All About Royal Families

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses row on row That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. John McCrae - Source picture: Wikipedia On 30 November 1872, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was born in  Ontario, Canada. During the Second Boer War (1899 - 1902), which was fought in South-Africa, John McCrae served in the artillery.  When Britain  declared war on Germany, at the beginning of World War I,  Canada, a dominion in the British Empire, was also at war. McCrae was appointed as medical officer and after the Second Battle of Ypres he treated the wounded soldiers. John McCrae memorial in Boezinge near Ypres, Belgium On 3 May 1915 he wrote the most famous poem of World War I: In Flanders Fields for a friend who died.  We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt down, saw the sunset glow, Loved and were loved , and now...

On 29 November 1835 a girl of the Manchu Yehenara clan was born in China. She was called Cixi. Selected as an imperial concubine of the Xianfeng Emperor in her adolescence, she gave birth to a royal son called Zaichun. This took place in 1865. After the death of the Xianfeng Emperor in 1861, the young boy became the Tongzhi Emperor and Cixi became Empress Dowager. Later Cixi, among others was chosen to become regent of China. Cixi supported technological and military reforms and the Self-Strengthening Moment. China's defeat in the Second Opium War (1856-1860) was a wake-up call. Cixi decided that for the first time in the Chinese history, China would learn from Western powers and import their knowledge and technology. They purchased 7 British warships. Cixi consolidated control over the dynasty and she installed her nephew as the Guangxu Emperor at the death of the Tongzhi Emperor in 1875. Therefore she broke with the traditional rules of succession of the Qin...

Wolfers Jewelry is a jewelry store located on the Boulevard de Waterloo in Brussels. It is specialized in bijoux and jewels. The jeweler also is closely connected to the Royal Court of Belgium. Wolfers Store in Brussels Some history The name "Wolfers" is known since 1812. It is one of the most famous and exclusive European jewelry. Philip Wolfers became re-known for his Art Nouveau bijoux. Royal connections In 1960, on the occasion of the marriage of King Baudouin of Belgium and Queen Fabiola, a group of wealthy Belgian industrials and public figures offered the Wolfers Tiara to Queen Fabiola. She wore it on several occasions either as a tiara or as a splendid necklace. Nowadays the jewel is worn by Queen Mathilde. http://queenmathilde.blogspot.be/2015/10/jewelry-wolfers-tiara.html In 1999, Wolfers became responsible for the engagement ring of the future Queen Mathilde of Belgium. https://www.glamour.com/story/queen-princess-engagement-rings W...

On 23 November 1590, an important French man died in Paris. His name was André Thévet. Maybe this name doesn't sound very familiar, though this André Thévet really had an important royal connection. Thévet was born in 1516 in Angoulême. There he entered a convent of Franciscans. However he wasn't much interested in religion, so he preferred to read lots of books. He made a voyage to Italy, later he went to Greece, Asia and Egypt. He even accompanied the French ambassador to Istanbul, then a part of the Ottoman Empire. When he returned to France in 1554 he published an account of his voyage. Shortly after this adventure he left France to sail as chaplain to colonize Brazil. In the new world he collected many interesting things. This gave him inspiration to write other books. On his return to France, André Thévet became chaplain of Catherine de' Medici and official historiographer and cosmographer of the French King. Thévet had served at least 4 K...

A place where even luxury becomes common, that's certainly Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Hotel de Paris - Monaco - own picture taken in 2013 Hotel de Paris was opened in 1864 as a part of the Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), under the watchful eye of Prince Charles III of Monaco. Charles III, Prince of Monaco, source picture - Wikipedia The Hotel de Paris has a Michelin 3-star Louis XV restaurant and Le Bar Americain, listed on the World's best Bar selection. In the Louis XV, a world famous chef is cooking. It is Alain Ducasse. It also has huge wine cellars. Hotel de Paris - Monaco detail facade - own picture taken in 2013 The Hotel de Paris has 99 rooms and one of the suite is named after Winston Churchill. Notable guests: - Princess Grace of Monaco - Winston Churchill (stayed here every winter) - Cary Grant - Sir Roger Moore - Frank & Barbara Sinatra - Rothschild - Rockefeller - Vanderbilt - King Gustav V of Sweden - Duke ...

