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 ©

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.

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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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.

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)

Romanian Royal Memorabilia: Carmen Sylva’s Fan auctioned in 2006

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Carmen Sylva, European royal families, Familia regala, istoria regalitatii, Queen Elizabeth of Romania, Royal Memorabilia

This is a rare and valuable fan that belonged to Queen Elisabeth of Romania, which was estimated at Christie’s, London (South Kensington) between  £3,000 – £5,000 ($5,211 – $8,685), and sold for £2,880 ($5,003) in February 2006. I would say that the amount paid for the acquisition at the auction was quite a good price for this more peculiar historical item. DM

Description: Queen Elisabeth of Romania’s Fan. The canepin leaf painted with wisteria signed E. Fanty Lescure and painted with a poem: ’Une Aile d’Ange d’aigle ou d’abeile c’est toujours une ail!’ signed ‘Carmen Sylva’, with mother of pearl sticks, the gold guardsticks enamelled in colours with daffodils, iris, lily and sunflowers, unsigned but probably by Paul Telge, Berlin, possibly to a design by the Queen of Romania, 33cm, circa 1895, in Perspex case. Provenance: Princess Elizabeth Bibesco. 

A fan also painted by Emma Fanty Lescure with very similar gold enamelled guardsticks was sold in these rooms 13 July 1978. It was in a fan box labelled Paul Telge – Berlin and had a note enclosed: Fan ornamented in gold enamels designed by Carmen Sylva H.M. the Queen of Romania; it was not painted with a poem signed Carmen Sylva. It is now no. 141 in the Helen Alexander collection and has been exhibited: Royal Fans, The Fan Circle International, 1985-6, Salisbury, Guildford and Harwood House, no. 160; The Fan Museum, 2001, no. 45; Royal Fans, The Fan Museum Greenwich, 2002, no. 47.

Danish EU Presidency celebration

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crown prince frederik, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, crown prince philippe, Danish EU Presidency, Prince Philippe of Belgium, Princess Mary of Denmark, Princess Mathilde of Belgium

Prince Philippe of Belgium, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Princess Mary of Denmark and Princess Mathilde of Belgium attend a concert for Danish EU Presidency celebration at Flagey, 26 January 2012, Brussel

Rosenborg Castle, special exhibition: Pearls

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Royal jewels

PEARLS. Royal splendour – Modern design. Special exhibition. 11 Feb. 2012 – 28 May, 2012

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark Celebrates 40 Years on The Throne

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Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark:

The most important thing for me and my family is to try to be a unifying factor for our country and our people

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark Celebrates 40 Years on The Throne - Balcony Views General view of the Danish Royal Family and other royal guests on the balcony to celebrate Queen Margarethe II of Denmark's 40 years on the throne at Amalienborg Royal Palace, 15 January 2012, Copenhagen

Queen Margrethe II about the role of a monarch

It is a gradual process of preparation. Father was not the sort of person to sit down and lecture me or give longer discourses on what had to be done and how. It was a slow process of the same type that I have tried to practice with the Crown Prince when he was younger. It is not something that can be learnt by heart and imposed.

Queen Margarethe II of Denmark and Prince Henrik of Denmark make an appearance on the balcony to celebrate the Queen’s 40 years on the throne at Amalienborg Royal Palace

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark’s Ruby Jubilee

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Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

Margrethe II of Denmark arrives for the official reception to celebrate 40 years on the throne at City Hall on January 14, 2012 in Copenhagen

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is marking the 40th anniversary of her succession to the country’s throne. She became the first female sovereign of Denmark in 1972 following the death of her father, King Frederick IX.

Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark held a press conference on the occasion of her 40th annniversary as Queen in the Great Hall at Christian IX Palace at Amalienborg. Copenhagen, 10th January 2012

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Happy Birthday, Duchess of Cambridge!

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British Royal Family, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, European royal families, Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince William Duke of Cambridge

The Duchess of Cambridge celebrates her 30th birthday today, 9 January 2012. HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY, CATHERINE, Duchess of Cambridge!

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend the premiere of Steven Spielberg's film 'War Horse', 8 January 2012

1912 A century ago season greetings card – Romanian Royal Family

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Romanian Royal Family

A Happy New Year 2012 … a hundred years later!

A century ago season greetings card - The Romanian Royal Family, old postcard (Diana Mandache collection)

The 15 most popular articles in 2011

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British Royal Family, Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, Diana Mandache, European royal families, Familia regala, istoria regalitatii, King Michael of Romania, Queen Marie of Romania, Queen-Mother Helen

1. Exhibition of traditional Greek and Romanian costumes of Helen, Queen-Mother of Romania
2. A letter from King George V to Queen Marie of Romania, 1922
3. New article on King Michael of Romania entitled “The History Maker”, Majesty magazine
4. Three Royal Weddings: 1947, 1981, 2011
5. Philip de Laszlo in 1936 at the Romanian Royal Court
6. King Michael of Romania Parliament’s speech, 25 October 2011
7. “Dearest Missy” – My new book
8. Queen Marie of Romania, Colonel Joe Boyle and the Canadians
9. Princess Helen and King Michael of Romania: Black Sea royal holidays
10. Exclusive Interview with the Crown Princess Margarita of Romania
11. Princess Elisabeta of Romania
12. Wedding: Georg Friedrich Ferdinand of Prussia & Sophie of Isenburg
13. KOKOSHNIK: from traditional Russian headdresses to Royal Fashion
14. A symbol of the Romanian Monarchy: the Throne Room – used by the communist dictator
15. Visit by HRH Prince Nicholas of Romania to the National History Museum

“Dearest Missy” nominated ‘Book of the Month’ in Majesty magazine

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"Dearest Missy" by Diana Mandache, Diana Mandache, Duchess of Edinburgh, Majesty Magazine, Princess Marie of Edinburgh

My book “Dearest Missy”in Majesty magazine,  Book of the Month, January 2012

The extensive correspondence between Marie Alexandrovna, Grand Duchess of  Russia, Duchess of Edinburgh and of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and her daughter, Marie, Crown Princess of Romania, covering the period 1879-1900.
These lively and detailed epistles, sent from places across the length and breadth of Europe, are first-hand historical documents detailing the daily life, social events, dramas and transformations taking place at the royal courts during the latter part of the Victorian era.

The Nobel Prize Ceremony, 10 December 2011

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Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Nobel Prize 2011, Queen Silvia of Sweden

(Second row) Prince Carl Philip of Sweden (L) and Prince Daniel of Sweden (R) and (front row) Queen Silvia of Sweden (L), Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden (C) and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden (R) applaud the Nobel Prize Award Ceremony at Stockholm Concert Hall on December 10, 2011 in Stockholm

Australian astrophycisist Brian Schmidt receives the Nobel Prize for Physics from King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden