All About Royal Families

Royals, rock stars, tycoons and artists, all of them, like to have a special or a beautiful interior of their homes.  Many times they end up by Axel Vervoordt, a Belgian collector, antiquarian, interior designer and curator.  Vlaeykensgang in Antwerp Some history Axel Vervoordt was born in 1947 in Antwerp. His father was active in the international horse trade and his mother was a good friend with artists.  In 1960, Axel Vervoordt started to renovate houses in Antwerp. This became an important part of the group Vervoordt: the purchase of houses, renovate  them and even upgrade them.  One of his most famous projects is the renovation of the Vlaeykensgang,  a small street in Antwerp from the 16th. century (see pictures). Traveling At the age of 14 he traveled for the first time to England, to collect special objects of art. This also became one of his main activities.  In the early 1970's Axel traveled to Thailand, Cambodia and Japa

On the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains, above the town of Sintra, a real national Portuguese monument certainly is worth a visit: Pena Palace. Pena Palace - Sintra - Portugal - own picture taken in 2017 This Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal.  Nowadays it is used for state occasions by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other government officials. The Pena Palace is open for visitors. See more on next link .  Pena Palace entrance Some history The history of the Pena Palace started in the Middle Ages when a chapel  dedicated to Our Lady of Pena was built on the top of the hill above Sintra. Soon there was a Royal Connection. In 1493, King John II of Portugal and his wife, Queen Leonor, made a pilgrimage to the site to fulfill a vow. His successor, King Manuel I, also was very fond of this place, he ordered the construction of a monastery, which was donated to the Order

Henry of Nassau-Dillenburg was born on October 15th. 1550 in Dillenburg (now located in Germany). Counts of Nassau - Source picture: Wikipedia Family His parents were William the Rich and Juliana of Stolberg-Wernigerode. Count Henry of Nassau-Dillenburg was thus a brother of inter alia William the Silent. Education Henry of Nassau-Dillenburg was raised in the Lutheran faith and he studied in Leuven and Strasbourg. Military action Henry and his brothers, William and Louis joined the Hugenot army of Louis I de Bourbon, Prince of Condé. He took part in the Battle of Moncontour ( 3 October 1559) and the Battle of Mookerheyde. The Battle of Mookerheyde took place on April 14th. 1574. Then Henry died at the age of 23. His elder brother Louis, was also killed in the battle. Battle of the Mookerheyde - Source picture: Wikipedia

Léopold Louise Philippe Marie Victor was born on April 9th. 1835 in Brussels, Belgium. Leopold, in 1844 - Source: Wikipedia Family Leopold was the second child of King Leopold I of Belgium and his wife Louise of Orléans. He was thus a brother of: - Louis Philippe, Crown Prince of Belgium (who died young), - Philippe, Count of Flanders, - Charlotte, the later empress of Mexico His first cousins included both Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and her husband Prince Albert, but also King Fernando II of Portugal. King Leopold II and his wife Queen Marie Henriette Source: Wikipedia Love & Marriage In 1853, at the age of 18, Leopold married Marie Henriette of Austria. She was a cousin of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and a granddaughter of Leopold II, Holy Roman Emperor. Some people joked about this marriage of a "stableman and a nun". Leopold was referred as the nun. From this marriage four children were born: - Princess Louise, wh