All About Royal Families

On August 30th. 1813, the first Battle of Kulm took place. Kulm was a town in Bohemia (now located in the Czech Republic). Battle of Kulm - Source picture: Wikipedia After the Battle of Dresden (see some earlier blogposts),  soldiers of Napoleon attacked the Russian & Austrian formations.  But the French soldiers also were attacked by the Prussians.  Finally, the French were defeated in the Battle of Kulm by the  Austrian/Russian/Prussian alliance.

On August 29th. 1935, Astrid of Sweden died in Küssnacht am Rigi (Switzerland) by a car accident.  Source picture: Wikipedia Astrid was born on November 17th. 1905 in Stockholm (Sweden). Her parents were Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland, and  Princess Ingeborg of Denmark.   Prince Carl and Princess Ingeborg - Source picture: Wikipedia Astrid married Prince Leopold of Belgium. In 1934 she became  Queen Consort of Belgium.Her grandson, King Philippe is the  current King of the Belgians. She also is the grandmother of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg  and the aunt of  King Harald of Norway. Today the crypt in Laeken (near Brussels) is open for public. 

On August 28th. 1619, Ferdinand II was elected Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.   Source picture: Wikipedia Ferdinand was born on July 9th. 1578 in Graz (Austria) as son of Charles II, Archduke of Austria and Maria Anna of Bavaria.   Charles II - Source: Wikipedia   Maria Anna of Bavaria -  Source: Wikipedia

On August 27th. 1813, French Emperor Napoleon I defeated the larger force of Austrians, Russians and Prussians at the Battle of Dresden.   Battle of Dresden - Source: Wikipedia The Battle of Dresden was the last important victory of Napoleon in Germany.

Michelangelo was commissioned the Pietà.     Michelangelo - Portrait - Source picture: Wikipedia     Michelangelo's Pietà - Source: Wikipedia The Pietà is a master piece of Renaissance Sculpture made by Michelangelo. The Sculpture is located in St.Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. 

Nail Polish is a product I can't miss. It completes an outfit. Own picture of fingers with Nail Polish But what's the history of it? Who started to put Nail Polish on her fingers? And has it something to do with Royals? I started to find some information and it really is interesting. Around 3000BC, Chinese people started to use Nail Polish. On 600 BC, during the Zhou Dynasty, the Royal House preferred gold and silver. Chinese Painting during the Ming Dynasty -  Source picture: Wikipedia During the Ming Dynasty, Nail Polish was often made by a mixture of beeswax, eggs white, gelatin, vegetable dyes and Gum Arabic (I wouldn't have used that product:-)) In Egypt, lower classes wore pale colors of Nail Polish, while the high society used red colors. During the first decades of the 20th. century the Modern Nail Polish was invented by the company Cutex (based in Stamford - United States). Nail Polish started in traditional colors: clear, red, p...

On August 21st. 1963, King Mohammed VI (then Heir Apparent and Crown Prince) was born.   King Mohammed VI - Source picture: Wikipedia

Greenwich is a district of South East London located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich and situated 5.5 miles south-east of Charing Cross. Greenwich is notable for its maritime history and for giving its name to a Meridian and to the Greenwich Mean Time. Royal Destination? The town was built on a site of the Palace of Placentia (15th. century). It was the Birth Place of many members of the House of Tudor including Henri VIII and Elizabeth I. Unfortunately the Palace was demolished. There are more Royal Connections with Greenwich. Did you know that one of the titles of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is Baron Greenwich of Greenwich in the County of London? Famous landmarks Here are some own pictures of the famous landmarks of Greenwich Cutty Sark Cutty Sark The Duke of Edinburgh is patron of the Cutty Sark. Millennium Dome Millennium Dome Royal Observatory Royal Observatory National Maritime Museum National Mar...

Eau De Cologne A product with a huge historical importance is Eau De Cologne or in German: Köllnisch Wasser. I don't like the smell very much (it's a bit too strong for me) but it gives you certainly a feeling of cleanliness and freshness. 4711 Eau De Cologne The most famous Eau De Cologne is 4711. The company which sold the Eau De Cologne was located at the Glockengasse  No 4711 in Cologne. Cologne has a great historical importance due to his location at  both sides of the Rhine River. It is German's fourth largest city after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. But what about a Royal Destination....? Some History During the time of the Holy Roman Empire (Middle Ages) the  Archbishop of Cologne was one of the 7 prince-electors.  Electors were Princes of the Empire.  Famous landmarks: The cathedral 'Dom' Dom of Cologne Germany Twelve Romanesque Churches   Own picture of one of the twelve Churches Me...

Nowadays a hat is a popular accessory. But, why did people start wearing it? How became a hat a must-have fashion item? Some History Hats were already worn by the Greeks (and even before them).   A Greek painting with a hat :  Source - Wikipedia In the late 16th. century women started to wear a hat.  The best hat makers were then from Milan in Italy and  that's where the term: 'Millener'  comes from. In the 19th. century the hats became larger with ribbons, flowers, feathers etc.  Hats - Source picture: Wikipedia Now Many (young) royals, I think spontaneously about the Duchess of Cambridge,  wear beautiful hats. Hatmakers really became very popular (Fabienne Delvigne, Philip Treacy, ...) The royals understand the importance of the symbolic of hats  (a hat can replace a crown). Hats are even more!  They are the fashion item to show a social status.  Isn't that amazing!?!

August 15th. is a catholic holiday. The Church is celebrating the Assumption of Mary. In Belgium and other countries like France, Austria, Croatia, Spain,  Switzerland and many more it is a public holiday.  So, unfortunately all the shops are closed in Belgium. And strange but true! Only in the region around Antwerp  (about 20 minutes from my hometown) and in Costa Rica  we are celebrating Mother's Day.  So, to all the mothers: Happy Mother's Day.  Statue of Mary - own picture- taken in Antwerp, Belgium

After the Russian Revolution, Maria Feodorovna moved to Denmark. There she lived for years in Hvidøre House near Copenhagen.   Hvidøre House - Wikipedia   Dagmar and Alexandra @ Hvidøre House - Source picture: Wikipedia In Denmark there were a lot of Russian émigrées. For them, Maria Feodorovna still remained the Empress. She died on October 13th. 1928.  There were services in the Alexander Nevsky Church.   Alexander Nevsky Church - Source picture: Wikipedia Later she was interred in the Roskilde Cathedral in Denmark.   Roskilde Cathedral in Denmark - Source picture And if you may think the story of Maria Feodorovna is over yet, you're wrong. In 2005, Queen Margarethe II of Denmark and Vladimir Putin, President of Russia,  made an agreement that the Empress's remains should be returned to Saint Petersburg  according to her last wishes. In 2006, there were a number of ceremonies and the rema...