Monaco Princely Palace- own picture taken in 2013 During the reign of Prince Albert II of Monaco, November 19th. was declared as the National Day of Monaco. Prince Albert of Monaco and Princess Charlene The National Day, also called the Sovereign Prince's Day traditionally is determined by the ruling prince. The previous rulers often chose their name day as the National Day. It was Prince Rainier III, who chose 19 November as the National Day. Prince Albert II wanted to continue the celebrations on this day. Monaco Princely Palace - own picture taken in 2013 Of course the main celebrations take place in front of the Princely Palace in Monaco (see pictures). However there also will be a mass in the St. Nicolas Cathedral. St. Nicolas Cathedral In the evening before the National Day of Monaco there are huge fireworks in the harbor of Monaco. One of Monaco's Harbors - taken in 2013 Happy National Day Monaco!

Every year on 11 November, Armistice Day is celebrated in Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, Serbia, United Kingdom and many other countries around the world. poppies at the Menin Gate in Ypres - own picture taken in 2017 This celebration is to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany. The document was signed at Compiègne in France. This ended the Western Front of World War I. The armistice took place at 11 o'clock in the morning of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The first Armistice Day was held in at Buckingham Palace. In the evening of November 10th. 1919, a banquet took place in presence of King George V to honor the president of the French Republic. King George V - Source picture: Wikipedia The first Armistice Day's events were held on November 11th. 1919. This was the beginning of the Remembrance Days events. Even today, the Festival of Remembrance takes place at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Thi...

On 8 November 1563 a noble boy was born at the Ducal Palace of Lorraine in Nancy. This noble boy would become: Henry II, Duke of Lorraine. Family Henry II was the son of Charles III, Duke of Lorraine and Claude Valois. His mother was the daughter of King Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici. His paternal grandparents were Francis I, Duke of Lorraine and Christina of Denmark. Love and Marriage First he married Catherine de Bourbon. She was a sister of King Henry IV of France. Catherine was Protestant and Henry II, Duke of Lorraine was a devout Catholic so a papal dispensation was needed, so the two could actually marry. Catherine died childless in 1604. On 24 April 1606,  Henry II married Margherita Gonzaga in Mantua. She was the daughter of Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Eleanora de' Medici, a sister of Maria de' Medici, who was the wife of King Henry IV of France. Maria's sister Eleanor was the future Holy Roman Empress. He...

From 5 November 2017 till 11 November 2017, King Philippe of the Belgians and his wife Queen Mathilde will make a state visit to India to celebrate an important B-Day. In 2017 there will be 70 years of diplomatic relations between India and Belgium. In fact in 1947, the first Belgian ambassador came to India. He stayed in this function from 1947 till 1951. It really was an important person: Eugène, 11th. Prince of Ligne. Besides ambassador, this man was a knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece. Some other remarkable facts about the diplomatic relations between the two countries: India is Belgium's second largest export destination and third largest trade partner outside the EU.  The gems and jewelry sector dominated the bilateral trade. More about this state visit: check this link  . Source pictures: Wikipedia

In October 2017 a new, quirky royal statue was inaugurated in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium. Statue in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium Perhaps it looks a bit creepy but this is a royal statue linked with the history of Sint-Niklaas, Belgium. In 1217, 800 years ago the bishop of Tournai wanted to found a new parish in Sint-Niklaas. Then the region was a part of the County of Flanders and the ruler was Joan of Constantinople. She offered grounds to the bishop for his new parish. Joan, Countess of Flanders - Source picture: Wikipedia In 1248, Joan's sister, Margaret II, the new Countess of Flanders, offered the  city also grounds. This is nowadays the area around the Grand Place. Margaret II of Flanders - Source picture: Wikipedia The statue was created by Frans Heirbaut. It's really connected with the town's history and its main square. After 800 years the two royal women returned to their grounds. They really are up to date by taking a selfi...