Author Archives: Scott

Crown Prince Leka I of the Albanians

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

Crown Prince Leka I of the Albanians. photo: Albanian Royal Court

Crown Prince Leka I was born at the Royal Palace in Tirana on April 5, 1939, the only child of King Zog I of the Albanians and Geraldine Apponyi de Nagy-Appony.

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Just two days after his birth, Fascist forces invaded Albania, and the family quickly fled into exile. They settled briefly in France before moving to England where they lived through the end of World War II and eventually moved to Egypt in 1946. During that time, Leka attended the British Boys School and Victoria College in Egypt before graduating from Aiglon College in Switzerland in 1956.

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Upon his 18th birthday in 1957, he formally became Crown Prince of the Albanians, although the monarchy had already been formally abolished several years earlier by the communist regime. When King Zog died in 1961, monarchists declared Leka to be King Leka I, although this title was merely in pretense. Having settled in France, he later moved to Spain in the early 1960s and continued his efforts to bring the monarchy back to Albania. During that time, with the assistance of King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Leka began working as a commodities broker and established several businesses in the Middle East and Asia. Continuing his quest for the restoration of the monarchy – and the abolishment of the communist regime in Albania – Leka traveled extensively, seeking out support in building up forces to overtake the country. With the support of the Thai army, he began training Albanian volunteers for a potential rebellion.

On April 8, 1975, Leka married Susan Cullen-Ward in a civil ceremony held in Biarritz. The couple had met while studying at the Sorbonne several years earlier, after which Susan moved to Spain at Leka’s invitation. In Toledo, Spain, on October 10, 1975, the marriage was blessed by Muslim, Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican clergy during a religious ceremony.

They had one son:

Leka first returned to Albania in 1993 but was quickly forced to leave within 24 hours. He returned in 1997 when a referendum regarding the restoration of the monarchy was being held. The referendum failed with only ⅓ of the votes in favor of restoration. Leka publicly questioned and challenged the independence of the election, leading to unrest – “police intervened, gunfire broke out, one person was killed, and Leka fled.” Later, the Albanian president at that time said that the referendum had been “held in the context of flames of the communist rebellion and therefore cannot be considered a closed matter. The Stalinist principle of: ‘you vote, but I count the votes’ was applied in that referendum. But the fact is the Albanians voted massively for their King, but the referendum failed to meet quotas as it was manipulated.” Leka ended up leaving Albania and then was tried and found guilty of sedition for causing the unrest following the failed referendum. He was later pardoned in March 2002, when the Albanian Parliament strove to make amends and officially allowed and invited the former Royal Family to return to the country.

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On June 28, 2002, Leka, along with his wife, his son, and his mother Queen Geraldine, arrived in Albania and were greeted by thousands of supporters. Leka quickly established a public role, becoming an outspoken advocate for national unity and the restoration of the monarchy. He maintained an outspoken voice for rebuilding his country for several years before health issues led him to withdraw from public life in 2006.

On November 30, 2011, Crown Prince Leka I died at the Mother Teresa Hospital in Tirana, Albania. The government declared a National Day of Mourning, and he was given a state funeral, with full military honors. He was initially buried in the Sharra cemetery in Tirana next to his wife and mother. In November 2012, their remains were exhumed and reinterred in the newly rebuilt Royal Mausoleum.

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Albanian Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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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.

Queen Geraldine of the Albanians

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

Queen Geraldine of the Albanians photo: Albanian Royal Court

Queen Geraldine of the Albanians, the wife of King Zog I, was born Countess Geraldine Margit Virginia Olga Maria Apponyi de Nagy-Appony on August 6, 1915 in Budapest. Her father, Count Gyula Apponyi de Nagy-Appony was from a prominent family of Hungary’s high upper nobility. Her mother, Gladys Steuart, was the daughter of an American diplomat who had served as Consul in Belgium. Geraldine had two siblings, a sister, Virginia, and a brother, Gyula.

When the Austrian Empire fell, the family moved to Switzerland for several years before returning to Hungary in 1921. Three years later, Geradline’s father died and the family moved to France. She began her education at an English school in Menton, France, before attending a Catholic boarding school near Vienna, graduating in Social Sciences and Finance. She excelled at languages, becoming fluent in French, German, Spanish, English, Hungarian, and Albanian. With little of the family’s fortune remaining, Geraldine took several jobs, including working as a typist and a salesperson in a museum gift shop.

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Geraldine first met her future husband, King Zog I of the Albanians, in December 1937. The King, having seen a photo of her, asked one of his sisters to invite Geraldine to a New Year’s Ball where they were introduced. Quickly smitten, the King proposed within days and Geraldine accepted. The couple married on April 27, 1938 in a civil ceremony at the Royal Palace in Tirana. Despite their religious differences – the King was a Muslim while Geraldine was Catholic – the marriage was blessed by all of the religious leaders, including the Pope who had initially refused.

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The new Queen quickly worked to promote causes in Albania, particularly those focused on helping those in need. She facilitated the building of numerous hospitals and orphanages, including the first maternity hospital in Albania. She also was an outspoken proponent of women’s rights within the country. On April 5, 1939, Geraldine gave birth to the couple’s only child, Crown Prince Leka I. Two days later, Italian forces invaded and took control of Albania, and the royal family went into exile. They settled in France for several years before moving to England for the duration of World War II. Geraldine worked alongside her husband in his efforts to bring peace to Albania and to restore the monarchy. Following the war, they spent several years living in Egypt before returning to France in 1952.  Sometime after King Zog’s death in 1961, Geraldine moved with her son to Spain and then Rhodesia, before settling in South Africa by the early 1980s. During this time, she continued to support the Albanian people in every way she could.

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After over 62 years in exile, the Albanian government changed the law in 2002, allowing the Royal Family to return to the country. In June 2002, Queen Geraldine, her son and his family, returned home to a massive welcome.

Sadly, just five months later, Queen Geraldine of the Albanians died at a military hospital in Tirana on October 22, 2002. Following a ceremonial funeral, she was buried in the Sharra cemetery there. In November 2012, her remains were exhumed and moved to the newly built Royal Mausoleum in Tirana, along with those of her husband, son, and daughter-in-law.

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Albanian Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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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.

King Zog I of the Albanians

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

King Zog I of the Albanians; photo: Albanian Royal Court

King Zog I was born Ahmed Muhtar Zogolli on October 8, 1895 at Burgajet Castle in Burrel, the Ottoman Empire, now in Albania. He was the second child and only son of Xhemal Pasha Zogolli and his second wife Sadije Toptani. His father was the Hereditary Governor of Mati (one of Albania’s former districts), a position Zog himself would inherit upon his father’s death in 1908. His mother was from the Toptani family, one of the leading noble families in Ottoman Albania, and one of the largest landowners in the country. Zog had six sisters:

He also had one older half-brother from his father’s first marriage:

  • Xhelal Bey Zogolli (1881) – married 4 times, had issue including a son, Skënder Zogu, born 1933, who would be second in line to the Albanian throne today, following Crown Prince Leka II

The future King was educated at the Galatasaray Lyceum in Istanbul, and succeeded his father as Governor of Mati in 1908. He returned to Albania in 1912, and led a revolt against the Young Turks, and gained fame as a military leader for his victory over invading Montenegrin forces. Later that year, he participated in Albania’s Declaration of Independence and continued to gain attention for his military successes.

Prince Wilhelm of Wied; Prince of Albania. source: Wikipedia

Upon Albania’s independence, the Great Powers created Albania as a Principality, and Prince Wilhelm of Wied was selected as its Prince. However, due to intense in-fighting, Wilhelm would last only six months in Albania before being forced into exile. Zogolli went on to serve with the Austrian-Hungarian forces during World War before returning to Albania and becoming involved in politics. Rising quickly through the ranks, he held numerous positions within the government, including Minister of the Interior, and Chief of the Albanian Military. In 1922, he formally changed his surname from Zogolli to Zogu which sounded more Albanian and would help to gain further support from the Albanian people.

Zogu became Prime Minister of Albania in December 1922 and served until February 25, 1924 – just two days after being shot and wounded in an assassination attempt in Parliament. Several months later, a coup d’etat forced Zog into exile for several months. Returning and restoring the legitimate government in December 1924, formally ending the Principality and declaring Albania a Republic. A month later, he was elected President.

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Just three years later, several Albanian politicians suggested that Albania should become a monarchy once again. A commission was quickly established and on August 30, 1928, the Constitutional Assembly overwhelmingly approved the vote. The Kingdom of Albania was established, and President Zogu was offered the throne. The following day, September 1, 1928, Ahmet Zogu took the oath, becoming King Zog I of the Albanians – the country’s first and only reigning King. One of his first official acts – fully supported by the National Assembly – was to give titles to his mother and sisters. His mother became Her Majesty The Queen Mother of the Albanians, and his sisters were all created Princesses, with the style of Royal Highness.

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On April 27, 1938, the Muslim King Zog married the Catholic Geraldine Apponyi de Nagy-Appony in a civil ceremony held at the Royal Palace in Tirana.  Despite their different religions, religious leaders, including the Pope, blessed their marriage.  The couple had one son, Crown Prince Leka I, born in April 1939.

On April 7, 1939, just two days after Queen Geraldine gave birth to the couple’s only child, Italian forces invaded Albania. Despite attempts to hold them off, the Albanian military was unsuccessful. The National Assembly quickly voted to allow the King and his family to leave the country, thus allowing him to retain sovereignty in exile. Two days later, on April 9th, King Zog and the entire royal family crossed into Greece. The Italians, under the leadership of Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, took control of Albania, declaring it a Protectorate of Italy under King Vittorio Emanuele III.

With the entire government forced into exile, King  Zog established his base in France, hoping to coordinate support with the Allies. He arrived in Paris on August 8, 1939, and settled at the Chateau de la Maye in Versailles, previously used as a temporary residence by the Duke and Duchess of Windsor just two years earlier.

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However, with German forces approaching, the family fled once again in June 1940 and made their way to England. One of the British officers who helped organize their escape was Commander Ian Fleming, later a successful writer, creating the character of James Bond.

The family initially stayed at the Ritz Hotel in London before settling at Parmoor House in Buckinghamshire. Due to the bombings, however, they continued to move around quite often. While in England, King Zog developed friendships with numerous other royals in exile and continued to work toward Albania’s liberation.

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Another move in 1946 took the family to Egypt, where they lived at the invitation of King Farouk. On a trip to the United States in 1951, King Zog purchased the Knollwood Estate in Muttontown, New York. He intended to settle there in the coming years but never occupied the house.

An attempt to stage a coup d’etat and regain control of Albania was organized in 1954 with the support of British and American intelligence. However, the plans failed when they were revealed to the Soviets by Kim Philby, a British spy working as a double agent. The next year, Zog and his family returned to France, settling in Cannes. By then, his health was deteriorating, and King Zog abandoned his hope of moving to the United States and sold the Knollwood Estate.

The former grave of King Zog I at the Thiais Cemetery near Paris. photo: By Martin Ottmann – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4602279

Following several years of ill health, King Zog I of the Albanians passed away on April 9, 1961, at the Foch Hospital in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, on the outskirts of Paris. He was buried in the Thiais Cemetery in Paris.

photo: Albanian Royal Court

In November 2012, the King’s remains were exhumed and returned to Albania where they were reinterred in the newly rebuilt Royal Mausoleum in Tirana, Albania. At the same time, the remains of Queen Geraldine, Crown Prince Leka I, and Crown Princess Susan were also moved to the new mausoleum.

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Albanian Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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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.

Cardinal Jules Mazarin, Favorite of King Louis XIV of France

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

Cardinal Mazarin was a favorite of King Louis XIV of France, and perhaps the most influential person in the French court at the time. Having served prominently in the court for several years during the reign of King Louis XIII, he was formally appointed Chief Minister by Queen Anne when she assumed the Regency for her young son, King Louis XIV, and remained in that position until his own death in 1661.

Cardinal Jules Mazarin – source: Wikipedia

Cardinal Jules Mazarin was born Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino on July 14, 1602, in Pescina, Italy, the second of seven children of Pietro Mazzarino and Ortensia Bufalini. His father served as Chamberlain for Filippo I Colonna, the Grand Constable of Naples, and his mother came from a prominent noble family in Rome. His siblings were:

  • Geronima (1601) – died in infancy
  • Michele Alessandro (1605) – later Cardinal Michel Mazzarino, unmarried
  • Anna-Maria (1607) – unmarried
  • Laura Margherita (1608) – married Geronimo Martinozzi, had issue. They were the grandparents of Mary of Modena, consort of King James II of England
  • Cléria (1609) – married Pietro Muti, no issue
  • Girolama – 1614 – married Baron Michele Lorenzo Mancini, had issue

After attending the Jesuit College in Rome, Jules traveled to Spain and studied law at the Complutense University in Madrid. After completing his degree in Rome, and serving in a Papal army regiment, he came to the attention of Pope Urban VIII who appointed him to serve as a secretary to a papal diplomat. Quickly developing a keen sense for diplomacy, he traveled extensively between Italy, Spain, and France, hoping to establish peace between the Spanish and French before an impending war. During these travels, Jules came to the attention of Cardinal Richelieu, under whom he would later serve in the French court.

Jules’ diplomatic skills brought about his first success, resulting in the Treaty of Cherasco in 1631, and the following year, he had his first meeting with King Louis XIII and Queen Anne of France. Having proven himself a valuable asset to the Pope, he was given the title of prelate, and papal vice-legate, and by 1634 was appointed nuncio extraordinary to Paris. Over the next few years, he became close to the King and Queen of France and began to gain the trust of Cardinal Richelieu. In 1641, he was formally created a Cardinal, despite never becoming a priest.

Following Richelieu’s death in 1642, Mazarin was one of three primary advisors to King Louis XIII. Upon the King’s death in 1643, he had instructed in his will that Queen Anne not serve as regent for their young son, the new King Louis XIV. However, the Queen had the will annulled, was declared Regent, and named Mazarin as Chief Minister of France.

Jules’ tenure as Chief Minister saw the end of the Thirty Years War, thanks primarily to his diplomatic skills in establishing the Peace of Westphalia (1646-1648), and the expansion of France with the addition of the Alsace region.  After skillfully negotiating a peaceful agreement following several years of rebellion within France, known as The Fronde, Mazarin continued with numerous diplomatic victories. These included establishing a military alliance with England, and creating the League of the Rhine in 1658. He carefully negotiated the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659, which resulted in the addition of several new provinces in France, and led to the successful arrangement of a marriage for King Louis XIV to Maria Theresa of Spain.

In addition to his diplomatic skill, Mazarin was a prominent patron of the arts in France. He established the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in 1648 and introduced Italian opera to France. He amassed a large collection of art and jewels, most of which he later bequeathed to the King and the nation.

