Monthly Archives: July 2015

August 1915: Royalty and World War I

by Susan Flantzer

Coat of Arms of Liechtenstein; Credit – “Staatswappen-Liechtensteins” by SVG Added Ramos – Own work based on: File:Coat of arms of Liechtenstein.png. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Staatswappen-Liechtensteins.svg#/media/File:Staatswappen-Liechtensteins.svg

Prince Heinrich of Liechtenstein

On August 16, 1915, 38 year old Prince Heinrich of Liechtenstein, who served in the Austro-Hungarian Army, died in Warsaw, Prussia (now in Poland) from wounds received in action. The German and Austro-Hungarian armies had occupied Warsaw on August 5, 1915 after a century of Russian control of the city, when the Russian commander in chief of the Eastern Front, Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich of Russia evacuated the Russian troops from Warsaw. The German and Austrian offensive march toward Warsaw had begun on July 13, 1915. It seems likely that Prince Heinrich of Liechtenstein was wounded sometime during the offensive as the Austro-Hungarian Army was involved and he then died in Warsaw which had become part of Prussia.

The name Liechtenstein originated from Castle Liechtenstein (“bright stone”) located near Maria Enzersdorf, south of Vienna, Austria, which was owned by the family from at least 1140 until the 13th century and again from 1807 onwards. Karl I, the first reigning Prince of Liechtenstein, received a reward of becoming a hereditary sovereign prince because he supported the right side in a land dispute between Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II and his son Archduke Matthias in 1608.

Castle Liechtenstein; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Until the end of World War I, Liechtenstein was closely tied to Austria-Hungary. The reigning princes continued to derive much of their wealth from estates in the Habsburg territories, and they spent much of their time at their two palaces in Vienna. Liechtenstein’s army had been disbanded in 1868 for financial reasons, and so its citizens and members of the Princely Family served in the Austro-Hungarian Army.

Born on June 21, 1877 in Hollenegg, Austria, Prince Heinrich of Liechtenstein was the son of first cousins Prince Alfred Aloys of Liechtenstein and Princess Henriette of Liechtenstein. Princess Henriette’s father was Aloys II, Prince of Liechtenstein, and Prince Alfred Aloys’ father was Prince Franz de Paula of Liechtenstein, Aloys II’s brother. At the time of his death, Heinrich’s uncle Johann II was reigning Prince of Liechtenstein.

Prince Heinrich of Liechtenstein was buried in the family mausoleum in the village of Vranov now in the Brno County District in the South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic. The Liechtenstein family owned large properties in the area.  Maximilian of Liechtenstein (younger brother of Prince Karl I) founded a Pauline monastery in Vranov and had a grave site built for members of the House of Liechtenstein. The present mausoleum, built in 1812, is in the grounds of the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, in Vranov, near Brno, in the Czech Republic. There are two crypts in the mausoleum – the Old Crypt, and the New Crypt – containing the remains of all but one of the ruling Princes. After World War II, the Czech government confiscated the properties of all foreigners, which included the princely family’s properties and castles. Since then, the Czech Republic has refused to return the property to the princely family of Liechtenstein, and there has been no preservation or restoration of the tombs and mausoleum.

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Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Vranov, Czech Republic; Photo Credit – www.findagrave.com

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Entrance to the Liechtenstein Crypt; Photo Credit – www.findagrave.com

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Timeline: August 1, 1915 – August 31, 1915

August 5: Warsaw is taken from Russia by Austrian and German troops in the Third Battle of Warsaw, a phase of the Gorlice-Tarnow Offensive
August 6–10: Battle of Lone Pine on the Gallipoli peninsula, Ottoman Empire (now Turkey)
August 6–13: Battle of Krithia Vineyard on the Gallipoli peninsula, Ottoman Empire (now Turkey)
August 6–15: Allies land at Suvla Bay  on the Gallipoli peninsula, Ottoman Empire (now Turkey)
August 6–21: Battle of Sari Bair on the Gallipoli peninsula, Ottoman Empire (now Turkey) last and unsuccessful attempt by the British to seize the Gallipoli peninsula
August 7: Battle of the Nek on the Gallipoli peninsula, Ottoman Empire (now Turkey)
August 7–19: Battle of Chunuk Bair on the Gallipoli peninsula, Ottoman Empire (now Turkey)
August 21: Battle of Scimitar Hill on the Gallipoli peninsula, Ottoman Empire (now Turkey)
August 21–29: Battle of Hill 60 on the Gallipoli peninsula, Ottoman Empire (now Turkey)
August 26 – September 19: Sventiany Offensive at Sventiany, Russian Empire (now Švenčionys, Lithuania)

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A Note About German Titles

Most of the royals who died in action during World War I were German. The German Empire consisted of 27 constituent states, most of them ruled by royal families. Scroll down to German Empire here to see what constituent states made up the German Empire.  The constituent states retained their own governments, but had limited sovereignty. Some had their own armies, but the military forces of the smaller ones were put under Prussian control. In wartime, armies of all the constituent states would be controlled by the Prussian Army and the combined forces were known as the Imperial German Army.  German titles may be used in Royals Who Died In Action below. Refer to Unofficial Royalty: Glossary of German Noble and Royal Titles.

24 British peers were also killed in World War I and they will be included in the list of those who died in action. In addition, more than 100 sons of peers also lost their lives, and those that can be verified will also be included.

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August 1915 – Royals/Nobles/Peers Who Died In Action

The list is in chronological order and does contain some who would be considered noble instead of royal. The links in the last bullet for each person is that person’s genealogical information from Leo’s Genealogics Website.  or to The Peerage website.  If a person has a Wikipedia page, their name will be linked to that page.

The Honorable Nicholas Mosley

Ludwig, Prinz von Auersperg

The Honorable Kenneth Dundas

The Honorable Gerald Legge

The Honorable Francis Willoughby

The Honorable Gerald Bailey

Adolf, Graf von Erbach-Fürstenau

  • son of Alfred, Graf zu Erbach-Fürstenau and Luise, Prinzessin zu Hohenlohe-Ingelfingen
  • born December 30, 1871 in Fürstenau, Germany
  • killed in action August 13, 1915 in Russia, age 43
  • http://thepeerage.com/p9565.htm#i95642

Joseph Karl, Graf von Schönborn-Wiesentheid

  • son of Adalbert, Graf von Schönborn-Wiesentheid and Princess Adelheid of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg
  • born January 25, 1892 in Praha, Bohemia (now Czech Republic)
  • killed in action August 14, 1915 in Miedzyrecze, Poland, age 23
  • http://www.thepeerage.com/p9858.htm#i98573

Prince Heinrich of Liechtenstein

Degenhard-Bertram, Freiherr von Loë

The Honorable Charles Lister

The Royal Palace of Madrid

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Wikipedia, Photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra

The Royal Palace of Madrid

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the official home of the Spanish Monarchy. It is used for State and ceremonial functions but has not been used as a royal residence since the reign of King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenie. With nearly 1.5 million square feet and over 3,400 rooms, The Royal Palace of Madrid is the largest palace in Europe.

When the Spanish monarchy was restored in 1975, the new King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia chose to remain at Zarzuela Palace, where they had lived since marrying in 1962. And upon Juan Carlos’ abdication in 2014, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia also chose to remain at their home, which is located just next to Zarzuela Palace. The Royal Palace of Madrid continues to be used for formal events such as State Dinners and was the site of the wedding banquet for the current King Felipe and Queen Letizia in 2004. It is open to the public for the majority of the year.

The Alcazar of Madrid, from a 17th-century painting. source: Wikipedia

The palace was built on the site of the former Alcazar of Madrid – a medieval fortress which had been transformed into a lavish palace by Kings Juan I, Carlos V and Felipe II who made it the official residence of the sovereign in 1561. The Alcazar was destroyed by fire on Christmas Eve 1734, and King Felipe V decided to build a new Royal Palace. Construction began in 1738 and the building was completed in 1751, but it wouldn’t be occupied until 1764 when King Carlos III installed his court there. Despite this, the early monarchs spent only a few weeks there each year. Over time, it became the primary residence of the Sovereign, until the overthrow of the Spanish monarchy.

The palace is designed as a square, built around an inner courtyard. The principal state rooms are located on the southern and western wings.

The Southern wing overlooks the Armory Square and is the main entrance to the palace. It contains the Grand Staircase, the Hall of Columns, and the Throne Room. These rooms were once part of the apartments of King Carlos III.

The Grand Staircase. source: Wikipedia

The abdication ceremony of King Juan Carlos in the Hall of Columns. source: Daily Mail/EPA

The abdication ceremony of King Juan Carlos in the Hall of Columns. source: Daily Mail/EPA

The Hall of Columns was initially part of the apartments of King Carlos III. It is one of the most used rooms in the palace, where the King often meets foreign ambassadors and the diplomatic corps as well as other official events. In 2014, it was the site of the abdication ceremony of King Juan Carlos I.

The Throne Room. source: Wikipedia

The Throne Room is today used primarily in conjunction with State Visits. It is here that the King and Queen are photographed with their guests prior to a State Dinner. They also greet members of the government and other invited guests prior to the formal dinner in the Banqueting Hall.

The Western wing, overlooking the Campo del Moro Gardens, contains the Carlos III Room, the Porcelain Room, the Yellow Room, the Gala Dining Room, and the Music Room.

The Porcelain Room. source: Wikipedia, Photo by Osvaldo Gago

The Porcelain Room features porcelain covering the walls and ceiling, as well as numerous porcelain objects on display. It was designed and built in the 1760s.

The Gala Dining Room. source: Wikipedia, Photo by Jose Luis Filpo Cabana

The Gala Dining Room was once part of the apartments of the Queen, during the time of King Carlos III. It was King Alfonso XII who turned the room into the Gala Dining Room which is still used today for large formal events, such as State Dinners.

The Northern wing, overlooking the Sabatini Gardens, includes the Royal Chapel and several of the former royal apartments. On the ground floor of the Northwest corner of the palace is the Royal Library.

The Royal Chapel. source: Wikipedia, Photo by Eric Chan

Once the main Chapel of the royal family, the Royal Chapel is today only used occasionally, most notably for funerals. The funerals of both the Count and Countess of Barcelona (parents of King Juan Carlos) were held here in 1993 and 2000 respectively.

The Royal Library. source: Wikipedia, Photo by Fabio Alessandro Locati

The Royal Library, which spans two floors, was begun during the reign of King Felipe V, who joined his personal collection with that of the former Alcazar. Subsequent sovereigns added to the collection, and it was King Alfonso XII who began the task of counting and cataloging everything in the collection. Today, the library contains over 300,000 books, 4,700 manuscripts, 4,100 musical works, 7,000 maps, 200 engravings and drawings, and 2,000 coins and medals.

The Eastern Wing overlooks the Plaza de Oriente and housed the private apartments of the sovereigns from the time of King Carlos IV. These rooms include the small Dining Room, the Billiards Room, the Room of Mirrors, and the Tapestry Room. Many of these rooms are used regularly for royal audiences.

The Billiards Room. source: Wikipedia, Photo by Jose Luis Filpo Cabana

To the south are two wings which extend out, forming another courtyard known as Armory Square. The eastern wing contains the Royal Pharmacy and the apartments of Queen Maria Christina. Among these rooms is the Crown Room which was created in 2014.

The Royal Pharmacy. photo by Duimdog at nl.wikipedia

Since the reign of King Felipe II, the Spanish royal family has maintained a Royal Pharmacy, to provide them with any necessary medications. The Royal Pharmacy in the Royal Palace of Madrid – set up as a museum since 1964 – displays many of the old bottles and containers used to house various drugs and treatments, as well as the adjoining distillation rooms.

The Crown Room. source: Patrimonio Nacional

The Crown Room. source: Patrimonio Nacional

Formerly one of the rooms in the apartments of Queen Maria Christina, the Crown Room was established following the accession of King Felipe VI in 2014 to display the symbols of the constitutional monarchy – the original throne of King Carlos III as well as his crown and scepter; the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece belonging to Queen Isabella II, and the Table of Sphinxes – the majestic Empire style desk acquired by King Carlos IV in 1803. It was on this desk that King Juan Carlos signed the Organic Act, confirming his abdication from the throne. Also on display are King Juan Carlos’ abdication speech and a copy of the proclamation speech of King Felipe VI.

The Royal Armory. source: Wikipedia, Photo by Jose Luis Filpo Cabana

The western wing houses the Royal Armory, which houses what is considered to be one of the best collections of armor in the world. Read more about the Royal Armory here.

Just to the south of the palace, across Armory Square, is the Cathedral of Saint Mary the Royal of La Almudena, which was the site of the 2004 wedding of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.

Learn more about the other Spanish Royal Residences here!

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Zarzuela Palace and The Prince’s Pavilion

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

ZARZUELAZarzuela Palace

Zarzuela Palace has been the residence of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain since their marriage in 1962. Today, it remains their home as well as housing the offices of King Felipe VI.

The palace began as a hunting lodge, built between 1627 and 1635, for King Felipe IV. It was originally just a rectangular building with two small side wings. It takes its name from the zarzas, or brambles, which were found on the original hunting grounds. The palace later gave its name to an operetta which was debuted at the Palace of El Pardo in 1657 for King Felipe IV. The building was later modified by King Carlos IV who installed many of the decorative features which exist today. Carlos IV filled the palace with tapestries and porcelain, as well as furniture and an extensive collection of clocks.

Zarzuela Palace in the early 1950s

Zarzuela Palace prior to restoration in the 1950s

During the Spanish Civil War, the building suffered significant damage, and extensive restoration took place in the 1950s. In 1962, it became the residence of the future King Juan Carlos and his bride, Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark. Since 1981, it has also been the home of Queen Sofia’s sister, Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark. The private quarters are located in one of two wings which were built adjacent to the building in the 1990s. The other wing houses offices and security personnel.

King Juan Carlos meets with Pope Benedict in his office, 2011. source: Daily Mail/EPA

King Juan Carlos meets with Pope Benedict in his office, 2011. source: Daily Mail/EPA

View image | gettyimages.com

The main floor of the palace contains formal reception rooms, a library, and a dining room. Also on the main floor is the King’s Office, which is currently used by King Felipe VI. Just next to the office is the Audience Hall, where the King receives guests and foreign visitors and often hosts meetings.

The Prince’s Pavilion

PAVILIONLocated adjacent to Zarzuela Palace is the Prince’s Pavilion, the home of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia and their family. The home was built between 1999 -2002 to be a residence for the then-Prince of Asturias. Covering over 3,100 square meters, it is very much a private home. The first floor features several formal rooms used for entertaining and official functions, while the second floor is the private living quarters. Upon his accession, Felipe and Letizia chose to remain at their home, while the King took over his father’s offices at the Palace of Zarzuela.

Learn more about the other Spanish Royal Residences here!

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

The Royal Palace of Laeken

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Wikipedia

The Royal Palace of Laeken

The Royal Palace of Laeken is the official residence of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. Since Belgian independence in 1831, the palace has been the primary residence of the Belgian sovereigns, with the exception of King Albert II and Queen Paola, who chose to remain at the nearby Chateau Belvédère after his accession. The Palace is owned by the Belgian State (along with the Royal Palace of Brussels) and is placed at the disposal of the Sovereign.

At the time part of the Austrian Netherlands, the palace was built between 1782-1784 as a summer residence for the Governors of the Austrian Netherlands, Archduchess Maria Christina of Austria and her husband Duke Albert of Saxe-Teschen. After the area came under French rule in 1794, the palace was left abandoned for some time, and was near demolition. In 1804, it was purchased for 5 million francs by Napoleon Bonaparte, who went on to restore the palace to its former glory. He stayed there several times with his first wife, Josephine de Beauharnais, and later gave the property to her following their divorce.

In 1815, the Kingdom of the Netherlands was created, and the palace was acquired by King Willem I who also made renovations, adding an orangery and a theater. Following Belgian independence, the Palace of Laeken became the official residence of the newly elected King Leopold I in 1831.

It was King Leopold II (1865-1909) who made the most significant changes to the palace and the surrounding park. In 1874, he began building the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, a project which would take over 20 years to complete. A fire in the palace on January 1, 1890 destroyed the dome and much of the north wing, which was soon rebuilt with the addition of two small pavilions on either side of the main palace block. Beginning in 1902, King Leopold II had two large wings built to flank the palace. The right-wing was to be the private apartments, while the left-wing was to be for guests. The work was not finished until after his death in 1909.

His successor, King Albert I, finished much of the remaining work. He also had an art studio built in the grounds for his wife, Queen Elisabeth (born Princess Elisabeth of Bavaria). King Albert I was succeeded by his son, King Leopold III in 1934. Within the year, Leopold’s wife Queen Astrid died tragically, and he and his children moved to the Palace of Laeken. From 1940-1944, Leopold III and his family were held under house arrest at the palace before being sent from the country. During his absence, his brother Charles, Count of Flanders, served as Regent and lived in the palace until Leopold’s return, and subsequent abdication, in 1951. Leopold was succeeded by his elder son, King Baudouin. Despite having abdicated, King Leopold III continued to live at the palace along with the new King, until Baudouin’s marriage in 1960.

After Baudouin’s death in 1993, Laeken remained the residence of his widow, Queen Fabiola. King Albert II chose to remain at Château Belvédère instead of moving to the larger palace. Queen Fabiola lived there until 1998 when she moved to the smaller Château Stuyvenberg just across the park. The Palace of Laeken then became the home of the Duke of Brabant, now King Philippe, in 1999 upon his marriage to Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz. Since Philippe’s accession to the throne in 2013, the Royal Palace of Laeken has once again become the home of the reigning Belgian monarch.

View image | gettyimages.com

Along with the Royal Palace of Brussels, the Palace of Laeken is often used to host official functions including State dinners. In addition, prior to his accession, King Philippe often hosted foreign guests at the palace. The photo above shows The Prince of Wales visiting with the then-Duke and Duchess of Brabant in 2008.

The palace is situated in The Royal Domain of Laeken – a large park (the size of Monaco!) which also includes several other royal residences, the Royal Stables, the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, the Japanese Pagoda, and the Chinese Pavilion which are part of the Museums of the Far East, as well as a lake and golf course. The other royal residences are the Château Belvédère, the home of King Albert II and Queen Paola; Château Stuyvenberg, the former home of the late Queen Fabiola; and Villa Schonenberg, the home of Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz and their family.

The Royal Greenhouses. source: Wikipedia

The Royal Greenhouses were built by King Leopold II for the purpose of housing his vast collection of exotic and rare flowers and trees, many of which found their origins in the Congo. The buildings – particularly the large domed Winter Garden – have often been used for formal functions. The Greenhouses are open to the public for several weeks each spring.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

The Royal Palace of Brussels

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

photo © Susan Flantzer

photo © Susan Flantzer

Royal Palace of Brussels

The Royal Palace of Brussels is the official home of the Belgian monarchy. Although not currently used as an official residence of the Belgian royal family, the palace is used for official and State functions and houses the offices of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, as well as the Royal Court. The Royal Palace of Brussels is owned by the Belgian State.  The King and Queen reside instead at the Royal Palace of Laeken.

Brussels became one of the joint capitals (along with The Hague) of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands following the Congress of Vienna in 1814. In order to provide a residence for the King of the Netherlands, two large mansions in downtown Brussels – the Di Belgioioso House and the Von Vender House – were joined together. The street between them was closed, and a gallery was built, connecting the two buildings to form one larger, albeit rather disjointed, palace. Work took place for several years, and in 1829, the property was made available to King Willem I. However, after the Belgian Revolution the following year, the palace became the official residence of the newly elected Belgian sovereign, King Leopold I (Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha). The new king used the palace primarily for official functions while using the nearby Palace of Laeken as his primary residence.

The Royal Palace in 1852; Credit – Wikipedia

It was during the reign of King Leopold II that the palace underwent significant change. Feeling that the palace was not grand enough for a Sovereign, he nearly doubled the size of the building, adding many of the formal state rooms and galleries which exist today. His contributions include the Grand Staircase and The Throne Room among many others. He also established formal apartments for foreign guests. Following his death in 1909, the building was given a new façade, which included a formal garden in front of the palace.

Subsequent sovereigns and their consorts have added their own touches to the palace. Most prominent is Queen Paola who began to incorporate some modern art into the decor, seamlessly blending it with some of the old paintings and sculptures from the royal collection.

The Grand Staircase. photo: © Susan Flantzer

The Grand Staircase. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Empire Room. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Empire Room. photo © Susan Flantzer.  The Empire Room was added by King Willem I of the Netherlands to serve as a ballroom.

The Large White Drawing Room. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Large White Drawing Room. photo © Susan Flantzer.  The Large White Drawing Room, along with the adjoining Small White Drawing Room, are decorated with furniture given by the King of France to his daughter and son-in-law, King Leopold I.

The Venice Staircase. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Venice Staircase. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Goya Room. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Goya Room. photo © Susan Flantzer.  The Goya Room takes its name from the tapestries on the walls, depicting works by Francisco de Goya.

The Coburg Room. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Coburg Room. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Louis XVI Room. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Louis XVI Room. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Pillar Room. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Pillar Room. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Throne Room. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Throne Room. photo © Susan Flantzer.  Added by King Leopold II, the Throne Room features bas-reliefs by Auguste Rodin, representing the provinces of Belgium (with the exception of Brabant, where the palace is located)

The Grand Gallery. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Grand Gallery. photo © Susan Flantzer

The Blue Room originally served as an antechamber, but later became a dining room for court dignitaries.  source: Wikipedia

One of the grandest rooms in the palace is The Hall of Mirrors (see photo here).  Added by King Leopold II, the room was intended to evoke the Congo. Decorated with marble and copper, the King had planned for allegorical scenes of Africa to adorn the walls. However, he died before it could be completed, and his successor, King Albert I, adorned the walls with mirrors instead, thus giving the room its name. An art project in 2002, under the initiative of Queen Paola, saw the unfinished ceiling finally completed. The artist Jan Fabre installed over a million shells of the Thai Jewel Beetle, giving the ceiling a beautiful green hue. One of the grand chandeliers was also incorporated into the design.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Skaugum Estate

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: The Royal House of Norway, photo: Cornelius Poppe, Scanpix

source: The Royal House of Norway, Photo: Cornelius Poppe, Scanpix

Skaugum Estate

Located in Asker, the Skaugum Estate is the home of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway and their family and has been the official residence of the heir to the Norwegian throne since 1929. It is privately owned.  The estate encompasses approximately 242 acres, of which 118 are farmed and 124 are forests. In addition to the main house, there are numerous other buildings and structures, many of which are lodgings for current and former employees of the estate.

the original house, c.1921. source: Wikipedia

The property had once been a monastery and was affiliated with the Church of Mary in Oslo. After changing hands several times, it was purchased by Fritz Wedel Jarlsberg, a Minister in the Norwegian government, in 1909. When Crown Prince Olav (later King Olav V) married Princess Märtha of Sweden in 1929, it was necessary for them to have their own home. Jarlsberg arranged to sell the property to Olav, and the newly married couple took up residency after their marriage.

The new house, c1932. source: Wikipedia

The original building was destroyed by fire in 1930, and a new structure was built on the foundations of the old one. The new building was completed in 1932.

In 1968, upon the marriage of Crown Prince Harald (later King Harald V) to Sonja Haraldsen, King Olav transferred ownership of the property to his son. In turn, King Harald gave the property to Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, upon his marriage to Mette-Marit Høiby. Following extensive renovations, partially funded by the Norwegian government, the couple took up residence just before Christmas 2003.

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit at Skaugum. source: The Royal House of Norway

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit at Skaugum. source: The Royal House of Norway

The L-shaped building includes several representation rooms on the main floor, with the private living quarters upstairs. It is designed to be, first and foremost, a family home, while also being able to accommodate official functions and events for the couple.

Learn more about the other Norwegian Royal Residences here!

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

The Royal Palace, Oslo

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Wikipedia, photo: Bjørn Erik Pedersen

The Royal Palace, Oslo

Located in central Oslo, The Royal Palace is the primary official residence of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, and the seat of the Norwegian Monarchy. It is the site of many annual events and national festivities, as well as host to many State and official visits from foreign heads-of-state.

In 1814, Norway became an independent kingdom and was ruled under a personal union with the Kingdom of Sweden. Finding that the sovereigns were spending more time visiting Christiania (as Oslo was called at the time), King Carl III Johan (Carl XIV Johan of Sweden) decided that a true palace was needed. After selecting the location in 1821, and getting the Norwegian parliament to allocate funding, work began on the site and the King laid the cornerstone of the palace in 1825.

The building was initially designed to be in the shape of an ‘H’, with two wings extending from the front and back of the main block. However, due to excessive costs and several delays, the design was later changed to have just two wings off the back of the palace, and the addition of a third story to the building. After King Carl III John’s death in 1844, it was also found that the private apartments were not sufficient for the new King Oscar I’s larger family, so the two wings were extended to accommodate them. With construction finally completed, the palace was inaugurated by King Oscar I on July 26, 1849, in the presence of the entire Royal Family.

King Haakon VII and Queen Maud at their coronation, 1906. source: Wikipedia

In 1905, the personal union between Norway and Sweden came to an end, and Prince Carl of Denmark was elected as the new King of Norway, taking the name Haakon VII. The palace was quickly updated to be used as a permanent residence, and the new King Haakon VII and Queen Maud took up residence in November 1905. During the reigns of Haakon VII and his son Olav V, minor maintenance of the palace was carried out, but by the time King Harald V came to the throne in 1991, the palace was in dire need of repair. A six-year project was undertaken, which included updating the electrical and plumbing systems, as well as extensive renovation and restoration of the building itself. After completion in 1999, a separate project began to update the Royal Apartments, which would take nearly two years to complete. The most recent project has been the rehabilitation of the roof over the main block of the palace, which took place in 2011-2012.

Some of the rooms in the palace are:

The Council Room. source: The Government of Norway, photo: Cornelius Poppe, NTB Scanpix

The Council Chamber.  King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon meeting with the Council of State, 2013. source: The Government of Norway, Photo: Cornelius Poppe, NTB Scanpix

The Council Chamber is the room in which The King holds a meeting of the Council of State each week. The original council chamber was part of the King’s private apartments on the second floor but was moved to the first floor under King Haakon VII. Due to the increasing size of the council, the room was expanded by combining it with an adjacent antechamber in the 1990s.

The Bird Room. source: The Royal Court, Photo: Bjørn Sigurdsøn, Scanpix

The Bird Room. source: The Royal House of Norway, Photo: Bjørn Sigurdsøn, Scanpix

The Bird Room is one of the best-known rooms in the palace.  It is used as an antechamber for those waiting for an audience with the King and is often used for official photos at ceremonial events.  The walls are painted to depict an outdoor pavilion, looking out on some famous Norwegian landscapes.  Incorporated into the artwork are forty different birds, which give the room its name.   

The Family Dining Room. source: Royal House of Norway

Despite its name, the Family Dining Room is used primarily for smaller, less-formal official dinners and lunches, such as the annual dinners for the Supreme Court and the Bishops.

The Great Hall. source: The Royal Court, Photo: Kjartan Hauglid

The Great Hall. source: The Royal House of Norway, Photo: Kjartan Hauglid

The Great Hall is the Palace’s Ballroom and is used for luncheons and banquets.  It is considered to be the grandest room in the palace and was the site of the wedding banquet for Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit in 2001.  The room encompasses two floors, with a balcony that wraps around the entire room (seen in the photo above).

The Banqueting Hall. source: Royal House of Norway, photo: Kjartan Gusssssxd

The Banqueting Hall. source: The Royal House of Norway, Photo: Kjartan Hauglid

The Banqueting Hall is the palace’s State Dining Room and is used for very formal functions such as State Visits and the annual banquet for members of the Norwegian government.  The above photo shows the Banqueting Hall prepared for a large gala.

The Palace Chapel. source: The Royal House of Norway, photo: Kjetil Rolseth

The Palace Chapel. source: The Royal House of Norway, Photo: Kjetil Rolseth

The Palace Chapel is built on the site of the original foundation stone for the palace (the altar is actually erected directly above the foundation stone).  It is here where both King Haakon VII and King Olav V lay in state before their funerals, and it continues to be the site of religious events within the royal family.  In 2004, the Chapel was restored in connection with the christening of Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and it has been used for several other christenings and confirmations. As well as being used for the Church of Norway, the Palace Chapel is often the site of concerts and musical events.

The Queen’s Park with the private apartment wing in the background. source: Wikipedia; Photo: Kjetil Bjørnsrud

The private apartments of King Harald and Queen Sonja are located in the southern wing extending from the back of the palace, overlooking The Queen’s Park, which is part of the larger Palace Park.

The Palace is situated in the middle of a large area known as the Palace Park. The park spans more than 50 acres and encompasses both the large gardens and the Palace Square located in front of the building. The park includes three ponds and several walking trails as well as several pavilions and statues. Within the park, there is a smaller area known as The Queen’s Park, which is used primarily as a private area for the Royal Family when they are in residence.

The Palace Square is located at the front of the palace. This is considered the main parade ground in Norway and is the site of many ceremonial events, including the formal welcome ceremonies during State Visits, and the annual National Day celebrations. On National Day, the Royal Family appears on the balcony overlooking Palace Square, to watch the Children’s Parade and greet the crowds gathered to celebrate the day.

Learn more about the other Norwegian Royal Residences here!

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Marselisborg Palace

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Marselisborg Palace, as seen from the Memorial Park. source: Wikipedia

Marselisborg Palace

Marselisborg Palace is located in Aarhus, Denmark, and is the summer residence of Queen Margrethe. Unlike the other Danish royal residences (Amalienborg, Fredensborg Palace, and Gråsten Palace) Marselisborg is privately owned by Queen Margrethe II.

The current palace was built between 1899-1902, but the land has royal roots which go back much further. In 1661, King Frederik III owned the estate, then called Havreballegaard, but was forced to turn it over to one of his many creditors, Gabriel Marselis. His son, Constantin, renamed the estate Marselisborg in 1680, and upon his death in 1699, left the estate to King Christian V. Christian, in turn, gave the property to his illegitimate son, Ulrik Christian Gyldenløve, who then left it to his nephew, Frederik Danneskjold-Samsoe. After his death in 1770, the property had many different owners, until it was purchased by the city of Aarhus in 1896.

In 1898, the people of Aarhus decided to build a palace as a wedding gift for the future King Christian X and Princess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Ten acres of the old estate were allocated and construction began in 1899. The funding raised included the construction of the building, but not any of the furnishings. Instead, numerous people, organizations, and towns around Aarhus each took on a different room of the palace, providing furnishings that were fitting for the future sovereign and his family.

The entrance to the palace. source: Wikipedia

The palace was completed in June 1902 and presented to the couple, who soon took up residence. The Crown Prince also leased additional land and later purchased the entire area. This now encompasses over 32 acres of land around the palace, much of which is known as the Memorial Park, and extends from the palace to Aarhus Bay. King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine would spend nearly every summer at Marselisborg for the rest of their lives.

But after Queen Alexandrine’s death in 1952, the palace remained mostly unused. The new King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid already had their own summer residence, Gråsten Palace, and had no use for Marselisborg. By the mid-1960s, there were rumors in the media that Princess Benedikte would take up residence, and that the palace may become a temporary home-in-exile for King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece. After receiving requests from several organizations to donate the property for their use, the King instead decided, in 1967, to give the property to then-Princess Margrethe and her new husband, Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, as a wedding gift. Princess Margrethe was not overly thrilled at being given the property, but Prince Henrik saw that the property had great potential and was instrumental in updating both the palace and its gardens. Using some of the funds received from the Danish people for their wedding, the couple undertook an extensive modernization of the palace before taking up residence in the summer of 1968. For much of her reign, Queen Margrethe and her family have used Marselisborg Palace during the summer, as well as often celebrating both Easter and Christmas.

Queen Margrethe decorating the Christmas tree in the Garden Room at Marselisborg Palace. source: Berlingske, photo: Alex Schütt

Queen Margrethe decorating the Christmas tree in the Garden Room at Marselisborg Palace. source: Berlingske, photo: Alex Schütt

Marselisborg Palace is perhaps the smallest and most intimate of the residences, and the one which allowed Queen Margrethe the most privacy. However, its small size occasionally brings about necessary changes to the traditional holiday events. In 2014, with the entire extended family of 44 people coming together for Christmas, it was necessary to move the celebrations to Fredensborg Palace instead. Queen Margrethe herself has stated that her one complaint with Marselisborg is that there is not much room for guests to stay.

Learn more about the other Danish Royal Residences here!

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Gråsten Palace

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Wikipedia

Gråsten Palace

Gråsten Palace is one of the summer residences of the Danish Royal Family, located in southern Denmark.  It was originally just a small hunting lodge in the 1500s, with several palaces built in its place after successive fires destroyed the previous buildings. Count Frederik Ahlefeldt and his son built a large baroque palace in the late 1600s, which was destroyed by yet another fire in 1757. All that remained was the palace chapel and a few pavilions.

By this time, the palace was owned by the Augustenborg family (from 1725-1852). In 1759, a new south wing was added to the remaining structures, but it wasn’t until 1842 that the main central block of the palace was built.

source: Wikipedia

The property was acquired by King Frederik VII in 1852, but would later return to the Augustenborg family in 1864. It would be nearly 20 years, however, before they would be allowed to live there. Due to its location in the Schleswig region, and the Prussian’s negative opinions of the Augustenborg family, they were not permitted to use either Gråsten Palace or the nearby Augustenborg Palace until 1884.

In 1920, following World War I, the Danish State purchased the palace from the Augustenborg family for 5 million DKK. It was then used as housing for court officials, and for a period of time served as a library.

In 1935, the State put the palace at the disposal of the newly married (future) King Frederik IX and Princess Ingrid of Sweden, as a wedding gift. Following an extensive renovation, the couple took up residence in August 1936. Other than several years during World War II, the couple continued to use Gråsten as their summer residence until their deaths in 1972 and 2000.

Danish Royal Family, July 2014. source: Danish Monarchy (Henning Bagger, Scanpix)

Danish Royal Family, July 2014. source: Danish Monarchy (Henning Bagger, Scanpix)

Following Queen Ingrid’s death, use of the palace passed to Queen Margrethe II, who typically stayed there for several weeks each summer. It has become the traditional site of the Danish Royal Family’s annual photoshoot with the media. The photo above shows the family in 2014, where they posed on a small bridge along the walkway to the ‘Little House’, a small playhouse on the grounds which was a gift from King Christian X to his granddaughters.

Learn more about the other Danish Royal Residences here!

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Fredensborg Palace

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

source: Wikipedia, Chin tin tin

Fredensborg Palace

Fredensborg Palace, located in North Zealand on the shore of Lake Esrum, is the spring and autumn residence of the Danish Royal Family. It was originally built as a hunting lodge for King Frederik IV between 1719-1722 on the site of a farm that he owned. The initial structure was a square palace block with an octagonal courtyard, formed by single-story wings which served as servants’ quarters. A riding arena was later created to the east of the courtyard, flanked on the north by a wing of the palace which included the Palace Chapel and the original orangery; a stable block to the east; and The Chancellery House to the south.

The palace was inaugurated in 1722, in honor of the King’s birthday, and was named Fredensborg – ‘Peace Castle’ – in recognition of the recent end of the Great Northern War. Over the next forty years, during the reigns of Kings Christian VI and Frederik V, the palace underwent several expansions and renovations. The roof was raised to allow for more floors, and four pavilions were built on the corners of the original palace block. In addition, the original Orangery was also converted into living quarters for the ladies-in-waiting.

King Christian IX with his extended family at Fredensborg Palace. painting by Laurits Tuxen, source: Wikipedia

Following Frederik V’s death, Fredensborg became the dower home of his widow, Queen Juliane Marie, until her own death in 1796. The palace was not used as a royal residence for nearly 60 years until King Christian IX came to the throne in 1863. The King, and his wife Queen Louise, were the parents of the future King Frederik VIII of Denmark, Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia, King George I of Greece and the Crown Princess of Hanover, and often held large family gatherings at the palace, bringing together some of the most prominent royal families of Europe.

While his two successors, King Frederik VIII and King Christian X, did not use the palace as often, it again became a popular residence during the reign of King Frederik IX and remains so to this day. Queen Margrethe spends nearly half the year in residence – three months in the spring and three months in the fall – and continues the tradition of gathering their extended family at the palace every year. Many family events take place here, including the wedding banquets for Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik in 1967, and Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary in 2004.

View image | gettyimages.com

The palace is also the site of many State visits and official functions. During her reign, Queen Margrethe II often received foreign ambassadors here, and Fredensborg was frequently the site of State visits. There is a tradition associated with State visits at Fredensborg. All visiting heads of state are asked to etch their names into a windowpane using a diamond.

Another tradition was the greeting of the Sovereign on her birthday each year. The grounds close to the palace are open to the public, who came to cheer Queen Margrethe early in the morning of her birthday. She would then appear at her bedroom window to wave to the crowds gathered below.

In the wing which branches off the eastern side of the palace is the Palace Church (‘B’ in the photo below), connected to the main palace by the original Orangery. The palace church has been the site of weddings, christenings, and confirmations for members of the Danish Royal Family, beginning with the 1761 confirmation of Princess Sophia Magdalena (daughter of King Frederik V, later Queen Consort of Sweden). Most recently christenings and confirmations of Queen Margrethe’s grandchildren have been held there. The church faces out onto the riding arena, which is flanked on the east by a long building originally housing the stables.

Fredensborg Castle. ‘A’-The Chancellery House; ‘B’-The Palace Church

At the southern end of the riding arena is The Chancellery House (‘A’ in the photo above). Built in 1731, it was originally built as accommodations for ministers and government officials who had to travel to Fredensborg to attend the sovereign. It was later used as a summer residence for some court officials, and then as grace-and-favor residences for retired staff. After the death of King Frederik IX, his widow, Queen Ingrid had the building renovated and it became her summer residence until her death in 2000. In 2004, it became the summer residence of Crown Prince Frederik and his family.

Learn more about the other Danish Royal Residences here!

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.