Diana’s Letters Sell For Over Five Times The Estimate

  January 5, 2017 at 9:43 pm by

The Cheffins auction house in Cambridgeshire has sold six letters handwritten by Diana, Princess of Wales in an auction lot full of royal memorabilia, for over five times the estimate. Coming from the estate of Cyril Dickman, who was chief palace steward and worked for the Royal Family for over 50 years beginning during World War Two, the letters fetched £15,100, well above the estimated £2,300-£3,600. In one letter from September 1984, Princess Diana … Continue reading →

Haakon and Mette-Marit Attend NHO Conference

  January 5, 2017 at 9:16 pm by

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have today attended the annual Næringslivets Hovedorganisasjon conference at the Oslo Spektrum. The theme of this year’s conference was ‘Made in Norway – at work for a green future’, aiming to get politicians and business leaders to make decisions that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by showing them ways that are sustainable whilst creating jobs and value for the country. Haakon and Mette-Marit listened … Continue reading →

Prince Laurent Takes Family To Visit Homeless Shelter

  January 5, 2017 at 2:46 pm by

Belgium’s Prince Laurent and his family visited a homeless shelter in Brussels today, which is run through an initiative of Le Foundation prince Laurent. The initiative is unique in that it allows the homeless staying at the shelter to bring their pet dogs with them. The Prince and his wife, Princess Claire, spoke with the individuals who run the shelter and the people taking up its services; while their children – Louise, Nicolas … Continue reading →

A Death in the Schaumburg-Lippe Family: Prince Nicolai Passes at 27

  January 5, 2017 at 9:42 am by

Sad news came out of the Princely House of Schaumburg-Lippe yesterday, Prince Nicolai – the only son of Prince York zu Schaumburg-Lippe – passed away in December at the age of 27. Bunte reports that Prince Nicolai succumbed to his HIV illness on December 4. He had been infected at birth, transmitted from his mother, Susanne Seidensticker, who had been infected with the illness during a blood transfusion (she herself died from the illness in 1992). … Continue reading →

On This Day: Death of Sweden’s Prince Bertil

  January 5, 2017 at 6:00 am by

Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland – the beloved uncle of the Swedish Royal Family – passed away twenty years ago on January 5, 1997 at Villa Solbacken. He was 84. Born in February 1912, the Prince was the fourth child of Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and Princess Margaret of Connaught. His siblings were Gustaf Adolf, Duke of Västerbotten; Sigvard Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg; Ingrid, Queen of Denmark; and Carl Johan … Continue reading →

Greetings From The Alps: Carl Gustaf & Silvia On Winter Holiday

  January 4, 2017 at 7:18 pm by

The King and Queen of Sweden are currently spending part of their winter break in the Swiss Alps. A photograph of the couple was released at the end of their day’s hike, with the gorgeous snow-covered mountains in the background. Queen Silvia – who was hospitalised over Christmas with a cold and dizzy spells – has been in the news on a different matter this week: she has given an interview … Continue reading →

Princess Mary Goes Full Purple For Final New Year’s Court of 2017

  January 4, 2017 at 3:34 pm by

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark opted for a solid-block purple evening gown and matching cape for today’s New Year’s Court receptions, the final in the 2017 calendar. The cape and dress, from designer Lasse Spangenberg, were paired with black pearl jewellery and the stud-version of the earrings from Mary’s diamond and ruby parure. This reception – headed by Queen Margrethe II and also attended by Crown Prince Frederik – is for … Continue reading →

Second New Year’s Court Takes Place in Denmark

  January 3, 2017 at 1:09 pm by

The second day of New Year’s Courts has been held in Copenhagen this morning, with Queen Margrethe II welcoming the members of the diplomatic corps to Christiansborg Palace. Takin place in the Riddersalen, 75 of the ambassadors currently stationed in Denmark greeted the royal family – which today was limited to the Queen and the Crown Prince Couple – many in the national dress of their respective countries. Queen Margrethe … Continue reading →

Duchess of Cambridge Becomes Honorary Member of Royal Photographic Society

  January 2, 2017 at 11:05 am by

The Royal Photographic Society, an organisation devoted to promoting photography, has made the Duchess of Cambridge an honorary life member. The decision was made after Catherine took several official photographs of her children – Prince George and Princess Charlotte – that were released in 2015 and 2016. Photographs she took during her tour of South East Asia were also released in 2012 by Kensington Palace. “The Duchess of Cambridge has … Continue reading →

Danes Attend New Year’s Court For Order of The Elephant

  January 1, 2017 at 8:41 pm by

The grandest event in calendar of official Denmark took place this evening in Copenhagen, the annual New Year’s Court for members of the Order of the Elephant (Denmark’s highest honour), the Danish government and the Royal Court. The members were received by Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik at Christian VII’s Palace in Amalienborg, before a banquet took place attended also by the Crown Prince and Princess, and Prince Joachim and Princess Marie … Continue reading →

