New books in connection with the Norwegian Crown Prince couple's 10th anniversary

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, née Høiby, will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary on 25 August 2011. The occasion will be marked by a church service in Oslo Domkirke (Oslo Cathedral) on Thursday 25 August at 3 p.m.

I have so far noted 3 books that have been or will be published in connection with the anniversary. The first one is titled Mette-Marit. Prinsesse av folket ("Mette-Marit. The people's princess") and is published by Kagge Forlag. It is described as "an illustrated celebration of Norway's Crown Prince couple", with photographs by Aasta Børte, while the Hjemmet journalist Monica Aafløy Hansen has written the texts. The book is originally priced at NOK 399, but Libris sells it for NOK 349. No mentioning of the title at the publisher's own website, though (I just made a search). ISBN: 9788248911074.

Aller Media AS has recently published 10 år med Kronprinsparet. Jubileumsbok ("10 years with the Crown Prince couple. An anniversary book"). I can't find any BibSys registration, but according to the publiser's website the 140 pages' long book is priced at NOK 149 for those who subscribe to one of Aller Media's periodicals. It can also be purchased in one of the Narvesen kiosks (price NOK 179).

The Aftenposten journalist and former court reporter Liv Berit Tjessem has written the book Haakon og Mette-Marit i 10 år ("10 years with Haakon and Mette-Marit"). It is published by Schibsted Forlag and will be available for purchase on 25 August 2011.

According to the Norli bookstore it is priced at NOK 199, while BibSys operates with the price NOK 299 (and even with a slightly different book title, Kronprinsparet gjennom 10 år!). No information at the publisher's website so far, but the ISBN is 9788251656306.


It should be added that I have not read any of the (photo) books yet, but had a very short look into Børte/Hansen's illustrated celebration book and it looked rather nice.

Postscript 7 August 2011: Liv Berit Tessem's book Haakon og Mette-Marit i 10 år is now available in the bookstores (and the supermarkets). At Norli's website I was earlier told that the book would first hit the market on the wedding day, 25 August, but this information has now been changed. The price is NOK 199. Again, I have not read the book, but it looked nice!

Updated on Monday 1 August 2011 at 08:25 (minor text additions), last time on Sunday 7 August 2011 at 08.00 (postscript).

UK: Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall married

Zara Phillips, daughter of the Princess Royal (Princess Anne) and Mark Phillips, were married to Mike Tindall, son of Phillip Tindall and Linda Tindall, née Shepherd, at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh yesterday, 30 July 2011. The wedding reception took place at Holyroodhouse. The Queen's declaration of consent to the marriage was given in the Pricy Council held on 10 May 2011.

In attendance were among others the bride's grandparents, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh; the Princess Royal, Timothy Laurence, Captain Mark Phillips with spouse, Peter and Autumn Phillips, the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Henry of Wales, the Duke of York, Princess Beatrix and Princess Eugenie of York, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Andrew Parker Bowles (one of Zara Phillips' godparents), Iain Balshaw (best man), Dave Clark (boyfriend of Princess Beatrice) as well as Daniel and Lady Sarah Chatto (the latter the daughter of the late Princess Margaret).

BBC News writes that Zara Phillips upon marriage will keep her maiden name, and that «it is understood this is because of her sporting career in equestrianism». Oh well, could it just be that she didn't see the point in changing the surname she has had her whole life? BBC News adds that Zara by not taking the surname of Mike Tindall «is believed to be setting a royal precedent». Maybe, but it is too early to tell.

Source for guest list: Various news reports as well as the guest list section at Nobiliana.de.

Norway in mourning

The flower garden outside Oslo Domkirke (Oslo Cathedral).

Outside the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament).

In Grubbegata. "Vi vil aldri glemme." ("We will never forget".)

In Akersgata, one of the roads that leads to the government offices.

One of the government buildings, where the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Justice and Police held office.



Late Friday night (29 July) I came home from a 3 weeks' long vacation to a capital very different from the one I left… The city I live in and love has got a scar it will take a long, long time to heal. The whole nation has got a scar. Norway is in mourning.

Yesterday I went with my family to downtown Oslo to see with my own eyes the damage the car bomb did to the government offices and surrounding areas on 22 July and to lay down flowers at the flower garden outside Oslo domkirke (Oslo Cathedral). A way of working through the shock and grief one feels after the 22 July terror acts in Oslo and at Utøya.

The terror acts carried out by Anders Behring Breivik were targeted against the government of Norway and the Worker's Youth League's (AUF) summer camp at Utøya, but the whole nation was affected.

It is almost impossible to add anything of substance to everything that has been written in forms of newspaper commentaries and blog articles as well as in the social media after the tragedy that struck our country. My heart goes out to the families and friends of the victims.

In the midst of this monstrous tragedy it has still been comforting to see how the Norwegian people have reacted in such a dignified manner – it has been wonderful to witness the unity and compassion the Norwegian have shown. It has been good to see true leadership carried out by the prime minister. And it has also been good to see how the royal family has shared the sorrow and grief of the people. The royals have met the AUF members and the families of the victims at the temporary reception centre at Sundvolden Hotel, they have attended mourning services, visited hospitals, held speeches and appeals. But first of all they have offered a shoulder to cry on, shown empathy and compassion.

It has also been comforting to see how the whole world has expressed sympathy and shared our grief. In times like these we need to stand united shoulder to shoulder.

Der neugeborene Erzherzog ist gesund und kräftig

Otto von Habsburg (Archduke of Austria), the last Crown Prince of Austria and Hungary, died yesterday 4 July 2011 early in the morning, in his 99th year. Truly the end of an era.

Archduke Otto's birth on 20 November 1912 was announced in Wiener Zeitung on Thursday 21 November 1912 No. 267, p. 1:

Ihre k. und k. Hoheit die durchlauchtigste Frau Erzherzogin Zita, Gemahlin Seiner k. und k. Hoheit der durchlauchtigsten Herrn Erzherzog Karl Franz Josef, ist Mittwoch, den 20. d. M., um 2 Uhr 40 Minuten früh in der Villa Wartholz bei Reichenau in Nieder-Österreich von einem Erzherzog glücklich entbunden worden.

I. Bulletin

Das Allgemeinbefinden Ihrer k. und k. Hoheit ist den Umständen entsprechend. Der Kräftezustand ist normal, Temperatur 37.3, Puls 84. Der neugeborene Erzherzog ist gesund und kräftig.

Reichenau in Nieder-Österreich, am 20. November 1912.

Professor Dr. Beham. Dr. Bittner.

The birth notice shouldn't be too difficult to understand. Her Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess Zita, consort of His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Karl, gave birth to an Archduke at Villa Wartholz bei Reichenau, Lower Austria on Wednesday 20 November 1912, at 2.40 a.m.

Then followed the usual medical bulletin, the first of several in the days that followed, telling that Archduchess Zita had a temperature of 37.3 Celcius and a pulse of 84! "Der neugeborene Erzherzog ist gesund und kräftig" - "The newborn Archduke is healthy and strong"... And he went on to live for 98 7/12 years...

Otto von Habsburg (1912-2011): Obituary in The Daily Telegraph

Otto von Habsburg (Archduke Otto of Austria), former Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary and head of the Imperial House of Habsburg, born at Villa Wartholz bei Reichenau, Lower Austria 20 November 1912, died at Pöcking, Bavaria, Germany early in the morning of 4 July 2011, 98 years old. Otto was the oldest son of the last Emperor of Austria, Karl (1887-1916-1918-1922) and his wife Zita (1892-1989), née Princess of Bourbon-Parme. In 1951 the former Crown Prince married Princess Regina of Saxe-Meiningen (1925-2010). They had 7 children - Andrea (1953), Monika (1954), Michaela (1954), Gabriela (1956), Walburga (1958), Karl (1961) and Georg (1964).

