Category Archives: Current Monarchies

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom – Seventy Years on the Throne

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Queen Elizabeth II, official photo for the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne; Credit – The Royal Family Facebook page

On February 6, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom marked seventy years on the British throne. On September 9, 2015, Queen Elizabeth II surpassed her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria, who reigned 63 years, 216 days, as the longest-reigning British monarch.

The top ten longest-reigning British monarchs:

  1. Queen Elizabeth II, reigned February 6, 1952 – September 8, 2022; 70 years, 214 days
  2. Queen Victoria, reigned June 20, 1837 – January 22, 1901, for 63 years, 216 days
  3. King George III, reigned October 25, 1760 – January 29, 1820, for 59 years, 96 days
  4. King Henry III, reigned October 18, 1216 – November 16, 1272, for 56 years, 29 days
  5. King Edward III, reigned January 25, 1327 – June 21, 1377, for 50 years, 147 days
  6. Queen Elizabeth I, reigned November 17, 1558 – March 24, 1603, for 44 years, 127 days
  7. King Henry VI, reigned August 31, 1422 – March 4, 1461, and October 31, 1470 – April 11, 1471, for 38 years, 347 days
  8. King Æthelred II, reigned March 18, 978 – December 25, 1013, and February 3, 1014 – April 23, 1016, for 37 years, 362 days
  9. King Henry VIII, reigned April 22, 1509 – January 28, 1547, for 37 years, 281 days
  10. King Henry I, reigned August 3, 1100 – December 1, 1135, for 35 years, 120 days

As of September 8, 2022, the day of her death, Queen Elizabeth II was second on the list of longest-reigning monarchs of internationally recognized sovereign states with verifiable reigns by exact date, after only King Louis XIV of France, who reigned for 72 years, 110 days (May 14, 1643 – September 1, 1715).

Read more about Queen Elizabeth II at:

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May 12, 1937, Coronation Day of King George VI

As the second son of the sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II’s father Prince Albert, Duke of York (known as Bertie) was not expected to inherit the throne. His role would be to support his father King George V of the United Kingdom, and then later his brother The Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VIII, known as David in the family.

Bertie married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923 and they had two daughters: Elizabeth born in 1926 and Margaret born in 1930. However, things were soon to change for the York family. In January 1936, Bertie’s father King George V died. His elder brother became King Edward VIII and Bertie became heir presumptive to the throne. The new king was unmarried and involved with Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American. This relationship would soon bring about unheard-of events in the British monarchy. Failing to reach an agreement with the Government by which he and Mrs. Simpson could marry, King Edward VIII abdicated on December 11, 1936, giving his famous “without the woman I love” speech on the radio. Upon Parliament’s passing of the Abdication Act, Bertie became the new King of the United Kingdom, taking the regnal name George VI, in honor of his father, and to stress the continuity of the British monarchy.

King George VI’s elder daughter, the 10-year-old Princess Elizabeth, was now the heir presumptive to the British throne. However, because there was always the possibility of a younger brother being born and becoming heir apparent, Elizabeth did not receive any of the titles traditionally held by the heir. For her father’s entire reign, she remained Princess Elizabeth.

Eventually, the British succession would be more equitable. The Succession to The Crown Act 2013, which formally went into effect on March 26, 2015, put in place absolute primogeniture, which means that for those born after October 28, 2011, the eldest child born becomes the heir to his or her parent, regardless of gender. On April 23, 2018, with the birth of her younger brother Prince Louis of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II’s great-granddaughter, became the first British princess not to be overtaken in the line of succession by her younger brother.

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King George VI waving goodbye to Elizabeth and Philip on January 31, 1952

In 1947, when Princess Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten, born Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark, her father was only fifty-two years old and it was thought she would not become Queen for years, enabling her to settle into married life and then life with children. By 1949, King George VI’s health was failing. He was suffering from lung cancer and several other ailments. Elizabeth and Philip began to take on more royal duties, often filling in for King George VI when he was unable to attend events. A tour of Australia had been postponed and on January 31, 1952, Elizabeth and Philip set off in King George VI’s place. He came to the airport to see them off, looking drawn and frail. It would be the last time he would see his daughter. On February 6, 1952, 56-year-old King George VI passed away in his sleep at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England.

Queen Elizabeth II returning to London on February 7, 1952 after her father’s death

During a stop-over in Kenya, on February 6, 1952, Elizabeth and Philip had just returned to Sagana Lodge, where they were staying in Kenya after a night spent at Treetops Hotel when the news arrived of the death of King George VI and consequently Elizabeth’s immediate accession to the throne. Philip broke the news to the new queen. They immediately returned to London, where Queen Elizabeth II attended the Accession Council on February 8, 1952.

For more information about what happens when the British monarch dies, see Unofficial Royalty: When The British Monarch Dies.

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Queen Elizabeth II does not intend to abdicate although her heir Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales and other family members have taken on more of her duties and she carries out fewer public engagements. The Platinum Jubilee was celebrated in 2022 to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II in the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth. The celebration plans were formally unveiled by Buckingham Palace on January 10, 2022. Events took place throughout the year, culminating in a four-day holiday weekend from Thursday, June 2, 2022 to Sunday, June 5, 2022.

For more information, see Unofficial Royalty: Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend

On February 5, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II released a Platinum Jubilee message to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. The highlight of the message was her statement that when her son Charles becomes king, “Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her loyal service.”

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom died at the age of 96, at Balmoral Castle, her home in Balmoral, Scotland, on September 8, 2022, at 3:10 PM, more than three hours before the public was informed. The death certificate, released by National Records of Scotland cites the Queen as dying of “old age”.

Queen Elizabeth II Resources 

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.

Works Cited

  • En.wikipedia.org. 2022. List of longest-reigning monarchs – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_longest-reigning_monarchs> [Accessed 23 January 2022].
  • Flantzer, Susan, 2017. When The British Monarch Dies: The Accession Council. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/when-the-monarch-dies-the-accession-council/> [Accessed 23 January 2022].
  • Mehl, Scott, 2014. King George VI of the United Kingdom. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/king-george-vi-of-the-united-kingdom/> [Accessed 23 January 2022].
  • Mehl, Scott, 2015. Queen Elizabeth II of The United Kingdom. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/queen-elizabeth-ii-of-the-united-kingdom/> [Accessed 23 January 2022].
  • The Royal Family. 2022. Plans announced for The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Central Weekend 2022. [online] Available at: <https://www.royal.uk/platinum-jubilee-central-weekend> [Accessed 23 January 2022].
  • Unofficial Royalty. 2015. Longest Reigning British Monarchs. [online] Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/current-monarchies/british-royals/british-royal-history/longest-reigning-british-monarchs/> [Accessed 23 January 2022].

Transition: The Final Months of King George VI and Accession of Queen Elizabeth II

by The Laird o’ Thistle (Special Edition)
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth picnicking on the moors near Balmoral in August 1951, Princess Elizabeth behind, taken by the Earl of Dalkeith, later 9th Duke of Buccleuch; Credit – ROYAL FAMILY PICTURE ANNUAL – Volume One, The Daily Graphic by Pitkins Pictorials Ltd

One of the royal treasures I have acquired over the years is a little volume I found in a used book shop circa 1990. It is the ROYAL FAMILY PICTURE ANNUAL – Volume One, published “in association with” The Daily Graphic by Pitkins Pictorials Ltd. In 1952. The volume of photos and narrative traces the Royal Family’s activities from August 1951 to August 1952… which is to say the final six months of the life of King George VI, and the first six months of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.

Over the last few months, as we have drawn ever nearer to HM the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee observance, I have found myself picking up this little volume repeatedly, to remind myself of how the story of the King’s final months unfolded, as well as the more widely familiar story of his death and the Queen’s Accession to the Throne. I have found it a poignant story… such as occurs for so many families. But in this case, it is the story of a very particular family… of the last King-Emperor and his wife, his elder daughter and heir, with her husband and two children, his younger daughter who had only just come of age and an elderly mother who was beginning to experience her own decline. (Queen Mary died in March 1953.) In what follows, from this and various other sources, I want to briefly convey the broad outlines of King George VI’s final months, culminating in the first two weeks of February 1952.

King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (soon to be Queen Mother) departed London for Balmoral on the Royal Train on the evening of 2 August 1951. They were accompanied on the journey by their grandchildren, Prince Charles (age 2-3/4) and Princess Anne (just turning 1), and the children’s nannies. After fulfilling some engagements in Edinburgh on 4 August, Princess Elizabeth joined the children at Birkhall, followed by Prince Philip on 10 August. Princess Margaret arrived on 13 August. The immediate family was assembled.

It was intended to be a “normal” family holiday at Balmoral, essentially as it had been from the days of Queen Victoria to the present. The King and his guests would shoot grouse. The family would attend services at Crathie Kirk. Guests would come and go. But, there were also to be a couple of very special celebrations, the first birthday of Princess Anne on 15 August, and the twenty-first birthday of Princess Margaret on 21 August. A special family group photoshoot was arranged to mark the two occasions.

The royal family at Balmoral in August 1951

This holiday was additionally intended as a recuperative time for the King. His health had been concerning since May, including an inflammation in the lung. Advised to rest and recover, the King canceled his public engagements in June and July. By early September, however, concerns were renewed. The King and Royal Family attended the Braemar Gathering on 6 September, but the next day he flew to London for an in-depth examination by medical experts. After returning briefly to Scotland, the King departed his beloved Balmoral forever in mid-September. On 18 September it was announced that “structural changes” had occurred in the King’s lung. Three days later it was announced that he would be having surgery. An operating room was quickly fitted up at Buckingham Palace, and the surgery took place on 23 September. The King’s cancerous left lung was removed. (It is believed that he was never actually told he had “cancer” – generally a taboo word in that generation – though he may have realized it.) He began an extended period of recuperation and recovery.

The Royal Family undertook to “keep calm and carry on” in the immediate aftermath of the King’s surgery. Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh were due to depart for a tour of Canada, and a brief visit to the United States, shortly afterward. The decision was made for the trip to proceed, but they would fly out from the United Kingdom on 7 October, rather than travel by sea as first planned. They departed accordingly, leaving their children in the care of the Queen and Princess Margaret… and, of course, the nannies.

Elizabeth and Philip were away from 8 October to 17 November. They crisscrossed Canada and paid a brief visit to the United States, including an official dinner with President and Mrs. Truman at Blair House in Washington DC (the White House being under renovation at the time). This was Princess Elizabeth’s first encounter with a sitting American President, although she’d met Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt on several occasions during and since World War II. At the end of the trip, they returned to the United Kingdom by sea.

The future Queen Elizabeth II with American President Harry Truman in the autumn of 1951

As the King recuperated and grew stronger he returned to a few low-key duties, audiences, meetings, and so on. This included the post-General Election meetings on 26 October to accept Clement Atlee’s resignation as Prime Minister, and to ask Winston Churchill to form a government.

Having the grandchildren staying at Buckingham Palace meant that Prince Charles celebrated his third birthday with them, on 14 November. Much in the way that the little Princess Elizabeth (age 3) bonded with her grandfather during a recuperative period at Bognor Regis in the spring of 1929, the King now had the opportunity to bond more closely with his grandson. In fact, Prince Charles spent quite a lot of time around his grandparents during the King’s final months… at Balmoral, at Buckingham Palace, and then at Sandringham. (Princess Anne, too. But she was only 1 at the time.)

King George VI with his grandson Prince Charles on Charles’ 3rd birthday

On 14 December, the Royal Family gathered at Buckingham Palace for a small luncheon to celebrate the King’s 56th birthday. Along with the Queen and Princess Margaret, the King was joined by Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Queen Mary, The Princess Royal, The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duchess of Kent. Also on 14 December, the King knighted his surgeon, Dr. Price Thomas, and pulmonologist Dr. Geoffrey Marshall, who had attended him.
As in more recent times, the Royal Family’s Christmas holiday began when the King and Queen, Princess Elizabeth and the children, Princess Margaret, and Queen Mary, departed for Sandringham on the Royal Train on 21 December. (Prince Philip followed on the 22nd.) It was the first public sighting of the King since his surgery. The Gloucester and Kent families joined the house party in the following days.

Christmas at Sandringham was, then, much as it continued up to 2019. There were special services at St. Mary Magdalene Church. After the large Christmas Dinner, the King and his family listened to the pre-recorded Christmas Broadcast. In listening to the King’s “last” speech, you can hear not only the lingering post-surgical hoarseness but also the remnants of the old royal stammer.

British Royal Family, Christmas 1951

As 1952 began, the King and Queen remained at Sandringham. The King attended to both his official boxes and estate business. He went out with the guns on several occasions. The big upcoming event for Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip was the Commonwealth Tour they would be undertaking in the King’s stead, beginning in February. The pace of preparations picked up quickly in January, though they still spent nearly three weeks of the month at Sandringham. The children would once again be staying with the King and Queen while their parents were away. Elizabeth and Philip returned to London on 25 January for a week of engagements, packing, and last-minute details.

King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Princess Margaret went to London on 28 January. Over the next couple of days, he undertook some “light duties” at Buckingham Palace, including several audiences. On the night of 30 January the King and Queen, Elizabeth and Philip, and Princess Margaret attended South Pacific at Drury Lane. The King received an ovation which he acknowledged with a wave from the Royal Box. It was King George’s first true public outing since September. On the following morning the King, Queen, and Margaret were at London Airport with the Prime Minister and other relatives to send Princess Elizabeth and Philip off to Kenya, and the Commonwealth. The King looked gaunt and frail, hatless in the late January weather. The family returned to Sandringham the next day, 1 February.

King George VI at London Airport on January 31, 1952

Upon their arrival in Kenya, Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip fulfilled a series of official engagements in Nairobi before journeying to Royal Lodge, Saguna, their wedding gift from the people of Kenya. They were to spend a few quiet days at the lodge before departing on the Commonwealth Tour. Among their party was Philip’s cousin, Lady Pamela Mountbatten (Hicks), who was serving Elizabeth as a Lady-in-Waiting on the Tour. Along with the Queen, she is now… at age 93… the only surviving member of the immediate royal party.

Meanwhile, at Sandringham, the King attended to business as he could. On 3 February he attended church with the Queen and Princess Margaret, walking back to the house with them afterward. All accounts say that Tuesday, 5 February 1952, was a “good” day for King George VI. He spent the afternoon with the “Keeper’s Day” shoot on the estate, enjoying himself. He spent some time with Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Tea. After dinner, Princess Margaret played the piano. King Geroge retired to his room to do a bit of paperwork, enjoyed a cup of cocoa, and went to bed. At midnight the policeman on duty saw him latching his bedroom window, after which he turned out the light. Sometime in the night, he died. “Coronary thrombosis” is the longstanding official cause of death. More recently other possible causes have been suggested, such as an embolism or hemorrhage in his right lung.

The next morning, it is said, Prince Charles noticed one of the maids crying, and asked why. “Because your grandfather has gone away,” he was told. Charles was confused, but no further answers were forthcoming. Eventually Queen Elizabeth – the new “Queen Mother” – came to see him and told him that his parents would be coming home unexpectedly soon. As I’ve read, he then asked his grandmother where his grandfather was, at which point she broke down in tears. It was finally his mother who explained, as best one can to a 3-year-old, that his grandfather had died.

In Kenya, the royal party had spent an exciting night observing the wildlife at the Tree-Tops Hotel, Nyeri, before returning to the Saguna Royal Lodge. It was to be some hours before the news reached them, and was confirmed. Prince Philip took his wife out for a walk on the grounds to break the news. Observers remarked that he looked like the weight of the world had descended upon him. Her secretary duly asked by what name she wanted to be known? “Why, my own of course.” And so the second Elizabeth acceded to the throne.

There remained the whirlwind of arrangements to head immediately back to the U.K., a trip delayed some hours by thunderstorms en route. Messages had to be sent. Mourning clothes had to be procured. The Queen’s packed ones were in Nairobi, but they were flying more directly back. Fresh ones were rushed to the airplane when they got back to London. At her request, no photos were taken of her until she reached London. As they departed Saguna Lodge the accompanying journalists lined the road in respect, with their cameras sitting at their feet.

Dressed in black Queen Elizabeth II sets foot on British soil for the first time since her accession as she lands at London Airport following the death of her father King George VI

Reaching London on 7 February, she descended the airplane steps… discretely followed by Prince Philip… to be greeted by her Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, The Duke of Gloucester, and various officials. Arriving home at Clarence House, her first visitor was “her old Granny”, Queen Mary, who said she came to kiss her Sovereign’s hand. The next day, 8 February, was occupied by the official Accession Council and Proclamation. Then, finally, she could depart to her family at Sandringham.

It was three days later, 11 February 1952, that George VI’s body was brought to London to lie in state at Westminster Hall. Charles and Anne remained at Sandringham with the nannies. Perhaps the most striking photograph of all the solemnities emerged from the Lying-in-State, that of the three black-clad queens – Elizabeth, Mary, and Elizabeth (QM) – awaiting the arrival of the coffin at Westminster. Queen Mary looked spectral. After that, the aging Dowager (nearly 85, which was “older” then than now) did not attend any of the rest of the funeral rite, although she later watched the funeral procession pass down The Mall from her window at Marlborough House.

Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Mary, and The Queen Mother await the arrival of King George VI’s coffin at Westminster Hall in London on February 11, 1952

King George was buried at Windsor on 15 February 1952, in rites at St. George’s Chapel not unlike those we saw for Prince Philip earlier this year… except, of course, in scale. In 1969 the tiny George VI Memorial Chapel was added to St. George’s Chapel, and the King’s remains were moved there.

On 6 February 2022, ninety-five-year-old Queen Elizabeth II is expected to follow her tradition of having a small service of remembrance for her father at Sandringham, 70 years to the day after his passing. For her, the accession anniversary is a day of remembrance, not celebration.
These coming weeks will also mark the twentieth anniversary of the deaths of Princess Margaret (9 February) and the Queen Mother (30 March), followed by the first anniversary of Prince Philip’s death (9 April).

Recent months have seen increasing concern for the Queen’s health. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Princess Royal, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex have been taking most of her public engagements. In the few instances where she has been seen, shown at a private audience or glimpsed as she is being driven somewhere, she seems increasingly frail.

In the course of time, the Queen, too, will pass on. It is the “way of all flesh” as it is said. When the time comes, the plan is for her to be buried in the George VI Chapel at Windsor, along with her parents, her sister Margaret, and her beloved Philip. But, for now, she continues carrying on, day by day. May God bless and keep her, always!

Yours aye,
Ken Cuthbertson, the Laird o’ Thistle

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.

Johann I Josef, Prince of Liechtenstein

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Johann I Josef, Prince of Liechtenstein; Credit – Wikipedia

Johann I Josef, reigned as Prince of Liechtenstein from 1805 to 1836. Born in Vienna, Austria on June 26, 1760, Johann Baptist Josef Adam Johann Nepomuk Aloys Franz de Paula was the sixth of the eight children and the fourth but the second surviving son of Franz Josef I, Prince of Liechtenstein and Countess Marie Leopoldine von Sternberg. Since the Principality of Liechtenstein was a constituent member of the Holy Roman Empire headed by the Habsburgs, and Alois’ father had several government positions, the family spent much time in Vienna, Austria.

Johann Josef had seven siblings:

Johann Josef as a teenager, 1776; Credit – Wikipedia

Because he had an elder brother and was not expected to succeed to the throne of Liechtenstein, Johann Josef chose a military career in the Imperial Army of the Holy Roman Empire, of which Liechtenstein was a constituent state. At the age of 22, he joined the army with the rank of lieutenant. He participated in the Austro-Turkish War (1788 – 1791) and was promoted to the rank of colonel. Johann Josef gained prominence during the Napoleonic Wars. During the Napoleonic Wars of the early 19th century, Holy Roman Emperor Franz II feared that Napoleon could take over his personal, hereditary Habsburg lands within the Holy Roman Empire, so in 1804 he proclaimed himself Emperor Franz I of Austria. As it turned out, Franz’s move was a wise one because the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved in 1806.

Holy Roman Emperor Franz I (on the left) meeting Napoleon I, Emperor of the French (on the right) after the Battle of Austerlitz. Johann Joseph is standing between the two emperors. Credit – Wikipedia

Upon the death of his childless brother Alois I, Prince of Liechtenstein, on March 24, 1805, Johan Josef became the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein. However, he continued his military career. Johann Josef was promoted to the rank of field marshal, became commander in chief of the army of the Austrian Empire, and led the Austrian army, the losing side, in the 1805 Battle of Austerlitz. He was later accused of making two unfavorable peace treaties with Napoleon. Both of these agreements were favorable to Napoleon and unfavorable to Austria, and Johann Josef was accused of having little diplomatic ability. To avoid criticism, Johann Josef left the army in 1810 and shifted his activities to the administration and management of the estates.

In 1806, Napoleon accepted the Principality of Liechtenstein into the Confederation of the Rhine, which gave Liechtenstein more sovereignty than it ever had. At the Congress of Vienna (1814 – 1815), which decided the political reorganization of Europe after the Napoleonic Wars and the defeat of Napoleon, the Principality of Liechtenstein was admitted as a sovereign member of the German Confederation, a political union of all German states.

As Prince of Liechtenstein, Johann Josef carried out progressive reforms. However, in 1818, he approved a new constitution that limited the monarch’s power. He established modern practices in agriculture and forestry and reorganized the government administration to meet modern needs.

Johann Josef arranged for the extensive private art collection of the Princely House of Liechtenstein, started by Karl Eusebius, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1627 – 1684), to be transferred to the Liechtenstein Garden Palace in Vienna, Austria. From 1810, the art galleries at the Liechtenstein Garden Palace, eventually called the Liechtenstein Museum, were open to the public for a fee. It has not been run as a museum since 2012 and is now called Palais Liechtenstein. The Palais Liechtenstein remains home to part of the private art collection of the Princely House of Liechtenstein, one of the largest private collections in the world, and is available for visit by booked guided tours.

Josepha of Fürstenberg-Weitra, Johann Josef’s wife; Credit – Wikipedia

On April 12, 1792, in Vienna, Austria, Johann Josef married Landgravine Josefa of Fürstenberg-Weitra, daughter of Joachim Egon, Landgrave of Fürstenberg-Weitra and Countess Sophia Maria of Oettingen-Wallerstein. Johann Josef and Josefa had fourteen children who were all born in Vienna, Austria, including Alois II, Prince of Liechtenstein, who succeeded his father:

The New Crypt, which Johann Josef had built, at the Chuch of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Vranov, Moravia, now in the Czech Republic; Credit – Wikipedia

On April 20, 1836, Johann I Josef, Prince of Liechtenstein, aged 75, died at Liechtenstein Palace in Vienna, Austria. His remains were transferred with military honors from the Liechtenstein Palace to the Church of St. Michael the Archangel near the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, where a funeral service was held. Johann Josef was buried in the New Crypt, which he had built, at the Chuch of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Vranov, Moravia, now in the Czech Republic. His wife Josefa survived him by twelve years, dying at the age of 72 on February 23, 1848, and was buried with her husband.

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.

Works Cited

  • Cs.wikipedia.org. 2021. Jan I. z Lichtenštejna. Available at: <https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_I._z_Lichten%C5%A1tejna>.
  • De.wikipedia.org. 2021. Johann I. Josef (Liechtenstein). [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_I._Josef_(Liechtenstein)
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Johann I Joseph, Prince of Liechtenstein – Wikipedia.  <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_I_Joseph,_Prince_of_Liechtenstein>
  • Fuerstenhaus.li. 2021. Century: 19th century. [online] Available at: <https://fuerstenhaus.li/en/die-biographien-aller-fuersten/19-century/>.

Countess Karoline von Manderscheid-Blankenheim, Princess of Liechtenstein

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Karoline von Manderscheid-Blankenheim, Princess of Liechtenstein, as Iris, Greek goddess of the rainbow by Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun,1793; Credit – Wikipedia

Countess Karoline von Manderscheid-Blankenheim was the wife of Alois I, Prince of Liechtenstein. Karoline Felicitas Engelberte was born on November 13, 1768, in Cologne, a Free Imperial City, a self-ruling state within the Holy Roman Empire, now in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. She was the second of the three daughters of Count Johann Wilhelm von Manderscheid-Blankenheim (1708 – 1772) and his third wife Countess Johanna Maximiliana Franziska von Limburg-Stirum (1744 – 1772). During this era, there were many men who were given the title Reichsgraf (Imperial Count) from the Holy Roman Emperor whether or not they reigned over a county. They were commonly styled Graf (Count). Their wives were styled Gräfin (Countess) and their children were styled Graf (Count) and Gräfin (Countess).

Karoline had one elder sister and one younger sister:

  • Countess Maria Christina von Manderscheid-Blankenheim (1767 – 1811), married Count Johann Ernst von Königsegg-Aulendorf, had one son
  • Countess Franziska Wilhelmina von Manderscheid-Blankenheim (1770 – 1789), married Prince Ludwig Aloys III of Hohenlohe-Bartenstein, had one son

Karoline’s father first married Countess Maria Franziska von Manderscheid-Kail (1723 – 1739) who died childless at the age of sixteen. Karoline had two half-sisters from her father’s second marriage to Princess Luise of Salm-Salm (1725 – 1764):

  • Countess Auguste von Manderscheid-Blankenheim (1744 – 1811), married Count Philipp Christian von Sternberg, had ten children
  • Countess Johanna Felicitas von Manderscheid-Blankenheim (1753 – 1828), married Johann Franz Joseph von Nesselrode (1755 – 1824), had eight children

Alois I, Prince of Liechtenstein; Credit – Wikipedia

On November 16, 1783, Karoline married Alois I, Prince of Liechtenstein. Their marriage was childless.

Karoline had a long-term relationship with Franz von Langendonck, a captain in the Imperial Austrian Army. Karoline and Franz had two children:

  • Daughter, no information
  • Vicomte Charles Louis de Fribert (1793 – 1874), married Almeira Maria Esterházy de Galántha; it appears they had no children but Almeira had children from a previous marriage to Sir Albert Joseph Ghislain Murray, 4th Baronet

Karoline’s husband Alois I, Prince of Liechtenstein died on March 24, 1805, aged 45, in Vienna, Austria. Because he had no male heir, Alois was succeeded by his brother Johann I Josef, Prince of Liechtenstein. Karoline spent the rest of her life mainly in Vienna, Austria. She survived her husband by twenty-six years, dying on March 1, 1831, at the age of 62 in Vienna, Austria. She was buried in the Hietzing Cemetery (link in German) in Vienna.

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.

Works Cited

  • De.wikipedia.org. 2021. Karoline von Manderscheid-Blankenheim – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karoline_von_Manderscheid-Blankenheim> [Accessed 6 December 2021].
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Karoline von Manderscheid-Blankenheim – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karoline_von_Manderscheid-Blankenheim> [Accessed 6 December 2021].
  • Flantzer, Susan, 2022. Alois I, Prince of Liechtenstein. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/alois-i-prince-of-liechtenstein/> [Accessed 6 December 2021].
  • geni_family_tree. 2021. Graf Johann Wilhelm von Manderscheid-Blankenheim, Graf. [online] Available at: <https://www.geni.com/people/Graf-Johann-Wilhelm-von-Manderscheid-Blankenheim-Graf/6000000002188461979> [Accessed 6 December 2021].
  • Ru.wikipedia.org. 2021. Мандершейд-Бланкенхайм, Каролина — Википедия. [online] Available at: <https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%80%D1%88%D0%B5%D0%B9%D0%B4-%D0%91%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BA%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%85%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BC,_%D0%9A%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0> [Accessed 6 December 2021].

Uppsala Cathedral in Uppsala, Sweden

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Uppsala Cathedral; Credit – Av Andrew Friberg – Eget arbete, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62401111

Originally, a Roman Catholic church, Uppsala Cathedral in Uppsala, Sweden became a Lutheran church during the Protestant Reformation in Sweden. It is now a Church of Sweden, the Evangelical Lutheran national church in Sweden. Uppsala Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Uppsala, the Primate of Sweden.

The church at Gamala Uppsala (Old Upsala) as it looks today; Credit – By Lestat (Jan Mehlich) – From Polish Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=459228

At the end of the Viking Age (circa 793 – 1066), the Viking temple at Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala) was replaced by a Christian church. The date of construction of the church at Gamala Uppsala is unknown but a Bishop of Uppsala was appointed in 1123. After the church was damaged by a fire, local church officials sought permission from Pope Alexander IV to build a larger church nearby. Permission was given with the condition that the location name of Uppsala would be preserved. A new site was chosen in nearby Östra Aros whose name was changed to Uppsala.

Construction started in 1272 on the site of an earlier stone church dedicated to the Holy Trinity. This earlier church is related to the story of Saint Erik IX of Sweden (reigned circa 1156 – 1160), Sweden’s patron saint who is buried at Uppsala Cathedral. Magnus Henriksson, a Danish lord and a claimant to the throne of Sweden, gathered an army near Östra Aros where Erik planned to attend Mass, in that earlier stone church, on the Feast of the Ascension, May 18, 1160. After Erik attended Mass, he armed himself, and with a few men, went out to meet Magnus’ troops. Erik was pulled off his horse by Magnus’ troops who stabbed him and then beheaded him. Magnus Henriksson reigned for a year as King Magnus II before he was killed.

The church was designed by unknown French architects who supervised the construction until 1281. Progress on the construction was slow because of the cold climate, the plague, and financial difficulties. In 1287, French master builder Étienne de Bonneuil and his assistants traveled to Sweden to work on the cathedral. By the end of the 14th century, the initial plans were completed. However, when the cathedral was consecrated in 1435 by Archbishop Olaus Laurentii, it still was not complete. The cathedral was dedicated to Saint Lawrence (one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome who were martyred in 258) Saint Eric IX of Sweden (the patron saint of Sweden although he was never canonized by the Roman Catholic Church), and Saint Olaf (the patron saint of Norway).

A photograph of Uppsala Cathedral circa 1860, before Zettervall’s restoration; Credit – Wikipedia

Uppsala Cathedral today; Credit – Wikipedia

Over the years, fire damage required some renovations. From 1885 – 1893, the architect Helgo Zettervall oversaw comprehensive restoration work, seeking to give the cathedral a French High Gothic appearance. He added pointed French spires to the towers and in an attempt to give the cathedral a slimmer appearance, Zettervall significantly altered large portions of the medieval outer brick walls. He has been criticized for not respecting the cathedral’s original Brick Gothic style. Further renovation work from 1963 – 1977 led by Swedish architect Åke Porne (link in Swedish) improved the building’s structure and included restoration of the walls and windows. Large portions of Zettervall’s cement additions to the exterior of the cathedral were removed.

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The Shrine of Saint Erik IX of Sweden

The shrine of Saint Erik IX of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Saint Erik IX of Sweden is said to have been buried first in the church at Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala). In 1273, his remains were transferred to the new cathedral in Uppsala which was still under construction. The gilded silver casket that we see today was made in 1574 – 1579 by King Johan III of Sweden to replace an earlier casket that was melted down when he needed money.

From 2014 – 2016, the remains in the shrine were examined. The researchers were 90% sure that the remains are those of Saint Erik IX of Sweden. Carbon-14 testing matched the date of Erik’s death and the manner of death fits the story of Erik’s death. The remains are from a person who died a violent death, probably decapitation. The remains also show that the person was about 35 years old at the time of his death, was strongly built, healthy, and physically active during his life.

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The High Altar

The high altar; By .ky – Inside the church in Uppsala, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4968508

The high altar is used for the cathedral’s most important services. It is also here that all Swedish bishops are ordained. The silver chandelier is from 1647. The large crucifix in silver and crystal was installed in 1976.

Burchard Precht’s altarpiece was in Uppsala Cathedral until Helgo Zettervall removed it during his late 19th-century restoration. The altarpiece is now in the Gustav Vasa Church in Stockholm; Credit – Wikipedia

The altarpieces have changed over the years. From 1725 – 1731, Swedish-German furniture maker and sculptor Burchard Precht worked on a large Baroque altarpiece. It remained in Uppsala Cathedral until it was removed during Helgo Zettervall’s restoration at the end of the nineteenth century. At that time, Precht’s altarpiece was replaced by a neo-Gothic oak altarpiece designed by Swedish architect Folke Zettervall, Helgo Zettervall’s son. However, Precht’s altarpiece can still be seen at the high altar in the Gustaf Vasa Church in Stockholm.

The current altarpiece, a cross in silver and crystal installed in 1976; Credit – By Bo Berggren – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25916597

Folke Zettervall’s altarpiece was removed in 1964. It was replaced for several years by the Skånelaskåpet, a late medieval altar cabinet in oak, made in Brussels during the early 16th century, purchased for the Uppsala Cathedral from Skånela Church in 1912. The current altarpiece consists of a cross in silver and crystal. It was designed by Swedish architect Åke Porne, who led the 1963 – 1977 renovation of Uppsala Cathedral, and was made by Bertil Berggren-Askenström (link in Swedish), a Swedish sculptor and silversmith.

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The Pulpit

The pulpit; Credit – By Szilas – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27571416

The ornate pulpit, the largest in Sweden, was designed by Swedish architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger and carved by Swedish-German furniture maker and sculptor Burchard Precht. It was a gift from Queen Hedwig Eleonora, the wife of King Karl X Gustav, after the fire of 1702 and completed in 1710. Helgo Zettervall had the pulpit removed during the 1885 – 1893 renovation he led. He wanted to replace the Baroque masterpiece with a pulpit in the Gothic style. However, he did not have the funds for a new pulpit and so Precht’s pulpit returned to its place.

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The Restored Frescoes

Restored frescoes; Credit – Wikipedia

During the Reformation, the medieval frescoes on the walls and ceilings had been whitewashed. Many of these beautiful frescoes were uncovered and restored during Åke Porne’s 1963 – 1977 renovations.

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Coronations

Coronation of Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden in 1719; Credit – Wikipedia

From 1441 – 1719, all but three Swedish monarchs were crowned at Uppsala Cathedral.

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Wedding

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Burials

Tomb of King Gustav I Vasa and his first two wives; Credit – Von Skippy13 – Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=726933

Except for Saint Erik IX, all the royal burials at Uppsala Cathedral are members of the family of King Gustav I Vasa. He was the first king of the House of Vasa and is considered the founding father of the modern Swedish state. During the Swedish War of Liberation (1521 – 1523), Gustav Vasa successfully deposed King Christian II from the throne of Sweden, ending the Kalmar Union between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. On June 6, 1523, Gustav Vasa was elected King of Sweden by the Swedish Riksdag (legislature) and soon all Danish troops were driven out of the country. King Gustav I Vasa ranks among Sweden’s greatest monarchs and some argue that he was the most significant ruler in Swedish history. He ended foreign domination in Sweden, centralized and reorganized the government, cut religious ties to Rome, established the Church of Sweden, and founded Sweden’s hereditary monarchy.

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.

Works Cited

  • En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Eric IX of Sweden – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_IX_of_Sweden> [Accessed 7 December 2021].
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Uppsala Cathedral – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uppsala_Cathedral> [Accessed 7 December 2021].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2021. Svenska kröningar – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svenska_kr%C3%B6ningar> [Accessed 7 December 2021].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2021. Uppsala domkyrka – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uppsala_domkyrka> [Accessed 7 December 2021].

Alois I, Prince of Liechtenstein

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Alois I, Prince of Liechtenstein; Credit – Wikipedia

Alois I, Prince of Liechtenstein was born in Vienna, Austria on May 14, 1759. Alois Josef Johannes Nepomuk Melchior was the fifth of the eight children and the third but the eldest surviving of the five sons of Franz Josef I, Prince of Liechtenstein and Countess Leopoldine von Sternberg. Since the Principality of Liechtenstein was a constituent member of the Holy Roman Empire headed by the Habsburgs and Alois’ father had several government positions, the family spent much time in Vienna, Austria.

Alois had seven siblings:

Karoline von Manderscheid-Blankenheim, Princess of Liechtenstein, as Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow by Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun,1793; Credit – Wikipedia

Upon the death of his father Franz Josef I, Prince of Liechtenstein on August 18, 1781, the 22-year-old Alois became the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein. On November 16, 1783, Alois married 15-year-old Countess Karoline von Manderscheid-Blankenheim, daughter of Count Johann Wilhelm von Manderscheid-Blankenheim and Countess Johanna von Limburg-Stirum. Although the couple had no children, Karoline had two illegitimate children with her long-time lover Franz von Langendonck, a captain in the Imperial Austrian Army.

Lednice Castle; Credit – By Alena Tučímová – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35791237

Alois did much to improve the administration and management of his estates. He introduced modern production methods on his estates, experimented with breeding, and imported numerous useful and ornamental plants for economic reasons and botanical interests. Alois was passionate about books and continued to expand the princely library by purchasing extensive collections.

Valtice Castle; Credit – By Huhulenik – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15256136

Among the many properties owned by the House of Liechtenstein were the ones in Moravia, now in the Czech Republic. After World War II, the properties were seized by the Communist government of Czechoslovakia. During his reign, Alois engaged architect Joseph Hardtmuth (link in German) to work at Eisgrub Castle, now called Lednice Castle, and Valtice Castle. Hardmuth renovated farm buildings and castle buildings, designed landscaped gardens, and erected exotic structures such as obelisks, triumphal arches, and artificial ruins.

Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Vranov, Czech Republic: Credit – Von Ojin – Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6438939

Alois I, Prince of Liechtenstein died on March 24, 1805, aged 45, in Vienna, Austria. He was buried in the Old Crypt at Chuch of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Vranov, Moravia, now in the Czech Republic. Alois was succeeded by his brother Johann I Josef, Prince of Liechtenstein. Karoline, Alois’ widow, survived her husband by twenty-six years, dying at the age of 62 in Vienna, Austria. She was buried at Hietzing Cemetery (link in German) in Vienna.

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.

