All About Royal Families

From 14 till 16 March 2023, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians and Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium will travel to Egypt. Which is the Belgian royal  history and connection to Egypt?  On November 22, 1922, Howard Carter discovered an undisturbed pharaoh's tomb in the Valley of the Kings, on the west bank of the Nile, in Luxor. As soon as the news reached Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, she decided to go there to take part in the opening of Tutankhamun's hypogeum, more than three thousand years after it was sealed, theoretically for eternity. "I have always been a woman of passions. Some are well known, others less so. One is my passion for ancient Egypt," wrote Elisabeth; she proved it by promptly telegraphing Lord Carnarvon, the financier of the excavations, to ask if she could join him; permission was of course granted. When the Egyptian authorities learned that the Queen of the Belgians wanted to visit, King Fuad organized her visit with the help of the British High Com...

 On 24 October 51, Domitian was born in Rome. He was the youngest son of Titus Flavius Vespasianus - known as Vespasian - and Flavia Domitilla Major.  He had one older sister, Domitilla the Younger and a brother also named Flavius Vespasianus.  Childhood Domitian was not educated at court. He displayed considerable marksmanship with the bow and arrow.  He was tall, with a modest expression. His eyes were large, but his sight was somewhat dim. He was handsome and graceful too.  He received the education of young man of the privileged senatorial class, he studied rhetoric and literature. Domitian could quote important poets and writers such as Homer or Virgil on appropriate occasions. He was described as learned and educated. Among his first published works were poetry as well as writings on law and administration.  The Year of the four emperors On 9 June 68 , Nero committed suicide and with him the Julio-Claudian dynasty came to an end. Chaos occurred a...

The collection of coins for their artistic value was a development and a real royal hobby. My own modest coin collection from the royal Family of Belgium received by my co-worker History Historical records state that in Ancient Rome and medieval Mesopotamia coins were collected and catalogued by scholars and state treasuries.  Emperor Augustus sometimes presented old and exotic coins to friends and courtiers during festivals and other special occasions. More about Augustus on this link .  Coin collecting and appreciation began around the fourteenth century. During the Renaissance it became a must among the members of the  priveleged classes, especially for Kings and Queens.  Many European Kings, princes and other nobility kept collections of ancient coins.  Collectors Emperor Maximilian I of Austria  (1459 - 1519) was a member of the House of Habsburg. He married to Mary of Burgundy.  Maximilian - Source picture Wikipedia More about Maximilian and the...

On 11 February 1920, His Sultanic Higness Farouk bin Fuad, the Hereditary Prince of Egypt and Sudan was born at the Abdeen Palace in Cairo, Egypt.  Family His parents were King Fouad I of Egypt and Nazli Sabri. He was a member of the Muhammad Ali Dynasty. King Fouad I gave all of his children names starting with F after an Indian fortune-teller told him names starting with F would bring him good luck.  Early years Farouk was only allowed to see his mother once every day for one hour. He grew up in the very closeted world of the royal palaces and he never visited the Great Pyramids of Giza until he became a King.  Farouk however had a very spoiled upbringing with the servants when meeting him always getting down on their knees to first kiss the ground and then his hand.  Aside from his sisters, Farouk had no friends when growing up as Fuad would not allow any outsiders to meet him.  England In October 1935, Farouk left Egypt to settle at Kenry House in the countr...

Running is described as a method of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. Running in humans is associated with improved health and life expectancy.  Running also has an amazing (royal) history.  Royal History The Pharaos of Egypt had to prove their ability to reign by running in the Heb-Sed Feast also called the Sed festival. In the Midlle Ages knights had running as a part of their education. It also was in the education of future kings.  At the coronation of King Wenceslaus II of Bohemia there was an important part of physical tests just as running.  Nowadays it is known that many royals like to run.  Belgium * King Philippe of Belgium has already participated in the 20 km of Brussels.  He runs almost every day to clean up his mind. More on this link . * Princess Astrid of Belgium, the sister of King Philippe, has participated in The marathon of New York.  * Crown Princess Elisabeth, while announcing she ...

