Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Crown Prince of Oman

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2023

Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Crown Prince of Oman; Credit – By cinematic Production – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufj3Eaul5vE, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=117350140

Arabic Naming Conventions

  • Al – family/clan of…
  • bin or ibn – son of…
  • bint – daughter of…

Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said is the first Crown Prince of Oman. Before January 11, 2021, the day Theyazin became Crown Prince, the succession to the throne was handled in a somewhat unusual way. Upon the death of the Sultan, the royal family council was charged with naming his successor within three days. If they were unable to agree upon a new Sultan, there was a sealed envelope from the late Sultan naming his personal choice to succeed him. On January 11, 2020, the day after the death of Sultan Qaboos of Oman, Theyazin’s father Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Sultan Qaboos’ first cousin, was named as Sultan of Oman after a sealed letter from Qaboos was opened identifying whom he wished to take his place.

Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said was born in Muscat, Oman on August 21, 1990. He is the eldest of the four children and the elder of the two sons of Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Sultan of Oman and Ahad bint Abdullah bin Hamad Al Busaidia. Theyazin’s grandfather was Tariq bin Taimur Al Said, the son of Taimur bin Feisal, Sultan of Muscat and Oman who reigned from 1913 until 1932 when he abdicated in favor of his eldest son Said bin Taimur, the father of the previous Sultan Qaboos of Oman.

Theyazin has one brother and two sisters:

  • Bilarab bin Haitham (born 1995)
  • Thuraya bint Haitham
  • Omaima bint Haitham

Theyazin (right) saluting his father (left), after graduating from Sandhurst in 2022; Credit – By Chris Fletcher – https://www.army.mod.uk/media/18699/rmas-ccs-222-5.jpg, OGL 3, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=121111129

From 2014 – 2019, Theyazin gained experience by working at the Omani Embassy in London. He also has worked at the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Theyazin attended Oxford Brookes University in Oxford, England where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in history. In 2022, he graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom.

On January 11, 2021, Theyazin bin Haitham, the eldest son of Sultan Haitham, became the Sultanate’s first Crown Prince following constitutional amendments approved by Sultan Haitham. He is also the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth.

On November 11, 2021, in Mazay Hall of Al Alam Palace in Muscat, Oman, Crown Prince Theyazin married his double first cousin Meyyan bint Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, the daughter of his paternal uncle Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for Defence Affairs and his maternal aunt Rawdah bint Abdullah bin Hamad Al Busaidia.

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

  • Flantzer, Susan. (2020) Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, Sultan of Oman, Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/haitham-bin-tariq-al-said-sultan-of-oman/ (Accessed: 06 July 2023).
  • Nasrallah, Tawfiq. (2021) Oman’s first ever Crown Prince to marry this week, Oman – Gulf News. Available at: https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/oman/omans-first-ever-crown-prince-to-marry-this-week-1.83519615 (Accessed: 06 July 2023).
  • Theyazin bin Haitham (2023) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theyazin_bin_Haitham#:~:text=Theyazin%20bin%20Haitham%20Al%20Said,the%20rule%20of%20Sultan%20Qaboos). (Accessed: 06 July 2023).

  • ذي يزن بن هيثم آل سعيد  (Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said) (2023) Wikipedia (Arabic). Available at: https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B0%D9%8A_%D9%8A%D8%B2%D9%86_%D8%A8%D9%86_%D9%87%D9%8A%D8%AB%D9%85_%D8%A2%D9%84_%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%8A%D8%AF (Accessed: 06 July 2023).

July 6: Today in Royal History

© Unofficial Royalty 2023

Sophie of Sweden, Grand Duchess of Baden;  Credit: Wikipedia

July 6, 1189 – Death of King Henry II of England at Chateau Chinon, in Chinon, County of Anjou, now in France; buried at Fontevrault Abbey near Chinon
By the time Henry II turned age 56 in 1189, he was prematurely aged. Two sons were left: Richard, the second son, the favorite of Henry II’s wife Eleanor of Aquitaine, and the heir since his elder brother’s death, and John, the youngest child and Henry’s favorite. King Philippe II of France successfully played upon Richard’s fears that Henry would make John King, and a final rebellion broke out in 1189. Decisively defeated by Philip and Richard and suffering from a bleeding ulcer, Henry retreated to his favorite residence, the Château de Chinon in Anjou. There he was told that John had publicly sided with Richard in the rebellion, and this broke his heart. Only his illegitimate son Geoffrey, Archbishop of York was at his father’s deathbed and it moved Henry to observe that his illegitimate son had proved more loyal than his legitimate sons: “Baseborn indeed have my other children shown themselves. This alone is my true son.” King Henry II of England died at the Château de Chinon on July 6, 1189, at the age of 56, and was succeeded by his son Richard.
Unofficial Royalty: King Henry II of England

July 6, 1553 – Death of King Edward VI of England at Greenwich Palace in London, England, buried at Westminster Abbey in London, England
In January 1553, fifteen-year-old King Edward VI became ill with a fever and cough that gradually worsened. It is probable that he had tuberculosis. By May 1553, the royal doctors had no hope that the king would recover. After great suffering, fifteen-year-old King Edward VI died on July 6, 1553, at Greenwich Palace. He had a Protestant funeral conducted by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, and was buried in the Henry VII Chapel at Westminster Abbey on August 8, 1553.
Unofficial Royalty: King Edward VI of England

July 6, 1598 – Birth of Kirsten Munk, morganatic second wife of King Christian IV of Denmark, in Nørlund, Denmark
After the death of his wife  Anna Katharina of Brandenburg, 39-year-old Christian IV became attracted to 18-year-old Kirsten. Kirsten’s astute mother did not want her daughter to become Christian’s mistress and instead negotiated a morganatic marriage between Christian and her daughter due to Kirsten’s status as a noble. Kirsten received properties in her name and was assured of a widow’s pension. Christian and Kirsten were married on December 31, 1615, and Kirsten was not the Queen due to the morganatic marriage and was given the title Countess of Schleswig-Holstein. Despite Christian IV having affairs, he had a close relationship with Kristen who was described as having an intelligent and independent personality and accompanied the king on his travels.
Unofficial Royalty: Kirsten Munk, Countess of Schleswig-Holstein

July 6, 1724 – Birth of Johann Nepomuk Karl, Prince of Liechtenstein in Wischau, Bohemia, now in the Czech Republic
Full name: Johann Nepomuk Karl Borromäus Josef Franz de Paula
In 1732, eight-year-old Johann Nepomuk Karl became the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein upon the death of his father at the age of 42. The former reigning Prince of Liechtenstein Josef Wenzel I served as regent and guardian for Johann Nepomuk Karl until he reached his majority in 1745. He carefully prepared Johann Nepomuk Karl to take over the business of government. However, when Johann Nepomuk Karl reached the age of 21 and took over the government, it appeared as if he had not learned anything. He was soon neglecting his government duties. In 748, Johann Nepomuk Karl, Prince of Liechtenstein died at the age of 24. Because Johann Nepomuk Karl had no male heir, the former reigning Prince of Liechtenstein Josef Wenzel I once again became the reigning Prince.
Unofficial Royalty: Johann Nepomuk Karl, Prince of Liechtenstein

July 6, 1789 – Birth of Maria Isabella of Spain, Queen of the Two Sicilies at the Royal Palace of Madrid in Spain, second wife of Francesco I, King of the Two Sicilies
The daughter of Carlos IV, King of Spain, 13-year-old Maria Isabella married her 25-year-old cousin Francesco I, King of the Two Sicilies. Maria Isabella had a four-year-old stepdaughter from her husband’s first marriage. As a 15-year-old, Maria Isabella gave birth to her first child who was to be followed by eleven more children over the next twenty-three years. Unusual for the time, all twelve survived childhood.  Maria Isabella was only 41 years old when her husband died in 1830 and despite being overweight, she was still attractive and had relationships with younger handsome servants. Maria Isabella wanted to marry again and her son Ferdinando II provided her with a list of acceptable young nobles as potential husbands. In 1839, 50-year-old Maria Isabella married 34-year-old Count Francesco del Balzo but he was not allowed to be at court with Maria Isabella. The couple withdrew from court and moved to the Royal Palace of Capodimonte in Naples, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, now in Italy.
Unofficial Royalty: Maria Isabella of Spain, Queen of the Two Sicilies

July 6, 1796 – Birth of Nicholas I, Emperor of All Russia at Gatchina Palace near St. Petersburg, Russia
Nicholas I, Emperor of All Russia was the third of the four sons and the ninth of the ten children of Paul I, Emperor of All Russia. Because he had two, much older brothers, he was not expected to become Emperor. Nicholas’ eldest brother Alexander I, Emperor of All Russia had no surviving children and so the second brother Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich was the heir to the throne. Grand Duke Constantine morganatically married Joanna Grudzińska. However, in order for Alexander I to give his approval to the marriage, Constantine was required to forfeit his rights to the Russian throne in favor of his younger brother Nicholas.
Unofficial Royalty: Nicholas I, Emperor of All Russia

