’s grandfather, King Oscar II of Sweden. Oscar had the castle built in the 1860s, and later expanded in the 1870s.

The Ceremony

St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. photo by Aurelien Guichard from London, United Kingdom – Windsor Uploaded by BaldBoris, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15203080

The wedding was held at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle and was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by the Bishop of Winchester, the Bishop of Oxford, and the Dean of Windsor. The bride was escorted by her father, The Duke of Connaught, while the groom was supported by his brother Wilhelm and his uncle Eugen.

Following the ceremony, the bride and groom, and their guests processed back to Windsor Castle where the marriage register was signed in the White Drawing Room. The King and Queen led their guests through the Red and Green Drawing Rooms, en route to the wedding luncheon.

The Wedding Luncheon

St. George’s Hall, Windsor Castle. photo by Joshua Barnett – http://www.flickr.com/photos/angel_malachite/3478010368/sizes/o/in/photostream/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12061979

Following the wedding, The King and Queen hosted the wedding luncheon at Windsor Castle for the guests. The newly married couple, their families, and royal guests were seated in the State Dining Room, while other invited guests were in St. George’s Hall. The menu consisted of:

Zéphires de Crabes à la Suédoise
(soufflé of crabmeat, cheese, mushrooms and herbs)
—–
Côtelettes d’Agneau à la Clamart
(lamb cutlets with peas, lettuce and onions)

Chaufroix de Cailles à la Bernadotte
(breast of quail in aspic)
—–
Les Buffets de Viandes Froides
(buffet of cold meats)
—–
Poussins Rôtis sur Canapés
(roasted baby chicken with a Madeira sauce with truffles)

Salade à la Française
(cold roast beef with a dressing of parsley, onion, anchovy and mustard)
—–
Asperges d’Argenteuil, Sauce Mousseline
(white asparagus in a mousseline sauce)
—–
Flumeries aux Fraises
(chilled mousse on an oatmeal porridge with stewed strawberries)

Macédoine de Fruits au Champagne
(diced fruit in a champagne syrup)
—–
Pâtisseries Parisienne
(variety of small pastries)
Corbeilles aux Bouquets de la Mariée
(baskets made of sugar icing filled with flowers made of sugar and marzipan,
representing flowers from the bridal bouquet)

The wedding cake, as described in the New York Times, was:

“… five feet in height, consisting of three tiers, the lower tier being three feet in diameter. Overhanging each tier were four balconies, beneath which were figures, modeled in sugar, bearing wheat, the symbol of plenty. The tiers were borne by four silver Grecian columns, and on the top of the cake was a draped female figure supporting a porcelain vase, from which hung garlands of natural flowers.”

Following the luncheon, Gustav Adolf and Margareta (having taken on the Swedish version of her name) traveled to Saighton Grange in Cheshire, the home of the Earl and Countess Grosvenor, where they spent the night before traveling to Ireland for the rest of their honeymoon. The couple then returned to Sweden, arriving on July 8, 1905.

Children

Margaret and Gustaf Adolf with their four eldest children; Photo Credit – Wikipedia, United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs Division

Gustav Adolf and Margaret had five children:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of King Charles III and Camilla Parker Bowles

by Susan Flantzer and Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

The Prince of Wales (later King Charles III) and Camilla Parker Bowles (later Queen Consort Camilla) were married in a civil ceremony on April 9, 2005, at the Windsor Guildhall in Windsor, England followed by a Service of Prayer and Dedication at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in Windsor, England.

The Family of Prince Charles

HRH Prince Charles Philip Arthur George was born on November 14, 1948, at Buckingham Palace, London. Charles was the first child of HRH Princess Elizabeth and her husband of one year, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, born HRH Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. Elizabeth was the elder daughter and the first of two children of King George VI and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, who was the youngest daughter and the ninth of ten children of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne. Philip’s father was HRH Prince Andrew of Greece, the son of King George I of Greece (formerly Prince William of Denmark) and Grand Duchess Olga Konstantinovna of Russia. His mother was Her Serene Highness Princess Alice of Battenberg. Alice was the daughter of Prince Louis of Battenberg and Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine. During World War I, when King George V ordered his family to relinquish their German styles and titles, Prince Louis became Louis Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Milford Haven. Princess Victoria’s mother was Princess Alice, a daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Therefore, Charles’ parents are both great-great-grandchildren of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

Charles’ parents added another child to the family, Princess Anne, born on August 15, 1950. Ill with lung cancer, King George VI died on February 6, 1952, and the 25-year-old Princess Elizabeth became Queen Elizabeth II. Her duties as Queen postponed additions to the family. Prince Andrew was born eight years later on February 19, 1960, and Prince Edward was born on March 10, 1964.

As soon as his mother became Queen, Charles was the heir apparent to the throne and as the monarch’s eldest son became Duke of Cornwall. In the Scottish peerage, he became Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. Charles was created Prince of Wales and Earl of Chester on July 26, 1958. He was invested as Prince of Wales on July 1, 1969, at Caernarvon Castle in Wales.

On July 29, 1981, Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in a lavish wedding held at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.  The couple had two sons – Prince William, born 1982, and Prince Henry (Harry), born 1984.  Charles and Diana divorced in 1996, and she was tragically killed the following year in a car accident in Paris.

The Family of Camilla Parker Bowles

Camilla with her mother

Camilla Rosemary Shand was born July 17, 1947, at King’s College Hospital in London.  She is the daughter of Major Bruce Shand and the Honourable Rosalind Cubitt, daughter of the 3rd Baron Ashcombe.  Camilla has a sister, Annabel Shand Elliot, and a brother Mark Shand.  In 1973, Camilla Shand married Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, and the couple had two children – a son Tom, born in 1974, and a daughter Laura, born in 1978.  Camilla and Andrew divorced in 1995.

The Engagement

Official Engagement photo, released by Clarence House

After many years of speculation, the engagement of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles was announced by Clarence House on February 10, 2005.  At this point, it was also announced that when Charles becomes King, “it is intended” that Camilla will use the title of Princess Consort instead of Queen.  It was announced that a civil marriage would take place on April 8th, followed by a Service of Prayer and Dedication at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.  This was later postponed until the 9th, allowing The Prince of Wales to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II in Rome.

Upon marriage, Mrs. Parker Bowles took on all of Prince Charles’ titles, including Princess of Wales.  However, out of respect for the late Diana, Princess of Wales, it was decided that she would be styled HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

The Ring

Prince Charles presented Camilla with a ring that had belonged to his beloved grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.  The 1930s Art Deco style ring, set in platinum, has an emerald cut diamond with three diamond baguettes on each side.  It is believed to have been part of the large collection of jewels inherited by The Queen Mother from Mrs. Ronald Greville.  At the time of the engagement, it was estimated to have a value of about £100,000.

The Wedding Attire

The Civil Ceremony
photo: John D. McHugh/AP

For the civil ceremony, Camilla wore a cream-colored silk chiffon dress, hemmed with vertical rows of appliqued woven disks.  This was topped with an oyster silk basket-weave coat with herringbone stitch embroidery.  Her hat, designed by Philip Treacy, was a straw hat overlaid with ivory French lace and trimmed with feathers.  The dress was designed by Robinson Valentine, London.

The Service of Prayer and Dedication

For the Service of Prayer and Dedication, she wore a floor-length pale blue and gold coat over a matching chiffon gown, designed by Robinson Valentine.  Her hat, again designed by Philip Treacy, was a headdress of gold-leafed feathers, tipped with Swarovski crystals, in her hair.

The Prince of Wales wore a traditional morning suit with gray pinstripe trousers.  He finished off his outfit with a heliborne from his gardens at Highgrove.

Mrs. Parker Bowles’ carried a small bouquet of flowers in shades of gray and cream, mixed with Lily of the Vally, all bound with the same silk as her dress.  Tucked in the bouquet was a small spring of myrtle, the traditional symbol of a happy marriage.

The Civil Marriage

The civil wedding ceremony took place on April 9, 2005, in the Guildhall, Windsor. Prince William and Tom Parker Bowles (Camilla’s son)  served as witnesses to the civil wedding ceremony, which was conducted by the Royal Borough’s Superintendent Registrar, Clair Williams.  The couple arrived in a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI from the Queen’s fleet, while the rest of the guests arrived by a small bus.  The ceremony took place in the Ascot Room within the Guildhall and lasted approximately 20 minutes.  Throughout the room were flowers cut from the Highgrove estate, as well as Raymill House, Camilla’s home nearby.  At the couple’s request, the flowers were donated to local hospices after the ceremony.  The couple exchanged rings, made of gold from the Clogau St David’s mine in Bontddu, North Wales, and designed by Wartski of London.  The Civil Ceremony was attended by members of both Charles’ and Camilla’s families.  The Queen did not attend, due to her position as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and the church’s rules regarding the marriage of divorced people.  The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh did, however, attend the Service of Prayer and Dedication.

Guests at the civil ceremony included:

Family of Prince Charles

  • Prince William of Wales, the groom’s son
  • Prince Harry of Wales, the groom’s son
  • The Duke of York, the groom’s brother
  • Princess Beatrice of York, the groom’s niece
  • Princess Eugenie of York, the groom’s niece
  • The Earl and Countess of Wessex, the groom’s brother and his wife
  • The Princess Royal and Rear Admiral Timothy Laurence, the groom’s sister and her second husband
  • Mr. Peter Phillips, the groom’s nephew
  • Miss Zara Phillips, the groom’s niece
  • Viscount and Viscountess Linley, the groom’s first cousin and his wife
  • Lady Sarah Chatto and Mr. Daniel Chatto, the groom’s first cousin and her husband
  • Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, the groom’s first cousin once removed

Family of Camilla Parker Bowles

  • Major Bruce Shand, the bride’s father
  • Mr. Tom Parker Bowles and Miss Sara Buys, the bride’s son and his partner
  • Miss Laura Parker Bowles and Mr. Harry Lopes, the bride’s daughter and her partner
  • Mr. Mark Shand, the bride’s brother
  • Mr. and Mrs. Simon (Annabel) Elliot, the bride’s sister and her husband
  • Mr. Ben Elliot, the bride’s nephew
  • Miss Katie Elliot, the bride’s niece
  • Mr. and Mrs. Luke (Alice) Irwin, the bride’s niece and her husband
  • Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Parker Bowles, the bride’s first husband and his second wife

Sources: BBC; Telegraph

The Service of Prayer and Dedication

At 2:30 that afternoon, a Service of Prayer and Dedication was held at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, presided over by The Archbishop of Canterbury.  Nearly 800 guests were in attendance.  Following the service, the couple posed for photographs on the steps of the chapel, before greeting some of the public who had gathered outside the chapel. These included representatives from some of the couple’s charities and organizations. They were then driven back to Windsor Castle for a reception in the State Apartments.

Guest at the Service of Prayer and Dedication included:

British Royal Family and Relatives

  • The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, the groom’s parents
  • Prince William of Wales, the groom’s son
  • Prince Henry of Wales, the groom’s son
  • The Duke of York, the groom’s brother
  • Princess Beatrice of York, the groom’s niece
  • Princess Eugenie of York, the groom’s niece
  • The Earl and Countess of Wessex, the groom’s brother and his wife
  • The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the groom’s sister and her second husband
  • Mr. Peter Phillips, the groom’s nephew
  • Miss Zara Phillips, the groom’s niece
  • Viscount and Viscountess Linley, the groom’s first cousin and his wife
  • Lady Sarah Chatto and Mr. Daniel Chatto, the groom’s first cousin and her husband
  • The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the groom’s first cousin once removed and his wife
  • The Duke and Duchess of Kent, the groom’s first cousin once removed, and his wife
  • The Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, the groom’s first cousin once removed and his wife
  • Princess Alexandra, Lady Ogilvy, the groom’s first cousin once removed
  • Lord and Lady Romsey, the groom’s second cousin and his wife

Family of Camilla Parker Bowles

  • Major Bruce Shand, the bride’s father
  • Mr. Tom Parker Bowles and Miss Sara Buys, the bride’s son and his partner
  • Miss Laura Parker Bowles and Mr. Harry Lopes, the bride’s daughter and her partner
  • Mr. Mark Shand, the bride’s brother
  • Mr. and Mrs. Simon (Annabel) Elliot, the bride’s sister and her husband
  • Mr. Ben Elliot, the bride’s nephew
  • Miss Katie Elliot, the bride’s niece
  • Mr. and Mrs. Luke (Alice) Irwin, the bride’s niece and her husband
  • Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Parker Bowles, the bride’s first husband and his second wife