Archduke Karl took over as head of the Imperial House of Austria in 2007.

Archduke Otto's obituary was published in The Daily Telegraph today, 4 July 2011.

According to the late Archduke's website as well as Orf.at, the coffin "will rest for three days in the Church of St. Ulrich in Pöcking, Bavaria, while there is a pepetual adoration". Requiems will then be held in Pöcking (9 July), Munich (11 July), Mariazell (13 July), Vienna and Budapest. The funeral will take place in the Kapuzinergruft (Kaisergruft) following the requiem in St. Stephen's Cathedral on 16 July 2011. Archduke Otto's heart will then be buried at the Archabbey of Pannonhalma, Hungary (17 July).

Photo: Ottovonhabsburg.org.

Updated on Tuesday 5 July 2011 at 23.00 (minor text change, link added).

New personal flags for the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge for use in Canada

In connection with the ongoing visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Canada, two new royal flags created by the Canadian Heraldic Authority and approved by HM Queen Elizabeth II, were unveiled.

The Governor General of Canada, Rt.Hon. David Johnston was pleased with the unveiling, and gave the following statement at the official website:

These new flags created for The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Cambridge are magnificent expressions of our constitutional monarchy and heritage. [...] As we prepare to welcome Their Royal Highnesses to experience this marvelous country, I am sure that many Canadians will take great interest in these new emblems. As head of the Canadian Heraldic Authority, I am delighted with the work of our Canadian heralds in preparing these designs.

According to the information provided by the Office of the Governor General, the two new flags are based on HM The Queen's personal flag for use in Canada (image 3), which uses the Royal Arms of Canada as its basis. Since the flag was adopted in 1962, Her Majesty has been the only member to have a flag for use in Canada.

According to the fact sheet on the personal flags presented this week, the designs were - as already stated - developed by the Canadian Heraldic Authority, "working with the households of Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duke of Cambridge". The personal heraldic flags are used during travelling in Canada.

The new flag of the Prince of Wales (image 1) is described as follows: "The flag bears a blue roundel within a wreath of golden maple leaves for Canada. The centre features the badge commonly known as The Prince of Wales's feathers, used by the heir apparent to the Sovereign. Near the top of the flag is the traditional heraldic mark of an eldest male child, the three-point white label."

The new flag of the Duke of Cambridge (image 2): "The flag bears a blue roundel within a wreath of golden maple leaves for Canada, and of shells, a symbol borrowed from his coat of arms. The centre features his Cypher, composed of the letter "W" with a coronet above it that indicates he is the child of the heir apparent to the Sovereign. Near the top of the flag is the personal three-point white label charged with a red shell, taken from his coat of arms."

The flag of HM The Queen (image 3): "The flag bears a blue roundel within a wreath of roses in gold. The centre features her Cypher, composed of the letter 'E' with the Royal Crown above it, also in gold."

All the flags use the Royal Arms of Canada, in banner form, as their basis.

Princely Wedding in Monaco 1 and 2 July 2011

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco married Charlène Lynette Wittstock, daughter of Michael Wittstock and his wife Lynette, née Humberstone, in a civil ceremony in the Throne Room at the Prince's Palace on Friday 1 July 2011. The ceremony was officiated by Mr. Philippe Narmino, President of the Council of State and the Sovereign Family's civil registrar.

Following the ceremony, the newly-wed couple greeted the people from the balcony of the Hall of Mirrors.

The religious wedding took place in the Main Courtyard of the Prince's Palace on Saturday 2 July 2011. The Archbishop of Monaco, Bernard Barsi, celebrated the mass. A most beautiful ceremony attended by representatives of almost all the royal families of Europe as well an impressive number of celebrities.

