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

Names Oscar Carl Olof have a long royal history

The names of the newly born Swedish Prince Oscar Carl Olof, which were announced by King Carl XVI Gustaf in a special Royal Council in the Royal Palace, have a long royal history. 

Sweden had two kings named Oscar. Oscar II (1829-1907) was the last Swedish King who was also King of neighboring Norway. His father was Oscar I and between both of them reigned his Karl XV, who was married to the Dutch Princess Louise, a granddaughter of King William I.

Karl or Carl - but the newly born prince is called Carl with C - is the name of until now sixteen kings, including the present monarch and grandfather of the newest addition to the royal family. Except that the 15th Karl wrote his name with a K and the sixteenth Carl is with a C, or fully Carl XVI Gustaf. As can be seen, the Swedes  keep count through the first part of the name, instead of opting for an Carl Gustaf II.

* The Swedish Royal Family during the Act of Thanksgiving in the Royal Chapel

King Carl XVI Gustaf also hoped that the count would continue into the next generation. He gave his son the name Carl Philip, in the expectation that one day he would reign as King Carl XVII Philip. At the time of his birth in 1979 boys still had  precedence over girls in the line of succession, but the writing was already on the palace wall that this would change. Despite objections from the King, the Swedish Constitution was changed retro-actively and Prince Carl Philip lost his position as Crown Prince to his elder sister Victoria. 

* The parents of Prince Daniel (on the left) with Princess Cristina and her husband.

Olof, the third name for the new prince is primarily in honor of his grandfather on father's side, Olle Westling. But there was in distant Swedish history a King Olof, nicknamed 'Skötkonung - the tax king. This king lived around the year 1000, and is mainly known because he had the first Swedish coins minted.

© RB Hans Jacobs; Source: Kings and Rulers of Sweden; Photos by © Monarchy Press Europe

New born Swedish prince, son of Victoria and Daniel, is named: Oscar Carl Olof, Duke of Skåne

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden on Thursday announced the names of his new grandson, the second child of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel: Prince Oscar Carl Olof, Duke of Skåne. The baby prince was born Wednesday evening at 8.28 pm at the Karolinska Hospital. Prince Daniel commented on the birth shorthly afterwards and Crown Princess Victoria and the baby left the hospital Thursday morning, accompanied by Prince Daniel and Princess Estelle.

New prince Oscar - with a c it was explained at a press meeting in the Royal Palace, just as Carl is written with a c - is third in the line of succession, after his mother Crown Princess Victoria and four years old sister Princess Estelle. The old rule that boys took precedence over girls in the line of succession was abolished retroactively shortly after the birth of Prince Carl Philip in 1979, which meant that not he but his elder sister Victoria would be first in line.

At the press meeting after the announcement of the names it was said that Princess Estelle is very happy with her little borther, who at birth weighed in at 3655 gr and measured 52 cm. Crown Princess Victoria was doing very well. "You could not tell she just had a big tummy", the Mistress of the Robes commented. 

© RB Hans Jacobs; Photos: © The Royal Court; Monarchy Press Europe

Crown Princess Victoria expecting 2nd child

It is official. The Swedish Royal Court on Friday confirmed what many had already guessed or at least speculated upon:

Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel are happy to announce that The Crown Princess is expecting their second child.

The birth is expected to take place in March of 2016.

No changes in the schedule of The Crown Princess Couple's public engagements are planned during the fall of 2015.

It was Crown Princess Victoria's choice of dress [Victoria's blue dress has everybody guessing] at last week's Awards Ceremony of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm which sparked a debate about her possible pregnancy. Rumours had been rife for some time and the blue dress seemed to back up the suspicions, without confirming them.

© RB; Photo by © RPE Albert Nieboer

King's Day gets a more modern twist - VIDEO

 

King Willem-Alexander celebrated his 48th birthday with a renewed 'King's Day' in the city of Dordrecht Monday, together with his wife Queen Máxima and daughters Amalia, Alexia and Ariane. The King was also joined by members of the extended royal family - his brother Prince Constantijn and his wife Princess Laurentien, and his cousins Maurits, Bernhard and Pieter-Christiaan and their spouses.

King's Day took its form from the previous Queen's Day celebrations, the official birthday of Queen Beatrix who abdicated on Queen's Day 2013. But King Willem-Alexander had asked for modernisation. No longer are two cities visited but only one, there is more emphasis on the presentation of the great and good of the chosen city, and the traditional games and activities were scrapped. 

King Willem-Alexander also decided to bring his daughters along. Last year they made a surprise appearance, but this year their presence was announced beforehand. The King posted a picture of his young family in fron of their Eikenhorst residence near The Hague, just before leaving for the ancient city of Dordrecht. Princess Amalia still had her earphones at hand. 

The three hour programme in the historic city was a mixed one, with a 'parade' of gigantic boats in the confluence of three rivers, a classical mini concert in Dordrecht's Grote Kerk, with music by Hándel and Bach, a walk about, food tasting and a pop concert. 

.© Koninklijk Huis

There were some 20 to 25,000 people who came out to watch the royal family, far less than expected but the weather forecasts owed much to do that. Rain and cold weather were predicted but Monday turned out to be chilly but very sunny.

© Royalblog, Hans Jacobs; © RB, KH, RPE

Princess Marie loses battle with wind

It is a nightmare for every woman with a hat, and princesses and queens are no exceptions. Princess Marie's nightmare came true Thursday at she lost the battle with the wind when she arrived at Copenhagen's Town Hall where she was to attend a luncheon in honour of Queen Margrethe's 75th birthday.

Princess Marie tried to shield her hat from the strond wind, but the one second she let go, the wind took hold of the head gear. Husband Prince Joachim laughed, made an attempt to go after the hat, as did the Mayor of Copenhagen, but it was official who recaptured the hat, returning it shortly thereafter to the embarrassed Princess.

 

© Royalblog, Marius Cirtiu

King Philip & Grand Duke Henri celebrate abroad

* Grand Duke Henri with Crown Princess Mary

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg celebrated part of his 60th birthday Thursday abroad. He started the day in Denmark, where he took part in the festivities for the 75th anniversary of Queen Margrethe. Henri participated in the 'wake up' call, where friends and family joined in waking the Queen by singing under her bedroom window at Fredensborg Slot.

* King Philip, with Queens Letizia and Máxima

Grand Duke Henri, who came to Denmark without Grand Duchess Maria Teresa who suffered from the flu, also celebrated his cousin King Philip of the Belgians' 55th birthday on Wednesday. In his welcoming speech at the Gala Dinner at Christiansborg Slot Danish Crown Prince Frederik made special mention of it, and expressed his gratitude that the Belgian King had chosen to celebrate not only his own but also Queen Margrethe's birthday in Denmark.

* Crown Prince Frederik after his speech, with Kings Carl Gustaf and Harald, and Queens Margrethe and Silvia.

Both Grand Duke Henri and King Philip had children with a birthday as well. Henri's youngest son Prince Sébastien turned 23 Thursday, and Philip's youngest daughter Princess Eléonore was 7.

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

European Royals get together in Copenhagen

Queen Margrethe's 75th birthday brings Europe's crowned heads to Copenhagen this Wednesday for a spectacular gala dinner at Christiansborg Palace. Only Queen Elizabeth, who will celebrate her 89th birthday next week, will skip the party as per custom, but all the other important reigning monarchs are present.

Margrethe's godson King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Máxima already announced last month that they were coming back to Denmark to honour Margrethe, Europe's second longest reigning monarch (after Queen Elizabeth). The king said so during his speech at the State banquet the Danish queen gave for him at Christiansborg during the Dutch State Visit to Denmark.

King Willem-Alexander is joined by the 'new generation' of kings: Felipe of Spain and Philip of Belgium, who are both accompanied by their queens, Letizia and Mathilde respectively. Also present at the dinner are King Harald of Norway, King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden and Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg.

The King and Queen of the Hellenes will be present, along with other royal guests. At a second dinner, held at Frederiksborg Palace on Thursday Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel will join in the festivities. Norwegian Queen Sonja will be absent however, as she is expected in New York to open an exhibition. © RB

Princess Estelle joins mother Victoria

Crown Princess Victoria received a tribute from the Royal Life Guards on the occasion of Victoria's name day. Princess Estelle joined her mother for the festivities at the sun soaked outer courtyard of the Royal Palace in Stockholm.

Victoria viewed the ceremonial part of the tribute in good stride, and received flowers from both the military and the general public watching.

Estelle really got into the spirit of the occasion and applauded with the crowd after the traditional 'hip-hip-hurrah' for the Crown Princess. 

Prince Daniel did not attend the ceremony this year, and Victoria's parents who sometimes took part were missing too. Queen Silvia fractured her right shoulder a day earlier while skiing in Switzerland and was recovering, the palace said earlier.

© RB Hans Jacobs; Photos by © RPE Albert Nieboer

Queen Margrethe pulls out all stops for Dutch visit

It has to be an unforgetable and memorable visit, Queen Margrethe told Dutch journalists during a meeting at Fredensborg Slot some weeks ago. It is not often one gets a godson coming on a State Visit, and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands is Queen Margrethe's godson. ,,It is very special", the queen said. 

So it comes as no surprise she chose Christiansborg Slot (palace) for the state banquet she offers on 17 March to King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima who arrive that day for their State Visit, only the fourth in the King's young reign. Christiansborg Palace, which serves as the seat of government and parliament, also houses several state rooms which the queen only uses on special occasions. And this is one of those occasions. 

The importance of the Dutch visit is is also apparent from the presence of the entire royal family at the banquet. Not only Queen Margrethe and her husband Prince-consort Henrik will be there, but also the Crown Princely couple, Frederik and Mary, and Prince Joachim and his wife Princess Marie. The Court also announced the presence of Princess Benedikte and husband Prince Richard and of Princess Margrethe’s cousin, Princess Elizabeth.

Princess Benedikte's a good friend of the Dutch royal family. She and her husband attended most major events, including the 2002 wedding of Prince Willem-Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta.

© RB: Photos: © MPE Patrick van Katwijk

* The Danish Court earlier this week made a new logo and picture available ahead of the celebrations for the Queen's 75th birthday on April 17.

Emperor congratulated from all fields

Emperor Akihito is to attend five separate events at the Imperial Palace to receive felicitations from various people, including the members the Imperial Family on the occasion of his 75th birthday, Wednesday.

The Emperor will also have a toast of celebratory sake with the members of the Imperial Family. In between he will appear on the balcony of Chowa-den inside the Imperial Palace to receive congratulations from the public.

In the afternoon there is a luncheon with the leaders of the three branches of government, members of the Cabinet, and representatives from various fields. The Emperor is to receive felicitations from former senior officials of the Imperial Household Agency and others, which will be followed by those of heads of the diplomatic corps and their spouses. The day will be concluded with a birthday dinner with Empress Michiko, the children and their spouses. © RB; Sources: IHA, Mainichi