Works Cited

  • De.wikipedia.org. 2021. Alois I. (Liechtenstein) – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alois_I._(Liechtenstein)> [Accessed 5 December 2021].
  • De.wikipedia.org. 2021. Joseph Hardtmuth – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Hardtmuth> [Accessed 5 December 2021].
  • De.wikipedia.org. 2021. Schloss Lednice – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schloss_Lednice> [Accessed 5 December 2021].
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Aloys I, Prince of Liechtenstein – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloys_I,_Prince_of_Liechtenstein> [Accessed 5 December 2021].
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Valtice – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valtice> [Accessed 5 December 2021].
  • Flantzer, Susan, 2022. Franz Josef I, Prince of Liechtenstein. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/franz-josef-i-prince-of-liechtenstein/> [Accessed 4 December 2021].
  • Fuerstenhaus.li. 2021. Century: 18th century. [online] Available at: <https://fuerstenhaus.li/en/die-biographien-aller-fuersten/18-century/> [Accessed 5 December 2021].

Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) in Stockholm, Sweden

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Stockholm Cathedral with the Royal Palace of Stockholm on the right; Credit – By Julian Herzog, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=62714436

Stockholm Cathedral is between the Royal Palace of Stockholm and Stortorget, the old main square of Stockholm, in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm. Originally, a Roman Catholic church, Stockholm Cathedral became a Lutheran church during the Protestant Reformation in Sweden. It is now a Church of Sweden, the Evangelical Lutheran national church in Sweden. The church has several names: Storkyrkan (in Swedish, stor = great and krykan = church, hence Great Church), Stockholms domkyrka (Stockholm Cathedral) and Sankt Nikolai kyrka (Saint Nicholas Church). In Sweden, it is most commonly called Storkyrkan.

The mail aisle of Stockholm Cathedral; Credit – By Holger.Ellgaard – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14668823

According to tradition, the first church on the site was dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra and was built in the 13th century by Birger Jarl, the founder of Stockholm A large donation to the church in 1346 by King Magnus IV of Sweden and his wife Blanche of Namur probably indicates the beginning of renovations and additions. After significant renovations and additions in the 14th and 15th centuries, the church reached its present size and shape as a five-aisled hall church in 1480. The church was originally built in the Brick Gothic style of the 13th century with a tower. From 1736 – 1742, Swedish architect Johan Eberhard Carlberg was employed to renovate the exterior and build a new tower. The exterior was transformed from a Gothic style to a Baroque style. The exterior seen today is still largely the result of Carlberg’s work.

Eustachius Erdmüller’s altarpiece; Credit – By Øyvind Holmstad – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45574353

The Baroque altarpiece over the main altar was made in silver and ebony by Hamburg goldsmith Eustachius Erdmüller and was completed in 1652. The central part is divided into three levels with each level containing a panel with a silver relief. The reliefs depict, from bottom to top, the Crucifixion, the Entombment, and Christ in the realm of the dead. Silver statuettes of Moses and John the Baptist flank the Crucifixion panel. The second and third panels are flanked by the Four Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

Royal Pews; Credit – By Jorge Láscar from Melbourne, Australia – Royal Pews and their crowns – Sankt Nikolai kyrka, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66006973

On either side of the nave are the two royal pews. The lower part is a seating area enclosed by a decorated wooden barrier. Originally a throne was placed in each pew. The upper part of each pew is a gilt wooden canopy in the form of an oversize royal crown carried by angels against a background of imitated drapery. The royal pews, intended for the royal family, were designed by Swedish architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger and made by Swedish-German furniture maker and sculptor Burchard Precht.

Pulpit; Credit – By Øyvind Holmstad – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45764645

The gilt wooden pulpit in the French Baroque style was also made by the sculptor Burchard Precht between 1698 and 1702.

Saint George and the Dragon; By Tuomas Vitikainen – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=67092031

Perhaps the most impressive sight at Stockholm Cathedral is the wooden sculpture that depicts the legend of Saint George and the Dragon. The statue was commissioned by Sten Sture the Elder, Swedish statesman and Regent of Sweden from 1470 – 1497 and 1501 -1503, following his victory over the Danish army in the Battle of Brunkeberg in 1471. During the battle, Sten Sture had prayed to Saint George to protect his army. The sculpture is attributed to Bernt Notke, one of the foremost artists in northern Europe at that time. The 12 feet/3.75 meters high statue depicts Saint George on horseback and stands on a wooden plinth, decorated with scenes from the legend of Saint George.

Statue of Saint George and the Dragon; Credit – By BugWarp – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87483011

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Royal Events at Stockholm Cathedral

Over the centuries, many royal events have occurred at Stockholm Cathedral. The list below does not purport to be complete.

Coronations

The Coronation of King Gustav III of Sweden (Uncompleted) by Carl Gustav Pilo; Credit – Wikipedia

Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyrkan) along with Uppsala Cathedral and a few other churches have served as sites for the coronation of Sweden’s rulers. In 1873, King Oscar II was the last Swedish monarch to have a coronation. His son King Gustav V of Sweden (reigned 1907 – 1950) chose not to be crowned and his successors King Gustaf VI Adolf and King Carl XVI Gustav followed suit.

Christenings

Christening of Crown Prince Victoria, 1977; Credit – http://www.nordstjernan.com/news/people/4354/

Weddings

Wedding of Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling, 2010

Funerals

Funeral of King Gustaf VI Adolf, 1973

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.

Works Cited

  • De.wikipedia.org. 2022. Sankt Nikolai kyrka – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankt_Nikolai_kyrka> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Saint George and the Dragon (Notke) – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George_and_the_Dragon_(Notke)> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2022. Storkyrkan – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storkyrkan> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2022. Sankt Göran och draken, Gamla stan – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sankt_G%C3%B6ran_och_draken,_Gamla_stan> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2022. Storkyrkan – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storkyrkan> [Accessed 17 January 2022].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2022. Svenska kröningar – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svenska_kr%C3%B6ningar> [Accessed 17 January 2022].

Countess Leopoldine von Sternberg, Princess of Liechtenstein

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Countess Leopoldine von Sternberg, Princess of Liechtenstein Credit – Wikipedia

Countess Leopoldine von Sternberg was the wife of Franz Josef I, who reigned as Prince of Liechtenstein from 1772 – 1781. She was a member of an influential discussion group called the Salon of the Five Princesses that acted as the political advisers of Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor. Marie Leopoldine Walburga Eva was born in Vienna, Austria on December 11, 1733. She was the second of the six children and the eldest of the four daughters of Count Franz Philipp von Sternberg (1708 – 1786 – link in German) and Eleonore Marie Leopoldine von Starhemberg (1712 – 1800).