I will come back to the list soon, but would first like to say how impressed I was by how everything was carried out and the excellent service the information office at the Palace has provided. Even the order of presedence followed seemed to make sense, as opposed to the (also wonderful) British Royal Wedding in April this year. I watched parts of the ceremony on Swedish and Norwegian TV. I started with Swedish TV4, but when it took a commercial break, I switched to the Norwegian channel NRK1. On the latter you got the ceremonial program subtitled, which made all the difference, I would say. The Swedish commentators talked too much as well.

After the wedding, the princely couple (funnily enough the Official Wedding Website says "the royal couple") left the Palace for Sainte Dévote's Church so that the Princess could lay down her wedding bouquet. I only saw parts of this on TV before I had to move on to other matters.

The official dinner and the ball took place in the Opera Garnier and the Casino Terraces, concluded by a firework display at midnight.

Shortly before the wedding weekend, the Princely Court published two guest lists with lots of biographical details - "Biographical Information of the Heads of State and other Official Personalities present at the Religious Wedding Ceremony July 2nd 2011" (pdf) and "Biographical Information of a Selection of Private Guests present at the Religious Wedding Ceremony July 2nd 2011" (pdf).

Besides the bride and groom, HRH The Princess of Hanover (Princess Caroline), her children Andrea, Pierre and Charlotte Casiraghi as well as HRH Princess Alexandra of Hanover and also Princess Stephanie of Monaco and her children Louis Ducruet, Pauline Ducruet and Camille Gottlieb attended the wedding, as well as members of the late Princess Antoinette's family. Princess Caroline's husband Prince Ernst August was - quite understandably - not present, but his two sons Ernst August and Christian from his former marriage, were present. Members of Prince Albert's US American family was of course present, including his best man and cousin Chris Le Vine, and also members of the Wittstock family.

Here are the guest lists, with some additional comments by me (I cannot guarantee that everyone mentioned actually attended, as I was not able to follow the whole broadcast, and I would not be able to recognize everyone either - with a few exceptions I have followed the order given by the court):

Heads of state, in Order of Protocol, with spouses

• HE Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy, President of the French Republic (and HE Co-Prince of Andorra as well, but he did not attend in that capacity)
• HM King Carl XVI Gustaf and HM Queen Silvia of Sweden
• (HM King Juan Carlos of Spain (no, he didn't attend, but the court obviously didn't update the list))
• HM King Albert and Queen Paola of the Belgians
• HM King Letsie III of Lesotho
• HE Mr. Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, President of Iceland
• HE Ms. Mary McAleese, President of Ireland (Prince Albert paid the Republic of Ireland an official visit not a long time ago and he has Irish roots through his mother, the late Princess Grace)
• HRH Grand Duke Henri and HRH Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
• HE Mr. Michel Sleiman, President of Lebanon
• HE Mr. George Abela, President of Malta
• HE Mr. Christian Wulff, President of Germany
• HE Mr. Pál Schmitt, President of Hungary
• HE Ms. Maria Luisa Berti, Captain Regent of San Marino
• HE Mr. Filippo Tamagnini, Captain Regent of San Marino

Heirs of reigning monarchies, with spouses

• HRH Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince of Bahrain
• HRH Prince Philippe and HRH Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Duke and Duchess of Brabant
• HRH Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange and HRH Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
• HRH Crown Prince Frederik and HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
• HSH Hereditary Prince Alois and HRH Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein
• HRH Crown Prince Haakon and HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway
• HRH Crown Princess Victoria and HRH Prince Daniel of Sweden
• HRH Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg

Other royals

• HRH The Earl of Wessex (Prince Edward) and HRH The Countess of Wessex
• HRH Prince Michael and HRH Princess Michael of Kent
• HRH Princess Astrid and HRH Prince Lorenz of Belgium
• HRH Princess Lalla Meriem of Morocco and her daughter, HRH Princess Lalla Soukaïna
• HRH Prince Faisal bin Hussein of Jordan
• HRH Prince Laurent and HRH Princess Claire of Belgium
• HRH Prince Joachim and HRH Princess Marie of Denmark
• HRH Prince Carl Philip and his sister HRH Princess Madeleine of Sweden
• HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana of Thailand (granddaughter of King Bhumibol)
• HRH Prince Henri of Orléans, Count of Paris (one of the 3 pretenders to the French throne)
• HRH Margrave Maximilian and HRH Margravine Valerie of Baden
• HH Prince Aga Khan IV, Imam of the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims
• HRH Prince Vittorio Emanuele (Duke of Savoy, Prince of Naples) and HRH Princess Marina of Italy (the Prince of Naples is the son of the last King of Italy, Umberto II, but his claim of the former throne of Italy is disputed)
• HIM Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran
• HSH Princess Virginia of Fürstenberg
• HRH Prince Leopold and HRH Princess Ursula of Bavaria
• HRH Duarte Pio and HRH Isabel of Portugal, Duke and Duchess of Braganza
• HRH Crown Prince Alexander and HRH Crown Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia (Serbia)
• HRH Princess Margarita and HRH Prince Radu of Romania
• HIH Grand Princess (Duchess) Maria Vladimirovna of Russia (head of the Imperial Russian Family) as well as her son, HIH Grand Prince George
  
• HRH Prince Carlo and HRH Princess Camilla of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke and Duchess of Castro (Prince Carlo is one of the two claimants to the headhip of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies)
• HRH Hereditary Prince Bernard and HRH Hereditary Princess Stephanie of Baden
• HRH Emanuele Filiberto and Clotilde of Italy, Prince and Princess of Venice and Piedmont
• HRH Louis, Duke of Anjou (one of 3 claimants to the French throne)
• HRH Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia and his fiancée, HSH Princess Sophie of Isenburg
• HM King Leruo Molotlegi of the Kingdom of Bafokeng (I have brought him up from the friends list)
  

Other representatives of Heads of State

• Mr. Marthinus van Schalkwyk, South-Afrian Minister of Tourism
• Mr. Karlheinz Töchterle, Austrian Federal Minister for Science and Research
• HE Mr. Missoum Sbih, Ambassador of Algeria to Monaco and France
• HE Mr. Marc Lortie, Ambassador of Canada to Monaco and France
• HE Ms. Salma Ahmed, Ambassador of Kenya to France
• HE Mr. Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Ambassador of Cameroon to France
• Mr. Jeffrey Radebe, South African Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development
• HE Ms. Veronika Stabej, Ambassador of Slovenia to Monaco and France
• HE Mr. Charles Rivkin, Ambassador of the USA to Monaco and France
• HE Mr. Constantin Chalastanis, Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Monaco and France
• HE Mr. Viraphand Vacharathit, Ambassador of Thailand to Monaco and France
• HE Mr. Kornelios Korneliou, Ambassador of Cyprus to Monaco and France
• HE Mr. Mirko Galic, Ambassador of Croatia to Monaco and France
• HE Mr. Ulrich Lehner, Amassador of the Swiss Confederation to Monaco and France
• HE Mr. Thomasz Orlowski, Ambassador of Poland to Monaco and France
  

Selection of VIP personalities

• Mrs. Bernadette Chirac, wife of former President Jacques Chirac
• Count Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee
• Mr. Jean Todt, President of the FIA
• Ms. Michelle Yeoh, actress and dancer

Selection of private guests

• Mr. Bernard Arnault, businessman, chairman and CEO of LVMH and Mrs. Hélène Mercier-Arnault
• Mr. Francisco Flores, former President of El Salvador
• Mr. Guy Laliberté, among others a Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist
• Mr. Eric Peugeot, marketing engineer (several positions in the Peugeot company)
• Mr. Yves Piaget, President of Piaget SA
• Mr. Bertrand Piccard, Swiss psychiatrist and balloonist
• Mr. Johann Rupert, South African businessman
• Mr. Sonu Shivdasani, British-born Indian entrepreneur
• Sir Michael Smurfit, Irish businessman
• Mr. Andrea Bocelli, Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist
• Mr. Gerard Butler, Scottish actor
• Ms. Bernice Coppieters, Belgian ballet artist
  
