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Queen Elisabeth of Belgium

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A queen with an artist’s soul Some royals walk into history as majesties. And some royals reshape it. Queen Elisabeth of Belgium (1876–1965) certainly belongs to the second category; a sovereign defined by empathy, curiosity and an extraordinary cultural legacy. A childhood shaped by art and compassion Elisabeth Gabriele Valérie Marie was born on 25 July 1876 at Possenhofen Castle on the shores of the Starnberger See. Her father, Duke Karl Theodor in Bavaria, was both a member of the Bavarian royal family , the House of Wittelsbach ,  and an acclaimed ophthalmologist; her mother, Infanta Maria José of Portugal, assisted him as a nurse, a rare role for a princess in the 19th century. This early exposure to caregiving and human vulnerability shaped Elisabeth’s lifelong compassion. Surrounded by music, painting and sculpture, she grew up in an environment that nurtured her artistic sensibilities. It was a childhood that prepared her for a future where culture and duty would become ins...
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Royal highlights of November 2025

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Discover what’s on the royal calendar this month! From state visits and remembrance ceremonies to birthdays and cultural events, November 2025 will be an engaging month for Europe’s royal families and beyond. Here’s a complete look at the royal engagements and birthdays happening this month. This blog will be updated during the month November.  Royal Diary November 1 King Philippe of the Belgians, King of Spain, Queen of Jordan, Queen of Denmark, Prince of Monaco, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, Princess Akiko, Princess Sirivannavari, Princess Salma of Jordan, Crown Prince of Oman will attend the opening of the new museum in Cairo, Egypt. All Saint's Day November 6 🇬🇧 The Prince of Wales will represent King Charles III at the #COP30 World Leaders Summit in Belém, Brazil. 🇧🇪 King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians will attend the gala evening of the King Baudouin Foundation’s Antwerp Support Council. November 8 🇬🇧 The National Festival of Remembrance will take place a...
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Location: Brussels, Belgium
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Cosimo Ruggeri, Catherine de' Medici's Magic man

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When we think of the French Renaissance court, we often imagine dazzling balls, glittering jewels, and intricate political games. But behind the silks and masks, the court of Catherine de' Medici had a darker, more mystical side and at the heart of it stood one enigmatic figure: Cosimo Ruggeri. Catherine de' Medici and Cosimo Ruggeri From Florence to France Cosimo Ruggeri (sometimes spelled Ruggieri) was born in Florence in the early 1500s, a time when astrology and alchemy were taken quite seriously, especially among Italy’s elite. He was trained in the esoteric arts: astrology, magic, and possibly even poison-making. His talents caught the eye of Catherine de' Medici, the powerful queen consort of France, who herself had grown up in the mystical atmosphere of the Florentine Medici court. By the mid-16th century, Ruggeri had followed Catherine to France and became her trusted astrologer and advisor. Some even whisper he was something more: a magician in her inner circle. T...
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Location: Paris, France
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