The Grand Duke may have Himself represented by a Prince of the blood, who shall bear the title of Lieutenant of the Grand Duke and who [shall] reside in the Grand Duchy.This representative shall take an oath to observe the Constitution before exercising his powers.
23 June 2024
Luxembourg: Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume to become Lieutenant-Representative in October 2024
21 May 2024
UK: The Princess Royal in Norway
The Princess Royal (Princess Anne) is currently visiting Norway as Patron of the Anglo-Norwegian Resistance Commemoration Project.. For the most part the visit is "private", but she will nevertheless have one official engagement together with Crown Prince Haakon.
Princess Anne must have arrived some time yesterday, because late last night the British Embassy published photos from her visit to the Norwegian Folk Museum and Gol Stave Church. By coincidence I was at the Folk Museum yesterday together with my wife and two friends from the United States, but Princess Anne must have been there after our visit, most likely after the official opening hours.
Today the princess traveled to Vemork in Telemark county to visit the Industrial Workers Museum and to lay a posy on the memorial to Operation Gunnerside. Later she attended a reception at the British Ambassador's Residence in Thomas Heftyes gate in Oslo where she planted a tree and also met among others people linked to the above-mentioned Anglo-Norwegian Resistance Commemoration Project. Tonight she will have dinner with the King of Norway and other royal family members at the Royal Palace.
On Wednesday 22 May Princess Anne will visit Vestre gravlund (Vestre Cemetery) in Oslo to lay a wreath at the war graves there. This part of the visit is also deemed private and for security reasons the Embassy could not tell me the exact time she was going to be there, but I gather it will be before her visit to Akershus Fortress to meet members of the Norwegian Armed Forces and then the Resistance Museum together with Crown Prince Haakon at 1 p.m.
Sources:
- Kongehuset.no 8 May 2024.
- VG.no 18 May 2024, updated on 21 May 2024 (in Norwegian)
- Royal Life Magazine 20 May 2024
- VG.no 21 May 2024 (about the visit to Vemork, in Norwegian)
14 May 2024
Luxembourg: Princess Alexandra gives birth to a girl
The Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg announced today that Princess Alexandra and her husband Nicolas Bagory have become parents to their first child, a daughter who has been named Victoire. The baby girl, who is the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg's 8th grandchild, was born in Paris on 14 May 2024.
Le Grand-Duc et la Grande-Duchesse ont la grande joie d’annoncer la naissance de leur petite-fille Victoire, premier enfant de leur fille Alexandra et de leur gendre Nicolas, née ce mardi 14 mai à Paris.
La mère et l’enfant se portent bien.
Princess Alexandra and Nicolas Bagory were married on 22 April 2023, followed by a religious celebration on 29 April 2023.
The updated line of succession to the throne of Luxembourg (top ten):
- Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg, b. 1981
- Prince Charles of Luxembourg, b. 2020
- Prince François of Luxembourg, b. 2023
- Prince Félix of Luxembourg, b. 1984
- Princess Amalia of Nassau, b. 2014
- Prince Liam of Nassau, b. 2016
- Prince Balthazar of Nassau, b. 2024
- Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg, b. 1991
- Victoire Bagory, b. 2024
- Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg, b. 1992
12 May 2024
Genealogen nr. 1, 2024
- Ole Arild Vesthagen: Hvem var Svend Stenersen Vålens foreldre?, s. 2–23.
- Lisbeth Løchen: Bruk av segl og bumerker – noen oppdateringer og rettelser, s. 24–30.
- Årsberetning for Norsk Slektshistorisk Forening 2023, s. 30–31.
- Revisjonsberetning, s. 31.
- Regnskap, s. 32.
- Bli med oss på sommertur til Toten lørdag 1. juni 2024, s. 33.
- Trond H. Bergstrøm: En slektskrets fra Inderøy på 1700-tallet, s. 34–84.