July 6, 1829 – Birth of Friedrich VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein at Augustenborg Palace in Augustenborg, Denmark
Full name: Frederik Christian August
In 1864, following the Second Schleswig War, the Duchy of Holstein and the Duchy of Schleswig became occupied territories of the German Confederation, and two years later, following the Austro-Prussian War, part of the new Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein. However, Prussia recognized Friedrich as the mediatized duke of these two duchies, with the rank and all the titles.
Unofficial Royalty: Friedrich VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein

July 6, 1832 – Birth of Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico, born Archduke Maximilian of Austria, at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, Austria
Full name: Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph Maria
Maximilian was born an Austrian Archduke and was the brother of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria. In 1861, Maximilian accepted the offer of becoming Emperor of Mexico. However, the liberal forces led by Benito Juárez, the former president who had been deposed by the French, refused to recognize his rule. There was continuous warfare between the French troops and the forces of Juárez who wanted a republic. Maximilian was condemned to death by a court of war and was executed by a firing squad.
Unofficial Royalty: Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico

July 6, 1865 – Death of Sofia of Sweden, Grand Duchess of Baden, daughter of King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden and wife of Leopold, Grand Duke of Baden, at Karlsruhe Palace Grand Duchy of Baden, now in Baden-Württemberg, Germany; first buried in the Karlsruhe Stadtkirche, after World War II, her remains were moved to the Grand Ducal Chapel in the Pheasant Garden in Karlsruhe
As the wife of the  Grand Duke of Baden, Sofia was very conscious of her duty. She worked diligently, supporting her husband Leopold, and becoming involved in charitable organizations that helped those in need. Sofia maintained a strong interest in science and art, but it was politics that seemed to be her biggest interest. A prolific writer, she maintained extensive correspondence with relatives and friends throughout Europe and never hesitated to share her thoughts and opinions when it came to any sort of political situation whether in her own country or elsewhere.
Unofficial Royalty: Sofia of Sweden, Grand Duchess of Baden

July 6, 1868 – Birth of Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom, daughter of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, at Marlborough House in London, England
Full name: Victoria Alexandra Olga Mary
Victoria’s mother Alexandra was extremely possessive, demanded complete devotion from her children, and insisted that they call her Motherdear. Victoria’s sisters Louise and Maud escaped into marriage, leaving her at home as her mother’s constant companion. She had several suitors including Prince Adolphus of Teck, Sir Arthur Davidson who was one of her father’s equerries, and Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery. Lord Rosebery was a former Prime Minister who had been widowed, and both he and Victoria would have liked to have married. However, Victoria’s mother actively discouraged her from marrying anyone. Instead, she remained a companion to her mother, Queen Alexandra, whom she lived with until the Queen’s death in 1925. Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, Toria’s first cousin, described her as little more than “a glorified maid.”
Unofficial Royalty: Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom

July 6, 1893 – Wedding of Prince George, Duke of York (later King George V of the United Kingdom) and Princess Mary of Teck, at the Chapel Royal, St. James Palace in London, England
After the death of Mary’s first fiancé Prince Albert Victor, the eldest son of the future King Edward VII and the brother of Prince George, Duke of York (later King George V), Mary and George spent much time together. As time passed and their common grief eased, there was hope that a marriage might take place between them. George proposed to Mary beside a pond in the garden of his sister Louise’s home, East Sheen Lodge, on April 29, 1893. The engagement was announced on May 3, 1893, with the blessing of Queen Victoria.
Unofficial Royalty: Wedding of King George V of the United Kingdom and Princess Mary of Teck

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Archduke Leopold Franz of Austria

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2023

Archduke Leopold Franz of Austria was the Pretender to the former Grand Ducal throne of Tuscany from 1984 until renouncing his rights in favor of his son in 1993.

Archduke Leopold Franz Peter Ferdinand Maria Joseph Gottfried Georg Karl Otto Rudolf Michael was born at Leutstetten Castle, near Starnberg, Bavaria, on October 25, 1942. He was the only son of Archduke Gottfried of Austria and Princess Dorothea of Bavaria. He had three sisters:

  • Archduchess Elisabeth (1939) – married Friedrich Edler von Braun, had issue
  • Archduchess Alice (1941) – married Baron Vittorio Manno, had issue
  • Archduchess Marie Antoinette (1950) – married Baron von Proff zu Irnich, had issue

Leopold Franz married Laetitia de Bezunce d’Arenberg in a civil ceremony on June 19, 1965 and religious ceremony on July 28, 1965. The couple had two children:

  • Sigismund (1966) – married Elyssa Edmonstone, had issue
  • Gontran (1967) – married Debora de Sola, had issue

He studied engineering in Munich and later lived in Uruguay from 1965 until 1973 when he moved to Austria. He and his wife divorced in 1981. Twelve years later, he married for a second time, in June 1993, to Marta Julia Perez Valverde. At that time, Leopold Franz renounced his rights as head of the House of Tuscany in favor of his son, Sigismund. The couple later divorced in 1998.

Archduke Leopold Franz died on June 23, 2021 at the age of 78.

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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.

Grand Duchy of Tuscany Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Rajwa Al Saif

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2023

On June 1, 2023, Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan married Rajwa Al Saif at Zahran Palace in Amman, Jordan.

Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan

Credit – Wikipedia

Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah of Jordan was born at the King Hussein Medical Center in Amman, Jordan on June 28, 1994, the eldest child of the then Prince Abdullah bin Hussein and Rania al Yassin. His father was the eldest son of King Hussein I of Jordan and his second wife Princess Muna al-Hussein, born Antoinette Gardiner in the United Kingdom. When King Hussein I died on February 7, 1999, Abdullah became King of Jordan and respected his father’s wishes, appointing his half-brother Hamzah Crown Prince. In 2004, King Abdullah II stripped Hamzah of the Crown Prince title. As he did not name a replacement, this made Hussein his father’s heir-apparent under the existing succession laws. On July 2, 2009, King Abdullah II issued a decree formally granting Hussein the title of Crown Prince.

Crown Prince Hussein has three younger siblings:

  • Princess Iman (born 1996), married Jameel Thermiotis, born Dimitrios Alejandro Thermiótis Hernández
  • Princess Salma (born 2000)
  • Prince Hashem (born 2005)

Crown Prince Hussein completed his secondary education at King’s Academy in Madaba-Manja, Jordan in 2012. In 2016, the Crown Prince graduated from Georgetown University in Washington DC with a degree in international history. In August 2017, Crown Prince Hussein graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, a family tradition.

Crown Prince Hussein often attends state and military functions with his father and takes an active interest in the welfare of the Jordanian people. He has also served as Regent when his father is out of the country.

Rajwa Al Saif

Credit – Wikipedia

Born in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on April 28, 1994, Rajwa Khaled bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al Saif is the youngest of the four children of Khalid Al Saif and his wife Azza Al Sudairi. Rajwa’s father is the CEO of the Al Saif Group, a privately-owned company with a diverse portfolio of healthcare, construction, and security services businesses. Rajwa is a member of the Al Saif family which dates back to the Subai tribe in the town of Al-Attar in Sudair, Najd, Saudi Arabia, where her ancestors were the sheikhs of the town.

After completing her primary and secondary education in Saudi Arabia, Rajwa attended the School of Architecture at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, in the United States, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Architecture. In addition, Rajwa also holds a degree in Visual Communications from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, California, in the United States. Rajwa was employed by an architecture firm in Los Angeles, California, and at the time of her engagement, she was employed by Designlab Experience, a design studio in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The Engagement

Crown Prince Hussein giving Rajwa Al Saif the engagement ring; Credit – Royal Hashemite Court

On August 17, 2022, the Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan announced the engagement of Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif. The engagement ceremony, where Hussein presented Rajwa with a pear-shaped Harry Winston diamond ring, took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at Rajwa’s family home and was attended by members of the Al Saif family and the following members of the Jordanian royal family:

  • King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, Crown Prince Hussein’s parents
  • Prince Hassan bin Talal, Crown Prince Hussein’s paternal great-uncle
  • Prince Hashem bin Abdullah, Crown Prince Hussein’s brother
  • Prince Ali bin Al Hussein, Crown Prince Hussein’s paternal half-uncle
  • Prince Hashim bin Al Hussein, Crown Prince Hussein’s paternal half-uncle
  • Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, Crown Prince Hussein’s paternal first cousin once removed
  • Prince Rashid bin El Hassan, Crown Prince Hussein’s paternal first cousin once removed

Pre-Wedding Celebrations

The Henna Party – Rajwa Al Saif and Queen Rania enjoying the entertainment; Credit – Queen Rania Official Website

On May 22, 2023, Queen Rania hosted a traditional henna party in honor of Rajwa Al Saif at the
Madareb Bani Hashem, located at Raghadan Palace. A henna party, a significant pre-wedding celebration that many cultures celebrate, is usually held several days before the wedding. The bride, her female relatives, and her friends celebrate the upcoming wedding by having a professional henna artist apply beautiful, elaborate designs on their hands and feet. Older women may offer guidance and wisdom to the bride-to-be as she begins her married life.

Rajwa’s henna party was a joyous affair, with traditional music and dancing. Traditional Jordanian and Saudi songs were performed by Nedaa Shrara, Diana Karazon, and Zain Awad, with performances by the Haleem Musical Group, the Al-Salt Girls Band, and the Misk Dance Company. The henna party was followed by a dinner hosted by Queen Rania, who gave a speech in honor of her soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

Hussein (standing in the black shirt) with the guests at the groom’s shower; Credit – Crown Prince Hussein Instagram

On May 31, 2023, Hussein’s first cousin Prince Omar bin Faisal, hosted a groom’s shower attended by male relatives and friends. That evening, King Abdullah II hosted a dinner party in honor of the wedding at the Royal Madareb Bani Hashem, located at Raghadan Palace. Over 4,000 male guests attended the dinner party that showcased the culture of Jordan’s Hashemite rulers. The guests included representatives of Jordan’s tribes, Circassian and Chechen communities, members of civil society organizations, businesspeople, youth figures, former and current government officials, and army and security agencies personnel.

Wedding Guests – A Partial List

Guests at the wedding ceremony; Credit – Royal Hashemite Court

There were 140 guests at the wedding ceremony and over 1,700 guests at the wedding reception so not all the guests attended the wedding ceremony. The guests in bold below attended the wedding ceremony.

Relatives of the Groom

  • King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, the groom’s parents
  • Princess Iman bint Abdullah and Jameel Alexander Thermiótis, the groom’s sister and brother-in-law
  • Princess Salma bint Abdullah, the groom’s sister
  • Prince Hashem bin Abdullah, the groom’s brother
  • Princess Muna Al Hussein, the groom’s paternal grandmother
  • Prince Faisal bin Al Hussein and Princess Zeina Al Feisal, the groom’s paternal uncle and his wife
  • Princess Aisha bint Al Hussein, the groom’s paternal aunt
  • Princess Zein bint Al Hussein, the groom’s paternal aunt
  • Princess Alia bint Al Hussein, the groom’s paternal half-aunt
  • Prince Ali bin Al Hussein and Princess Rym Ali, the groom’s paternal half-uncle and his wife
  • Prince Hashim bin Al Hussein and Princess Fahdah Al Hashim, the groom’s paternal half-uncle and his wife
  • Princess Raiyah bint Al Hussein and Faris Ned Donovan, the groom’s paternal half-aunt and her husband
  • Princess Firyal, the groom’s former paternal great-aunt
  • Prince Talal bin Muhammad and Princess Ghida Talal, the groom’s paternal first cousin once removed and his wife
  • Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad and Princess Miriam Ghazi, the groom’s paternal first cousin once removed and his wife
  • Princess Taghrid Muhammad, the groom’s paternal great-aunt
  • Prince Hassan bin Talal and Princess Sarvath El Hassan, the groom’s paternal great-uncle and his wife
  • Princess Rahma bint El Hassan, the groom’s paternal first cousin once removed
  • Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, the groom’s paternal first cousin once removed
  • Prince Rashid bin El Hassan and Princess Zeina Rashid, the groom’s paternal first cousin once removed and his wife
  • Princess Basma bint Talal, the groom’s paternal great-aunt
  • Ilham Al-Yassin, the groom’s maternal grandmother
  • Dina Al-Yassin and Sherif Zoubi, the groom’s maternal aunt and her husband
  • Majdi Al-Yassin and Rym Haurani, the groom’s maternal uncle and his wife

Relatives of the Bride

  • Khaled Al Saif and Azza Al Sudairi, the bride’s parents
  • Faisal Al Saif, the bride’s brother
  • Nayef Al Saif, the bride’s brother
  • Dana Al Saif, the bride’s sister

Foreign Royalty – Current Monarchies

  • Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, representing his father Sheikh Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, and his brother Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain
  • King Philippe of the Belgians and his daughter and heir apparent The Duchess of Brabant
  • Queen Jetsun of Bhutan, representing her husband King King Jigme Singye Wangchuck of Bhutan, and her sister-in-law Princess Euphelma Choden of Bhutan
  • Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei and his son Prince ‘Abdul Mateen of Brunei
  • Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and his wife Crown Princess Mary, representing his mother Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
  • Princess Takamado of Japan, representing Emperor Naruhito of Japan, and her daughter Princess Tsuguko of Takamado
  • Sheikh Ahmad Al Abdullah Al Sabah of Kuwait and Sheikha Muna Al-Klaib of Kuwait, representing Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait
  • Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and his wife Hereditary Princess Sophie, representing his father Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein
  • Prince Johann Wenzel of Liechtenstein and his wife Princess Felicitas of Liechtenstein
  • Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg, representing his father Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg
  • The Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia and his wife Raja Permaisuri Agong
  • King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his wife Queen Máxima
  • The Princess of Orange, daughter and heir apparent of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
  • Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, representing his father King Harald V of Norway
  • Crown Prince Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said of Oman, representing his father Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said of Oman
  • Sheikha Moza bint Nasser Al-Missned of Qatar, representing her son Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and her son Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani
  • King Juan Carlos I of Spain and his wife Queen Sofía of Spain, representing their son King Felipe VI of Spain
  • Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her husband Prince Daniel, representing her father King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
  • Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, representing his father Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Emir of Abu Dhabi
  • The Prince and Princess of Wales, representing his father King Charles III of the United Kingdom
  • Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Mapelli Mozzi, niece of King Charles III of the United Kingdom, and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

Foreign Royalty – Former Monarchies

  • Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria, his wife Tsaritsa Margarita, their son Kyril, Prince of Preslav, and his partner Katharine Butler
  • Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece
  • Empress Farah of Iran
  • Princess Margareta of Romania, Custodian of the Crown of Romania and her husband Prince Radu

Jordan Government Officials

  • Bisher Khasawneh, Prime Minister of Jordan and his wife Rana Sultan
  • Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister of Jordan, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Dignitaries

  • Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the Arab League and his wife Leila Aboul Gheit
  • Philippa Karsera, First Lady of Cyprus
  • Entissar el-Sisi, First Lady of Egypt and her daughter Aya el-Sisi
  • Abdul Latif and Shanaz Rashid, President and First Lady of Iraq
  • Barham and Sarbagh Salih, former President and First Lady of Iraq
  • Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, former Prime Minister of Iraq
  • Masoud Barzani, former President of Iraqi Kurdistan
  • Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan
  • Matteo Renzi, former Prime Minister of Italy and his wife Agnese Landini
  • Najib Mikati, Prime Minister of Lebanon and his wife May Mikati
  • Bilawal Bhutto, Foreign Minister of Pakistan
  • Paul and Jeannette Kagame, President and First Lady of Rwanda
  • David Cameron, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and his wife Samantha Cameron
  • Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States and her daughter Ashley Biden
  • Nancy Pelosi, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives and her husband Paul Pelosi

Other Notable Guests

  • Carole Middleton, mother of The Princess of Wales
  • Philippa and James Matthews, sister and brother-in-law of The Princess of Wales
  • Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner

Wedding Attire

 

Rajwa wore a custom white silk crepe gown by Lebanese designer Elie Saab with long sleeves, an asymmetric neckline, and a draped bodice. The curve-hugging dress featured a long train with cut-out flowers and pearl details. Rajwa wore sensible, pointed-toe white flats. Her hair was styled in loose curls, topped with a diamond tiara, holding the flowing veil in place.

Crown Prince Hussein wore a military uniform with black, white, and red military regalia complete with gold embellishments.

The Wedding Ceremony

Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif were married in an Islamic marriage ceremony known as “katb ktab” at the gazebo in the gardens of Zahran Palace. The 140 guests who attended the wedding ceremony were individually welcomed by King Abdullah II and Queen Rania, the groom’s parents, before proceeding to the gazebo in the palace garden.

At the front of the gazebo was a three-sided seating area for the bride and groom, the imam who would preside over the wedding ceremony, the father of the groom, and the father of the bride, who would serve as witnesses. King Abdullah II sat on the right side. Rajwa’s father Khaled Al Saif sat on the left side next to Royal Hashemite Court Imam Dr. Ahmed Al Khalaileh. After the guests were seated, Crown Prince Hussein arrived alone, dressed in a military uniform, and sat in the middle section, near his father, to await the arrival of his bride.


