The Royal Forum Newsletter ~ September #1

[Wombat]

September, 2006

Royals who made the news in September...

In September there was more pressure for Prince William to marry his girlfriend Kate Middleton. 

September also saw Prince William join the Middletons on a family holiday in Ibiza.

The world got two new royals in September, when a young American woman found out she was the heir to the African Chiefdom of Bumpe and Princess Kiko gave birth to Japan's first male heir in over 40 years.

The tabs were sent into a frenzy after Kate & Wills were pictured with "the look of love" in their eyes.

In another attempt to cash in on his former employers memory, Paul Burrell released his new book on Diana, the Princess of Wales.

Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall branched out on her own, walking for charity in Scotland.

Prince Harry came under fire after allegedly ruining a friends birthday party by throwing smokebombs with the eternal prankster and royal knockabout, Guy Pelly.

September saw Princess Mary of Denmark embark on her first official solo visit to Prague.

Babies were in the air for the Spanish and Dutch royal families, with The Prince and Princess of Asturias and Crown Prince Willem-Alexander & Princess Máxima expecting new additions to their families in 2007

Young royals around the world are coming into their own with Monaco's Prince Andrea traveling to the Philippines to support the Amade-Virlanie Foundation, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden began a one-year course for diplomats at the Swedish Foreign Ministry, and Prince William stepped out to visit St Mary's Hospital, where he and his brother were born.


Royal Splendor Collection of the month...

Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom

The Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom refer to the apparel worn by the Monarch during the coronation ceremony, as well as at various other state functions.

The Crown jewels are considered to be the most valuable jewelry collection in the world and the current set have pieces that date back as far as 1661. Throughout history, the Crown Jewels have had to been replaced many times; In 1216 they were lost by King John and the replacement set was later stolen from Westminster abbey in 1303. Although most were recovered, they were later melted down by Oliver Cromwell after the establishment of the commonwealth in 1649. After the English Restoration in 1660, most of the regalia had to be replaced, and are currently stored (and on display to the public) in the Tower of London.


The Coronation Regalia:

St. Edward's Crown, made of solid gold in 1661 for the coronation of Charles II. This was also used to crown Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The Scepter with the Cross and Sovereign's Orb were both made in 1661, and have been used in every coronation for the past 350 years.

The coronation regalia also boasts Cullinan I aka the "Great Star of Africa" (530 carats) and Cullinan II (317 carats), the two largest top-quality cut diamonds in the world. Cullinan I sits in the Scepter with the Cross and Cullinan II is part of the Imperial State Crown. The extraordinary and ancient Koh-i-Noor (105 carats) diamond, which means "mountain of light" is one of the most famous diamonds in the world and is reputed to bring luck to any female who owns it.  Although the Koh-i-Noor originally belonged to India, it became part of the Crown Jewels when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India. The Government of India is currently lobbying the British Monarchy for the return of the diamond.

The Coronation Necklace, 1937 was a gift from King George VI to Queen Elizabeth and contains 40 brilliant cut diamonds.

Other pieces of the collection:

• Imperial State Crown, made in 1937. This is worn by the sovereign on great state occasions. This crown contains over 3,000 precious stones, including famous stones such as the Stuart Sapphire, the Black Prince's Ruby, and St Edward's Sapphire.
• The Cullinan Brooch, 1908-1910 was presented to Queen Mary by the Government of South Africa. Cullinan III and IV make up the Cullinan Brooch and Her Majesty The Queen wore it during a State Visit to Holland in 1958. It was on this occasion that the brooch was famously referred to as 'Granny's Chips'.
• Scepter with the Dove, 1661
• The Crown of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, 1937
• The crown of Mary of Modena (Queen Consort), 1685 ~ This crown is currently on display in the Museum of London
• The diadem of Mary of Modena (Queen Consort), 1685
• Queen Victoria's Crown, made in 1838 ~ the stones had to be removed from this crown as the frame became to weak over time. This crown was the original home to the 317 carat Cullinan II diamond.
• Crown of Frederick, Prince of Wales, 1728
• George IV State Diadem, 1820. Also called the Diamond Diadem, contains 1333 diamonds totalling 325 carats and 169 pearls.
• Crown of George, Prince of Wales, 1901
• Imperial Crown of India, 1911

There are also various swords, rings, spoons and bracelets that make up the British Crown Jewels.


Click here for more pictures of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

Click here to view other jewels owned by the British Monarchy.

Click here to watch a video about the Royal Jewels.