Noen av de eldre utgreide slektslinjene fra Gudbrandsdalen behøver uten tvil å gjennomgås ved bruk av kilder som har blitt adskillig mer tilgjengelige enn de var på den tiden disse slektslinjene ble beskrevet av slektsforskere som var aktive for omkring 50 og 100 år siden. En av disse slektene er slektskretsen på Vålen i Gausdal. I denne artikkelen vil det bli framlagt beviser for at Svend Stenersen Vålens forfedre ikke kan ha vært de samme som ble beskrevet i utgitte publikasjoner i 1828 og 1924 og dermed også har blitt spredd til utallige slektstavler på nett og på private slektstavler rundt om i hele landet og utlandet.
30 April 2024
Royalty Digest Quarterly no. 1, 2024
The latest issue of Royalty Digest Quarterly (no. 1, 2024) was waiting for me in the mailbox when I returned on 7 April 2024 from my visit to Tanzania. Since my return I haven't had that much time for blogging, but obviously I had to finish reading RDQ before I could start commenting.
The front cover shows a photo of the Ansbach Residence (Residenz Ansbach), also called Markgrafenschloss (Margrave's Palace). The choice of photo tells that this issue's Family Album will cover The Margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach. I will return to the article later in the blog.
Main contents:
- Olivier Defrance: A Life Without Tenderness. Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma. [Part] 1, pp. 1–10
- Martijn Arts: Princess Alexandra Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein-Glücksburg. A Princess in a Caravan, pp. 11–15.
- Elizabeth Jane Timms: Friedrich Wilhelm of Hesse (1870-1873), pp. 16–22.
- Ted Rosvall: The Margraves of Brandenburg-Ansbach. A Family Album, pp. 23–35.
- Susan Symons: The Last Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach, pp. 36–41
- Ove Mogensen: Tombs, Graves and Monuments in Prussia, pp. 42–51.
- Coryne Hall: Little-known ROYALS. Princess Henriette of Belgium, Duchess de Vendôme, pp. 52–53.
- David Horbury: Queen Elizabeth II and Greece, pp. 55–60.
- Ted Rosvall/Anne-Karin Schander: Royal Bustards. The Princes of Lapland. King Oscar I and Emilie Högqvist, pp. 61–62.
- The World Wide Web of Royalty, p. 64 [this time including news about/from Albania, Fürstenberg, Italy, Luxembourg, Romania, Schaumburg-Lippe and Württemberg].
Grave of Queen Louise of Prussia, née Princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1776–1810). © 2008 Dag Trygsland Hoelseth.
Grave of Friedrich der Grosse/Frederick the Great at Sanssouci, Potsdam. © 2011 Dag Trygsland Hoelseth.
24 April 2024
The Norwegian Royal Court. Annual Report 2023
The Royal Court has provided the following summary of the report:
Annual report for 2023
The activities of the Royal House of Norway over the course of the year are closely aligned with the current situation in the country. The visits by the members of the Royal Family to 47 municipalities, official visits to five European countries, participation in a wide array of events together with the Norwegian Armed Forces and a focus on national security and preparedness both show what is essential for Norway and demonstrate the commitment of the Royal Family.
In 2023, members of the Royal Family continued to meet people throughout Norway – at schools, at new start-ups and traditional industrial companies, in museums and churches, at primary industry businesses, at music and drama festivals, at sporting events. They also visited with many of the people who experienced the devastation of Storm Hans in August.
Activities in 2023 were framed by the security situation in Europe. The King and the Crown Prince carried out a number of activities and visits with the Norwegian Armed Forces. The visit of the US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to Oslo in May, and of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the Palace in December, both point to the serious events taking place in the world at large, and the importance of constructive cooperation with trusted allies. Internationally, the Royal Family represented Norway in Denmark, the UK, France, Sweden and Germany. Topics highlighted during these visits included the green transition, defence and industrial development and cooperation in the cultural sphere.
The year also held milestone events for the Royal Family. In 2023 the Crown Prince and Crown Princess both celebrated their 50th birthdays. They wanted to mark the occasion by celebrating Norway and the Norwegian sense of community by acknowledging the many people who help to make Norway what it is. They spent the year travelling to different places in Norway and in August they invited 370 guest from across the country to a party in the Courtyard of the Royal Palace.