Foreign Royalty

  • King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al-Khalif of Bahrain
  • King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes
  • Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway
  • Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia
  • Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands
  • Princess Margarita and Prince Radu of Romania
  • Prince Turki bin Faisal Al Saud and Princess Nouf of Saudi Arabia
  • Prince Bandar bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia

Viceroys

  • The Governor-General of Antigua and Barbuda and Lady Carlisle
  • The Governor-General of Australia and Mrs. Jeffery
  • The Governor-General of Barbados and Mrs. Husbands
  • The Governor-General of Canada and John Ralston Saul
  • The Queen’s Representative in the Cook Islands and Lady Goodwin
  • The Governor-General of Grenada and Lady Williams
  • The Commonwealth Secretary-General and Clare de Lore
  • The Governor-General of New Zealand and Peter Cartwright
  • The Governor-General of Papua New Guinea and Lady Matane
  • The Governor-General of St. Christopher and Nevis

British Politicians

  • The Rt. Hon. Tony Blair, Prime Minister and Mrs. Blain
  • The Rt. Hon. Michael Howard, Conservative Party leader and Mrs. Howard
  • The Rt. Hon. Charles Kennedy, Liberal Democrat leader and Mrs. Kennedy
  • The Rt. Hon. Jack McConnell, First Minister of Scotland and Mrs. McConnell
  • The Rt. Hon. Rhodri Morgan, First Minister for Wales and Mrs. Morgan
  • The Rt. Hon. Paul Murphy, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
  • The Honourable Nicholas Soames, Shadow Defence Secretary

Religious Representatives

  • Rowan Williams, The Archbishop of Canterbury and Mrs. Williams
  • The Rt, Rev. and Rt. Hon The Lord and Lady Carey of Clifton
  • The Rt. Rev. Dean of Windsor and wife
  • The Rev. Canon Doctor Hueston Finlay and Mrs. Finlay
  • The Rev. Canon Laurence Gunner and Mrs. Gunner
  • The Rev. Canon John Ovenden and Mrs. Ovenden
  • The Rev, Canon John White

Other Notable Guests

  • Rowan Atkinson, actor
  • Sanjeev Bhaskar, actor
  • Melvyn Bragg, Baron Bragg, broadcaster and author
  • Paddy Campbell, fashion designer
  • Phil Collins, singer
  • Jilly Cooper, novelist
  • Jonathan Dimbleby, British presenter
  • Edward Fox, actor and Joanna David
  • David Frost, broadcaster
  • Stephen Fry, actor
  • Valentino Garavani, fashion designer
  • Lady Annabel Goldsmith, socialite
  • Richard E. Grant, actor
  • Robert Harris, author
  • Ronald Harwood, playwright
  • Sir Stephen Lamport, former private secretary to the prince
  • Joanna Lumley, actress and ambassador for Prince’s Trust
  • Martina Milburn, chief executive of the Prince’s Trust
  • Simon Sebag Montefiore, biographer, novelist and journalist
  • William Rees-Mogg, former editor of The Times
  • Joan Rivers, comic
  • Prunella Scales, actress
  • William Shawcross, writer and broadcaster
  • Trudie Styler, actor and producer
  • Philip Treacy, milliner
  • Christopher Warren-Green, conductor
  • Timothy West, actor
  • Staff from Clarence House, Highgrove House, Birkhall, and Sandringham

Sources: BBC; Telegraph

The Reception

photo: Hugo Burnand, Pool/Getty Images

Following the service, the Queen hosted a reception in the State Apartments at Windsor Castle.  Items on the menu included smoked salmon, roast venison with Balmoral redcurrant and port jelly, egg and cress sandwiches, potted shrimp rolls, and mini Cornish pastries.  Mrs. Ethel Richardson, of Wales, provided 20 fruit cakes at the request of the Prince of Wales.  After a toast of Duchy champagne, the couple left to begin their honeymoon.  The wedding cake was made by Dawn Blunden, owner of a cake shop in Lincolnshire.

Source: BBC; Netty’s Royalty Page

The Honeymoon

Following the reception, the newlywed couple departed for Birkhall, Prince Charles’ home on the Balmoral Estate in Scotland.  Princes William and Harry had decorated the car which was taking them from the castle.  The words “Prince” and “Duchess” were written on the windshield, with “Just Married” written on the back.  Bunches of red, white, and yellow metallic balloons had also been tied to the car. The Prince and Duchess boarded a plane at RAF Northolt for their flight to Aberdeen.

Source: BBC; Netty’s Royalty Page

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla

by Emily McMahon  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Hereditary Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg (the future Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg) married Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla on February 14, 1981,  in a civil ceremony at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, and then in a religious ceremony at the Cathedral of Notre Dame also in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.

Henri’s Early Life

Henri (on the right in the back row) with his parents and siblings in 1971; Credit – Wikipedia

Henri was born on April 16, 1955, the second child of Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and his wife, the former Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium. Henri had an elder sister, Marie-Astrid, and later had three younger siblings – Jean, Margaretha, and Guillaume. All of the children were born at Betzdorf Castle, the family’s home in eastern Luxembourg. Like his parents, Henri was raised Catholic.

Henri started his education in Luxembourg, and later graduated from secondary school in France. He then attended Sandhurst in Berkshire to complete military training. Following his time at Sandhurst, Henri earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Geneva in 1980. Henri also completed several internships with companies in the United States during his last two years of university studies. Through his education, Henri became fluent in German, French, Luxembourgish, and English. He also understands some Spanish.

During the 1970s, the decline in steel production hit Luxembourg’s mills and economy hard. Henri made a decision at that time to pursue investment by other countries as a means of boosting Luxembourg’s economy. This contributed to his decision to complete his chosen course of study and completion of foreign internships.

For more information about Henri see:

Maria Teresa’s Early Life

GD Maria Teresa_Luxembourg_birth family

Maria Teresa (on the left) with her family; Photo Credit – http://www.theroyalforums.com/

Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla was born on March 22, 1956, in Marianao, Havana, Cuba. Her parents were Jose Antonio Mestre y Alvarez and Maria Teresa de Mestre, descendants of Spanish nobility. Although they held no titles, Maria Teresa’s family had made a considerable fortune in banking and maintained an estate in Santander, Spain. Maria Teresa and her two brothers Antonio and Luis and her sister Catalina were all raised Catholic.

Following the rise of Fidel Castro to power in Cuba, Maria Teresa fled the country with her family in 1959 to New York City. The family stayed there until 1965 when they moved briefly to their home in Spain and later Switzerland. Maria Teresa’s father established himself as a banker in Switzerland during the following years.

Maria Teresa attended the Marymount School and L’École française during her time in New York. After moving to Geneva, Maria Teresa continued her studies at the Marie-José Institute in Gstaad. She completed her secondary education at the Marie-Thérèse School in Geneva, graduating in 1975. Maria Teresa also attained Swiss nationality while she was in high school.

Maria Teresa then entered the Graduate Institute of International Studies (part of the University of Geneva) where she earned a Bachelor of Political Science in 1980. During her years at the university, Maria Teresa concentrated her attention on gerontology, the care of children with learning difficulties, and the challenges experienced by women in the workplace. Along with her native Spanish, Maria Teresa became fluent in German, French, English, Italian, and later Luxembourgish.

For more information about Maria Teresa see:

The Question of a Commoner Spouse

Henri_Maria Teresa_Luxembourg_engagement

Henri, Maria Teresa, and the Luxembourg Princely Family at the time of the engagement; Photo Credit – www.luxarazzi.com

By the time Henri came of age, royals were still expected to find a spouse among other European royal families – or titled aristocracy if no suitable royal candidate existed. Henri’s own parents were rumored to have been involved with commoners before their own marriage – commoners they were allegedly forced to abandon to marry one another. But by the mid-1970s, royals with commoner spouses were becoming less unusual. The monarchs or heirs apparent were married to non-aristocratic spouses in all of the Scandinavian countries and in the Netherlands. Yet Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte still felt that the future grand duchess should be a royal or a noble.

Henri did have plenty of opportunities to meet a spouse whom his family would have found suitable. As with young royals of all generations, Henri was linked to other eligible princesses and nobles during his young adulthood. During his time at Sandhurst, Henri was rumored to be dating Princess Caroline of Monaco, then a student at St. Mary’s School in Berkshire. While the two were of similar age, royal, and Roman Catholic, Caroline later stated that she and Henri were never more than friends.

A few years later, Henri was linked to Catherine of Limburg-Stirum, a German noble and descendent of the Count of Paris. The two were seen together at a few weddings, but the relationship did not develop into anything serious.

Despite Maria Teresa’s accomplishments and the prominence of her family, Henri’s family was reportedly dismayed at his wish to marry her, as they had hoped he would choose a royal or noble spouse. There was also some question as to whether Maria Teresa was related to former Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista (she is not), which could have affected her suitability as a consort.

But so determined Henri was to marry Maria Teresa that it was rumored that Henri offered to renounce his claim to the grand ducal throne in order to do so. When it was clear that Henri refused to consider a royal spouse, Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte finally relented and let the couple announce their engagement. However, years later Maria Teresa said that she and Joséphine-Charlotte had always had a difficult relationship.

Courtship and Engagement

The happy couple with Henri’s parents; Photo Credit – http://royalweddings.hellomagazine.com

Maria Teresa and Henri met while completing their studies in Geneva. Occasionally both would end up working on class projects together or in the same study groups. It is unknown exactly how long the two knew one another before dating, but it is known that their relationship blossomed out of a strong friendship. Maria Teresa later said of their courtship, “The more time we spent together it was more clear to us that we would spend our lives together.”

Luxembourg Minister of State Pierre Werner announced the engagement of Henri and Maria Teresa on November 8, 1980. The announcement was made three weeks after the couple had finished their studies at the University of Geneva and apparently a day after the engagement was considered official. The Luxembourg public had known nothing of the couple’s relationship up to this point.

Henri and his parents officially introduced Maria Teresa to the press two days after announcing their engagement. At that time, the two announced that a spring 1981 wedding was being planned, but that the exact date and location were not yet known. During the press conference, Maria Teresa wore her new engagement ring of yellow gold set with a cabochon ruby.

Wedding Attire

Maria Teresa and Henri on their wedding day. Photo credit: Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor

Henri wore the black single-breasted high-necked uniform for the religious wedding. He complimented the uniform with the orange sash and eight-pointed plaque of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau, the highest order in Luxembourg. Around his waist was a tasseled orange belt. This outfit has since become Henri’s standard outfit for most formal occasions.

For her dress, Maria Teresa chose a design by the French house Balmain, known as a leader in French fashion following World War II. Balmain had dressed several Hollywood clients, as well as Queen Sirkit of Thailand. Balmain continues to be a popular designer for the grand ducal family and other royalty around the world.

Maria Teresa’s wedding dress was made of white silk embossed with an intricate pattern. The floor-length dress had rather simple lines, with a bell skirt and subtle leg-o-mutton sleeves. It featured a jewel neckline and fitted bodice, with the cuffs, collar, and hem of the dress trimmed in fur, fitting for a winter wedding. The dress also had a train that descended from the shoulders and extended about two meters, meeting the length of Maria Teresa’s veil. The lace-trimmed veil featured a blusher worn by Maria Teresa during her walk down the aisle and part of the wedding service.

Maria Teresa wore attached to her veil the Congo Diamond Tiara, brought to Luxembourg from Belgium by her mother-in-law, Belgian princess Josephine-Charlotte. Josephine-Charlotte had worn the tiara, a gift from the people of Congo, during her own wedding ceremony. Maria Teresa’s sisters-in-law, Marie-Astrid and Margaretha, each wore the tiara on their own wedding days, both in 1982.

Maria Teresa’s wedding dress was later used to make a new dress for the statue of Our Lady of Luxembourg, Comforter of the Afflicted. The dress was first displayed on the statue in 2012, just before the wedding of Maria Teresa’s and Henri’s son Guillaume to Belgian noble Stephanie de Lannoy.

Wedding Ceremonies

Henri and Maria Teresa signing their wedding license. Photo credit: redcarpetwedding.org

As per Luxembourg law, Henri and Maria Teresa were married in a civil ceremony at the Grand Ducal Palace on the morning of February 14, 1981. The simple ceremony was conducted by Luxembourg City’s Mayor Camille Polfer, a close friend of the family.

The religious service took place about an hour after the civil ceremony at the capital city’s Notre Dame Cathedral. Maria Teresa’s sister Catalina (wearing a blue lace dress that echoed the design of her sister’s) served as a bridesmaid. Maria Teresa’s father led his daughter down the aisle.