• Ms. Donna D'Cruz, Indian-born US American DJ and model
• Ms. Renée Fleming, US American soprano
• Mr. Juan Diego Florez, Peruvian operatic tenor
• Mr. Jean-Christophe Maillot, French dancer and choreographer
• Ms. Pumexa Matshikiza, South-African lyrical soprano
• Sir Roger Moore, British actor and his wife Christina, née Tholstrup
• Ms. Victoria Silvstedt, Swedish model, actress, singer and TV personality
• Mr. Umberto Tozzi, Italian pop/rock artist
• Mr. Giorgio Armani, Italian fashion designer
• Mr. Terrence Bray, South-African fashion designer
• Ms. Naomi Campbell, British model
• Mr. Roberto Cavalli, Italian fashion designer
• Ms. Inès de la Fressange, French model and designer of fashion and perfume
• Mr. Sébastien Jondeau, former professional boxer, now personal assistant to Karl Lagerfeld
• Ms. Isabell Kristensen, Danish designer
• Ms. Karolina Kurková, Czech model
• Mr. Karl Lagerfeld, German fashion designer
• Ms. Tereza Maxová, Czech model
• Mr. Gerhard Berger, Austrian former Formula One racing driver
• Ms. Pernilla Bjerke (née Wiberg), Swedish former alpine ski racer and her husband Bödvar Bjerke
  
• Mr. Jonas Björkman, Swedish former tennis player
• Mr. Sergey Bubka, Ukrainian former athlete (pole vaulter)
• Ms. Nadia Comãneci, Romanian former gymnast
• Ms. Charmaine Crooks, Canadian former athlete
• Mr. Bob Ctvrlik, US American former volleyball player
• Ms. Sophie Edington, Australian backstroke and freestyle swimmer
• Mr. Patrice Evra, French football player (Manchester United)
• Mr. Frank Fredericks, Namibian former athlete
• Mr. Graham Hill, South African swimming coach and former competitive swimmer
• Mr. Jacky Ickz, Belgian former racing driver
• Mr. Branislav Ivkovic, Serbian swimming coach (trained the now Princess Charlène ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, before she had to pull out due to a shoulder injury)
• Mr. Byron Kelleher, New Zealand rugby player
• Mr. Henri Leconte, French former tennis player
• Mr. Axel Lund Svindal, Norwegian alpine ski racer
• Ms. Julia Mancuso, US American alpine ski racer and girl-friend of the former
• Mr. Ian Mcintosh, Zimbabwean-South African rugby union coach
• Ms. Elana Meyer, South African former long-distance runner
• Mr. Ilie Nastase, Romanian former tennis player
• Mr. Ryk Neethling, South African swimmer
• Mr. Terence Parkin, South Afrian swimmer
• Mr. François Pienaar, South-African former rugby player
• Mr. Nicola Pietrangeli, Italian former tennis player
• Ms. Sarah Poewe, South African-born German swimmer
• Mr. Wayne Riddin, South African swimming coach and former competitive swimmer
• Mr. Roland Schoeman, South African swimmer
• Sir Jackie Stewart, Scottish former racing driver
• Ms. Franziska van Almsick, German former swimmer

Many of these friends might have attended with their partners, but for the most part they are not mentioned in the guest list. There was no representation from the Imperial Family of Japan, the Royal Family of Spain and the Royal Family of Romania.

Updated on Wednesday 6 July 2011 at 23.00 (spelling of one name corrected), last time on Tuesday 2 August 2011 at 13.30 (see comments section).