Cardinal Mazarin died on March 9, 1661 at the Château de Vincennes, just outside of Paris. Several days before his death, in an attempt to silence false rumors that he was taking money from the King, Mazarin published a will in which he left his entire fortune to The King. Louis XIV quickly declined this, and a second will was drafted, in which he left the majority of his fortune to his niece, Hortense Mancini.

The Sancy (center), displayed in the Louvre. photo: By Pavel Rudanovsky – Louvre, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63677557

An avid jewel collector, Mazarin amassed a large collection of priceless gems during his lifetime. Upon his death, he left several to the King, including the famed Sancy and a collection of diamonds known as the ‘Mazarins’.

The Bibliothèque Mazarine. photo: By Marie-Lan Nguyen – Own work, CC BY 2.0 fr, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10312236

Mazarin also bequeathed a large amount of money to establish the Collège des Quatre-Nations. The college, now the Institut de France, was built just across the Seine River from the Louvre Palace, and his wish was to be entombed in the chapel of the college once it was completed. In addition, he left his extensive library to the new college. Containing nearly 40,000 books, the collection formed the basis for the Bibliothèque Mazarine which still exists today, and was the first public library in France.

Cenotaph of Cardinal Mazarin. photo: Par NonOmnisMoriar — Travail personnel, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22344978

Following his death, Mazarin’s were temporarily placed in a vault in the chapel at the Château de Vincennes. In 1684, his remains were moved to the vault beneath the college chapel, and finally to a large marble tomb in the chapel in 1693. The tomb was destroyed during the French Revolution and his remains were thrown into the street. The monument was rebuilt years later, and, after being displayed at several museums, returned to the college chapel in 1964.

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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.

Axel von Fersen the Younger, Favorite of Queen Marie Antoinette of France

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

A prominent member of Swedish aristocracy, Count Axel von Fersen the Younger rose to the highest ranks of the Swedish royal court, serving as Marshal of the Realm for several years. He previously served as an aide-de-camp and interpreter to Rochambeau during the American Revolutionary War and became a close friend and favorite of Queen Marie Antoinette of France.

Axel von Fersen the Younger – source: Wikipedia

Axel von Fersen was born in Stockholm on September 4, 1755, the elder son of Field Marshal Axel von Fersen (the Elder) and Countess Hedvig Catharina De la Gardie. He had three siblings:

Axel was raised in one of the most prominent and influential Swedish aristocratic families. His mother had inherited Löfstad Castle and its large estates, and his father had extensive land holdings and was one of the largest shareholders in Sweden’s East India Company. In addition to Löfstad, the family owned Steninge Palace, Ljung Castle and Mälsåker Castle.

Queen Marie Antoinette of France. source: Wikipedia

Extensively educated, von Fersen became fluent in numerous languages that would serve him well in adulthood. He later continued his education in the military. In 1770, he began a grand tour, traveling throughout Europe and continuing his military training at several academies in Germany, France, and Italy. During this tour, he visited the royal courts of Sardinia, France, and the United Kingdom. While visiting France in 1774 von Fersen first met the future Queen Marie Antoinette.

Returning to Sweden the following year, he served in the Swedish military, but continued to visit France and began developing a friendship with the future Queen. In 1780, became an aide-de-camp to General Rochambeau during the American Revolutionary War, serving until the war’s end in 1783. Upon his return, King Gustav III of Sweden made him Captain of the Guard, hoping to have von Fersen by his side as he traveled throughout Europe to garner support for his plans to invade Denmark. The French king also gave von Fersen several honorary military appointments. As tensions began to rise in France, the Swedish King appointed von Fersen as his secret envoy to the French King and Queen, subverting the usual diplomatic channels and providing direct contact between the sovereigns.

Axel remained at court through the beginning of the French Revolution and was involved with the failed plans for the French Royal Family to escape, the unsuccessful Flight to Varennes. A warrant was issued for his arrest for his role in the plot, but he avoided capture. He traveled to Vienna to enlist the support of the Queen’s brother Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II resulting in the Declaration of Pillnitz which declared Prussia’s and the Holy Roman Empire’s support for the French King and monarchy.

His further efforts to protect and save the Queen and her family proved unsuccessful. He saw them for the last time in December 1791 but continued a correspondence with the Queen until her execution in October 1793. Having returned to Sweden, von Fersen later became one of the closest advisors to the new King Gustav IV Adolf, rising to the position of Earl Marshal, and by 1801, Marshal of the Realm.

A depiction of the murder of Axel von Fersen. source: Wikipedia

When King Gustav IV Adolf was deposed in 1809, the throne did not pass to his son and heir, but to his uncle, King Carl XIII who had no legitimate heirs. von Fersen led the support for the former King’s son, unsuccessfully. The new King adopted a Danish prince Carl August of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg to be his heir. However, the new Crown Prince died suddenly after falling from his horse in May 1810. Rumors quickly spread that he had been poisoned by the former King’s supporters – more specifically, at the hands of von Fersen.