Royal Palace of the Month...

Marselisborg Palace, Denmark

Marselisborg Palace was a gift from the people of Denmark to Crown Prince Christian & Princess Alexandrine on their wedding. It was formerly owned by King Frederik III, but unable to pay huge debts, he gave the palace to a Dutch merchant trader by the name of Gabriel Marselis. Over a 200 year period, the palace went through many different sets of hands, finally ending up back in crown ownership in 1898.

Traditionally, the palace has been a summer residence for many generations of the Danish royal family. It has also undergone huge transformations in it's 340 year royal history.

Firstly, Crown Prince Christian & Princess Alexandrine (who would later become King Christian X & Queen Consort of Denmark), renovated the palace between 1899 – 1902. They used the palace as a summer home, entertaining guests and family during their time there.

In 1967 King Frederik IX gifted the palace to his daughter Crown Princess Margrethe, the future (and current Queen of Denmark). Queen Margrethe & Prince Henrik have used the palace as their summer residence since then.

Marselisborg Palace sits on 32 acres and includes magnificent parkland and gardens. It is also home to some of the Danish royal family's collection of art work.

The palace is not open to the public, but the park and rose garden can be visited only when the royal family is not in residence.

Marselisborg Palace
Palace Park and Garden

[Wombat]

Royal Historical Event...

Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

After her father's death in 1952, the then Princess Elizabeth started her long journey to being one of the world's most respected and well known monarchs.

On 2 June 1953, Queen Elizabeth II's coronation took place at Wesminster Abbey, in front of 8,000 of the world's leading politicians, royalty and esteemed peers.  Outside the abbey, an estimated 3 million people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the grandeur and to wish their new Queen well.

The Queen's coronation was not only a significant point in royal history, but it was also a turning point for television as well. Over 20 million people watched the day's events on television, at a time when television was a relatively new technology. Many people bought television sets just to watch the event. Many, many more gathered at friends houses or in front of shop windows to witness one of the most grandest events in British history.

The BBC who broadcasted the event, said it was one their biggest broadcast in history at that point. The telecast reached millions and was heard in 44 languages. Significantly, it was Queen Elizabeth herself who asked for the coronation to be televised.

Queen Elizabeth took the coronation oath and was told that she was from then on bound to "serve her people and maintain the laws of god". She was then handed the orb, the sceptre, the rod of mercy and the royal ring - or as they are also known the "four symbols of authority". The Archbishop of Canterbury then placed St Edward's Crown on her head to the cries of  "God Save the Queen" that emanated around the abbey.

The Queen later vowed through her radio broadcast "Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust".

Coronation at Westminster Abbey #1
Coronation at Westminster Abbey #2
Coronation at Westminster Abbey #3
HM Queen Elizabeth II in full regalia


Royal of the month.....

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn was born at the Chitlada Palace in Bangkok, on  July 28, 1952. He is the 2nd in line for the Thai throne after his father, the King. His parents are the hugely popular King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit of Thailand.

The Crown Prince received his early education in Thailand but later attended The King's School in Sydney, Australia. He also attended the Royal Military College Duntroon, in Canberra, Australia. He later completed an Arts Degree at Sukhothai Thammatirat University in Bangkok.

On January 3, 1977, the Crown Prince married Princess Soamsavali Kitiyakara and they share a daughter. The princess had immediate links to the Thai royal family, being a first cousin of Prince Vajiralongkorn. The couple later divorced and the Prince maintained a long term relationship with Yuvadhida Polpraserth. The couple had 4 sons and 1 daughter and all children were given titles.

The Crown Prince, due to the common law status of this relationship, did not have an official or legitimate heir, this lead to the Thai parliament legislating to allow females to inherit the throne.

In 1999, the prince separated from Yuvadhida Polpraserth and later married Srirasmi Akharaphongpreecha. They share a son who is 2nd in line for the throne, after the prince.

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is a General in the Royal Thai Army, Admiral in the Royal Thai Navy and Air Chief Marshall in the Royal Thai Air Force. Although he has experienced a full and eventful military career, the Crown Prince is taking on more and more royal duties.

He is not seen in the same favourable light as his hugely popular father and this may have to do with both his representations within the military, as well as his private life.  Many Thai people see the military rule in their country's history in a negative light. The Prince has had a scandal plagued private life and this may also affect the opinions of his people.

Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn
Crown Prince of Thailand's Standard

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Thanks to Jen and everyone who helped with the newsletter. :thumbsup: