News Summary R O Y A L B L O G. N L

Napoleon has to make way for Princess Grace

It is already labeled as the sale of the century, even though the century is barely 14 years old. Hyperbole is customary for an auction house, but the auction on November 15 and 16 is nevertheless unique. Prince Albert II of Monaco is selling the contents of the palace’s museum dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte.

"If someone had told me when I started I would sell the Napoleonic Museum of the Grimaldi’s, I would not have believed it. For me, it is the sale of the century!”, auctioneer Jean-Pierre Osenat told French newspaper Le Parisien. The collection has been amassed by Albert’s great-grandfather Prince Louis II (1870-1949) and is said to contain well over 1,000 objects. No wonder that experts and collectors are in a flurry and one could forgive them their excitement and talk of a ‘sale of the century’.

“He was a knowledgeable collector and he had a family connection with Beauharnais”, Jean-Christophe Chataignier of the auction house in Fontainebleau told Le Parisien about Prince Louis II. He first exhibited the objects in his private apartments. His grandson Prince Rainier brought them together in a dedicated place.

Jean-Pierre Osenat was contacted by Prince Albert two years ago about a possible sale. ined extensive experience and memories of that time of sale, the auctioneer says. The Prince wants to make space to be able to tell the history of the Grimaldi family rather than that of a French emperor. “It will include an exhibition on Princess Grace of Monaco”, Osenat said.

It also is a good time to sell. This year marks 200 years since the end of Napoleon’s Empire and his exile on the island of Elba, followed by his escape in 1815 and ultimate defeat at Waterloo that same year. The bicentenary of these events puts the collection in the spotlights. And who would not want to own the iconic black felt hat Napoleon wore on Elba? Or the golden sword ‘for valour’ which was presented to him by Tsar Alexander II? Or perhaps the cradle offered by Napoleon to his adopted daughter Stéphanie de Beauharnais? © RB

Belgian Royal Family attends Autumn Concert

The Belgian Royal Family attended the annual Autumn Concert in the Royal Palace in Brussels, Wednesday evening. King Philip and his wife Queen Mathilde took their front row seats along with Philip's brother Prince Laurent and his British born Princess Claire.

The former King and Queen were conspicuously absent, as they have been from most events since King Albert's abdication in 2013.

© RB; Photos by © Monarchy Press Europe, Patrick van Katwijk

Praise for Dutch Queen Máxima in Argentina

Praise for Argentina born Queen Máxima of the Netherlands in her native country.  "In 500 days she has conquered the world as a modern queen," the just released October issue of Hola! Argentina claims on its cover, which has a full page photo of a radiant and splendid looking Queen Máxima.

For the Argentine media it is not about King Willem-Alexander but all about his wife and consort, Máxima Zorreguieta. Hola! promises to reveal the 'secrets of her particular style' which apparantly has taken the world by storm. 

Queen Maxima is a regular appearance in the Argentine gossip and women's magazines, which often make comparisons with the Spanish Queen Letizia. In that regard the magazines will have a field day when the Spanish royal visit their Dutch counterparts in The Hague next Wednesday October 15. 

The photo on the front page was taken last week in Rotterdam, where the Queen opened the striking and unique new Market Hall.

The designer of Máxima's hat, Fabienne Delvigne, was delighted by the choice of photo. She proudly placed the Argentine cover on Twitter.

© RB

Dutch royals take bicycles in Calgary

The Consulate General of the Netherlands in Toronto started the "Go Green Go Dutch Go Bike!" initiative in 2007.

The object of the event is to promote the use of bikes for recreational purposes, but also as a daily mode of transportation to and from the workplace: Good for the environment and good for your health.

On Sunday the project received royal approval as in Calgary, Alberta, "Canada's Princess", Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and her husband Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven, participated in a cycle tour along Riverfront Avenue.

Princess Margriet and Pieter van Vollenhoven were cheered by a crowd of several orange shirted participants. Some eyebrows were raised as the royal couple followed Dutch custom of cycling without a helmet; and their Canadian security man felt ill at ease wearing clothes appropiate for cycling, whereas his Dutch counterparts were still in suit, as was the royal couple. 

"In Holland cycling is part of the fabric of life. You cycle to work, and so you cycle in your work clothes", Professor Van Vollenhoven explained. "Here cycling is something you do to stay fit."

The cycling event concluded the week long visit of Ottawa born Princess Margriet and her husband. © Royalblog HJ

Dutch royals lend hand in playground

Making a difference: no less than eleven members of the Dutch royal family surprised the local playground in Nieuwegein, in Utrecht province in the heart of the country, to come and do chores. They wanted to make a difference as volunteers and get the playground 'Jeugdland' ready for Spring. "Everyone should do this", Prince Maurits said. 

"Everyone's neighbourhood benefits when neighbours get together, and move into action, rather than wait for the government or local authorities to act", Maurits continued. "Where would we be without volunteers", Princess Máxima said while painting a wall (above). "It will look lovely here for children to come and play."

Husband Prince Willem-Alexander, who only one day earlier returned from a surprise and farewell visit to Dutch troops in Afghanistan, showed concern with the safety of the playing youth. Together with volunteer Emanuel he cosntructed a fence, so children would not run into the nearby brook.

Princess Aimée, wife of Prince Floris (youngest son of Canada born Princess Margriet and himself godson of the Royal Canadian Legion) used her artistic skills to paint a parking sign. "The curves are important, we want to children to stay the course", she said with a smile as she carefully followed the outline of the letter P. (below)

Princes Floris, Bernhard and Maurits (below) worked hard to pait benches and boarding - with Princess Laurentien taking the role of sanding the wood. 

 

Prince Constantijn and Princess Marilène (below) joined Queen Beatrix and Princess Annette in refreshing and redecorating the side wall of the playground. Constantijn especially was a stickler for following the original decoration, the others took their liberties with the colour scheme.

 
Princess Laurentien (further below) found the work 'relaxing', as she moved form the benches to a wooden toy train.

Queen Beatrix led her family in repainting the wall. She was smart enough not to wear the promotional vests, which were rather unpractical white for doing a paint job. The queen had her hands covered in paint, but soldiered on. This was no gallery play: she was doing a serious job. 

There was some discussion though with youngest son Constantijn (below, at left). His desire for accuracy constrasted with the queen's wish for 'more creativity'. In the end Beatrix won: she added some yellow to the red apples and green tree leaves. 

Volunteer Bart (pictured with the original drawing) was pleased with the result - and the royal free spirit. "They are using their own colour scheme. Luckily I didn't bring any orange paint", he laughed. © RB Photos: © Royalblog, Hans Jacobs

Prince Maurits & Princess Marilène in Vancouver

Dutch royalty has come to Vancouver, BC, for the inauguration of an exhibition "of the biggest and most significant collection of 17th century Dutch art ever assembled in Canada", as the Vancouver Sun wrote. Princess Marilène and Prince Maurits will officially open the exhibition ‘Vermeer, Rembrandt and the Golden Age of Dutch Art’ at the Vancouver Art Gallery, Saturday.

The royal couple, the son of Canada born Princess Margriet and her husband Pieter van Vollenhoven and his wife, will meet the Canadian press on Friday. ‘Her Highness’ Princess Marilène works for The Netherlands’ prestigious Rijksmuseum, which lent 128 of its prescious paintings to the Vancouver Art Gallery.

The Vancouver Art Gallery is also hosting a black tie fundraiser Saturday, where guests for a mere CDN$ 600 get to mix with the royal guests. The gala event also features a reception and the exhibition opening ceremonies, a dinner from Dutch Michelin star chef Robert Kranenborg, music by The New Dutch Academy and Vancouver's Dal Richards, and a luxury-item auction.

 

Maurits and Marilène, who seldom perform official royal duties, will open the Dutch Masters Ball with the first dance. The trip to Canada is their first public appearance after the shocking events of last week’s Queen’s Day, when they were travelling on the open topped bus in Apeldoorn when a Dutchman drove his car with high speed into the crowd of spectators - with the alleged intent to attack the royal family.

© RB; Photos by © Monarchy Press Europe, Patrick van Katwijk

Liechtenstein Prince withdraws his art

Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein has initiated a boycott of Germany. The ruler of the tiny principality has decided to withdraw all loans of art work to German museums and exhibtions. First victim of this decision is the Neue Pinakothek in Munich.

Their planned exhibit "Wiener Malerei des Biedermeier aus den Sammlungen des Fürsten von und zu Liechtenstein" was cancelled on Tuesday. Since all the works to have been showed as of 25 May 2008, were from the extensive private collection of the Liechtenstein princely family, there no longer is something to see.

The decision was taken in protest against the German political attacks on Liechtenstein, its Princely House, its principal and Princely bank, and its banking system. German intelligence paid a former employee of the princely bank in order to obtain stolen information about the bank clients, said to be German tax dodgers. In doing so the Germans broke Liechtenstein law.

© RB

Triple royal visit to Dutch province Limburg

No less than three members of the Dutchy royal family visited the southern province of Limburg at the same time on Friday, although they did not meet.

Prince Willem-Alexander was for a working visit in this province bordering on Germany and Belgium. He went to see new developments surrounding the A2 motorway near Sittard-Geleen; and near a land winning site near the city of Heerlen.

