Book launch invitation “Patrie & Destin”

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"Patrie & Destin" de Diana Mandache, Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, King Michael of Romania, Principesa Mostenitoare a Romaniei, Romanian Royal Family

Your are invited to the book launch of “Fatherland and Destiny. The Crown Princess of Romania” by Diana Mandache.

Thursday 31 May 2012, 2 pm, at The ‘Bookfest’

Bucharest, Romexpo – Pavilion 15, LITERA publishing house

“Fatherland and Destiny” [Patrie si Destin] brings for the first time together, a significant part of the myriad of events, places and people encountered throughout the life of Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess Margarita of Romania. Her destiny is often congruent with that of her father, King Michael, and her life has been profoundly influenced by the more recent history of her country and south east Europe. His Majesty is the one who, by naming Princess Margarita as his successor, has shown vision in understanding the necessity to adapt to the realities of the new century, paralleling the approach of his illustrious predecessors King Carol I or King Ferdinand, in the 19th or the 20th century. Modernity and adaptability to new conditions thus ensures the continuation of the monarchy. Diana Mandache

Support for monarchy is at all time high

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British Royal Family, Queen Elizabeth II

The Queen visits the Chelsea Flower Show (22 May 2012)

A new poll shows that 80 % of Britons want to remain subjects of the Queen, with just 13 % in favour of living in a republic, the lowest proportion for at least 20 years. More than 1,000 British adults polled last weekend were asked: “Would you favour Britain becoming a republic or remaining a monarchy?” Support for the monarchy is highest among the over-55s, at 88 %, but even in the 18-24 age group 73 % favour the current system, with just 17 per cent wanting a republic and 10 % undecided. Conservative supporters are most likely to be monarchists – 96% prefer Britain to have a monarch rather than become a republic compared to three quarters (74%) of Labour supporters and 84% of Liberal Democrats.

A spokesman of Ipsos MORI said: “Since the Royal wedding the publicity the Royal family has received has been phenomenal, particularly for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge”.

Source Ipsos MORI ©

X Ray picture of Queen Elisabeth of Romania’s hand taken with an early Roentgen machine

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Carmen Sylva, European royal families, Familia regala, istoria regalitatii, Queen Elizabeth of Romania, Romanian Royal Family, South-East European Monarchs

X Ray picture of Queen Elisabeth of Romania’s hand taken with an early Roentgen machine (www.royalromania.wordpress.com)

Queen Elisabeth of Romania (Carmen Sylva) had in 1896 an x ray image of her right hand taken at ‘Scoala de Poduri’ in Bucharest (the old Romanian technical university), with the first Roentgen machine imported in the country. The queen volunteered to have this photograph taken in order to inspire confidence in her fellow countrymen in that revolutionary medical technology based on x rays, discovered by the German professor Wilhelm Roentgen just the year before, in 1895. It is in my opinion a valuable piece of medical, social and also royal history. The radiography was recently sold for 800 Euro (in my view well bellow its market and historic value) at a Bucharest auction house (starting price 250 Euro). Diana Mandache

My forthcoming book: “Fatherland and Destiny. The Crown Princess of Romania”

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Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, Diana Mandache, European royal families, King Michael of Romania, Prince Radu, Queen Anne, Queen-Mother Helen, Romanian Royal Family, South-East European Monarchs

“Fatherland and Destiny” [Patrie si Destin] brings for the first time together, a significant part of the myriad of events, places and people encountered throughout the life of Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess Margarita of Romania. Her destiny is often congruent with that of her father, King Michael, and her life has been profoundly influenced by the more recent history of her country and south east Europe. His Majesty is the one who, by naming Princess Margarita as his successor, has shown vision in understanding the necessity to adapt to the realities of the new century, paralleling the approach of his illustrious predecessors King Carol I or King Ferdinand, in the 19th or the 20th century. Modernity and adaptability to new conditions thus ensures the continuation of the monarchy. Diana Mandache [the book will be released on 31 May 2012, 2 pm, at Bookfest, in Bucharest. Litera publishing house]

‘El Castillo Real de Peles’, article published in Spain

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Familia regala, istoria regalitatii, King Carol I, King Michael of Romania, Pelesh Castle, Romanian Royal Family, Royal Palaces, Rumania

View this document on Scribd

I would like to present you an article of mine published recently in Revista de Museologia #52, Madrid, about Pelesh Royal Castle in the Transylvanian Alps, built by King Carol I.

Antique poster of the great 1906 Royal Jubilee Exhibition in Bucharest

Reblogged from Historic Houses of Romania:

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The Great Royal Jubilee Exhibition of 1906 has been a momentous event for the culture and economy of the young Kingdom of Romania. It has also marked, through the elaborate and high quality Neo-Romanian design of many of its pavilions, the onset of the mature phase of this style. The exhibition’s chief edifice was the Palace of the Arts, presented in the images bellow, which was envisaged as a gathering place of what was considered the finest products of the Romanian people throughout its history.

Read more… 812 more words

Monarchs Galore!

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British Royal Family, Diamond Jubilee, European royal families, King Michael of Romania, Queen Elizabeth II, South-East European Monarchs

King Michael of Romania, a relative of Queen Elizabeth sits immediately to her right, while on her left is King Simeon of Bulgaria.

The Romanian National Day: 10 May 1916

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Romanian Royal Family, The Romanian National Day 10 May 1916

The Romanian celebrations of National Day – 10 May 1916 – cavalry passing in review before King Ferdinand. Being in the nature of a military review the Romanian National Day celebrations were mainly of a warlike character. The war in which Europe was involved gave that year a wider significance than before. The celebrations were mainly in the nature of a ‘preparedness for war’ demonstration.

A mobile anti-aircraft battery in the Romanian demonstration.

The Moon seen from Bucharest

Reblogged from Historic Houses of Romania:

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Last night the Moon was at perigee, in spectacular full-moon phase, the Earth’s satellite looking larger than usual, reflecting an ampler amount of sunlight. The Bucharest night-sky at 22.00h, when I made the photograph (first image bellow), featured an eerie blue complexion induced by the atypical brightness. In those glare conditions the Moon’s surface relief was less distinguishable, apart form its 

Read more… 96 more words

Luna Plina vazuta din Bucuresti, 5 mai ora 10 pm.

Sotheby’s: Royal jewellery auction – Beau Sancy Diamond & Murat Tiara

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Royal jewels

The Noble Jewels session on the 15th May is led by the sensational Beau Sancy diamond, a stone of supreme historical importance with an impeccable royal provenance stretching back to Marie de Medici; also featured is the Murat tiara commissioned by Prince Alexandre Murat in 1920 from Chaumet and set with one of the largest natural pearls ever recorded. Enjoying similarly illustrious provenance is a selection of jewels from the collection of a member of the Princely Family of Thurn und Taxis, the collection of the late Prince Kinsky, and the collection of Prince Filippo Corsini to name but a few.

An extremely rare, aristocratic Beau Sancy diamond, which has passed through the royal families of France, England, Prussia and the Netherlands’ House of Orange, is to go up for auction at Sotheby’s.

The stone, a 35-carat modified ‘pear double rose cut’ diamond belonging to Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia and the present Head of the House of Hohenzollern, is expected to fetch between £1.24m and £2.47m (2m-4m USD).

The diamond originated from the mines in India near Golconda and was acquired by Nicolas de Harlay, Lord of Sancy, in Constantinople in the 1500s, explaining its name. In 1604 it was bought for 75,000 livres by French king Henry IV as a gift for his wife, Marie de Medici. According to Sotheby’s, the queen had long coveted the stone, especially after learning that de Harlay had sold a larger diamond called the Sancy and now part of the Louvre Collection to King James I of England.

Sold: 9,042,500 CHF

The Murat Tiara

The Murat Tiara will be auctioned also by Sotheby’s. Est. CHF 1,375,000 – 2,285,000/ $1,500,000 – 2,500,000. Photo: Sotheby’s – an impressive pearl and diamond diadem created in 1920 by Joseph Chaumet for the marriage of Prince Alexandre Murat to Yvonne Gillois. The tiara boasts one of the largest natural pearls ever recorded, at 303.37 grains, with the SSEF laboratory stating “natural pearls of this size, quality and with a documented historic provenance are very rare and thus the described tiara with three large pearls represents a very exceptional treasure”.

Sold: 3,610,500 CHF

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Elena Lupescu’s long lost earrings

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Elena Lupescu, King Carol II, Royal jewels

Credit: Woolley and Wallis

The pearl and diamond earrings had been left in a drawer for 35 years before they were sold to an anonymous phone bidder by Woolley & Wallis on 26 April 2012. The owner had not worn the earrings and had no idea of their value until February. The jewels were a gift from King Carol II to Elena Lupescu.

Description: A pair of early 20th Century natural pearl and diamond drop earrings, the drop shaped pearls suspend from an articulated line of graduated circular cut diamonds with further diamonds set to the caps. Screw fittings. With report number 62440 and dated 1st March 2012 from SSEF (Swiss Gemmological Institute) stating that both pearls are natural saltwater and weigh 34.508cts (138.03 grains) and 33.235cts (132.94 grains). They were estimated between £80,000-120,000 and sold for  £1,400,000 [hammer price] on 26 April 2012.

Jonathan Edwards of Woolley & Wallis said: “We believe they were acquired on one of the famous European tours with King Carol. The vendors brought them to us for valuation out of curiosity and were astonished to discover their value. We are absolutely thrilled with the result and delighted for the family.”

72 years ago, King Carol II bust statue at the New York World’s Fair

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Familia regala, istoria regalitatii, King Carol II, Romania, Romanian Royal Family

Cristina Georgescu, considered one Romania’s beauties of that time, dressed in a peasant costume, stands by a bust statue of King Carol II, exibited at the Romanian Pavilion from the 1940 World’s Fair in New York. She directed the preparations for the second opening (1940) to the public of the alabaster-lined structure, which had a particularly popular attraction in the foreign exhibit area of the exhibition last season (1939). With Romania occupying the headlines, along with other war-threatened European nations, her exhibit at the Fair, opened on 11 May, was of timely interest.

The building was constructed by architects Prince George Cantacuzino, Octav Doicescu & Aurel Doicescu.

The Romanian House

The Romanian House - Courtesy of the NY World's Fair Historical Society

King George V Jubilee Paper Mache Crown, 1935

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British Royal Family, European royal families, George V, King George V Silver Jubilee, Royal ceremonies

Jubilee paper mache panels of all designs and sizes were made at Pytram’s factory at New Malden in rediness for the Jubilee celebrations. One of the huge crowns, in paper mache, shown in its finished state.

Happy Birthday to HRH Prince Nicholas of Romania

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Familia regala, istoria regalitatii, King Michael of Romania, Prince Nicholas of Romania, Princess Helena of Romania, Romanian Royal Family, South-East European Monarchs

HRH Prince Nicholas of Romania (21 October 2011), the National History Museum of Romania, Bucharest

Twenty years ago HRH Prince Nicholas, the son of Princess Helena and grandson of HM King Michael, arrived for the first time in Romania. He was just 7 years old, and his perceptions of his heroic grandfather’s homeland were those of a child who came along with his mother and grandparents, but put suddenly in the front of the sheer enthusiasm of the over one million Bucharest people who came to greet King Michael for the first time in a half of century, after his forced abdication in 1947. Today, Prince Nicholas celebrates 27 years, soon he will finish his studies. He is the third in the line of the succession to the Romanian throne. Nicholas is held in high regard by his family and also by the Romanians. Happy birthday! DM  

Prince Nicholas w. his mother, Princess Helena of Romania, Bucharest 23 April 1992

see also La Multi Ani ASR Principelui Nicolae al Romaniei

HRH Crown Princess Margarita of Romania – Birthday Anniversary

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Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, King Michael of Romania, Prince Radu, Principesa Margareta, Principesa Mostenitoare a Romaniei, Queen Anne, Romanian Royal Family

A Happy birthday Your Royal Highness from the bottom of our hearts! Diana & Valentin Mandache. 26 March 2012: Princess Margarita’s birthday

The Queen’s address to Parliament, 20 March 2012

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British Monarchy, Diamond Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II

History links monarchs and Parliament, a connecting thread from one period to the next. So, in an era when the regular, worthy rhythm of life is less eye-catching than doing something extraordinary, I am reassured that I am merely the second Sovereign to celebrate a Diamond Jubilee.

As today, it was my privilege to address you during my Silver and Golden Jubilees. Many of you were present ten years ago and some of you will recall the occasion in 1977. Since my Accession, I have been a regular visitor to the Palace of Westminster and, at the last count, have had the pleasurable duty of treating with twelve Prime Ministers.

Over such a period, one can observe that the experience of venerable old age can be a mighty guide but not a prerequisite for success in public office. I am therefore very pleased to be addressing many younger Parliamentarians and also those bringing such a wide range of background and experience to your vital, national work.

read more

The Crown Jewels: Symbols of the British monarchy

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British Monarchy, Crown Jewels, Diamond Jubilee

On 29 March 2012, a new display of the crown jewels will be revealed at the Tower of London to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. This year’s display will feature new lighting and film footage to showcase the Crown Jewels in their full glory.

Queen Elizabeth II Attends Services at St. Paul’s Cathedral

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Order of the British Empire, Queen Elizabeth II

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were attending a service of dedication and thanks for the Order of the British Empire, at which 2,000 of those holding the honour were present.

Queen Elizabeth II leaves Service for the Order of the British Empire held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in her cape and crown. (Photos: Getty Images)

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The Line of Succession according to the Fundamental Rules of the Romanian Royal House

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Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, European royal families, Familia regala, istoria regalitatii, King Michael of Romania, Prince Radu, Principele Radu, Principesa Margareta, Romanian Royal Family

THE NEW FUNDAMENTAL RULES of the ROMANIAN DYNASTY. AN APPRAISAL

By Diana Mandache (‘Royalty Digest Quarterly’, No 1/2008, 49-52pp)

75 years ago today – the Romanian press on Crown Prince Michael

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Familia regala, istoria regalitatii, King Michael of Romania, prince michael, princess helen, Queen-Mother Helen, Regele Mihai, Romanian Royal Family

75 years ago today, the French language newspaper “L’Echo de Bucarest”  (12 February 1937) wrote about the Crown Prince Michael of Romania who underwent a hospital appendectomy emergency, which struck him while visiting his mother, Princess Helen in Florence. DM

Madalin Ghigeanu collection