Norway: The King and Princess Astrid Mrs. Ferner to attend the funeral of Queen Fabiola of the Belgians

The Norwegian Royal Court (Official engagement section) confirmed today that King Harald and his sister Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner will attend the funeral service for Queen Fabiola of the Belgians at the Cathedral of Saints Michel and Gudule in Brussels on Friday 12 December 2014.

Queen Fabiola, née Mora y Aragón, b. Madrid 11 Jun 1928, who married King Baudouin of the Belgians (1930-1993) in 1960, died in Brussels on Friday 5 December 2014. An obituary was published at Telegraph.co.uk later the same evening.

King Harald and Princess Astrid were first cousins to King Baudouin. His nephew Philippe succeeded the Belgian throne in 2013 following the abdication of Baudouin's younger brother Albert.

Death of Prince Johan Friso of Orange-Nassau

The Dutch Government Information Service earlier today announced the death of Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau, younger brother of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands:

His Majesty the King announces with deep regret that His Royal Highness Prince Johan Friso Bernhard Christiaan David, Prins van Oranje-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg passed away this morning at Palace Huis ten Bosch in the Hague at age 44.

Prince Friso has died of complications related to the hypoxic brain injury, which he suffered as the result of his skiing accident in Lech, Austria on 17 February 2012.

Following initial treatment at the Intensive Care Unit of the Innsbruck University Hospital, Prince Friso was transferred in early March 2012 to the Wellington hospital in London, his place of residence. In November 2012, Prince Friso begun showing signs of limited awareness ('minimal consciousness') and remained in that state since then. In early July 2013, he was transferred to Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, the Netherlands.

The Royal family wholeheartedly thanks all persons who have looked after Prince Friso for their excellent and devoted care.

Prince Johan Friso, who preferred to be called just Prince Friso,* was the second son of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, who reigned from 1980 to 2013, and Prince Claus (1926-2002), b. von Amsberg. Prince Friso lost his title Prince of the Netherlands and his rights of succession to the Dutch throne when he in 2004 married Mabel Wisse Smit without consent of the Dutch parliament. The government had refused to forward a marriage bill to the parliament after it was disclosed that the then Ms. Smit had not told the truth about her former relationship to a "drugs baron".

According to the official website Prince Friso studied mechanical engineering at the College of Engineering of the University of California at Berkeley, USA and later also aerospace engineering at the Delft University of Technology, graduating in 1994.

From 1990 onwards, the Prince also studied economics at the Erasmus University in Rotterdam, graduating in 1995. In 1997, he studied and received an MBA at the European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD) in Fontainebleau, France. At the time of the skiing accident in Austria, he was a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of URENCO in Stoke Poges, England.

Prince Friso leaves behind his wife as well as two daughters, Luana (b. 2005) and Zaria (b. 2006).

King Willem-Alexander and his family returned from their vacation in Greece today. Information on Prince Friso's funeral service will be disclosed later.

Prince Friso's obituary published by Telegraph.co.uk can be read here.
 
Postscript 14 August 2013: *A correspondent has kindly informed me that Prince Claus on the day his second son "met" the press for the first time after his birth, informed that Friso was going to be his call name (this is on tape as well, as broadcast on Dutch TV on Monday evening). I had got the impression that the now late Prince Friso only in later years had expressed his wish only to be referred to as Prince Friso, but I was obviously wrong. Prince Friso was quite often presented as "Prince Johan Friso" in the media, so I guess I am not the only one who have got stuck by the (incorrect) reference. I will try to restrict myself to Friso from now on ...

Last time updated on Wednesday 14 August 2013 at 20:20 (postscript added).

HRH Princess Lilian of Sweden (1915-2013): Obituary in The Telegraph (and more)

An obituary for HRH Princess Lilian of Sweden, who died yesterday, Sunday 10 March 2013, 97 years old, was published in The Telegraph (Telegraph.co.uk) around the same time I posted my blog article, so I take the opportunity to post it today instead (see link above).