Prince Hashem escorts the bride as his sisters Princess Iman and Princess Salma follow;  Credit – Royal Hashemite Court

Crown Prince Hussein’s three younger siblings accompanied Rajwa to Zahran Palace and walked with her as she made her way to her groom waiting in the gazebo. Prince Hashem (age 18) escorted Rajwa, Princess Iman (age 26) and Princess Salma (age 22) followed behind the bride, fixing her dress train and veil as she made her way through the garden to the gazebo. Rajwa walked down the aisle accompanied by Prince Hashem. Princess Iman and Princess Salma followed behind, adjusting the bride’s train several times. Rajwa sat next to Hussein, close to her father.

Royal Hashemite Court Imam Dr. Ahmed Al Khalaileh and Crown Prince Hussein look on as Rajwa signs the marriage contract; Credit – Royal Hashemite Court

Royal Hashemite Court Imam Dr. Ahmed Al Khalaileh, who was appointed to his position in January 2021, presided over the wedding ceremony. Hussein and Rajwa signed the marriage contracts with their fathers acting as their two witnesses. In addition, Prince Hassan, King Hussein’s I’s only surviving brother and Crown Prince Hussein’s great-uncle, signed the marriage contract.

Wedding ring exchange; Credit – Royal Hashemite Court

Before exchanging rings, Hussein and Rajwa recited the first verse from the Quran: “In the name of God (Allah), the Compassionate and Merciful. Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds, the Compassionate and Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement. Thee we worship and from Thee we seek help. Guide us upon the straight path, the path of those whom Thou hast blessed, not of those who incur wrath, nor of those who are astray.”

When the wedding ceremony was over, a few women performed the Zaghrata, an ululation traditionally used to express happiness at Jordanian and Arab celebrations. The newlyweds kissed each other on the cheeks and exited to the garden where they greeted the wedding guests. Then they traveled in a motorcade, through the streets of Amman, where huge crowds turned out to greet them, ultimately arriving at Al Husseiniya Palace, where their wedding reception took place.

 

The first fifty-five minutes of the YouTube video below show the arrival of the wedding guests, the arrival of the groom and bride, and the wedding ceremony.

The Wedding Reception

The bride and the groom arrive at the wedding reception; Credit – Royal Hashemite Court

The wedding reception was held at Al Husseiniya Palace, which was built in 2006, and houses the offices of King Abdullah II, Queen Rania, and Crown Prince Hussein. Over 1,700 guests attended the wedding reception.

The arrival of Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa was announced with the customary zaffa or wedding march played by the Jordan Armed Forces Musical Band, with drums, bagpipes, singing, and clapping. The couple passed below an Arch of Sabers as they made their way to the outdoor reception courtyard. The newlyweds ascended the stage and were joined by King Abdullah II and Queen Rania and Rajwa’s parents Khaled Al Saif and Azza Al Sudairi to greet the over 1,700 guests.

 

The reception included performances from the national orchestra, a choir, local and regional singers, and Jordanian bands and dance troops, one of which performed the Dabkeh, a Levantine Arab folk dance. Tributes were paid to the groom’s military career and the bride’s Saudi Arabian heritage, and of course, there was the cutting of the wedding cake.

King Abdullah II, Queen Rania, Crown Prince Hussein, and Princess Rajwa with distinguished guests at the wedding reception; Credit – Royal Hashemite Court

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

  • Armani, Syed. (2023) What to know about the Jordanian Crown Prince’s Wedding, Time. Available at: https://time.com/6283682/jordan-hashemite-royal-wedding/ (Accessed: 05 July 2023).
  • Inside the Jordanian royal wedding of HRH Crown Prince Hussein and HRH Princess Rajwa al-Saif (2023) Vogue Arabia. Available at: https://en.vogue.me/culture/jordanian-royal-wedding-crown-prince-hussein-rajwa-al-saif-pictures/ (Accessed: 05 July 2023).
  • Rajwa al Saif Henna Night: What happens at a Henna Party? (2023) Available at: https://www.harpersbazaararabia.com/culture/royal-watch/royal-henna-party (Accessed: 05 July 2023).
  • Queen Rania Hosts Dinner Party in Celebration of Crown Prince Al Hussein and Miss Rajwa’s Upcoming Wedding: Queen Rania (2023) Queen Rania Official Website. Available at: https://www.queenrania.jo/en/media/press-releases/queen-rania-hosts-dinner-party-celebration-crown-prince-al-hussein-and-miss (Accessed: 05 July 2023).
  • Statement from the Royal Hashemite Court (2023) Statement from the Royal Hashemite Court | Royal Hashemite Court. Available at: https://rhc.jo/en/media/news/statement-royal-hashemite-court-12 (Accessed: 05 July 2023).
  • زفاف الأمير الحسين ورجوة آل سيف (Wedding of Hussein, Crown_Prince of Jordan, and Rajwa Al Saif) (2023) Wikipedia (Arabic). Available at: https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B2%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%81_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B1_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%86_%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%A9_%D8%A2%D9%84_%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%81 (Accessed: 05 July 2023).
  • Wedding of Hussein, Crown Prince of Jordan, and Rajwa Al Saif (2023) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_of_Hussein,_Crown_Prince_of_Jordan,_and_Rajwa_Al_Saif (Accessed: 05 July 2023).

July 5: Today in Royal History

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Maria Pia of Savoy, Queen of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

July 5, 1321 – Birth of Joan of the Tower, daughter of King Edward II of England and wife of David II, King of Scots, at the Tower of London in London, England
In 1328, England and Scotland signed the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton. The treaty formally ended the First War of Scottish Independence, which had begun with King Edward I of England’s invasion of Scotland in 1296. One of the terms of the treaty was that six-year-old Joan would marry Robert I the Bruce, King of Scots’ heir, four-year-old David. The very young couple married on July 17, 1328, at Berwick-upon-Tweed, the northernmost town in England, 2 ½ miles from the border with Scotland. Although the couple was married for 34 years, they had no children.
Unofficial Royalty: Joan of the Tower, Queen of Scots

July 5, 1554 – Birth of Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of France, wife of wife of King Charles IX of France, in Vienna, Austria
Elisabeth was the daughter of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor. In 1570, she married King Charles IX of France. Elisabeth gave birth in 1572 to her only child, a daughter Princess Marie Elisabeth, who lived for only six years. In 1574, Elisabeth’s husband Charles IX died at the age of 23 from tuberculosis. Widowed at the age of 20, Elisabeth was determined to return to Vienna. Having provided no male heirs to the French throne, her future life at the French court alongside her mother-in-law Catherine de Medici was a dismal prospect. In 1580, Elisabeth bought some land in Vienna and founded the Convent of Poor Clares, Mary, Queen of Angels, also known as the Queen’s Monastery, and retired there. Elisabeth devoted the rest of her life to the practice of piety, caring for the poor, and nursing the sick. On January 22, 1592, Elisabeth died of pleurisy at the age of 37.
Unofficial Royalty: Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of France

July 5, 1717 – Birth of King Pedro III of Portugal at the Ribeira Palace in Lisbon, Portugal
Full name: Pedro Clemente Francisco José António
The younger son of King João V of Portugal, Pedro co-reigned with his wife and niece Queen Maria I. However, the regal authority was vested entirely in Maria, the rightful heir to the throne. Since female succession to the throne of Portugal had never happened before, Maria’s father King José I of Portugal decided that she would marry his younger brother Pedro, the first male in the line of succession. Despite the 17-year age gap, the couple had a happy marriage and had six children.
Unofficial Royalty: Pedro III, King of Portugal

July 5, 1816 – Death of Dorothea Jordan, mistress of King William IV of the United Kingdom, in Saint-Cloud, France; buried in the local cemetery in Saint-Cloud, France
Actress Dorothea Jordan had a 21-year affair with the future King William IV of the United Kingdom. Dorothea and William had ten children together, all of whom were given the surname FitzClarence They married into the British aristocracy and their many descendants include many notable people. Upon the death of Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only legitimate grandchild of King George III, William and the other unmarried sons of King George III were pressured to marry to provide heirs to the throne. William ended his relationship with Dorothea and made a childless marriage with Adelaide of Saxe-Meinigen but he made sure Dorothea was very well-provided for.  Dorothea had one condition to continue receiving her allowance from William,  she could not return to the theater.  When she did return to the theater to help pay the debts of her daughter and son-in-law, her allowance was canceled. Greatly in debt, she sold her house and moved to France to escape her creditors and settled in Saint-Cloud, just outside of Paris where she died virtually penniless.
Unofficial Royalty: Dorothea Jordan, mistress of King William IV of the United Kingdom

July 5, 1866 – Wedding of Princess Helena of the United Kingdom, daughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein at the Private Chapel, Windsor Castle in Windsor, England
One of Queen Victoria’s requirements for Helena’s husband was that he had to be prepared to live near the Queen so that Helena could continue to be her companion and secretary. This eliminated a number of potential husbands. The final candidate in Queen Victoria’s search was a 35-year-old impoverished prince, Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, suggested by Queen Victoria’s uncle Leopold I, King of the Belgians. In August 1865, Queen Victoria and all her children went to Coburg to unveil a statue of Prince Albert. It was there that Helena and Christian first met. The possibility of a marriage between Helena and Christian was not met with unanimous approval within the royal family. The fact that Christian was 15 years older than Helena certainly did not help that suggestion. However, Helena and Christian both knew that they did not have many marriage prospects and were both agreeable to the marriage. Their engagement was announced on December 5, 1865.
Unofficial Royalty: Wedding of Princess Helena of the United Kingdom and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein

July 5, 1911 – Death of Maria Pia of Savoy, Queen of Portugal, wife of King Luís I of Portugal, at the Stupinigi Palace in Turin, Italy; buried at the Basilica of Superga near Turin, Italy
The early 1900s were a difficult time for Maria Pia.  Her brother King Umberto I of Italy was assassinated in 1900.  Following the assassination of her son King Carlos I of Portugal and his son Crown Prince Luis Filipe in 1908, and the deposing of her grandson King Manuel II of Portugal two years later, Maria Pia fell into a deep depression.  She returned to her native Italy soon after, where she died on July 5, 1911, at the Royal Chateau at Stupingi Palace.  She is buried at the Basilica of Superga in Turin, Italy, making her one of just a few Portuguese consorts not to be buried in the Royal Pantheon of the House of Braganza in Lisbon.
Unofficial Royalty: Maria Pia of Savoy, Queen of Portugal

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July 4: Today in Royal History

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King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV of Tonga; Credit – Wikipedia

June/July 4, 1394 – Death of Mary de Bohun, first wife of King Henry IV of England, at Peterborough Castle in Peterborough, England; buried at St Mary of the Annunciation of  the Newarke in Leicester, England, which was destroyed under the Dissolution of the Chantries Act of Edward VI
Mary died while delivering her daughter Philippa, her second daughter and seventh child. She was never queen because she died before her husband became king. There is much confusion about the date of Mary’s death. According to Ian Mortimer in “The Fears of Henry IV,” the death date is disputed. He thinks that June 4 is more probable than July 4, given the evidence that Mary was buried on July 6. He concludes that all that is certain is that she died in June or very early July 1394.
Unofficial Royalty: Mary de Bohun, Countess of Northampton, Countess of Derby

July 4, 1394 – Birth of Philippa of England, daughter of King Henry IV of England, wife of Eric of Pomerania, King of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, at Peterborough Castle in Peterborough, England
Eleven-year-old Philippa was married by proxy to 24-year-old Eric of Pomerania, King of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway on November 26, 1405, at Westminster Abbey in London. Philippa was formally proclaimed Queen of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway on December 8, 1405, in the presence of the Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian ambassadors. In August 1406, Philippa left England to travel to Sweden and married Eric of Pomerania in person on October 26, 1406, at Lund Cathedral in Lund, Sweden. Documentation from the wedding indicates that Philippa wore a tunic with a cloak in white silk bordered with gray squirrel and ermine, making her the first documented princess to wear a white wedding dress. On November 1, 1406, Philippa was crowned Queen of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.
Unofficial Royalty: Philippa of England, Queen of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway

July 4, 1799 – Birth of King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway in Paris, France
Born Joseph Francois Oscar Bernadotte
Oscar was the son of General Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, a Marshal of France, and Bernardine Eugénie Désirée Clary, known as Désirée, the first fiancée of Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1810, just as Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte was about to start a new position as governor of Rome, the Swedish Riksdag elected him heir to the childless King Carl XIII of Sweden. The Riksdag wanted a soldier as the king because of their worries over Russia. Oscar was eleven years old when his father was elected Crown Prince of Sweden and he moved to Stockholm with his mother Désirée. Oscar was given the title Duke of Södermanland, and, unlike his mother, quickly learned Swedish and adapted to life in Sweden. Oscar’s father reigned as King Carl XIV Johan and started the House of Bernadotte which still reigns in Sweden.
Unofficial Royalty: King Oscar I of Sweden

 July 4, 1890 – Birth of Irene Mountbatten, Marchioness of Carisbrooke, wife of Queen Victoria’s grandson Alexander Mountbatten, Marquess of Carisbrooke, born Lady Irene Denison, daughter of William Denison, 2nd Earl of Londesborough in London, England
Lady Irene’s family was well-connected. For her 18th birthday, a party was held at St. Dunstan’s Lodge in Regents Park, London, and The Duke and Duchess of Connaught attended along with their daughter Margaret, Crown Princess of Sweden, and her husband, the Crown Prince (the future King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden). Lady Irene was a debutante in 1908, the same year as her 18th birthday party, and a periodical from the time called Lady Irene an interesting debutante and said that she is “fond of sport…shares her parents’ interest in the drama” and “…acted from childhood.”After her marriage, she was styled Irene Mountbatten, Marchioness of Carisbrooke.
Unofficial Royalty: Irene Mountbatten, Marchioness of Carisbrooke

July 4, 1918 – Birth of King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV of Tonga at the Royal Palace in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga
In his youth, Tāufaʻāhau Tupou began competing in the pole vault, and by the age of fourteen, he held the Tonga pole vault record, a record that stood for many years. Upon graduating from university in Australia where he received both a bachelor’s degree and a law degree, Tāufaʻāhau Tupou returned to Tonga and began a career in government. His mother Queen Sālote appointed him Minister of Education in 1943, Minister of Health in 1944, and in 1949, he was appointed Prime Minister of Tonga, a position he held until he succeeded his mother and became King of Tonga in 1965.
Unofficial Royalty: King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV of Tonga

July 4, 1937 – Birth of Queen Sonja of Norway, wife of King Harald V of Norway, born  Sonja Haraldsen in Oslo, Norway
Sonja Haraldsen first met Crown Prince Harald at a dinner party in 1959 hosted by a mutual friend. The relationship between the Crown Prince and Sonja was controversial as many people including politicians and journalists, felt the Crown Prince should marry a princess and not a Norwegian commoner. The controversy continued for years as did the relationship despite the media’s attempts to promote a royal marriage with either of the Greek princesses Sophia and Irene. Apparently, Crown Prince Harald made it clear to his father, King Olav V, that he would remain unmarried if he could not marry Sonja. This would have resulted in a succession crisis as Harald was the sole heir to the throne. At that time, Norway did not allow female succession, so his two sisters Ragnhild and Astrid were not in the line of succession. Finally, in 1968, when King Olav felt the position of the Norwegian people had changed to favor Sonja, he consulted with parliamentary leaders and other government leaders and gave his consent for the Crown Prince to marry a commoner.
Unofficial Royalty: Queen Sonja of Norway

July 4, 1942 – Birth of Prince Michael of Kent at Coppins in Iver, Buckinghamshire, England
Full name: Michael George Charles Franklin
Because Prince Michael was born on American Independence Day, his father Prince George, Duke of Kent asked President Franklin Roosevelt to be one of his son’s godparents. President Roosevelt accepted and the baby prince was named Michael George Charles Franklin. Sadly, six weeks after his son’s birth, on August 25, 1942, the Duke of Kent died in a Royal Air Force plane crash in the service of his country.
Unofficial Royalty: Prince Michael of Kent
Unofficial Royalty: Born on the Fourth of July

July 4, 1957 – Birth of Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand, daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, at Amphorn Sathan Residential Hall, Dusit Palace in Bangkok, Thailand
Like her elder siblings, Princess Chulabhorn attended the Chitralada School in the Dusit Palace complex. Following her secondary education, she attended Kasetart University, earning a bachelor’s degree in Organic Chemistry in 1979. She continued her studies in organic chemistry at Mahidol University, receiving her doctorate in 1985. In 1982, Princess Chulabhorn married Virayudh Tishyasarin, an Air Vice Marshal in the Royal Thai Air Force, and the couple had two daughters. With special compensation from her father, she retained her royal title and style. The marriage ended in divorce two years later.
Unofficial Royalty: Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand

July 4, 2011 – Death of Otto von Habsburg, last Crown Prince of Austria, son of the last Emperor of Austria, Karl I, at his home in Pöcking, Germany; buried at  Imperial Crypt in the Capuchin Church in Vienna, Austria
The last Crown Prince of Austria, Hungary, Bohemia, and Croatia and later in his long life, a member of the European Parliament, Otto von Habsburg was the eldest and the longest surviving of the eight children of Karl I, the last Emperor of Austria and his wife Zita of Bourbon-Parma. Otto was given what was called “the last Emperor’s funeral.” Following a 13-day period of mourning in many of the countries that were once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a requiem mass was held at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria, and Otto then was buried in the Crypt Chapel of the Imperial Crypt in Vienna where his mother was also buried. At the time of his burial, Otto’s wife Regina was reburied nearby. 1,000 invited guests attended the funeral and over 100,000 people lined the streets of Vienna. The ceremonies caused large parts of central Vienna to be closed to traffic. The funeral was televised on Austrian television. Otto’s heart was buried at Pannonhalma Archabbey in Hungary on the day after his funeral.
Unofficial Royalty: Otto von Habsburg

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.

Maria of Spain and Austria, Holy Roman Empress

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2023

Maria of Spain and Austria, Holy Roman Empress; Credit – Wikipedia

The Holy Roman Empire was a limited elective monarchy composed of hundreds of kingdoms, principalities, duchies, counties, prince-bishoprics, and Free Imperial Cities in central Europe. The Holy Roman Empire was not really holy since, after Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1530, no emperors were crowned by the pope or a bishop. It was not Roman but rather German because it was mainly in the regions of present-day Germany and Austria. It was an empire in name only – the territories it covered were mostly independent each with its own rulers. The Holy Roman Emperor directly ruled over only his family territories, and could not issue decrees and rule autonomously over the Holy Roman Empire. A Holy Roman Emperor was only as strong as his army and alliances, including marriage alliances, made him, and his power was severely restricted by the many sovereigns of the constituent monarchies of the Holy Roman Empire. From the 13th century, prince-electors, or electors for short, elected the Holy Roman Emperor from among the sovereigns of the constituent states.

Frequently but not always, it was common practice to elect the deceased Holy Roman Emperor’s heir. The Holy Roman Empire was an elective monarchy. No person had a legal right to the succession simply because he was related to the current Holy Roman Emperor. However, the Holy Roman Emperor could and often did, while still alive, have a relative (usually a son) elected to succeed him after his death. This elected heir apparent used the title King of the Romans.

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Maria’s powerful father Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Spain, Archduke of Austria, Lord of the Netherlands, Duke of Burgundy, among other titles; Credit – Wikipedia

Maria, Infanta of Spain, Archduchess of Austria was the wife of her first cousin Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor. Born on June 21, 1528, at the Royal Alcázar of Madrid, Kingdom of Spain, Maria was the second of the five children and the elder of the two daughters of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor (also Carlos I, King of Spain; Karl I, Archduke of Austria; Charles II, Lord of the Netherlands, Duke of Burgundy, among many other titles) and Isabella of Portugal. Maria’s father was Charles was one of the most powerful ever monarchs and had a large number of titles due to his vast inheritance of the Burgundian, Spanish, and Austrian realms from his parents, Maria’s paternal grandparents, Philip of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, the ruler of the vast and wealthy Burgundian State, and Juana, Queen of Castile and León and Queen of Aragon The Kingdoms of Castile, León, and Aragon were combined into the Kingdom of Spain under Maria’s father. Maria’s maternal grandparents were Manuel I, King of Portugal and his second of three wives Maria of Aragon, her namesake.

Maria had four siblings but only two survived childhood:

Maria’s mother Isabella of Portugal; Credit – Wikipedia

The main residence of Maria’s parents Charles and Isabella was in Spain as the Spanish nobles had insisted that their children be raised in Spain. Charles was often away from his family to lead military campaigns and administer his other realms, and Isabella was appointed Regent of Spain in his absence. Isabella supervised her children’s education and taught them Portuguese. In 1539, when Maria was 11 years old, her mother Isabella developed a fever causing her to miscarry during the third month of her seventh pregnancy. The fever caused her condition to worsen and Isabella died two weeks later on May 1, 1539, aged thirty-five. Maria’s father Charles was so grief-stricken that he shut himself up in a monastery for two months where he prayed and mourned for Isabella in solitude. He never recovered from her death, dressed in black for the rest of his life, and despite being only thirty-nine, never remarried.

Maria’s husband Maximilian, circa 1544; Credit – Wikipedia

On September 13, 1548, Maria married her first cousin Archduke Maximilian of Austria (the future Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II), the son of her paternal uncle Ferdinand I, Archduke of Austria (the future Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I) and Anna of Bohemia and Hungary. With this marriage, Maria’s father intended to strengthen the ties between the Austrian Habsburgs and the Spanish Habsburgs. While Maria’s father Holy Roman Emperor Charles V was occupied with the affairs of his other realms, Maria and Maximilian acted as regents of Spain from 1548 to 1551, during the absence of Maria’s brother, the future King Felipe II of Spain. In 1552, the couple moved to live at the court of Maximilian’s father in Vienna, Archduchy of Austria.

Maria and her husband Maximilian with their three eldest surviving children Anna, Rudolf, and Ernst; Credit – Wikipedia

Maximilian and Maria had fifteen children:

Physically exhausted after forty years of ruling, Maria’s father Charles abdicated in 1555 and retired to the peace of the Monastery of Yuste in Extremadura, Spain where he died in 1558. Upon Charles’s abdication, his younger brother, Ferdinand, the father of Maria’s husband, who had already been given Charles’ Austrian lands in 1521, became the Holy Roman Emperor. The Spanish Empire, including the possessions in the Netherlands, Italy, and the New World, was inherited by Charles’ son and Maria’s brother who reigned as Felipe II, King of Spain. In December 1562, Ferdinand had his eldest son and Maria’s husband Maximilian elected King of the Romans, meaning that he would become Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor. In addition, Ferdinand passed the crown of Hungary to his son in 1563. Plagued by fever attacks during the last years of his life, Ferdinand died in Vienna, Archduchy of Austria, now in Austria, on July 25, 1564, aged 61. Maria’s husband Maximilian was now Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary and Croatia, and Archduke of Austria.

Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, 1569; Credit – Wikipedia

During his reign, Maria’s husband Maximilian II had to deal with the effects of the 1555 Peace of Augsburg. The Peace of Augsburg officially ended the religious struggle between Lutherans and Catholics, and made the legal division of Christianity permanent within the Holy Roman Empire, allowing the rulers of the constituent kingdoms, principalities, duchies, counties, prince-bishoprics of the Holy Roman Empire to choose either Lutheranism or Roman Catholicism as the official religion of their state.

During her life in Austria as Holy Roman Empress, Maria, a devout Catholic, was ill at ease with the Lutheran religion and surrounded herself with a circle of devout Catholic courtiers, many of whom she had brought with her from Spain. Her court was organized by her Spanish chief lady-in-waiting Margarita Folc de Cardona i Requesens in a Spanish manner.

There has been much debate about the nature of the religious beliefs of Maria’s husband Maximilian. There was a pro-Protestant contingent among the nobility at the court in Vienna. Johann Sebastian Pfauser, Maximilian’s court chaplain, had originally been Roman Catholic but converted to Lutheranism. Through his influence, Maximilian abandoned purely Catholic customs, read Protestant literature, and refused to receive Communion according to the Catholic rite. He once told his father that worshiping saints was meaningless and idolatrous. Maria frequently disagreed with her religiously ambiguous husband about his religious tolerance. However, Maximilian remained Roman Catholic and never converted to Lutheranism.

In 1572, Maximilian II passed the crown of Hungary to his son Rudolf, and in 1575, Rudolf was also granted the crowns of Bohemia and the Habsburg hereditary territories. Rudolf was elected King of the Romans in 1575, ensuring that he would succeed his father as Holy Roman Emperor. Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor died, aged forty-nine, in the Imperial City of Regensburg, now in the German state of Bavaria, on October 12, 1576. On his deathbed, Maximilian refused to receive the Last Rites of the Roman Catholic Church.

Maria in retirement at the Monastery of Santa Clara de las Descalzas Reales in Madrid, Spain, 1600; Credit – Wikipedia

After Maximilian’s death, Maria remained in Vienna for six years and had great influence over her sons Rudolf and Matthias who were both Holy Roman Emperors. She returned to Spain in 1582, rejoicing to live in “a country without heretics.” Maria retired to the Monastery of Santa Clara de las Descalzas Reales in Madrid, Spain, founded in 1559 by her younger sister Juana when she was left a young widow and where she lived until her death in 1573. This was the same convent where Maria’s daughter Margaret became a nun after refusing to marry her uncle King Felipe II of Spain after his fourth wife, Maria’s eldest daughter Anna, died. At the convent, Maria lived half as a nun in devout prayer, and half as a princess, still exerting influence on the Spanish court.

The Monastery of Santa Clara de las Descalzas Reales in Madrid, Spain where Maria lived the last years of her life, died, and was buried; Credit – By Luis García, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=7770261

In 1587, Maria’s brother King Felipe II of Spain sent Father Tomás Luis de Victoria, a Catholic priest and the most famous Spanish composer of the Renaissance, to the Monastery of Santa Clara de las Descalzas Reales as his sister’s chaplain. Father de Victoria remained at the convent for 24 years, serving as Maria’s chaplain until her death, and then as the convent organist. One of his most famous works is his Officium Defunctorum, a requiem mass composed for Maria’s funeral. On February 26, 1603, Maria died and was buried at the Monastery of Santa Clara de las Descalzas Reales in Madrid, Spain, aged seventy-four, having survived her husband by twenty-seven years.

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

  • Flantzer, Susan. (2022) Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Spain, Archduke of Austria, Lord of the Netherlands, Duke of Burgundy, Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/charles-v-holy-roman-emperor-carlos-i-king-of-spain-karl-i-archduke-of-austria-charles-ii-lord-of-the-netherlands-duke-of-burgundy/ (Accessed: 29 May 2023).
  • Flantzer, S. (2022) Isabella of Portugal, Queen of Spain, Holy Roman Empress, Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/isabella-of-portugal-queen-of-spain-holy-roman-empress/ (Accessed: 29 May 2023).
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2023) Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary and Croatia, Archduke of Austria. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/maximilian-ii-holy-roman-emperor-king-of-bohemia-king-of-hungary-and-croatia-archduke-of-austria/ (Accessed: 29 May 2023).
  • Maria of Austria, Holy Roman Empress (2023) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_of_Austria,_Holy_Roman_Empress (Accessed: 29 May 2023).
  • Maria von Spanien (1528–1603) (2021) Wikipedia (German). Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_von_Spanien_%281528%E2%80%931603%29 (Accessed: 29 May 2023).
  • Wheatcroft, Andrew, 1995. The Habsburgs. London: Viking.
  • Wilson, Peter, 2016. Heart of Europe: A History of the Holy Roman Empire. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

The Honours of Scotland

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2023

Honours of Scotland: Credit – Historic Environment Scotland Facebook Page

On July 5, 2023, King Charles III was presented with the Honours of Scotland during a National Service of Thanksgiving at St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Honours of Scotland, also known as the Scottish Crown Jewels, date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries and are the oldest surviving set of crown jewels of the United Kingdom. The Crown of Scotland (1540), the Scepter (circa 1494), and the Sword of State (1507) are the three main Honours of Scotland. They were first used together as coronation regalia at the coronation of the nine-month-old Mary I, Queen of Scots in 1543, and subsequently at the coronations of her infant son James VI, King of Scots (later also King James I of England) in 1567 at Stirling Castle, her grandson Charles I, King of Scots (also King of England) in 1633 at Holyrood Palace, and her great-grandson Charles II, King of Scots (also King of England) in 1651 at Scone. The Honours of Scotland are on display in the Crown Room at Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Queen Elizabeth II being presented with the Crown of Scotland in 1953

During her first visit to Scotland after her coronation, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom received the Honours of Scotland during a National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication at St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland on June 24, 1953. During the service, the Honours of Scotland were formally presented to Queen Elizabeth II by Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton. The Queen then returned them to the Duke of Hamilton. The Duke of Hamilton is the senior dukedom in the Peerage of Scotland and the Hereditary Bearer of the Crown of Scotland.

King Charles III will be presented with the Honours of Scotland during a National Service of Thanksgiving at St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland on July 5, 2023. Queen Camilla and The Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, as The Prince and Princess of Wales are known in Scotland, will also be attending. During the service, Dame Katherine Grainger (a Scottish former rower, world champion, Olympic gold and silver medalist and current Chair of UK Sport) will carry the new Elizabeth Sword, the Sceptre will be carried by Leeona Dorrian, Lady Dorrian, The Lord Justice Clerk, the second most senior judge in Scotland, and the Crown of Scotland will be carried by Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of Hamilton in his role as the Hereditary Bearer of the Crown of Scotland.

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The Crown of Scotland

 

Made in 1540 by Edinburgh goldsmith John Mosman, the Crown of Scotland is the oldest surviving crown in the United Kingdom and among the oldest in Europe. A crown must have been made during the reign of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots (reigned 1306 – 1329) or his son, David II, King of Scots (reigned 1329 – 1371) from the House of Bruce, as David was anointed and crowned, as were all the subsequent Scottish monarchs from the House of Stuart through Charles II. Most likely, it was this crown that was remodeled into the current crown. The current crown was remade for James V, King of Scots who first wore it to the coronation of his second wife Marie of Guise at Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh, Scotland on February 22, 1540.

The base of the Crown of Scotland is a circlet of solid gold set with twenty-two large pearls and twenty gemstones, all from the old crown. On the top edge of the circlet are forty gold half circles. Each half circle is topped by an alternating sequence of twenty pearls, ten gold fleurs-de-lis, and ten gold crosses fleury with pearls and gemstones. The circlet supports the four solid gold arches from the old crown. The arches are topped by a gold orb, enameled blue and covered with small gold stars, and topped by a gold cross with eight pearls and a large amethyst. James V’s royal cypher ‘JR5’ appears on the lower arm of the cross.

The Crown of Scotland was used in the coronations of the infant monarchs Mary, Queen of Scots in 1543 and her son James VI, King of Scots in 1567. In 1603, upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I of England, James VI, King of Scots succeeded her as King James I of England. Until the Acts of Union were passed in 1707 during the reign of Queen Anne, uniting England and Scotland into a single kingdom called Great Britain, the Stuart monarchs were both Kings/Queens of England and Kings/Queens of Scots. During this period, the Stuart monarchs lived nearly all the time in England. In the absence of a resident monarch of Scotland, the Honours of Scotland were carried to sittings of the Parliament of Scotland in Edinburgh to symbolize the monarch’s presence and the royal assent to legislation.

The Crown of Scotland was used at the coronation of Charles I as King of Scots at the Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh in 1633, and of Charles II as King of Scots at Scone Abbey in Scone in 1651. The remainder of the monarchs of Scotland were never crowned but rather just took the Scottish coronation oath. During the English Civil War when Oliver Cromwell seized power and the monarchy was overthrown, Cromwell had the Crown Jewels of England destroyed. Cromwell also wanted to destroy the Honours of Scotland but they were secretly buried at Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland until the monarchy under Charles II was restored in 1660.

Until the Acts of Union in 1707, the Crown of Scotland was present as a symbol of royal authority at the opening of each Parliament of Scotland. With the union of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Honours of Scotland no longer had a ceremonial role in the new Parliament of Great Britain in London. The Honours of Scotland were locked away in a chest at Edinburgh Castle where they remained forgotten until 1818, when a group of people, including the author Sir Walter Scott, set out to find them. Since 1819, the Honours of Scotland have been on display in the Crown Room of Edinburgh Castle. They are removed only for state occasions which first happened in 1822 when they were presented to King George IV at Holyrood Palace during his visit to Edinburgh, the first visit to Scotland by a reigning monarch since King Charles II in 1651. Since 1999, the Crown of Scotland has been present at each Opening Ceremony of the Scottish Parliament.

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II with the Crown of Scotland in St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland; Credit – British Monarchy Facebook Page

After the death of Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral Castle, her home in Scotland, her coffin was transported first to Holyrood Palace, the Royal Family’s residence in Edinburgh, Scotland. The next day, Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin traveled by procession from Holyrood Palace up the Royal Mile to St. Giles Cathedral where it lay in state with the Crown of Scotland upon it.

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The Sceptre

The Sceptre; Credit – Credit – Historic Environment Scotland

The Sceptre, a rod held by the sovereigns at their coronation, was a gift from Pope Alexander VI to James IV, King of Scots in 1494, replacing a 14th-century sceptre that had been lost. The silver-gilt sceptre has a handle attached to the bottom of a hexagonal rod topped by a finial. The rod is engraved with grotesques, urns, leaves, thistles, and fleurs-de-lis. The finial features small figures of the Virgin and Child, St. James the Great and St. Andrew within Gothic canopies, flanked by stylized dolphins, a symbol of Christ’s Church and topped by a polished globe of rock crystal.

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Sword of State

The old Sword of State, now too fragile to use in ceremonies; Credit – Historic Environment Scotland

In 1507, James IV, King of Scots was granted the title Protector and Defender of the Christian Faith by Pope Julius II. Along with the title, the blessed sword and the blessed hat were gifts offered by popes to Catholic monarchs in recognition of their defense of Christendom. The sword given to James IV later became the Scottish Sword of State. Made by Italian craftsman Domenico da Sutri, the sword measures 5 feet / 137.8 cm long. Etched on either side of the steel blade are figures of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and the words: JULIUS II PONT MAX (Julius II Supreme Pontiff) in inlaid gold lettering. The silver-gilt handle is decorated with oak leaves and acorns, with two stylized oak leaves which overlap the scabbard, and a crossguard in the form of dolphins. The Sword of State’s wooden scabbard is bound in crimson velvet with silver-gilt repoussé work and hung from a sword belt made from woven silk and thread of gold with a silver-gilt buckle.

King James IV’s sword was presented to Queen Elizabeth II at the 1953 Service of Thanksgiving, however, it was considered too fragile to be used during the presentation of the Honours of Scotland to King Charles III in 2023. With the approval of the Scottish government, Joseph Morrow, Lord Lyon King of Arms, who is responsible for overseeing state ceremonial in Scotland, commissioned a new sword to replace it.