On June 20, 1810, the public funeral was held for the Crown Prince. As Marshal of the Realm, von Fersen was one of the leaders of the procession through Stockholm. Despite the heavy presence of guards, several people broke free from the crowd in an attempt to get to von Fersen, while the guards mostly just looked on with disinterest. Fleeing the crowds, he tried to find safety in a nearby house but was quickly pursued and overtaken. He was dragged back into the street where he was quickly attacked and killed by the angry mob who blamed him for the Crown Prince’s death.

Ljungs Church. photo: Av Håkan Svensson – Eget arbete, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1455830

Several months later, von Fersen was cleared of having any part in the Crown Prince’s death, and received a state burial in Stockholm with full ceremonial honors. He is buried at the small church near his family’s Ljung Castle.

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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 Laird o’ Thistle – Special Edition – The Passing of Prince Philip

by The Laird o’Thistle
April 9, 2021

Buckingham Palace announced the news at mid-day: “It is with deep sorrow that Her Majesty The Queen announces the death of her beloved husband, His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His Royal Highness passed away peacefully this morning [9 April 2021] at Windsor Castle.” The news was a surprise, and not a surprise. He was so very old, and so very frail-looking in the final pictures of him leaving hospital last month.

Thoughts immediately began to fly in my head. The first one was “Well, he got his wish!” (Philip’s remark from some years back, that “he could think of nothing worse!” than turning 100, has been widely reported over the last year or so. And so here he dies, two months short of the mark.) My second thought was, “How will this affect the Queen?” She turns 95 herself twelve days from now.

Any death, even in one so elderly, even when anticipated, rips a tear in the fabric of a family. Queen Elizabeth has lost her deeply beloved spouse of nearly 73½ years, the man she is said to have adored since 1939 when she was a teenage Princess and he a handsome naval cadet (and Prince). At age 72, Prince Charles has lost his father… with whom he did not always have an easy relationship. Princess Anne has often been said to be the closest to her father of the four children. Prince William has been particularly close to his grandparents ever since their staunch support at the time of Princess Diana’s death; and it was Philip who volunteered to walk with him and Prince Harry in Diana’s funeral procession. The two youngest grandchildren, Prince Edward’s Louise and James, have grown up almost literally on the doorstep of Windsor Castle, with Lady Louise taking up Philip’s love of carriage driving. And, and, and…. All the dynamics now shift and change.

Prince Philip died at Windsor Castle, where 160 years ago the previous Prince Consort (a title Philip never officially held) also died. In the 2005 BBC documentary series, WINDSOR CASTLE – A ROYAL YEAR, Philip commented that Prince Albert’s ongoing heritage was a hard act to follow. Philip’s mother, Princess Alice, was born at Windsor in 1885, in the presence of her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. Prince Philip had served as a very hands-on Ranger of the Great Park at Windsor since 1952, and oversaw the rebuilding and restoration effort after the 1992 fire. He also co-designed the great formal rose garden on the castle’s east terrace.

Who was he? Born a Prince of Greece and Denmark, he was the eldest living member of the former Greek royal family. Until today he was also perhaps the closest living relative of both Czar Nicholas II (a first cousin of Philip’s father) and the Czarina Alexandra (his mother’s aunt). He was a serving Naval Officer in both the Mediterranean and Pacific in WWII, later given the historic title of Lord High Admiral by the Queen. He was something of an explorer in the early years of the Queen’s reign, and an early environmentalist. He painted in oils.

His big job in life, however, was to be “supporting the Queen” in her role as monarch. It was Philip who broke the news to Elizabeth of her father’s death in February 1952. Always a few steps behind… or wandering off on his own at times… on state occasions and royal visits, HM described him on their 50th wedding anniversary (23 years ago!) as “simply my strength and stay all these years.” Although viewed with some apprehension by members of the “establishment” in early years (reportedly including Churchill, and Queen Mary, for instance, but not King George VI), he departs the scene as the longest-ever British royal consort, and as a careful hand in the many adaptations the royal family has necessarily made since 1952.

It has been noted how this last year of quarantine together has proved something of an ironic “gift” to the Queen and Prince Philip, giving them more time together, day-by-day, than they have had since early on in their marriage.

In interviews at the time of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee (2012) and her 90th birthday (2016) there began to be speculations about how she might cope when he eventually stepped out of the picture. Would it impede her ability to carry on? Some of the answer began to emerge after Prince Philip’s retirement from royal duties in 2017. Often accompanied by younger members of the family, the Queen has kept on keeping on… at least until now. Now, we’ll see what happens.

It has previously been reported that – unlike the late Queen Mum – Prince Philip decidedly did not want a big state funeral. His preference is said to have been for something more modest and private. We’ll now see how things unfold. Ongoing COVID-19 restrictions will certainly be a factor. Greater privacy will, I think, be a true blessing for his widow and family.

Back in that 2005 documentary, Prince Philip refused to try to say what his legacy might be. That, he thought, was for others to determine. “You just hope that you’ll leave things better than they might have been otherwise.” In that, there can be little doubt that he succeeded. Well done, Sir. And, thank you!

Yours aye,

Ken Cuthbertson – the Laird o’ Thistle

Marie de Hautefort, Confidante and Favorite of King Louis XIII of France

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

Marie de Hautefort was a close confidante and favorite of King Louis XIII of France. She was also a close friend and prominent member of the household of his wife, Queen Anne (the former Anne of Austria).

Marie de Hautefort – source: Wikipedia

Marie de Hautefort was born at the Château de Hautefort on January 7, 1616, the youngest of seven children of Charles, Marquis de Hautefort and Renée du Bellay. Her maternal grandmother, Catherine le Voyer de Lignerolles, was a lady-in-waiting to two French queens – Marie de’ Medici and Anne of Austria – and later served as Dame d’atour (Lady of the Attire) to Queen Anne – the second highest ranking position within the Queen’s household.

It was through her grandmother’s position that Marie first met King Louis XIII, and the king quickly became enamored with her. After the King’s mother, Marie de’ Medici, was forced to leave the country in 1630, he appointed Marie’s grandmother as Dame d’atour to his wife, Queen Anne, and appointed Marie to be one of the Queen’s attendants. This kept Marie at court, where she quickly became one of his closest confidantes. However, the king’s romantic feelings toward her were not reciprocated. She also became very close with Queen Anne, perhaps even more so than with the King himself. She was much more supportive to Queen Anne, especially during the time when Anne was accused of being a supporter of the Spanish cause. This close relationship often caused tension between the King and Marie.

Anne of Austria, Queen of France; Credit – Wikipedia

Marie remained at Court until 1635 when Cardinal Richelieu brought Louise de La Fayette to court to replace Marie as the King’s favorite. However, when de La Fayette entered a convent two years later, Marie was quickly called back to court and returned to the King’s favor. Her stay lasted two more years before the King found a new favorite in the Marquis of Cinq-Mars.

Following the King’s death in 1643, Queen Anne became regent for their young son, Louis XIV. Marie was called back to Court and resumed her position within the Queen’s household. This lasted only briefly before the Queen dismissed her from court in 1644.

Charles de Schomberg, Duke d’Halluin. source: Wikipedia

Soon after leaving the French court for the last time, Marie married Charles de Schomberg, Duke d’Halluin, on September 24, 1646. Known for his military skills, Charles led French forces to victory against the Spanish in the Battle of Leucate in 1637, for which he was appointed Marshal of France. He then held several governorships. His title of Duke d’Halluin came from his first wife, Anne, Duchess d’Halluin, who had died in 1641. Marie and Charles had no children.

The couple lived in Metz, where Charles served as Governor until he died in 1656. Marie then returned permanently to Paris, where she would later resume contact with the Dowager Queen Anne. The two continued to correspond until the Queen died in 1666. Marie de Hautefort died in Paris on August 1, 1691, at the age of 75.

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Charles d’Albert, Duke of Luynes, Favorite of King Louis XIII of France

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

Charles d’Albert, Duke of Luynes was a close advisor and favorite of King Louis XIII of France from childhood until his death, and held numerous top positions within the French court.

Charles d’Albert, Duke of Luynes – source: Wikipedia

Charles d’Albert was born August 5, 1578, the eldest son of Honoré d’Albert, Seigneur de Luynes and Anne de Rodulf. Closely connected to the French court, his father had served four French kings – François II, Charles IX, Henri III and Henri IV. Charles’s siblings included:

Raised at the French court, Charles was a companion and friend of the future King Louis XIII from a young age.  Louis became King at just nine years old, with his mother, Marie de’ Medici, serving as Regent until his majority. During this time, Charles continued to be close to King Louis XIII and would become one of his closest and most trusted advisors. Raised to numerous high positions and appointments within the royal household, Charles strongly encouraged the King to remove his mother from power and was involved in the plot which led to the death of Concino Concini, one of the dowager queen’s favorites and closest advisors. In 1619, on the King’s behalf, he negotiated the Treaty of Angoulême which ended the battle between mother and son. For his efforts, in addition to several other honorary positions, Charles was created Duke of Luynes and a Peer of France.

In 1617, Charles married Marie Aimée de Rohan, Mademoiselle de Montbazon, the daughter of Hercule de Rohan, Duke of Montbazon and his first wife, Marie de Bretagne d’Avaugour. The couple two daughters who died at early ages and one son::

In 1621, Charles led a campaign against the Protestants in southern France, despite his opposition to the decision. He was appointed Constable of France – a position for which he was far from qualified but received basically by default. The former holder was a Protestant and refused to go along with the King’s wishes. He participated in the Siege of Montauban in the fall of 1621 – gaining much criticism for the failure despite having not actually been in command. Soon after, Charles contracted what was likely scarlet fever. The Duke of Luynes just 43 years old, died of his illness on December 15, 1621, at the Chateau de Longueville.