When I was a child, I looked up to leaders and royals just as Julius Caesar,  Napoleon Bonaparte and Queen Victoria. In his writings Julius Caesar mentioned: "From all the Gauls, the Belgae (Belgians) are the bravest." Perhaps that was the main reason, I 'liked' Julius Caesar as a kid.  From Napoleon Bonaparte and Queen Victoria, I made different pages on this Allaboutroyalfamilies blog. However Julius Caesar, on his own, has never been mentioned before.  In 2017, I finally got the chance to visit Rome. Walking in such an  amazing city with lovely people, I must admit, I thought about its  history and its emperors.  Of course, I was confused that Julius Caesar never has been an Emperor nor a King, but only a Consul and later even a Dictator.  Nevertheless, I still wanted to make a blogpost about him and the other Roman Emperors.  Source picture: Wikipedia Julius Caesar - Early life Julius Caesar was born on 12 July 100 BC into a patrician family...

Royals and especially the royal history interest me very much. I really enjoy in taking the opportunity to read books about these fascinating topics. This week, I chose the book 'The Top 5 most famous queens' about Nefertiti, Cleopatra, Elisabeth I, Catherine the Great and Victoria. The book is edited by Charles River Editors. This is  - according to Amazon - a digital publishing  company that creates compelling, educational content. It is a bit of a spoiler that the names of The Top 5 of the Most famous queens are already released on the bookcover. However the 5 biographies are interesting though short stories. The Top 5 of the Most Famous Queens also is written very clear and fluently, so it is pleasant to read. Is the book to recommend? Well, sure it is! Especially for royal history fans, but it wasn't specialized.  Nevertheless, I'm happy, I read this book. Source picture: bookcover I read this book via koboplus and bol.com

Onthisday,  on 26 June 1866 George Edward Stanhope Molyneux Herbert was born at Highclere Castle in Hampshire in the United Kingdom. Family His parents were Henry Herbert, the 4th. Earl of Carnavon and Lady Evelyn Stanhope. His maternal grandparents were George Stanhope, 6th. Earl of Chesterfield and Lady Anne. Love and Marriage Lord Carnavon married to Almina Victoria Maria Alexandra Wombwell. She was the illegitimate daughter of millionaire banker, Alfred de Rothschild of the famous Rothschild family. This wedding took place on 26 June 1895. They would have 2 children. Hobby's Carnavon first was best known as an owner of race horses and a reckless driver of early cars. His grandson the 7th. Earl of Carnavon was a racing manager to Queen Elizabeth II from 1969 and one of the Queen's closest friends. Egypt Lord Carnavon was an enthusiastic amateur Egyptologist, he and his wife often spent their winters in Egypt, where they bought antiquities ...

Abbas II Hilmi Bey, also known as Abbãs Hilmi Pasha was born on 14 July 1874 at Alexandria, in the Khedivate of Egypt. Family His parents were Tewfik Pasha, a Khedive of Egypt and Sudan between 1879 and 1892, and Emina Ilhamy, an Ottoman Princess. Abbas II of Egypt was thus a member of the Muhammad Ali dynasty. Early life Abbas II of Egypt visited as boy the United Kingdom and he had a number of British tutors in Cairo and a governess who taught him English. An American officer in the Egyptian army took charge of his military training. He attended school at Lausanne in Switzerland and later in Geneva, also located in Switzerland. Later he entered the Theresianum in Vienna. Abbas II of Egypt had a good knowledge of Turkish and a good conversational knowledge of English, French and German. Reign On 8 January 1892, King Abbas II of Egypt succeeded his father as Khedive (Ottoman viceroy) of Egypt and Sudan. He surrounded himself with European advisers,...

From the Declaration to Egypt by His Britannic  Majesty's Government: Whereas His Majesty's Government, in accordance with their declared  intentions, desire forthwith to recognize Egypt as an independent sovereign state....  picture taken by me in 2010 coloured & adapted by Eelco Boeijinga in 2022 Some modern History The Khedivate of Egypt was until 1914 an autonomous tributary state of the Ottoman Empire. Some Important Dates and facts The Khedivate of Egypt was ruled by the Muhammad Ali dynasty. On November 5th. 1914 it was declared British protectorate, when the Ottoman Empire joined the Central Forces during World War I. After World War I there came an Egyptian Nationalist Movement. This led to the Egyptian Revolution in 1919. On February 28th 1922 the UK government issued a Unilateral Declaration of Independence. However British Military presence in Egypt lasted till 1954. Hurghada Egypt - Own picture