Of the wedding day, Henri later remarked:

“This day I will always remember as the day that was such great joy. I will not conceal that I was a little excited about the enormous appeal, which had found our wedding in the media. At that moment, but in which my fiancee walked into the cathedral, any nervousness was gone, and I knew that we would now be forever by two for the tasks that would put life and my function to us to overcome together. This moment is one of my best memories.”

Although the couple married on February 14, both Henri and Maria Teresa later said that they were unaware of the Valentine’s Day holiday as it was not widely celebrated in Luxembourg at the time. The date was chosen due to a state visit scheduled a few weeks later in Luxembourg. Henri and Maria Teresa did not want to wait any longer than they had to marry, so the wedding was scheduled for February.

Following the wedding, the couple emerged from the cathedral and walked under a tunnel made of swords. Members of the Luxembourg Army in dress uniform held the swords.

Reception and Balcony Appearance

Henri, with Maria Teresa blowing kisses to the crowd from the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace. Photo credit: Wort.lu

Despite the cold weather, Henri and Maria Teresa returned to the Grand Ducal Palace to wave and guests. The newlyweds appeared on the balcony of the palace – adorned in red velvet for the occasion – with both sets of parents. The couple shared a hug and kiss just before Maria Teresa blew kisses to the crowd below. A reception followed for the 700 wedding guests in the Grand Ducal Palace.

Wedding Guests

Henri_Maria Teresa_wedding guests

Some of the wedding guests; Photo Credit – www.theroyalforums.com

Over 700 guests attended the wedding and reception. Some of the more prominent guests included:

  • Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg
  • Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg
  • Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg
  • Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg
  • Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg
  • Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg, Duchess of Hohenburg
  • Princess Marie-Adelaide of Luxembourg and Count Carl Josef Henckel of
    Donnersmarck
  • Princess Marie-Gabrielle of Luxembourg and Count Knud of Holstein-Ledreborg
  • Princess Alix of Luxembourg and Prince Antoine de Ligne
  • King Olav V of Norway
  • Hereditary Prince Hans-Adam and Hereditary Princess Marie Aglae of Liechtenstein
  • King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium
  • Prince Albert and Princess Paola of Liege (Belgium)
  • Prince Philippe of Belgium
  • Princess Astrid of Belgium
  • Prince Laurent of Belgium
  • Queen Margrethe (Henri’s godmother) and Prince Henrik of Denmark
  • Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco
  • Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
  • Former Queen Marie-Jose of Italy
  • Infanta Margarita of Spain and the Duke of Soria
  • Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Pieter van Vollenhoven
  • Archduke Otto and Archduchess Regina of Austria
  • Princess Christina of Sweden, Mrs. Magnuson, and Mr. Tord Magnuson
  • Prince Franz of Bavaria
  • Archduchess Margherita of Austria-Este
  • Archduke Carl Ludwig and Archduchess Yolande of Austria
  • Archduke Carl Christian of Austria
  • Archduke Rudolph and Archduchess Anna Gabriele of Austria
  • Princess Leonor of Brazil and Prince Michel de Ligne
  • Prince Ludwig and Princess Irmingard of Bavaria
  • Princess Francesca of Bourbon-Parma and Prince Eduard von Lobkowicz
  • Prince Eric and Princess Lydia of Bourbon-Parma
  • Prince Wauthier and Princess Régine de Ligne
  • Antoine de Ligne
  • Princess Christine de Ligne
  • Princess Sophie de Ligne
  • Princess Yolande de Ligne
  • Princess Sophie von Hohenberg
  • Countess Marie Charlotte Henckel von Donnersmarck
  • Count Flemming and Countess Ruth of Rosenborg
  • Countess Monica of Holstein-Ledreborg
  • Countess Kamilla of Holstein-Ledreborg
  • Countess Tatiana of Holstein-Ledreborg
  • Countess Antonia of Holstein-Ledreborg

Children

Embed from Getty Images 
Henri and Maria Teresa with their five children

Henri and Maria Teresa had five children:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of Prince Carl Philip of Sweden and Sofia Hellqvist

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT, source: Swedish Royal Court

Prince Carl Philip of Sweden married Sofia Hellqvist on June 13, 2015, in the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden.

Prince Carl Philip’s Family

Swedish Royal Family at Solliden Palace, July 2014. Photo: Anna-Lena Ahlström/Swedish Royal Court

Swedish Royal Family at Solliden Palace, July 2014. Photo: Anna-Lena Ahlström/Swedish Royal Court

HRH Prince Carl Philip Edmund Bertil of Sweden, Duke of Värmland, was born on May 13, 1979, at the Royal Palace in Stockholm. He is the second child, and only son, of King Carl XVI Gustaf and the former Silvia Sommerlath. King Carl XVI Gustaf is the son of the late Prince Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten, and the late Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Queen Silvia was born in Germany to Walter Sommerlath and the former Alice Soares de Toledo. She is of German and Brazilian descent and is a distant descendant of King Afonso III of Portugal. Prince Carl Philip has two siblings – Crown Princess Victoria (b 1977) and Princess Madeleine (b 1982). At the time of his birth, he was Crown Prince of Sweden. However, the Act of Succession was changed at the beginning of 1980, allowing for absolute primogeniture and making his elder sister, Victoria, Crown Princess and heir to the Swedish throne.

For more information about Carl Philip see:

Miss Sofia Hellqvist’s Family

Sofia and Carl Philip with their families, May 2015. photo: Swedish Royal Court

Sofia and Carl Philip with their families, May 2015. photo: Swedish Royal Court

Miss Sofia Kristina Hellqvist was born on December 6, 1984, at the Danderyd Hospital in Täby, Sweden. She is the daughter of Erik and Marie Hellqvist and has two sisters – Lina and Sara. After attending primary school in Sweden, Sofia attended both the New York Institute and English and Business, and Stockholm University. In 2010, she founded a non-profit organization, Project Playground, in South Africa, which strives to improve life for children. She served as Secretary-General until April 2015 and now serves as the organization’s Honorary Chairman.

The Engagement

photo: Swedish Royal Court

photo: Swedish Royal Court

Carl Philip and Sofia met in the summer of 2009, and by the spring of 2010, the media was beginning to speculate that the two were involved. In August 2010, the Royal Court confirmed that the two were in a relationship. Sofia has since attended many family functions, including the weddings of Carl Philip’s two sisters, although she was not seated with the royal family. They lived together in Stockholm for some time and maintained a rather private life.

