All About Royal Families

One of the most beautiful churches in Rome is without no doubt the Santi Michaele e Magno in Rome. Perhaps this name doesn't say anything to you, but it is better known as the Friezen church in Dutch. Frisian Church in Rome, Italy The Church is dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel and Bishop Saint Magnus of Anagni. The Santi Michaele e Magno is located on the northern slope of Palazolo Hill in Rione Borgo near the Vatican in Rome. It is the national church dedicated to The Netherlands. Frisian Church in Rome Outside Some history From the 8th. century Frisian pilgrims regularly visited Rome. At the same time a colony of Frisians was living there. The Scola of Frisians was first mentioned by Pope Leo III's return to Rome in 799. In 845, the Frisians defended the Old St. Peter's Basilica against a Saracen invasion. Its patron was St. Michael the Archangel, who liberated Rome from the Plague and it was a favoured Saint during the Lombard

In these series the Allaboutroyalfamilies blog is researching about the hobbies of members of the royal family in past and in present as well. This week, the blog wants to talk about gardening. Which royal like(d) to spend some time in the garden? Who are or were the Monty Dons of the Royal Family? Let's check it! First of all: there are many royals who designed (or gave the order to design their palace gardens) and much royals like to garden themselves. It's a long list and far from complete. So if you have remarks or you want to add royals on the list, please let me know! Schönbrunn Schönbrunn Schönbrunn Belvedere Belvedere Austria Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor (1768-1835), gave the order to redecorate the palace garden of Schönbrunn in its Neoclassical Style as people can see today. Another beautiful palace with an amazing garden in Vienna is the Belvedere Palace, built in order of Prince Eugene of Savoy. Belgium It was k

On 17 May 1971, Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is the daughter of Jorge Zorreguieta and Maria del Carmen Cerruti Carricart. She has two brothers and a sister (deceased) and three half-sisters. She is named after her paternal grand-mother Máxima Bonorio González (1874 - 1983). Máxima grew up in Buenos Aires. She graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina From 1989 Máxima started working. From May 2000 till March 2001, she worked for the Deutsche Bank in Brussels, Belgium. In April 1999, Máxima met Prince Willem-Alexander in Seville, Spain, during the Spring Fair. The news of the couple's relationship, caused lots of controversy, due to Máxima's father Jorge. He was a minister during the Dirty War in Argentina. The couple announced their engagement on 30 March 2001. Máxima addressed the nation in Dutch. On 17 May 2001, she received the Dutch citizenship. Máxima and Prince Willem-Alexander m

Recently (in april 2020) the Hotel Metropole in Brussels, capital of Belgium, was mentioned in the newspapers as bankrupt due to a lack of money and the Covid-19 crisis. This is a sad thing for the Belgian Tourism and the Hotels in Brussels. Hotel Metropole at the Brouckière square in Brussels was the only working hotel, founded in the 19th. century. Hotel Metropole Café in Brussels History In 1890, two brothers decided to open Café Metropole, to sell their own beer. It became a real success and later the family after café Wielemans-Ceupens bought the bank near the café to create a big hotel. They asked architect Alban Chambon to build a beautiful place. It was the first hotel in Brussels with electric lights and central heating systems. In 1911, the hotel hosted the famous Solvay conference with inter alia Einstein, Marie & Pierre Curie as guests. In 1957, a big reception (before Expo '58) took place at the Hotel Metropole in Brussels. In Hotel Met

In these series the Allaboutroyalfamilies blog continues to talk about the hobbies of the royals in past and present. One popular hobby of royals is painting. Painting often is described as: "Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or another  medium  to a solid surface.  Painting is an important form in the  visual arts." Prince Charles of Belgium, Count of Flanders was a keen artist So, who are the royals who liked to paint? It almost is impossible to make a complete list and it's sure that some royals are forgotten on the list. If you want some of the royals to be included in this blogpost, please let me know (and why) (only painters). Austria Maria Theresa of Habsburg, Holy Roman Empress was educated to paint. Maria Christina, Duchess of Teschen (hint by @empressofHAB via Twitter) Belgium Queen Louise-Marie of Belgium was a decent drawer and painter. It also is known that the Princess Maria of Hohenzollern- Sigmari