Blogs which have covered Princess Lilian's death include Eurohistory, Sofia's Blog and Trond Norén Isaksen.

The Swedish Royal Court announced today that the funeral service will take place already on Saturday 16 March 2013 at 1 p.m. in the Palace Church, followed by interment at Haga outside Stockholm. The princess will lie in state in the Palace Church on Friday 15 March from noon to 3 p.m. Flags will be flown at half staff at all the royal palaces, Solliden Palace, Stenhammar Castle, the Royal Mews and Slottsbacken 2 from 11 March until the funeral has been held, the only exception being the Royal Palace in Stockholm during the visit from the Turkish President, Abdullah Gül. Mourning bells were rung in central Stockholm this morning from 8 to 8.10 a.m.

See also The Local's articles published earlier today.

Updated on Tuesday 12 March 2013 at 08:35 (link added).

HRH Princess Margarita of Baden (1932-2013): Obituary in The Telegraph

Princess Margarita of Baden, who was married to Prince Tomislav of Yugoslavia from 1957 to 1981, died on 15 January 2013 in her home in Farnham, Surry, England.

Her obituary was published in The Telegraph (Telegraph.co.uk) on Sunday 20 January 2013.

Former King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk, is dead

The former King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk, died at Beijing, China, earlier today, 15 October 2012, 89 years old.

Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk was born in Phnom Penh on 31 October 1922 as the son of the then Prince Norodom Suramit and Princess Sisowath Kosamak. Sihanouk succeeded his grandfather Monivong in 1941, abdicated on behalf of his father Suramit in 1955 and became king again in 1993. He abdicated on 6 October 2004 and was awarded the title of "Great King" with presedence over his son, Norodom Sihamoni, who was elected King by the Throne Council on 14 October 2004.

Between 1955 and 1993 Sihanouk held several offices, including Prime Minister for several periods as well as head of state during the first year of the Khmer Rouge regime. One could say that he was a man of nine lives, but after having been ill for many years, he finally passed away.

Sihanouk had two offical wives, Princess Thavet Norleak (his first cousin, from whom he separated in 1968) and Princess Monique, née Monique Izzi, and had at least 14 children. See the Royal Ark for a genalogical survey.

His obituary was published at Telegraph.co.uk on 15 October 2012. See also the the news article at the same website as well as BBC News (which has links to even more articles on the subject).

Recommended literature: Milton Osborne. Sihanouk. Prince of Light, Prince of Darkness, Allen & Unwin, 1994. ISBN 1-86373-642-5.

Princess Ragnhild Mrs. Lorentzen (1930-2012)

The Royal Court of Norway announced on Sunday 16 September 2012 the death of Princess Ragnhild Mrs. Lorentzen, the eldest daughter of King Olav V (at the time of her birth Crown Prince Olav) and Crown Princess Märtha, and the eldest sister of King Harald V. Princess Ragnhild died of cancer in her home in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Sunday at 9.45 a.m. (2.45 p.m. Norwegian time).

The announcement said as follows:

Princess Ragnhild has died

His Majesty The King was deeply saddened to receive the news that Her Highness Princess Ragnhild, Mrs Lorentzen has passed away. The princess died in her home in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on 16 September 2012 at 9:45 am local time.

The funeral service will be held in the Palace Chapel. The date and time have not yet been determined. Princess Ragnhild will be laid to rest at Asker Church.

The Princess was born on 9 June 1930 at the Royal Palace in Oslo, and was the eldest child of King Olav and Crown Princess Märtha.

The Royal Court said in a press release today that a condolence protocol would be laid out at the Royal Palace on Tuesday 18 September.

The Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will be the first to sign the Protocol at 9.30 a.m., followed by the diplomatic corps from 10 a.m. to noon. The general public will be admitted from 12.30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg issued a statement where he among other said that "Our thoughts and our sympathy goes out to Erling Lorentzen and their family, and to King Harald, Queen Sonja and the Royal Family". Stoltenberg said further that "Her home in Brazil became a hospitable place of meeting for Norwegians on visit, and the princess' considerations for them and her care for the less fortunate in her new homeland won her many friends. Among others she established Princess Ragnhild's Fund for Children in Brazil, and she always took part when she was needed at relief actions and social gatherings".

Stoltenberg also said that "We know that Princess Ragnhild was especially close to her father King Olav V. Her friends describe her as considerate, loyal, with an infectious humour and fresh remarks. In larger audiences she seemd to be shy and reserved, but her liveliness and kind heart were soon to appear in more informal gatherings. It has been said that Princess Ragnhild was our best ambassador in Brazil  - a warm-hearted representative for the Norway she alwas was closely attached to."

Princess Ragnhild, who married Erling Lorentzen in 1953 and lost her style of royal highness, leaves behind her husband, 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

When I earlier this year understood that Princess Ragnhild's health was frail, I said to myself that I had to prepare an obituary based on the authorized biography Mitt liv som kongsdatter (1995) and other material I have collected on her, but I never got or took the time. I received the news of her death late last night when I finally got connected to Internet in my hotel room in Norwich, Norfolk (Princess Ragnhild's father King Olav V, was, by the way, born at Appleton House at Sandringham northwest of Norwich). This week I will just be too busy with other commitments, so I just have to refer to others who have written about Princess Ragnhild and her life.

• 16.08.2012: Prinsesse Ragnhild er død. Kong Harald i sorg over søsterens bortgang (VG.no)
• 16.08.2012: - Prinsesse Ragnhild var en banebryter (VG.no)
• 16.08.2012: Prinsesse Ragnhild er død (Aftenposten.no (NTB))
• 16.08.2012: At the road’s end: Princess Ragnhild of Norway, Mrs Lorentzen (1930-2012) (Trond Norén Isaksen)
• 17.08.2012: Norway mourns princess' death (Views and News from Norway)
• 17.08.2012: Norway's Princess Ragnhild dies aged 82 (The Local (NTB)).
• 17.08.2012: Obit: Princess Ragnhild Mrs Lorentzen of Norway (1930-2012) (Sofia's Blog)

I understand that that the family turned down the offer of a state funeral. As the funeral service will take place at the Palace Chapel, it will due to the limited space there be a "smaller affair", but maybe most fitting for the princess. She married at Asker Church in 1953 and her wish to be interred at Asker Cemetery will be fulfilled. I must say I like the idea of a King's daughter being buried in a common cemetery in a community she partly grew up in, and her grave thus will be easily accessible to everyone.

(Photo: Det kongelige hoff/The Royal Court.)

Count Carl Johan Bernadotte af Wisborg (1916-2012)

Count Carl Johan Bernadotte af Wisborg, who was born at Stockholm on 31 October 1916 as the youngest son of the then Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf and Crown Princess Margaret, née Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, died at Ängelholm Hospital, Båstad on Saturday 5 May 2012 at 9 p.m. Carl Johan was the last surviving great-grandchild of the British Queen Victoria.

The Swedish Royal Court issued a statement on Sunday 6 May 2012, in which the former Prince of Sweden was described as "a dear and beloved family member who had meant a lot to the whole family through his friendliness and humour". Carl Johan was going to be remembered as "a respected and amiable relative". His great knowledge of the family history was also pointed out.

Carl Johan, a nephew of King Carl XVI Gustaf, lost his titles Prince of Sweden and Duke of Dalarna when he married the Swedish commoner Kerstin Wijkmark, b. 4 March 1910, in 1946. The couple, who lived abroad, among others in London, for most parts of their married life, had two adopted children, Monica, b. 1948, and Christian, b. 1949. Carl Johan worked as a business man, while his wife contineud her career in journalism. Carl Johan Bernadotte received in 1951 the title Count of Wisborg by Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg.

Kerstin died in 1987 and Count Carl Johan married 2ndly the year after Countess Gunnila Wachtmeister af Johannishus, b. 1923, who survives him.

