All About Royal Families

Recently I bought from the local library a small but amazing book in Dutch called Diana & Dodi: A love Story. It was written by Rene, the butler and personal assistant from Dodi Al Fayed. He saw the romance between Diana, the Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed blossoming untill their tragic death on 31 August 1997 in Paris. I think most of the people knew Diana, Princess of Wales but who was Dodi (Al) Fayed? Who was Dodi Fayed? Dodi was born in Alexandria, Egypt on 15 April 1955 as the eldest son of  Mohammed Al Fayed and Samira Khashoggi. Dodi studied in Swiss and he served as an attaché at the United Arab Emirates Embassy in London. Later Dodi was a producer for film and movie series. He also worked for his father on Harrod's marketing. In 1986, Dodi married Suzanne Gregard but the couple divorced after a few months.  Only in July 1997 Dodi became romantically involved to Diana, Princess of Wales. My review The tragic death of Diana, Princess of Wales and Dodi Al Fayed shock

Falconry is the hunting of wild animals in their natural habitat and stay by means of a trained bird or prey.  The practice of hunting with a conditioned falconry bird also is called "hawking".  Falconry is an art. It requires long hours, constant devotion, finesse, subtlety and skill.  The falconer must train a bird of prey to fly free, hunt for a human being and then  accept a return to captivity.  Falconry was just not a hobby. It was a lifestyle. Falconers must devote time to their birds each and every day. It must be no surprise that  falconry has a long and royal history just as horse riding. In many countries owning a falcon was and is a status symbol.  Some history of Falconry Medieval sports were chances for men to practice their mental and physical skills. However falconry also was practiced by women.  Royals and Falconry Bahrain Emir Isa bin Salman al Khalifa of Bahrain and his family owned the Sulman Falcon Centre. The royal family can afford their own well-traine

The people from Antwerp (Belgium) haven't forgotten a visit from the Russian Tsar Peter the Great (1672-1725). He visited the city near the Scheldt for three days in 1717! According to some  sources the Tsar and his court could drink a lot and he wanted to know the length of the cathedral by measuring it with a rope.  Antwerp and its people never saw such a special person before and of course they wanted to honour him or his visit by a statue.  The statue of Peter De Grote was created in 1998 on the initiative of Art Group International who wanted - after the fall of the communism - to strengthen the cultural ties between Antwerp and Russia. The creator of the statue was Georgy Frangulyan.    Who was Peter the Great? Peter I Aleksejevitsj Romanov, nicknamed Peter the Great was Tsar from Russia from 9 June 1672 till his death on 8 February 1725.  He was the first Russian Tsar who travelled outside his country. He modernised  the vast empire and he especially promoted the science. 

 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 and it led to a year of brutal civi