All About Royal Families

On Sunday 21 July 2024, a splendid National Day took place in Belgium. In Brussels, the capital of Belgium, most of the events happened.The weather was great and there was an amazing atmosphere. History The National day marks the taking of the oath of King Leopold I of Belgium on his arrival in 1831 in Brussels. Events The National Day in Brussels started early with a Te Deum in the St. Michael and the St. Gudula Kathedral. King Philippe, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians and their children, Crown Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eléonore were present. After the mass they took time to meet and greet the public. As always Bjorn Hoex was present where he made some lovely pictures of the Royals. In the afternoon a défilé took place in front of the Royal Palace in Brussels. This was viewed by, King Philippe of the Belgians, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, Crown Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eléonore. Princess Astrid, Prince Lo...

Bjorn Hoex, royal photographer and friend is in the United Kingdom and especially in London to attend some wonderful royal events such as Trooping the Colour. What is Trooping the Colour? In the United Kingdom, Trooping the Colour is also known as the "King's Birthday Parade" ("Queen's Birthday Parade" when the monarch is female).  First performed during the reign of King Charles II (1660–1685), in 1748 it was decided that the parade of Trooping the Colour should mark the official birthday of the Sovereign.  In 1760, after the accession of King George III, it became an annual event. Seamus, an Irish wolfhound, is the mascot of the Irish Guards.  Some history Edward VII kept Trooping the Colour in May or June, because of the vagaries of British weather (his actual birthday being in November). It coincides with publication of the Birthday Honours List, and usually takes place at Horse Guards Parade by St James's Park, London. It is followed by a 41-gun sal...

On 30 May 1926, a special statue in Sint-Niklaas was inaugurated by Crown Prince Leopold of Belgium (later King Leopold III). The inauguration This day was accompanied by all kinds of festivities. Schoolchildren performed gymnastics exercises and sang patriotic songs. This was followed by a large procession from the main market to the site of the monument.  At the unveiling, a cantata was played by 1,000 musicians, written especially for the occasion by priest artist August Nobels and composed by Florimond Sax. Crown Prince Leopold of Belgium Source picture: Wikipedia The statue Along the front, on the pedestal: a soldier who takes a fallen brother-in-arms in his arms, protects the victim and looks with indignation at the enemy; below, on the steps, the hero's rifle and helmet wreathed with flowers and a crown.  At the back, the image of a man in the prime of his years, stretching desperately, taken away by the Germans and tortured for his rebelliousness and doomed to powerles...

12 May 1879 marks the birth of Princess Feodora of Saxe Meiningen.  Princess Feodora was the only child of Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Meiningen, and his wife Princess Charlotte of Prussia, herself the eldest daughter of German Crown Prince Frederick William and Crown Princess Victoria. The new baby was the first grandchild of the Crown Prince and Princess, and through her mother was also the first great-grandchild of the British Queen Victoria. See also descendants of Queen Victoria (2) on this link .  Queen Victoria was fond of her eldest great-grandchild. In June 1887, the young Feodora and her parents attended the queen's Golden Jubilee in London. While her parents stayed at Buckingham Palace, Feodora stayed with her young cousin Princess Alice of Battenberg at the home of the Dowager Duchess of Buccleuch at Whitehall, allowing the girls to watch the royal procession as it made its way to Westminster Abbey.  Queen Victoria described her as "sweet little Feo, w...