The new Elizabeth Sword

The new Sword of State is called the Elizabeth Sword in honor of Queen Elizabeth II. It was designed by former Ormond Pursuivant of Arms Mark Dennis based upon traditional Scottish flora and made by expert Scottish craftspeople. The sword’s pommel is made of Lewisian gneiss from Iona and the hilt is made of oak from Perthshire. The hilt and the crossguard are a swirling thistle, the floral emblem of Scotland. The blade is engraved with the royal motto of Scotland: “In my defens God me defend” on one side and on the other side with the motto of the Order of the Thistle in Latin: “Nemo me impune lacessit” – “None attack me unpunished.”

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The Stone of Scone

The Stone of Scone under the Coronation Chair; Credit – Wikipedia

The Stone of Scone, also known as the Stone of Destiny will also be in St. Giles Cathedral during the ceremony on July 5, 2023. It is a large block of red sandstone, weighing about 335 pounds, which was used for centuries in the coronation ceremonies of the sovereigns of Scotland. During the First War of Scottish Independence in 1296, the Stone of Scone was seized by King Edward I of England, who brought it to Westminster Abbey. He then had the Coronation Chair made to house the stone, and it has been used for every English and British coronation since 1308. In 1996, the Stone of Scone was returned to Scotland with the provision that it will be brought to Westminster Abbey for the coronation of future British sovereigns. It was last used in the coronation of King Charles III in 2023.

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

  • Crown of Scotland (2023) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_of_Scotland (Accessed: 03 July 2023).
  • Elizabeth Sword (2023) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Sword (Accessed: 03 July 2023).
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2021) St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland, Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/st-giles-cathedral-in-edinburgh-scotland/ (Accessed: 03 July 2023).
  • Honours of Scotland (2023) Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honours_of_Scotland (Accessed: 03 July 2023).
  • Honours of Scotland (no date) Edinburgh Castle. Available at: https://www.edinburghcastle.scot/see-and-do/highlights/honours-of-scotland (Accessed: 03 July 2023).
  • Mehl, Scott. (2023) The Coronation Chair and Stone of Scone, Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/the-coronation-chair-and-stone-of-scone/ (Accessed: 03 July 2023).
  • Sceptre; Pre 1494; medieval; Edinburgh Castle: Hist env Scotland (no date) Sceptre; Pre 1494; Medieval; Edinburgh Castle | Hist Env Scotland. Available at: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/archives-and-research/archives-and-collections/properties-in-care-collections/object/sceptre-pre-1494-medieval-edinburgh-castle-13021 (Accessed: 03 July 2023).
  • Scottish Coronation Event: Details Revealed for Edinburgh Ceremony (2023) BBC News. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-66056826 (Accessed: 03 July 2023).

July 3: Today in Royal History

© Unofficial Royalty 2023

Marie de Medici, Queen of France; Credit – Wikipedia

July 3, 1642 – Death of Marie de Medici, Queen of France, second wife of King Henri IV of France, in the Free Imperial City of Cologne, now in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia; her heart is buried at Cologne Cathedral, other remains are buried at the Basilica of Saint-Denis near Paris, France
The House of Medici had come to prominence in the 15th century, as founders of the Medici Bank, the largest bank in Europe, and later as Grand Dukes of Tuscany. Along with Marie, other prominent members of the family included Catherine de’ Medici, consort to King Henri II of France, and Popes Leo X, Clement VII, and Leo XI. Among her children are King Louis XIII of France and Henrietta Maria who married King Charles I of England.
Unofficial Royalty: Marie de Medici, Queen of France

July 3, 1741 – Death of Elisabeth Thérèse of Lorraine, Queen of Sardinia, third wife of Carlo Emanuele III, King of Sardinia, at the Palace of Venaria in Turin, Kingdom of Sardina, now in Italy; first buried at the Cathedral of Saint Giovanni Battista in Turin and was moved to the Royal Basilica of Superga in Turin in 1786
Elisabeth Therese died at the age of 29, from puerperal fever (childbed fever), thirteen days after giving birth to her third child, her only child who survived childhood.
Unofficial Royalty: Elisabeth Thérèse of Lorraine, Queen of Sardinia

July 3, 1743 – Birth of Sophia Magdalena of Denmark and Norway, Queen of Sweden, wife of King Gustav III of Sweden, at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark
In 1766, Sophia Magdalena married the future King Gustav III of Sweden. On March 16, 1792, King Gustav III was shot by Jacob Johan Anckarström during a masquerade at the Royal Opera House in Stockholm, Sweden. King Gustav III died of his wounds at the Stockholm Royal Palace on March 29, 1792, at the age of 46. Assassination ringleader, Count Anckarström, was beaten for three days before he was beheaded, mutilated, and dismembered. The event is the subject of Giuseppe Verdi’s 1859 opera Un ballo in maschera.  Sophia Magdalena was horrified by the murder of her husband, but it was a relief that as Queen Dowager, she could retreat from public life.
Unofficial Royalty: Sofia Magdalena of Denmark, Queen of Sweden

July 3, 1857 – Death of Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford, Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria, in Belgrave Square, London, England; buried in the Bedford Chapel at St. Michael’s Church in Chenies, Buckinghamshire, England
Born Anna Maria Stanhope, she was the eldest daughter of Charles Stanhope, 3rd Earl of Harrington. She married Francis Russell, 7th Duke of Bedford.
Unofficial Royalty: Anna Russell, Duchess of Bedford

July 3, 1933 – Birth of Maximilian, Margrave of Baden, Head of the House of Zähringen and pretender to the former Grand Ducal throne of Baden from 1963 – 2022, in Salem, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Full name: Maximilian Andreas Friedrich Gustav Ernst August Bernhard, Prince of Baden,
Unofficial Royalty: Maximilian, Margrave of Baden

July 3, 1934 – Death of Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands, born Duke Heinrich of  Mecklenburg-Schwerin, husband of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, at The Hague in the Netherlands; buried at Nieuwe Kerk in Delft, the Netherlands
During the last years of his life, Hendrik’s health quickly deteriorated. His arthritis intensified, he gained much weight, and had his first heart attack in 1929. The second heart attack followed on June 28, 1934. During the afternoon of July 3, 1934, while in his office, Prince Hendrik died at the age of 58 of cardiac arrest. He had a white funeral and was buried in the royal vault at the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft as per his wishes.
Unofficial Royalty: Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands

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Royal Birthdays & Anniversaries: July 2 – July 8

© Unofficial Royalty 2023

Below is a select list of birthdays and wedding anniversaries for current monarchies. It does not purport to be a complete list. Please see the Current Monarchies Index in the heading above for more information on current monarchies.

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64th wedding anniversary of King Albert II of the Belgians and Paola Ruffo di Calabria; married at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels, Belgium on July 2, 1959
Unofficial Royalty: Wedding of King Albert II of Belgium and Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria

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Embed from Getty Images

12th wedding anniversary of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock; religiously married in the Main Courtyard of the Prince’s Palace on July 2, 2011
Unofficial Royalty: Wedding of Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock

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30th wedding of Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and Duchess Sophie of Bavaria; married at the Cathedral of St. Florin in Vaduz, Liechtenstein on July 3, 1993
Unofficial Royalty: Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein
Unofficial Royalty: Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein

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Credit – Wikipedia

86th birthday of Queen Sonja of Norway, wife of King Harald V of Norway; born Sonja Haraldsen in Oslo, Norway on July 4, 1937
Unofficial Royalty: Queen Sonja of Norway

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source: Wikipedia

81st birthday of Prince Michael of Kent, son of Prince George, Duke of Kent; born at Coppins in Iver, Buckinghamshire, England on July 4, 1942
Full name: Michael George Charles Franklin
Michael was born 6 weeks before the death of his father on active duty during World War II. Since he was born on American Independence Day, President Franklin Roosevelt was one of his godparents.
Unofficial Royalty: Prince Michael of Kent
Unofficial Royalty: Born on the Fourth of July

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Princess Chulabhorn Walailak of Thailand; Credit – Wikipedia

66th birthday of Princess Chulabhorn Walailak of Thailand, daughter of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand; born in Bangkok, Thailand on July 4, 1957
Unofficial Royalty: Princess Chulabhorn Walailak of Thailand

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See the list below for those in the photo, Photo Credit – orderofsplendor.blogspot.com

Seated: Princess Alice of Albany, Countess of Athlone (daughter of Prince Leopold, Queen Victoria’s youngest son); Duchess of Gloucester; Queen Mother; member of Birgitte’s family
Standing: Prince Michael of Kent; Princess Margaret; Prince of Wales; Prince Richard of Gloucester; Birgitte van Deurs; Prince William of Gloucester; members of Birgitte’s family
The groom’s father was still alive but was too ill to attend the wedding.

51st wedding anniversary of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester; married at St. Andrew Church in Barnwell, Northampton, England on July 8, 1972
Unofficial Royalty: Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
Unofficial Royalty: Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester

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