All About Royal Families

On June 9th. 1854 the Great Western Royal Hotel was opened by Albert, Prince Consort of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. This building wanted 'to rival the facilities of the great hotels on the continent'. Hilton London Paddington - own picture - taken in 2016 Owners The early owners of the hotel were the Great Western Railway Company and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who became the first manager from the hotel. Architect The Great Western Royal Hotel was designed by architect Philip Charles Hardwick. The building itself was built by Holland, Hannen & Cubitts. Style This Hotel was built in the Second Empire style (which was one of the earliest buildings in that style). Hilton London Paddington - own picture - taken in 2016 History Originally the Great Western Railway Company leased to the Great Western Royal Hotel Company. In the 1930's  the Railway Company took control over the Hotel. However due to the privatization of Britis

On April 21st. 1767, Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg was born in Trzebiatów (now located in West Poland). Family Her parents were Frederick II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg and Friederike Sophia Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt (a niece of Frederick the Great). Education At the age of 15, Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg was called by Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II to Vienna. There she was educated at the Salesianerinnenkloster and she converted to Catholicism. Love & Marriage On January 6th. 1788 Elisabeth married Archduke Francis of Austria, who became later Holy Roman Emperor. At the end of 1789 Elisabeth was pregnant, though her condition wasn't that good. On February 18th. 1790 the Elisabeth gave prematurely birth to Archduchess Ludovika Elisabeth of Austria. Death On February 18th. 1790 Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg died. She didn't survived the childbirth. She was buried at the Imperial Crypt in Vienna (Austria). Source picture: Wi

April 20th. 1727 marks the birth of Florimond Claude, Comte de Mercy-Argenteau. This took place in Liège (Belgium). Family He was the son of Field Marshal Antoine Ignace de Mercy d'Argenteau and Thérèse Henriëtte de Rouvroy. Career Florimond Claude entered the Austrian diplomatic corps. He became Austrian minister in Turin (Italy), St. Petersburg (Russia) and in Paris (France). In Paris his first work was to strengthen the alliance between France and Austria. This resulted in a marriage between the later Louis XVI and Archduchess Maria Antonia of Austria. When Louis XVI became King, Mercy-Argenteau was one of the most powerful persons at the French court by manipulating Queen Marie-Antoinette, which made her unpopular with the French nobility and with the people. In 1792 Mercy-Argenteau became governor of the Austrian Netherlands. His ability and his experience made from him an excellent ruler. In 1794 Mercy-Argenteau was appointed as Austrian ambassado