On June 25, 2014, the Swedish Royal Court announced that the couple was engaged and that the wedding would take place on June 13, 2015, in the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.

It was later announced that Sofia will become HRH Princess Sofia of Sweden, Duchess of Värmland, upon marriage.

For more information about Sofia see:

Pre-Wedding Festivities

The night before the wedding, the King and Queen hosted a private dinner.  Family and invited guests boarded the SS Stockholm which took them around the harbor to the island of Skeppsholmen where the dinner was held.  The dinner was held in an underground bunker that had once been used by the Swedish military.  It is now used as an exhibition space.

Wedding Guests

photo: Mattias Edwall/Swedish Royal Court

photo: Mattias Edwall/Swedish Royal Court

Along with the families of both the bride and groom, guests included representatives from several other royal families, members of the diplomatic corps and the Swedish government, and family friends. Below is a list of the families and royal guests. For a complete guest list, click here.

The Swedish Royal Family
HM The King
HM The Queen
HRH The Crown Princess and HRH Prince Daniel
HRH Princess Estelle
HRH Princess Madeleine and Mr. Christopher O’Neill
HRH Princess Leonore

The King’s Family
Princess Margaretha, Mrs. Ambler
Baroness Sybilla von Dincklage
Mr. James Ambler and Mrs. Ursula Ambler
HRH Princess Birgitta of Sweden and Hohenzollern
Mrs. Désirée von Bohlen und Halbach and Mr. Eckbert von Bohlen und Halbach
TSH Prince Hubertus and Princess Ute Marie von Hohenzollern
Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld and Baron Niclas Silfverschiöld
Baron Carl Silfverschiöld
Baroness Christina Louise De Geer and Baron Hans De Geer
Baroness Hélène Silfverschiöld and Mr. Fredrik Dieterle
Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson and Mr. Tord Magnuson
Mr. Gustaf Magnuson and Mrs. Vicky Magnuson
Mr. Oscar Magnuson and Mrs. Emma Magnuson
Mr. Victor Magnuson and Miss Frida Bergström
Countess Marianne Bernadotte af Wisborg
Count Bertil Bernadotte af Wisborg and Countess Jill Bernadotte af Wisborg
Mrs. Dagmar von Arbin
Countess Bettina Bernadotte af Wisborg and Mr. Philipp Haug
Mr. Emil Bernadotte af Wisborg

The Queen’s Family
Mr. Ralf de Toledo Sommerlath and Mrs. Charlotte de Toledo Sommerlath
Mrs. Carmita Sommerlath Baudinet and Mr. Pierre Baudinet
Miss Chloé Radigues de Chennevière
Mr. Thomas de Toledo Sommerlath and Ms. Bettina Aussems
Mr. Tim de Toledo Sommerlath and Mrs. Kristina de Toledo Sommerlath
Mr. Philip de Toledo Sommerlath
Miss Giulia de Toledo Sommerlath
Mr. Walther L. Sommerlath and Mrs. Ingrid Sommerlath
Mr. Patrick Sommerlath and Mrs. Maline Sommerlath
Mr. Leopold Lundén Sommerlath
Miss Chloé Sommerlath
Miss Anaïs Sommerlath
Miss Helena Christina Sommerlath and Dr. Jan Sohns
Ms. Maria Salles Souto Ferreira

Miss Sofia Hellqvist’s Family
Mr. Erik Hellqvist and Mrs. Marie Hellqvist
Miss Lina Hellqvist and Mr. Jonas Frejd
Miss Sara Hellqvist and Mr. Oskar Bergman
Mrs. Britt Rotman
Mr. Anders Rotman and Mrs. Laila Rönn Rotman
Mr. Victor Rotman and Miss Eleonora Caiazza
Mr. Johan Rotman
Mrs. Lena Rotman and Mr. Peter Nygren
Miss Hanna Nygren
Mr. Andreas Nygren
Mr. Lars Hellqvist and Mrs. Irena Hellqvist
Mr. Daniel Hellqvist
Mr. Martin Hellqvist

Royal Guests
HM Queen Mathilde of Belgium
HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
TRH Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
TRH Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark
TRH Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana of Greece
HIH Princess Takamado of Japan
HM Queen Máxima of the Netherlands
HM Queen Sonja of Norway
TRH Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway
HRH Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Mr. Ari Behn
TRH The Earl and Countess of Wessex
TRH Prince Leopold and Princess Ursula of Bavaria
TRH Prince Manuel and Princess Anna of Bavaria
HH Hereditary Prince Hubertus of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

The Wedding Attendants

photo: Mattias Edwall/Swedish Royal Court

photo: Mattias Edwall/Swedish Royal Court

The couple had four bridesmaids.

They wore white dresses of pure silk and Italian silk organza and carried bouquets which were copies of the bride’s bouquet, with various shades of cream and coral roses.

Prince Carl Philip’s best man was his close friend, Jan-Åke Hansson.  The two have known each other since attending boarding school together in the 1990s.

The Wedding Attire

The bride wore a dress of three shades of white, in silk crepe overlaid with Italian silk organza and lined with lace. The dress was made by Swedish designer, Ida Sjöstedt, and the lace by José María Ruiz. Her veil, of thin bridal tulle, was hand-embroidered in sheer cotton lace.

She carried a bouquet of various shades of cream and coral garden roses and a sprig of myrtle from Sofiero.  She also included a spring in her hair.  This is a tradition that goes back to Princess Margaret of Connaught, who brought a myrtle bush to Sweden when she married the future King Gustaf VI Adolf in 1905.  Since the 1935 wedding of her daughter, Ingrid, to the future King Frederik IX of Denmark, it has been a tradition for Swedish – as well as Danish – royal brides to include a spring of myrtle from this bush, either in their wedding bouquet or in their hair.

Her bridal look was completed with a new tiara of diamonds and emeralds.  This was a gift from King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia.

The groom wore the mess dress uniform (model 1878) of the Swedish Amphibious Corps, of which he is a Major.  He wore the sash and star of the Order of the Seraphim, as well as the star of the Order of the Polar Star on a black necklet.

The Ceremony

photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT, source: Swedish Royal Court

photo: Claudio Bresciani/TT, source: Swedish Royal Court

The ceremony took place in the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.  It was conducted by Chaplain to The King and Bishop Emeritus, The Right Reverend Lars-Göran Lönnermark, and pastor of the Royal Court Parish, The Reverend Michael Bjerkhagen. Preceded by the four bridesmaids, the bride entered on the arm of her father and was joined by Prince Carl Philip before approaching the altar.  The ceremony included two songs, favorites of the couple – Coldplay’s “Fix You”, performed by Salem Al Fakir, and Rhianna’s “Umbrella”, performed by David Pagmar. The newly married couple processed out of the Royal Chapel to a modern version of Joyful, Joyful, performed by Samuel Ljungblahd and the By Grace Gospel Choir.

Following the service, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia traveled through the streets of Stockholm in an open coach, before returning to the Royal Palace for the wedding banquet.  Upon arriving, a 21-gun salute was fired from Skeppsholmen.

The Wedding Banquet

The wedding banquet was held in the Vita Havet Assembly Rooms in the Royal Palace, followed by dancing in King Karl XI’s Gallery.  The couple was seated at the head table, with their parents and siblings, and Queen Margrethe of Denmark.

Menu

White asparagus “Princess Sofia”
cooked in elderflower juice with roe from Älvdalen,
asparagus and chive emulsion
*
Langoustine simmered with coriander served with grilled scallop,
yuzu dressing, wood sorrel and split peas
*
Fried, lightly cured Hjälmaren pike-perch with grilled spring vegetables, caramelised crème fraîche and smoked butter
*
Peach and raspberry tartelette with white chocolate,
champagne and peach sorbet

Wine

Aperitif
Champagne Diebolt-Vallois Brut Tradition
*****
Pommery Grand Cru Millésimé 2005 Champagne
*
Trimbach Riesling Vieilles Vignes de Prince 2011 Alsace
*
Radford Dale “Freedom” 2012 Pinot Noir Elgin
*
Château Suduiraut 2002 Sauternes

During the banquet, speeches were given by The King, Mr. Erik Hellqvist, and Prince Carl Philip. Princess Sofia also spoke briefly, introducing a song specifically for her new husband.  It was performed by Molly Sandén, accompanied by Danny Saucedo, and it is reported that Sofia herself wrote the lyrics.

Following the meal, the couple cut their very modern wedding cake, created by The Swedish National Pastry Team.  This was followed by dancing in King Karl XI’s Gallery.

 

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Wedding of King Philippe of Belgium and Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

On December 4, 1999, King Philippe of the Belgians, then the Duke of Brabant and heir to the Belgian throne, married Jonkvrouw Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz in Brussels, Belgium. The civil ceremony was held at the Town Hall of Brussels, followed by the religious ceremony at the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula. The bride would be the first Belgian-born future Queen in the history of the Belgian monarchy.

Philippe’s Early Life

Prince Philippe of Belgium was born on April 15, 1960, at the Château du Belvédère in Laeken, Belgium. He is the eldest child of King Albert II of the Belgians and the former Paola Ruffo di Calabria and has one sister – Princess Astrid – and one brother, Prince Laurent. His primary and secondary education was at St. Michael’s College in Brussels, studying in French, and then the Saint-André de Bruges Abbey in Bruges, studying in Dutch. He then enrolled at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels, qualifying as a fighter pilot. He then served with the Paracommando Regiment (now the Immediate Reaction Cell), qualifying as a paratrooper and assuming command of a paratrooper and commando platoon. During this time, he also took several courses at the Royal Higher Defense Institute. Philippe then attended Trinity College at the University of Oxford, and the Graduate School at Stanford University in California, earning a Masters degree in political science in 1985.

He became Duke of Brabant, and heir to the Belgian throne, in 1993 when his uncle, King Baudouin, died suddenly and his father became King. At that time, he also became the Honorary Chairman of the Belgian Foreign Trade Board, a role that his father had held for over 30 years. Over the next twenty years, he represented Belgium at over 70 economic missions around the world, in addition to supporting, and representing, his father at countless royal events.

For more information about Philippe see:

Mathilde’s Early Life

Mathilde as a toddler

Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz was born on January 20, 1973, in Uccle, Belgium, the daughter of Jonkheer Patrick d’Udekem d’Acoz and Countess Anna Maria Komorowska. Mathilde has four younger siblings – Marie-Alix, Elisabeth, Hélène, and Charles-Henri. She was raised at the Château de Losange, near the village of Villers-la-Bonne-Eau in the Luxembourg province of Belgium. The château had been purchased by Mathilde’s grandfather in 1958 as a home for her father.

She attended primary school at l’École Notre-Dame in Bastogne and then secondary school at the Institut de la Vierge Fidèle in Brussels. From 1991-1994, she attended the Institut Libre Marie Haps in Brussels, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in speech therapy. She continued her studies at the Université Catholique de Louvain, studying psychology, and also had her own speech therapy practice in Brussels until her wedding. Mathilde is fluent in four languages.

For more information about Mathilde see:

The Engagement

source: Paris Match

When their engagement was announced in September 1999, it came as a huge surprise to the Belgian people. They had first met in 1996 and had been involved ever since, but it was not until the announcement that anyone knew anything about the relationship. Following the official announcement, the couple, along with their families, gathered at the Castle of Laeken for a photocall with the media and gave a brief interview.

source: Glamour

Philippe gave Mathilde an engagement ring designed by Wolfers jewelers in Brussels. The ring features a large oval Burmese ruby set in gold, ringed with diamonds on a thick band set with more diamonds,

Wedding Guests

The Belgian Royal Family
King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium
Queen Fabiola of Belgium
Princess Astrid and Prince Lorentz of Belgium with their children
Prince Laurent of Belgium
Prince Alexandre and Princess Léa of Belgium
Princess Esmeralda of Belgium and Salvador Moncada

The Queen’s Family
Prince Fabrizio and Donna Luisa Ruffo di Calabria
Prince Fulco and Princess Melba Ruffo di Calabria
Prince Augusto and Princess Irma Ruffo di Calabria
Prince Alessandro Ruffo di Calabria
Don Antonello and Donna Rosa Maria Ruffo di Calabria
Don Lucio Ruffo di Calabria
Donna Claudia Ruffo di Calabria
Flavia Porcari Li Destri
Donna Marielli Ruffo di Calabria