Annual accounts
The accounts for the Civil List showed a calculated deficit of NOK 54.3 million in relation to the 2023 allocation. This deficit will be covered by previously allocated funds. The result is in keeping with the anticipated charges to expenses projected in the annual report for 2022.
The deficit has its origin in the lag between allocations to and disbursements from the Palace security project. In 2023, the project accounts showed a calculated deficit of NOK 70.9 million (cf. the corresponding surplus of NOK 92.7 million for 2022). Commissioned in 2016, the security project was by and large concluded in 2023. Security enhancement of the perimeter of the Palace and Palace Park was completed, and the logistics building, which ensures safe handling of mail, goods and waste, was opened. A few minor tasks that remain under the project will soon be concluded.
The management accounts for the Royal Court show a surplus of NOK 16.5 million. This surplus is largely due to vacant posts and postponement of projects as a result of an ongoing organisational development process. The accounts show that a significant proportion of the ordinary appropriations are used for operation and maintenance of the Palace and other Royal residences, as well as the cultural and historical assets these encompass.
The annual report and accounts of the Royal Court for 2023 have been submitted to the Presidium of the Storting, the Ministry of Digitalisation and Public Governance, and the Office of the Auditor General of Norway.
18.04.2024
Every year when the report is being published the Norwegian media tend to focus on the budget and nothing else. When the report this year showed a calculated ("planned") deficit of NOK 54,3 million, the media omitted the word "calculated" in the headlines, hoping that the readers wouldn't care to read the article, or the report itself, to get the details. It happens every year when there is a deficit. Then people will get the impression that the royal court – or the royal family – is out of control.
The report showed that the members of the royal family had 756 engagements ("oppdrag") in 2023, while the number was 769 in 2023, 635 in 2021 and 381 in 2020. The two last-mentioned years was of course dominated by the pandemic. In 2019 the number of engagements was 723. In other words, the number of engagements have not changed much, but considering the fact that the king will scale down his activities due to his age, that the queen is also of old age and the crown princess has chronical health issues, the number might fall a bit in 2024. Obviously the crown prince will not be able to cover all the things the king has normally taken care of. Fellow historian Trond Norén Isaksen has done some calculations and found out that King Harald in 2023 had 55 engagements outside the Royal Palace, as compared to 92 in 2013. Obviously his health and age are the reasons for this.
The report also tells that the members of the royal family visited 9 counties (out of 11, from 2024 the number of counties have gone up to 15), 47 municipalities, they have made official visits to Denmark, France, Greece, Jordan, United Kingdom, Sweden and Germany and have hosted as many as 2 735 guests.
But what about the orders and medals? 12 people were awarded the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 2023, as compared to 17 in 2022 and 2021. Among the 12 were Prince Sverre Magnus and the then Prince Christian of Denmark, who both received the Grand Cross. The order is conferred as "a reward for distinguished services rendered to Norway and mankind".
53 people received the Royal Norwegian order of Merit in 2023, all classes combined, compared to 34 people in 2022, 56 in 2021, 89 in 2020 and 57 in 2019. Not sure what to read into the increase. It varies a bit from one year to another. According to the official website, the Order of Merit is conferred on foreign and Norwegian nationals as "a reward for their outstanding service in the interest of Norway". Most of the recipients are diplomats, mostly ambassadors and honorary consuls. Bishop and Preses of the Bishops' Conference of the Church of Norway, Olav Fykse Tveit, who became a commander, was one of the exceptions.
The Medal of St. Olav is conferred as "a reward for services in advancing knowledge of Norway abroad and for strengthening the bonds between expatriate Norwegians and their descendants and their country of residence". In 2023 only one person, farmer Ole P. Gamme from Gran, county of Innlandet (formerly Oppland), received the medal, compared to two people in 2022. Gamme is known for his impressive efforts through many years of promoting knowledge of Norway in the Norwegian-American communities in the USA, and to establishing contact between emigrant Norwegians in the USA and their relatives in Norway. He has among others also built a very impressive database of emigrants from Hadeland and in this way helped a lot of Americans finding their roots at Hadeland.