Prince Dimitri Romanovich Has Passed Away, Aged 90

  January 1, 2017 at 2:15 pm by

One of the claimants to the defunct Russian throne and head of the Romanov Family Association, Prince Dimitri Romanovich, passed away in a Danish hospital on December 31, his wife announced today. “Dimitri Romanovich died at hospital on the evening of December 31,” Princess Theodora told the Russian news agency TASS, adding he had been in admitted to hospital last week with serious ill health. The Prince was the younger son of … Continue reading →

Queen Misses New Year’s Day Service at Sandringham

  January 1, 2017 at 1:51 pm by

The Queen has missed out on the New Year’s Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk; as she is still recovering from a heavy cold. This is the second time the Queen has missed a service due to her cold; the first being the Christmas service last week. The Princess Royal stated after the service that her mother was feeling better, with her husband Tim adding that … Continue reading →

Palace Profile: Schönbrunn Palace

  January 1, 2017 at 6:00 am by

In 2017, the TRF Blog will begin a series of profiles on the world’s palaces and castles. We begin with Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, home of the Habsburgs. Facade of Schloss Schönbrunn Location: Vienna, Republic of Austria Built: 1642 (original form); 1740s-1750s (current form) Architects: Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach (current form, preliminary design); Nikolaus Pacassi (current form) Commissioned By: Eleonora Gonzaga, Holy Roman Empress (original form); Maria Theresa of Austria … Continue reading →

Flashback Friday: Engagement of Princess Sayako

  December 30, 2016 at 7:00 am by

December 30, 2004: The year 2004 ended on a high note for the Japanese Imperial Family, as the engagement of Princess Sayako – the only daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko – was announced. The Princess and her new fiancé, Yoshiki Kuroda, met with the press in Tokyo following the official announcement by the Imperial Household Agency. The couple had known each other since childhood – Yoshiki is a friend … Continue reading →

Norwegian Government To Host Gala Dinner For King & Queen’s 80th Birthdays

  December 29, 2016 at 8:40 pm by

The Norwegian government has confirmed it will be hosting a gala dinner to celebrate the 80th birthdays of King Harald V and Queen Sonja, who will both mark the milestone next year. Taking place at Akershus Castle, the dinner is being held on May 10, in between the respective birthdays of the royal couple – the King’s birthday is February 21, while the Queen’s is July 4.  The government’s second gift to … Continue reading →

The Royal Year 2016: Top Ten Moments

  December 29, 2016 at 8:00 am by

2016 has come and gone in what seems to be the blink of an eye! Before we welcome 2017 this weekend, let’s take a quick look at our picks for the top 10 moments of the royal 2016… 10. Beatrice Borromeo steals the show at the 2016 Rose Ball The newest member of the Grimaldi-Casiraghi family, Beatrice Borromeo – wife of Pierre Casiraghi – was the stand-out at this year’s Bal de la … Continue reading →

Belgium’s Queen Paola Suffers Spinal Fracture

  December 28, 2016 at 11:37 am by

79-year-old Queen Paola of Belgium is currently receiving treatment at the Cliniques universitaires Saint Luc in Brussels after a heavy fall resulted in a spinal fracture. According the statement released by the Belgian Royal Court, there was no neurological damage as a result of the injury. The Queen’s rehabilitation will take several months. A spokesperson said the injury posed no danger to Queen Paola’s life. The Queen’s health has had some issues … Continue reading →

Princess Marie Visits Storm-Ravaged Jyllinge Nordmark

  December 27, 2016 at 7:56 pm by

Denmark’s Princess Marie paid a visit to the town of Jyllinge Nordmark, part of the Roskilde Commune, today after it was hit by Storm Urd on December 26. She met with Mayor Joy Morgensen, the chief of the Commune’s fire department and other civilian groups which helped to prepare and protect the town from flood damage. Marie was accompanied by the director of the Emergency Management Agency, an agency she is … Continue reading →

Grand Duke Jean Hospitalised Over Christmas

  December 27, 2016 at 4:38 pm by

The Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg has today confirmed that Grand Duke Jean was hospitalised last week to receive treatment for bronchitis, and spent Christmas Day there. The physicians treating the 95-year-old Grand Duke find that his recovery is “very satisfactory”, but will be keeping him in hospital for a few more days to allow proper medical supervision as he continues to recover. Grand Duke Jean will celebrate his 96th … Continue reading →

British Royal Family Celebrates Christmas at Sandringham

  December 25, 2016 at 2:48 pm by

Following tradition, the British Royal Family has attended a Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene’s Church in Sandringham, walking to church from Sandringham House. Queen Elizabeth II did not attend the service this year, missing for the first time in almost 30 years, as she recovers from a heavy cold. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall led the family in the walk, which included Prince Harry, the Yorks, Princess … Continue reading →