The prince regularly pays these working visits, organised by the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Development and the Environment, to get acquainted with new developments in the country. 

His younger brother Prince Constantijn was a few kilometres down the same motorway, in the Limburg capital of Maastricht. He visited the international art and antique fair, The European Fine Art Fair, to once again draw attention to the 'Cultural Emergency Response' (CER) programme of the Prince Claus Fund. CER is meant to give first aid after cultural disasters; man-made or caused by natural disasters.

Afterwards he toured the Fair; but missed seeing Princess Marilène, wife of his cousin Prince Maurits. She works for the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, sking people to become 'Friends' of the national museum. ,,He was here and didn't stop by?", she asked with mocked indignation when she was told Constantijn had already left the Maastrict Congress and Convention Centre.

Limburg is often said to be the least "Orange" minded of the twelve Dutch provinces. The royals in far-away The Hague - anything over 2 hours driving is far-away in a small country like The Netherlands - are said to neglect or forget their countrymen in Limburg.

A poll on the eve of a visit of Queen Beatrix to the province in 2005 said as much. ,,Polls say whatever you want them to say", the queen retorted. And the provincial governor showed that the queen does not visit Limburg any more or less than the other provinces.

© RB; Photo by © CP Frank van Beek

Prince offers first aid' for cultural heritage

Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands on Friday will present the Cultural Emergency Response programme of the Prince Claus Fund at the European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht.

The prince, pictured above with his wife Princess Laurentien, is the third and youngest son of Dutch Queen Beatrix, and Honorary Chairman of the Prince Claus Fund.

Omara Khan Massoudi, the Director of the National Museum in Kabul and a 2004 Prince Claus Laureate, will describe the rescuing of the Museum's collection during the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Massoudi was instrumental in saving Afghanistan's priceless cultural heritage.

Cultural Emergency Response provides global "first aid" for cultural heritage that have been damaged or destroyed by man-made or natural disasters. CER’s emergency relief concentrates on stabilising the situation, preventing further damage and implementing basic repairs.

CER defines cultural heritage in a material sense as implying not only contemporary and historical objects, which are important to people, but also the buildings and institutions that aim to produce, conserve and/or exhibit these objects. The aim of CER’s activities is to focus attention on the value of cultural heritage and the gravity of cultural emergencies.

© RB; Photo by © Royal Press Europe

Máxima invited to sail in Gay Pride Parade

,,Fantastic that you are here!" Dutch Education minister Ronald Plasterk was exctited Princess Máxima attended the signing ceremony of a covenant between the Dutch government and the four main cities of the Netherlands to actively strive for better social acceptance of gays and lesbians.  them.

,,We can be very proud of you", he continued his praises of the Princess, who with her presence underlined support of the royal family for gay emancipation, equal rights and equal opportunities. ,,As our future queen it is appropiate that you are in this audience", the minister said, stressing 'the queen' part with a smile and a wink.

The Netherlands has been a frontrunner in matter of gay rights and general acceptance of homosexuality, but we can do better Mr. Plasterk said. ,,Being gay should be a normal thing; gays should be able to be themselves, feel safe and secure, be out and proud, live in freedom", he continued.

Plasterk said this was not always the case. There have been hate crimes and attacks on gays in recent years. ,,It is unacceptable that one million people in the Netherlands don't feel safe", he said, on the assumption that 'one in 15' is homosexual.

,,You only have one life to live, you should be able to live in freedom", a passionate Mr. Plasterk said in his speech. 

He surprised the audience by announcing the Department of Education will participate with its own boat in the annual Amsterdam Gay Canal Parade, and that he himself would be on the boat. "You too are welcome", he told Princess Máxima.

The announcement immediately drew fierce criticism from the orthodox protestant political party SGP.

* Amsterdam's Canal Pride.

"Has the minister gone bonkers?" its leader Mr. Bas van der Vlies asked in a tense statement. To halt discrimination is one thing he said, but actually promote a hedonistic and unholy lifestyle, as seen in the Canal Parade, was quite another - and in his eyes unacceptable.   

Prinses Máxima told Mr. Henk Krol, the editor-in-chief of Dutch gay magazine GayKrant after the meeting that neighbours in New York City's Chelsea - where she lived before her engagement to Prince Willem-Alexander - were jealous of her. "You will be the future queen of Holland", they told her. "Yes, I will", she replied with a smile, well aware of the double meaning of the word.

Mr. Henk Krol, who received a royal decoration for his untiring work for gay emancipation, confided that Queen Beatrix has been a subscriber to his magazine for many years. After all The Queen wants to keep abreast of what the other queens in the country are up to.

© RB; Photos by © Royal Press Europe Albert Nieboer; RB Marius Cirtiu