9 January 1848 marks the birth of Princess Frederica of Hanover.  She would marry the love of her life. Birth Princess Frederica of Hanover was born on 9 January 1848 at Hanover in Germany. She was the elder daughter of the Hereditary Prince of  Hanover (who became later King George V of Hanover) and his wife Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg. She was known as "Lilly" within her family.  Love and Marriage In January 1866 Otto von Bismarck, the Prime Minister of Prussia  began negotiations with Hanover, regarding the possible marriage of Frederica to Prince Albrecht of Prussia. These plans came to nothing as tensions grew between Hanover and Prussia, which resulted in the Austro-Prussian War. (14 June to 23 August 1866). Frederica was courted by her first cousin, Prince Leopold Duke of  Albany (a son of Queen Victoria of The United Kingdom). They  stayed lifelong friends and confidantes.  One of her possible wedding part

On 4 November 1631 Mary, Princess Royal was born. This royal event took place at St. James's Palace in London. Family Mary was the eldest daughter of King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland and his wife Henrietta Maria of France. So Mary was named after her mother. Her paternal grandparents were James VI of Scotland (he ruled as James I of England) and Anne of Denmark. Her maternal grandparents were King Henry IV of France and Maria de' Medici. Mary was thus a member of the House of Stuart. Youth In 1642, King Charles I of England designated her Princess Royal, thus establishing the tradition that the eldest daughter of the British sovereign might bear this title. Love and Marriage King Charles I of England wanted that Mary would marry her first cousin Balthasar Charles, Prince of Asturias, the son of King Philip IV of Spain. Charles I Louis, Elector Palatine was also a suitor for her hand. However both proposals fell through and

On 6 June 2019 it will be 75 years ago that the Normandy landings, also known as D-Day took place. This marked the beginning of the end of World War II. World War II was a dramatic period in the life of many people also in that of many royal families. In May 1940, Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands had to make the major decision in her whole kinship. To stay or to leave The Netherlands during the war. Queen Wilhelmina was born on 31 August 1890 at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, The Netherlands. Her parents were King William III of The Netherlands and Princess Emma of Waldeck-Piedmont. In 1895 Wilhelmina visited Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. The Queen wrote in her diary: The young Queen still her hair hanging loose. She is slender and graceful, and makes an impression as a very intelligent and very cute girl. She speaks good English and knows how to behave with charming manners.  Emma and the later Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands Taken in Het Loo Pa

November 18th. 1774 marks the birth of Friederike Louise Wilhelmine of Prussia. This event took place in Potsdam (Germany). Family Princess Wilhelmine was a daughter of King Frederick William II of Prussia and Queen Frederica Louisa. Her education was dominated by the strict regime of her great-uncle Frederick the Great. However there wasn't much known about her youth. Love and Marriage On October 1st. 1791, Princess Wilhelmine married her cousin, William of the Netherlands. He was the son of Stadtholder William V, Prince of Orange. Their wedding took place in Berlin. Their marriage was a part of an arranged wedding pact between the House of Orange and that of Prussia. It became a real love match and their marriage life was very happy. They young couple lived at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague. They would have 6 children, only 3 of them would reach their adulthood. Duty In 1815, Princess Wilhelmine became Queen of the Netherlands. During those

Louise of The Netherlands was born on August 5th. 1828 in The Hague. Her parents were Prince Frederick of The Netherlands and Princess Louise of Prussia. Louise of The Netherlands - Source picture: Wikipedia On June 19th. 1850 Louise married Crown Prince Charles of Sweden and Norway. They had two children but the marriage wasn't that happy. He took several mistresses and she was shy and not very social.  Her hobbies were music and history. She also coloured bible pictures.  On July 8th. 1859 Louise became Queen Consort of Sweden and Norway but she didn't interfere with politics. Louise died on March 30th. 1872 in Stockholm (Sweden).