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Marie Thérèse Louise of Savoy, Princesse de Lamballe, Favorite of Queen Marie Antoinette of France

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

Marie Thérèse Louise of Savoy, Princess of Lamballe, was a favorite and confidante of Queen Marie Antoinette of France.

Marie Thérèse Louise of Savoy, Princesse de Lamballe, source: Wikipedia

Maria Teresa Luisa of Savoy was born on September 8, 1749 at the Palazzo Carignano in Turin. She was the sixth of nine children of Luigi Vittorio of Savoy, Prince of Carignano, and Landgravine Christine of Hesse-Rheinfels-Rotenburg. Her father was an illegitimate grandson of King Vittorio Amedeo II of Sardinia, and her mother was a niece by marriage of King Carlo Emanuele III of Sardinia.  She had eight siblings:

  • Carlotta (1742) – unmarried
  • Vittorio Amedeo II, Prince of Carignano (1743) – married Joséphine of Lorraine, had issue
  • Leopoldina (1744) – married Andrea IV Doria-Pamphili-Landi, Prince of Melfi, had issue
  • Polissena (1746) – unmarried
  • Gabriella (1748) – married Ferdinand, Prince of Lobkowicz, had issue
  • Tomasso (1751) – died in childhood
  • Eugenio, Count of Villafranca (1753) – married Elisabeth Boisgarin, had issue
  • Caterina (1762) – married Don Filippo Colonna, Prince of Paliano, had issue

On January 31, 1767, Maria Teresa married Louis Alexandre of Bourbon-Penthièvre, Prince of Lamballe. Heir to one of the largest fortunes in France, Louis was the son of Louis Jean Marie of Bourbon, Duke of Penthièvre, and Princess Maria Teresa d’Este – both of whom were descendants of King Louis XIV of France and his morganatic wife, Madame de Montespan.

Despite their initial happiness, Louis soon returned to his philandering ways, taking several mistresses within just several months after their marriage. These affairs would be the end of him. Only sixteen months after marrying, the Prince of Lamballe died of a venereal disease on May 6, 1768, at the Château de Louveciennes.

Widowed at just 19, Marie Thérèse became a very wealthy woman, having inherited her husband’s entire estate. She was comforted by her father-in-law who took her in as his own daughter, and the two had a very close relationship. Later that year, Princess Marie Adélaïde, the daughter of King Louis XV, suggested Marie Thérèse as a possible second wife for her father who had recently been widowed as well. However, Marie Thérèse rebuffed the idea.

The Château de Rambouillet.  photo by Pline – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16338695

Marie Thérèse lived a very comfortable life, splitting her time between her father-in-law’s homes, the Hôtel de Toulouse in Paris and the Château de Rambouillet outside of the city. She served as her father-in-law’s hostess when he entertained, often hosting members of the French and foreign royal families.

Due to her position, Marie Thérèse often found herself involved with functions of the French Court, including being presented to the new Dauphine, the future Queen Marie Antoinette, upon her arrival in France in 1770. Marie Antoinette was charmed by the Princess of Lamballe, and soon the two became very close. Over the next few years, Marie Thérèse was rarely separated from Marie Antoinette, having become one of her closest friends and confidantes.

As an expression of that close friendship, Queen Marie Antoinette appointed Marie Thérèse as Superintendent of the Queen’s Household in 1775. This position, previously abolished over 30 years earlier, made Marie Thérèse the highest-ranking woman in the Royal Court and gave her immense power and influence. It also came with a large salary of 50,000 crowns per year, an astronomical amount considering the poor financial state of the economy at the time. Because of her personal wealth, Marie Thérèse was asked to refuse the salary, but she insisted on receiving it, and Marie Antoinette agreed.

Marie Thérèse soon began to fall from favor with Marie Antoinette upon the arrival of Gabrielle de Polastron, Duchess de Polignac in 1775. Marie Thérèse and Gabrielle did not get along, and Marie Antoinette found herself spending more time with Gabrielle. Although losing her position as “favorite”, Marie Thérèse remained in her position in Marie Antoinette’s household.

Suffering from weak health, Marie Thérèse traveled to England for several months in 1787 to rest. Upon her return, her relationship with Marie Antoinette became closer once again. Despite everything, her loyalty to Marie Antoinette never wavered. On a trip abroad when the Bastille was stormed in 1789, Marie Thérèse rejoined the royal family in October 1789, where she remained by the Queen’s side.

When the royal family attempted to flee to Brussels in June 1791, Marie Thérèse was unaware of the plans. Marie Antoinette simply bid her goodnight and suggested she take some time off in the country. The following day, Marie Thérèse received a note from the Queen informing her of the plans and instructing her to join them in Brussels. Of course, the royal family never made it out of the country. They were captured in Varennes and brought back to Paris and confined to the Tuileries Palace.

Marie Thérèse quickly made her way to Brussels, where she found out that the escape plan had failed. She continued a correspondence with Marie Antoinette who advised her not to return to France. However, in late 1791, under new provisions of the Constitution, the Queen was instructed to reestablish her household and dismiss anyone not in service. She wrote to Marie Thérèse asking her to return or resign. Despite Marie Antoinette’s private advice to stay away, Marie Thérèse decided to return, arriving in Paris in early November 1791. She continued in her role as Superintendent of the Queen’s Household, devoting herself to Marie Antoinette and ensuring the loyalty of those surrounding her.

Despite the efforts of King  Louis XVI and his supporters, the call for an end to the monarchy grew louder and stronger. On August 10, 1792, the palace was stormed and the royal family and many of their court were taken into custody and imprisoned at the Temple, a small prison in Paris. Nine days later, Marie Thérèse was separated from them and moved to the La Force prison nearby.

A depiction of the death of the Princess of Lamballe. source: Wikipedia

On September 3, 1792, Marie Thérèse went before a tribunal that insisted she swear “hatred to the King and the Queen and to the monarchy”. After refusing to do so, Marie Thérèse was released to the streets and was quickly killed by an angry mob. Her head was placed on a pike and numerous reports claim it was paraded below the windows where Marie Antoinette was being held. Most historians agree that Marie Antoinette never saw this, but she was made aware of Marie Thérèse death. Her body was turned over to the authorities, but its whereabouts are unknown.

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Gabrielle de Polastron, Duchesse de Polignac, Favorite of Queen Marie Antoinette of France

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

Gabrielle de Polastron, Duchesse de Polignac was a favorite of Queen Marie Antoinette of France. She is also the ancestress of Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco.

Gabrielle de Polastron, Duchesse de Polignac – source: Wikipedia

Born in Paris on September 8, 1749, Yolande Martine Gabrielle de Polastron was the second daughter of Jean François Gabriel, Count of Polastron, Seigneur de Noueilles, Venerque and Grépiac and his first wife, Jeanne Charlotte Hérault de Vaucresson. Gabrielle (as she was known) had an elder sister Jeanne. Through her father’s second marriage to Anne-Charlotte de Noé, she also had three younger half-siblings, Denis, Adélaïde and Henriette-Nathalie.

Although her family was part of the aristocracy, they were debt-laden and lived a relatively modest lifestyle. Gabrielle was initially raised at the family’s Château de Noueilles in southern France, but following her mother’s death when Gabrielle was just three years old, her upbringing was left to an aunt who sent her to a convent to receive her education.

Gabrielle was married on July 7, 1767, to Jules François Armand de Polignac, Marquis de Mancini (later created Duke of Polignac). At the time, Polignac was serving in the French military. The couple had four children:

Queen Marie Antoinette of France. source: Wikipedia

In 1775, Gabrielle and her husband were invited to visit Versailles by her sister-in-law Diane de Polignac, a lady-in-waiting to Princess Elizabeth of France, the younger sister of King Louis XVI. Gabrielle was formally presented to Queen Marie Antoinette who instantly took a liking to her and soon asked her to move permanently to Versailles. Heavily in debt, this was not a move that Gabrielle and her husband could afford. Despite their aristocratic background, there was little money for extravagance. They lived on Jules’s military salary of just 4,000 livres and were heavily in debt. Becoming aware of this, The Queen quickly arranged to settle their debts and find a better position for Jules within the royal household.

From all accounts, Gabrielle was greatly welcomed by the French royal family, however, the feeling was not the same from many other members of the court who questioned her motives and were wary of her very quick accession to the highest level of the Queen’s entourage. Many also resented Marie Antoinette’s immense generosity shown to Gabrielle and her family. Not only were their debts resolved but they began to live a very lavish lifestyle, primarily funded by Marie Antoinette. Further adding to the resentment came in 1780 when Gabrielle’s husband was created Duke of Polignac, making Gabrielle a Duchess.

In 1782, Gabrielle was appointed Governess to Ling Louis XVI’s children, which further alienated other members of the Court who felt Gabrielle was not of a sufficient social status for such a prominent position. She took up new apartments within the Palace of Versailles, significantly larger than any of her predecessors, and was given a small cottage at the Hameau de la Reine – the Queen’s private retreat on the grounds of the Petit Trianon.

Joseph Hyacinthe François de Paule de Rigaud, Count of Vaudreuil. source: Wikipedia

Gabrielle briefly fell out of favor with Marie Antoinette in 1785, primarily due to her friendship with Joseph Hyacinthe de Rigaud, Count of Vaudreuil whom the Queen did not trust. Rumors spread that Gabrielle and the Count were having an affair, and that he was the father of her youngest son, but this is disrupted by most historians. Sensing the Queen’s displeasure, Gabrielle left Versailles for an extended vacation in England. The two soon mended their relationship and became close again in the months leading up to the French Revolution. However, the world would quickly change for everyone at Court, following the storming of the Bastille in July 1789. Gabrielle and her family fled France, traveling throughout Europe before eventually settling in Vienna. During this time, she remained in close contact with Marie Antoinette for the next several years.

Having developed what is believed to be cancer, her health quickly began to decline. Just two months after Marie Antoinette’s execution, Gabrielle died in Vienna on December 3, 1793, at the age of 44.

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