All About Royal Families

The fourth daughter of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg, Sophie was born on 26 June 1914 at Mon Repos , a palace in Corfu that her parents inherited after the assassination of King George I in 1913.  Nicknamed "Tiny" by her family, the princess grew up within a united household, together with her elder sisters Margarita (1905–1981), Theodora (1906–1969),   and Cecilie (1911–1937).  With their mother, Sophie and her sisters communicated in English, but they also used French, German, and Greek in the presence of their relatives and governesses. Childhood Sophie's early childhood was marked by the instability that the Kingdom of Greece experienced due to the First World War. The conflict divided her family into opposing branches, and Greece eventually set aside its neutrality due to the Triple Entente.  Sophie and her sisters were in the royal palace of Athens when it was bombarded by the French Navy during the battle in the capi...

The third daughter of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg, Cecilie was born at Tatoi Palace, near Athens, on 22 June 1911. Baptized on 10 July, her godparents were King George V of the United Kingdom, Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse, Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark and Grand Duchess Vera Konstantinovna of Russia. Childhood Cecilie spent a happy childhood within a united household that was already made up of two daughters, Margarita (1905–1981) and Theodora (1906–1969), and was  further expanded with the arrival of Sophie (1914–2001).  Cecilie's early years were marked by the instability that the Kingdom of Greece  experienced at the start of the twentieth century. Between 1912 and 1913, Greece  engaged in the Balkan Wars, during which Prince Andrew served under  Crown Prince Constantine while Princess Alice worked as a nurse for wounded soldiers.  They were, however, especially affected by the First World War, which ...

Prince William was born at St Mary's Hospital, London on 21 June 1982 as the first child of Charles, Prince of Wales (heir apparent to Queen Elizabeth II) and Diana, Princess of Wales. His name His names, William Arthur Philip Louis, were announced by Buckingham Palace on 28 June. Baptize He was baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie, in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace on 4 August, the 82nd birthday of his paternal great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.  William had six godparents: * former King Constantine II of Greece (his paternal second cousin once removed); * Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Mrs Ogilvy (his paternal first cousin twice removed); * the Duchess of Westminster; * Lady Susan Hussey (a confidant of The Queen) ; * Lord Romsey (his paternal second cousin once removed); and Sir Laurens van der Post. A first trip He was the first child born to a Prince and Princess of Wales since Prince John in 1905.   William accompanied hi...

Royal Ascot is one of the most important Royal events of the year. The racecourse was found by Queen Anne. More about the history of this Royal Ascot Racecourse. History The racecourse was founded in 1711 by Queen Anne , when out riding from Windsor Castle, she came upon an area of open heath that looked, in her words, 'ideal for horses to gallop at full stretch'. Her plans for a new race meeting were subsequently announced in the London Gazette of 12 July 1711. Her Majesty's Plate of 100 guineas will be run for round the new heat on Ascott Common, near Windsor, on Tuesday, August 7th next, by any horse, mare or gelding, being no more than six years old the grass before, as must be certified under the hand of the breeder, carrying 12 St., three heats, to be entered the last day of July, at Mr. Hancock's, at Fern Hill, near the Starting Post. — Announcement of the first race meeting at Ascot, London Gazette (12 July 1711) That first meeting was held on 11 August 1711, th...

Queen Fabiola of Belgium was born  Doña Fabiola Fernanda María-de- las-Victoria Antonia Adelaida de Mora y Aragón on 11 June 1928 at the Palacio de Zurbano in Madrid. She was a daughter of Gonzalo de Mora y Fernández y Riera y del Olmo, Marqués de Casa Riera and Blanca de Aragón y Carrillo de Albornoz y Barroeta-Aldamar y Elío. Her birthplace was thus the lovely Palacio de Zurbano in Madrid. This  year I finally had the chance to see this amazing palace. The History of Palacio de Zurbano The Palacio de Zurbano was built by Severiano Sainz de la Lastra —architect, together with Eduardo Adaro, of the Bank of Spain building— in 1878 for Fermín de Muguiro y Azcárate, I Count of Muguiro (Olite, Navarra, July 7, 1831 -Madrid, 15 July 1892). The heirs of Ángela Beruete, widow of Fermín Muguiro, sold the property in 1919 for 750,000 pesetas to Gonzalo de Mora y Fernández, Count of Mora and Marquis of Casa Riera. Between 1915 and 1920 a second extension was carried out b...