The Bride’s Family
Count Patrick and Countess Anna Maria d’Udekem d’Acoz
Countess Elisabeth d’Udekem d’Acoz
Countess Hélène d’Udekem d’Acoz
Count Charles-Henri d’Udekem d’Acoz
Count Henri d’Udekem d’Acoz
Count Raoul and Countess Francoise d’Udekem d’Acoz
Count Michel and Countess Dominique Komorowski
Countess Marie Komorowski and Gérard Braun
Jean-Michel and Rose Maus de Rolley
Countess Gabrielle Komorowski
Alain and Christine de Brabant
Prince Alexandre Sapieha
Prince Stefan Sapieha

Royal Guests
The Duke and Duchess of Angoulême
Archduke Carl Christian and Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria
Archduke Simeon and Archduchess Maria of Austria
Archduke Carl Peter and Archduchess Alexandra of Austria
Archduke Carl Ludwig of Austria
Archduchess Margherita of Austria-Este
Archduke Gerhard of Austria-Este
Archduke Martin of Austria-Este
Duke Franz of Bavaria
Duke Max Emanuel and Duchess Elizabeth in Bavaria
Duchess Helene in Bavaria
The Duke of Braganca
Prince Kardam and Princess Miriam of Bulgaria
Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark
King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece
Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako of Japan
Princess Rahma bint el-Hassan of Jordan
Prince Hans-Adam II and Princess Marie of Liechtenstein
Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein
Prince Nikolaus and Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein
Princess Astrid of Liechtenstein
Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg
Hereditary Grand Duke Henri and Hereditary Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
Prince Jean of Luxembourg
Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg
Hereditary Prince Albert of Monaco
Lalla Sumaya of Morocco
Lalla Hasna of Morocco
Princess Alix Napoléon
Prince Jérôme Napoléon
Prince Dipendra of Nepal
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
The Prince of Orange
Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands
King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
King Mihai and Queen Anne of Romania
The Duke and Duchess of Savoy
Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy
Queen Sofia of Spain
The Prince of Asturias
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden
The Duke of Vendôme
The Prince of Wales
Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia

The Wedding Attendants

The large wedding party – all decked out in red velvet outfits with lace collars – consisted of:

  • Princess Luisa Maria of Belgium
  • Princess Astrid of Liechtenstein
  • Chiara van Voorst
  • Marie-Hedwige Komorowska
  • Bénédicte de Brabant
  • Sofia Ricasoli
  • Flavia Porcari
  • Prince Joachim of Belgium
  • Adrian Beissel von Gymnich

(also in the photo are Prince Amedeo and Princess Maria Laura of Belgium)

The Wedding Attire

Mathilde chose the Belgian designer Édouard Vermeulen to design her dress. Much thought went into the design of the gown, ensuring that it would have a significant visual presence in the cathedral without overwhelming the bride. The weather was also a factor. As the wedding was in mid-December, a winter coat-dress was designed. Worn over a simple sheath dress, the coat was made of silk-crepe and featured long sleeves and a tall collar, with a 4-½ meter train.

Mathilde wore a veil made of Brussels lace which was a family heirloom. It was made for the 1877 wedding of Queen Paola’s grandparents and was worn by successive generations of Paola’s family, including her own wedding in 1959. Mathilde’s two sisters-in-law also wore this lace veil at their weddings.

source: Paris Match

Topping off Mathilde’s wedding ensemble was another loan from Queen Paola – Queen Elisabeth’s Diamond Bandeau. The tiara was originally owned by Philippe’s great-grandmother, Queen Elisabeth (formerly Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria). Queen Elisabeth had given the tiara to her daughter-in-law, Queen Astrid (born a Princess of Sweden) when she gave birth to Philipp’s father, King Albert II. It was later gifted to Albert’s wife, Queen Paola, and remains in her personal collection.

She carried a large bouquet of greens with white roses, lilies, and amaryllis – the same flowers which were used to adorn the cathedral.

Prince Philippe wore his uniform as a colonel in the Belgian Air Force with the sash and star of the Order of Leopold, Belgium’s most senior order of chivalry.

The Civil Ceremony

The wedding day started out with the civil ceremony, held at the Town Hall of Brussels at 10 am. While most of the wedding guests were arriving at the Cathedral for the religious ceremony, the bride and groom and their immediate families made their way to the Town Hall for the required civil ceremony.

In the presence of their immediate families and several close friends, Philippe and Mathilde were married in the Gothic Hall by the mayor of Brussels, François-Xavier de Donnéa de Hamoir in a brief ceremony which was conducted in Flemish, French, and German – the three national languages of Belgium. The ceremony was broadcast to the crowds outside, who cheered loudly when Philippe answered ‘Ja’, and even more loudly when Mathilde gave her response ‘Oui’, bringing smiles to the faces of those gathered inside as well.

The marriage register was then signed by Philippe and Mathilde, and then their witnesses:

For the Groom
The Hereditary Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg
Archduke Simeon of Austria

For the Bride
Elisabeth d’Udekem d’Acoz
Stéphanie de Radigues de Chennevière

Now legally married, Philippe and Mathilde appeared on the balcony of the Town Hall to the cheers of the crowds gathered below, giving them the first kiss of the day.

The Religious Ceremony

photo: SudPresse

After the civil ceremony, Philippe and Mathilde and their families processed by car to the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula for the religious ceremony. Over 1200 guests were already assembled, and the church was decorated with over 25,000 roses, lilies, and amaryllis, matching the bride’s bouquet. The bride was walked down the aisle by her father, and joined Philippe at the altar. Following a traditional Catholic service, with several readings and numerous musical interludes, the couple gave their vows and exchanged rings. Their witnesses for the religious ceremony were:

For the Groom
Prince Laurent of Belgium
Count Charles-Henri d’Udekem d’Acoz
Christiaen Alting von Geusau
Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein

For the Bride
Countess Hélène d’Udekem d’Acoz
Agnès du Park
Helene, Duchess in Bavaria

Post-Wedding Celebrations

After returning to the Royal Palace, Philippe and Mathilde appeared on the balcony to the cheers of the crowds gathered below. They were also joined by the King and Queen and the bride’s parents. Then, after the official wedding photos were taken, they joined 750 of their guests for a luncheon featuring champagne and caviar, venison, and lobster.

That evening, a gala reception for 2,000 people – members of the government, the diplomatic corps, and other organizations – was held at the Royal Castle of Laeken, which is now the couple’s primary residence. Later that evening, the couple departed for their honeymoon, the details of which were closely guarded to ensure their privacy.

Children

Embed from Getty Images 
Philippe and Mathilde with their four children in 2018

Philippe and Mathilde had two daughters and two sons:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.