The funeral service will take place at Mariakyrkan (St. Mary's Church) in Båstad on Monday 14 May at 11 a.m. The Swedish Royal Court has announced that King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel and Prince Carl Philip will all attend the funeral. Princess Madeleine lives in the USA and will not travel home for the funeral. The Danish Royal House will according to Billed-Bladet be represented by Queen Margrethe II and Princess Benedikte, nieces of the late count. As of now it seems that no members of the Norwegian Royal Family will attend the funeral, but the calendar at the official website might not have been updated.

Following the funeral service in Båstad the casket will be brought to the Palace Church in Stockholm where a memorial service is planned for Tuesday 15 May. King Carl XVI Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel and Prince Carl Philip will all be present. Later Count Carl Johan's body will be interred at the Royal Burial Ground at Haga Park outside Stockholm, where also his parents as well as Queen Louise, Prince Carl and Princess Ingeborg, Prince Carl "Mulle" Bernadotte and his brothers Gustaf Adolf, Bertil and Sigvard are buried. Princess Sibylla is also buried there. Carl Johan's wife Gunilla is also expected to be buried at Haga, cf. the national newspaper Expressen.se. Carl Johan's first wife Kerstin is buried at Båstads Nya Kyrkogård (Båstad New Cemetery).

Some articles and obituaries:

• Expressen.se 6 May 2012 (with links to more articles)
• Aftonbladet.se 6 May 2012
• Svenskdam.se 6 May 2012
• The Local 6 May 2012
• Telegraph.co.uk 6 May 2012
• Sofia's Blog 7 May 2012
• Trond Norén Isaksen 7 May 2012
• Nytimes.com 7 May 2012
• Independent.co.uk 9 May 2012

Much can be said about the lack of accuracy in the obituaries published in the foreign press. I will limit myself to point out that Carl Johan didn't renounce his succession rights to the Swedish throne, as the succession law automatically excluded him when he married "a Swedish private man's daughter". The strict rules concerning marriages to Swedish commoners were repealed in 1980.


Updated on Friday 11 May 2012 at 11.00 (language + information about the church in Stockholm corrected, cf. the comments field), Friday 11 May 2012 at 16.10 (information about Haga graves added).

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).

Anthony Brooke (1912-2011), Rajah Muda of Sarawak: Obituary in The Daily Telegraph

Anthony Walter Dayrell "Peter" Brooke, the "Last of Sarawak's White Rajah rulers", b. 10 December 1912, died in New Zealand on 2 March 2011, 98 years old.

His obituary was published in The Daily Telegraph on 6 March 2011. See also The Malaysian Insider two days earlier.

For more details about the White Rajahs of Sarawak, go to the Royal Ark.

Princess Irmingard of Bavaria (1923-2010): Obituary in The Daily Telegraph

Princess Irmingard of Bavaria, b. at Schloss Berchtesgaden on 29 May 1923, died on 23 October 2010, 87 years old. She was the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria and his 2nd wife, Princess Antonia of Luxembourg.

Princess Irmingard's obituary was published in The Daily Telegraph on 8 November 2010.

Ted Sorensen (1928-2010): Obituary in The Daily Telegraph

Ted Sorensen, known among others as a political advisor to President John Kennedy and as a writer, died on 31 October 2010, 82 years old.

His obituary was published in The Daily Telegraph on 1 November 2010.

Sorensen published in 2008 his memoirs, Counselor. The role Ted Sorensen played in US American politics was so important that his memoirs is impossible to ignore... I have just ordered the Amazon Kindle version and look forward to reading it. But of course there is always a long line of books waiting to be read...

Prince Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma: Obituary in The Daily Telegraph

Prince Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma, died in Barcelona on 18 August 2010. The Daily Telegraph published his obituary today, 25 August 2010.

The funeral service and interment will take place in the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata in Parma on Saturday 28 August 2010.