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Showing posts from April, 2021

Noble families in Spain: the Dukes of Seville

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The Dukes of Seville were , of course named after Seville, the beautiful  Andalusian town in Spain. Seville own picture taken in 2018   History of the Dukes of Seville The Title "Duke of Seville" was granted in 1823 by King Ferdinand VII of Spain .  King Ferdinand VII of Spain by Goya Source picture: Wikipedia King Ferdinand VII of Spain granted his own nephew Infante Enrique of Spain the title Duke of Seville.   Source picture: Wikipedia Who is who?  Infante Enrique of Spain himself was a grandson of King Charles VI of Spain and of King Francis I of the Two Sicilies as well (through his mother). He was born in Seville, so that's why his uncle King Ferdinand VII granted him that  title. His eldest son, Enrique de Borbón y Castellvi became the second Duke of Seville.  Nowadays Nowadays the current Duke of Seville is Francisco de Borbón y Escasany . He is the 5th. Duke of Seville and still a distant relative to the Spanish royal family. He is a businessman, involved in inte

Books on Sunday: Diana Style Icon

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Diana Spencer was born on 1 July 1961 at Sandringham in Norfolk, United Kingdom. She was born into the British nobility as the youngest daughter of John Spencer, the 8th. Earl of Spencer and Francess Shand Kidd.   In 1981 Lady Diana married to Charles, Prince of Wales and the Crown Prince of the United Kingdom. The royal couple had two sons: William and Harry but unfortunately things didn't turn well and their marriage ended in a divorce in 1996. On 31 august 1997, Diana, Princess of Wales died in Paris after a tragic car crash.  A style icon as well as a legend was born.  Source picture: book cover Summary  Diana: Style Icon showcases her fashion evolution with illustrations of over 60 of her most loved looks and the stories behind them. From 80s ruffles to memorable red-carpet classics, exciting off-duty outfits and her confident, considered revenge look, which emerged after the break-up of her marriage.  This book is a celebration of the Princess of Wales, her love of fashion of

The Roman Series: Who was Aulus Vitellius?

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On 24 September 15, Aulus Vitellius was born in Rome, then a part of the Roman Empire. Family Aulus Vitellius was the son of Lucius Vitellius and his wife Sextila. He had one brother who also was named Lucius Vitellius. When Vitellius was born his horoscope was so horrified that his father tried to prevent Aulus from becoming a consul. Early Youth Vitellius was one of the noble companions of Tiberius' retirement on Capri and there befriended Caligula, whose favour he won, by sharing in his passion for chariot racing and games of dice.  Love and Marriage Before the year 40 - he married a woman named Petronia with whom he had a son Aulus Vitellius Petronianus. Around the year 50, Aulus Vitellius married secondly a woman named  Galeria Fundana. They had two children, a son called Aulus Vitellius Germanicus and a daughter Vitellia, who married Decimus Valerius Asiaticus.  Career In 48, Aulus Vitellius became a Consul. In either 60 or 61, he became a  proconsular governor of Africa. At

Royals and the climate

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A lot of royals are interested in the climate case. Some of them take the lead to do something to improve the climate.  Own picture taken in Monaco in 2013 Belgium Princess Astrid of Belgium, daughter of King Albert II of Belgium has taken up the climate change because of its relevance to her main area of interest : the  spread of malaria. Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium has given her name to a Belgian scientific research station on Antarctica. This is called Princess Elisabeth Antarctica.  Crown princess Elisabeth of Belgium Source picture: book cover Prinsessen van België (Dutch) Princess Esmeralda of Belgium, daughter of King Leopold III and Lilian Baels is going to write a book about the climate (2021). Denmark, Sweden, Norway Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway travelled to Greenland together to witness themselves the effects of climate change. They visited a research centre. Malaysia Several sultans in Malaysi

9 April 2021: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh passed away

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Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh passed away at Windsor Castle on 9 April 2021. Who was Prince Philip? Source picture: Book Cover   Family Prince Philip was born on 10 June 1921 at Mon Repos on Corfu in Greece.  More about Mon Repos on this link . His parents were Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and  Princess Alice of Battenberg.  His paternal grandparents were King George I of Greece and Olga Constantinovna of Russia. His maternal grandparents were Prince Louis of Battenberg and Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine.  Prince Philip was a member of the House of Glücksburg and later a member of the House of Mountbatten. Education Prince Philip first went to The Elms, an American school in Paris run by Donald MacJannet.  In 1928, Philip went to the United Kingdom to attend Cheam School, where he lived with his maternal grandmother, Victoria Mountbatten, Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven at Kensington Palace and his uncle George Mountbatten, 2nd. Marques of Milford Haven at L

Books on Sunday : The other side of the coin

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Angela Kelly has worked with The Queen and walked the corridors of the Royal Household for 25 years, initially as Her Majesty's Senior Dresser and later as Her Majesty's Personal Adivsor and Curator (The Queen's Juwellery, Insignias and Wardrobe) and In-house Designer. The Queen even gave Angela her blessing to share their extraordinary bond with the world. This was written down in the book: The other side of the coin. Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth Alexandra was born on 21 April 1926 as the eldest daughter of the Duke of York and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.  On 6 February 1952 she became Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth Realms. She is perhaps one of the most powerful women on earth.  My review In "the other side of the coin" tells Angela Kelly about her time as  Her Majesty's senior dresser and her other functions she had. She speaks openly about her work, which is extraordinary and she lifts a tip of the veil about who The Queen really is.  It is n