The King's Medal of Merit is conferred as "a reward for service in the fields of art, science and industry and for outstanding public service". 68 people redeived the medal in 2023, as compared to 53 in 2022, 47 in 2021 and 46 in 2020. Among the 68 were the artist Finn Kalvik, rose painter Hjørdis Emilie Juvik and several teachers.
The King's Commemorative Medal "is conferred for particularly meritorious service to His Majesty the King", but "may also be conferred on foreign nationals in connection with state visits and visits of the King abroad, on those who have served at a Norwegian foreign service mission, and on others in recognition for special services". The medal is conferred in silver or gold. In 2023, 7 people got the medal in gold, while 23 people were awarded the medal in silver. In 2022 the numbers were much lower - 3 gold medals and 6 silver medals. Several people connected to the king's staff received the medal in 2023 and 2022.
Previous articles on the subject of the Norwegian Royal Court's annual report:
- 2022 (published 23 April 2023)
- 2021 (published 4 May 2022)
- 2016 (published 24 April 2017)
- 2014 (published 30 March 2015)
- 2013 (published 16 April 2014)
- 2012 (published 17 April 2013)
- 2011 (published 11 April 2012)
- 2010 (published 12 April 2011)
I started the blog in 2009. The first annual report was published by the court in 2005. Previously all there were links to all the reports here, but now only the reports from 2020 to 2023 are available. You may, however, contact the court and ask for earlier reports if you are interested.
Front cover: © 2023 (?) Eskil Wie Furunes/NRK.
UK: New appointments to various Orders of Chivalry announced
Yesterday Buckingham Palace announced appointments to various Orders of Chivalry:
New appointments to various Orders of Chivalry announced
Published 23 April 2024
A number of new appointments to Orders of the Garter, the Bath, the British Empire and the Companions of Honour become effective immediately.
The Order of the Garter
His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to appoint four new Companions to the Order of the Garter. The Companions are:
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Gloucester, GCVO, DStJ, CD, to be a Royal Lady Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach, GBE, KCB, DL, to be a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
The Right Honourable the Lord Kakkar, KBE, to be a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
The Lord Lloyd-Webber to be a Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
Background
The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry in Britain. Each year, it is celebrated with a procession and service in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
The appointment of the Knights and Ladies of the Garter is in The King’s gift (i.e. without Prime Ministerial advice). Appointments to the Order of the Garter are therefore in the same category as the Order of the Thistle, the Order of Merit and the Royal Victorian Order which are also in The King’s gift.
Today's announcement brings the number of Companions to 21 (out of a maximum of 24).
This year’s Garter Service will take place this Summer at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH
His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to appoint His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, K.G., K.T., A.D.C., to be Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.
Previous Great Masters have included: His Majesty The King as The Prince of Wales (1974-2022), His Royal Highness Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (1942-1974) and His Royal Highness Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (1901-1942).
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath was established by King George I in 1725 although it is believed to originally date back as far as the eighth century. It is awarded to members of the military or civil service for exemplary service.
THE MOST EXCELLENT ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to appoint Her Majesty The Queen to be Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
Previous Grand Masters have included: His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1953-2021), Her Majesty Queen Mary (1936-1953) and His Majesty King George VI as The Duke of York (1917-1936).
The Order of the British Empire was established by King George V in 1917 to honour a broader cross section of society, both military and civilian.
THE ORDER OF THE COMPANIONS OF HONOUR
His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to appoint Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales, GCVO, to be Royal Companion of The Order of the Companions of Honour.
This is a new appointment.
The Order of the Companions of Honour was founded by King George V in 1917 to recognise outstanding achievements in the Arts, Sciences, Medicine and Public Service.
The appointments are effective from 23rd April 2024.
I am not the only one who is pleased to note that the Duchess of Gloucester this way is being recognized for all her work on behalf of the crown for so many years, usually without getting the public and media attention that she has deserved.
It is also wonderful that Queen Camilla has been appointed as Grand Master of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. However, I am still a bit surprised that the mistake about King George VI has not been corrected yet. The appointmemnts were after all published yesterday. King George VI was not the Grand Master as Duke of York from 1917 to 1936, but his elder brother, who became King Edward VIII in January 1936 (and then abdicated in December the same year), was.