Leopoldine had five siblings:

  • Count Franz Philipp Christian von Sternberg (1732 – 1811), married Countess Augusta Leopolda von Manderscheid-Blankenheim, had sixteen children
  • Countess Maria Josepha von Sternberg (1735 – 1803), married Prince Karl Borromäus Egon von Fürstenberg, had three children
  • Count Thomas Gundakar von Sternberg (1737 – 1802), unmarried
  • Countess Sophie von Sternberg (1738 – 1803), married Count Johann Vinzenz von Waldstein, had three children
  • Countess Maria Carolina von Sternberg (1741 – 1771), married Major General Johann Nepomuk von Lützow

Leopoldine’s father Count Franz Philipp von Sternberg came from an important Bohemian noble family and served in several diplomatic roles in the Holy Roman Empire. From 1745 – 1748, he was the ambassador to the Reichstag (parliament) in the Free Imperial City of Regensburg. For fourteen years, from 1749 – 1763, Count Franz Philipp was the Austrian ambassador to both the Polish royal court and the Saxony electoral court. For his services to the Holy Roman Empire, he received the Order of the Golden Fleece in 1763. From 1765 to 1780, Count Franz Philipp served as Hofmeister, the highest office in the court of the formidable Empress Maria Theresa.

Leopoldine’s mother Countess Eleonore Marie Leopoldine von Starhemberg was the daughter of Count Konrad Sigismund von Starhemberg who also served the Habsburgs as the imperial ambassador to the Reichstag in Regensburg and the imperial ambassador to Great Britain. Count Konrad Sigismund had married Princess Maria Leopoldina of Löwenstein-Wertheim (1689–1763) and the marriage brought him many family ties to German royal and noble families.

Leopoldine’s husband Franz Josef I, Prince of Liechtenstein; Credit – Wikipedia

Because of the service to the Habsburgs of Leopoldine’s father and maternal grandfather, it should be no surprise that she made an excellent marriage. On July 6, 1750, she married Prince Franz Josef of Liechtenstein, the eldest of the thirteen children of Prince Emanuel of Liechtenstein and Countess Maria Anna Antonia of Dietrichstein-Weichselstädt, Baroness of Hollenburg and Finkenstein.

Leopoldine and Franz Josef had eight children:

Franz Josef’s father was the younger brother of Joseph Wenzel I, Prince of Liechtenstein who reigned from 1712 – 1718, was Regent from 1732 – 1745, and then reigned again from 1748 until his death in 1772. Joseph Wenzel had five children, including three sons, and all five died in early childhood. Noting that his nephew Franz Josef might be a future Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein, Joseph Wenzel took him under his wing. Like Leopoldine’s father and grandfather, her husband participated in a number of diplomatic missions on behalf of the Holy Roman Empire. On February 10, 1772, Franz Josef’s uncle Josef Wenzel, Prince of Liechtenstein died with no surviving sons. Because he was the nearest male relative, Franz Josef succeeded his uncle as the Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein.

From 1768 – 1790, Princess Eleonore of Liechtenstein (1745 – 1812) who was married to Prince Franz Josef’s brother Prince Karl Borromeo of Liechtenstein, held a discussion group called the Salon of the Five Princesses that was influential in the affairs of state for over twenty years. Leopoldine was a member of the group along with Eleonore’s half-sister Maria Leopoldine, Countess von Kaunitz-Rietberg (1741- 1795) Princess Maria Josepha von Clary und Aldringen (1728 – 1801), Princess Maria Sidonia Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau (1729 – 1815). Count Franz Moritz von Lacy (1725 -1801), an Austrian Field Marshal and Chief Treasurer Prince Franz Xaver Wolfgang von Orsini-Rosenberg (1723 -1796) frequently attended the group’s meetings. The discussion group acted as the political advisers of Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, who met with the group to discuss state affairs once a week and then four times a week after 1780. The group lost its influence upon Joseph II’s death in 1790.


Leopoldine’s sons Aloys I, Prince of Liechtenstein and Johann I Josef, Prince of Liechtenstein; Credit- Wikipedia

Franz Josef I, Prince of Liechtenstein, died August 18, 1781, aged 54, in Metz, France. He was buried in the Old Crypt at Chuch of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in Vranov, Moravia, now in the Czech Republic. After her husband’s death, Leopoldine lived with her youngest daughter Maria Josefa in Vienna, Austria. Leopoldine saw two of her sons, Aloys I and Johann I Josef, become the Sovereign Prince of Liechtenstein. Leopoldine survived her husband by twenty-eight years, dying at the age of 75 on June 27, 1809, in Valtice, Moravia, now in the Czech Republic. She was buried at St. Andrew’s Church in Vienna-Hütteldorf, Austria.

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.

Works Cited

  • Cs.wikipedia.org. 2021. Konrád Zikmund Starhemberg – Wikipedie. [online] Available at: <https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konr%C3%A1d_Zikmund_Starhemberg> [Accessed 4 December 2021].
  • De.wikipedia.org. 2021. Franz Philipp von Sternberg – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Philipp_von_Sternberg> [Accessed 4 December 2021].
  • De.wikipedia.org. 2021. Leopoldine von Sternberg – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopoldine_von_Sternberg> [Accessed 4 December 2021].
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Eleonore of Liechtenstein – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleonore_of_Liechtenstein> [Accessed 4 December 2021].
  • En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Leopoldine von Sternberg – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopoldine_von_Sternberg> [Accessed 4 December 2021].
  • Flantzer, Susan, 2022. Franz Josef I, Prince of Liechtenstein. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/franz-josef-i-prince-of-liechtenstein/> [Accessed 4 December 2021].

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark – Fifty Years on the Throne

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia

On January 14, 2022, Queen Margrethe II marked fifty years on the Danish throne. She is the second longest-reigning Danish monarch after King Christian IV who reigned for 59 years, 330 days, from April 4, 1588 until February 28, 1648. As of January 14, 2022, the only current monarchs who reigned longer than Queen Margrethe II were Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (reigned since February 6, 1952) and Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei (reigned since October 5, 1967). Queen Margrethe II stated several times that she had no intention of abdicating as several other European monarchs had done. She viewed her position as a job for life and recognized Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom as a source of inspiration for her devotion to duty.

In January 1972, shortly after King Frederik IX of Denmark had given his New Year speech, he became ill with flu-like symptoms. On January 3, 1972, he had a cardiac arrest and was rushed to Copenhagen Municipal Hospital. The king improved for a time but then took a turn for the worse, and on January 14, 1972, King Frederik IX died at the age of 72. His eldest daughter succeeded him as Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. She became the first female monarch in Denmark since Margrethe I, Queen of Denmark (reigned 1387 – 1412), Norway (reigned 1388 – 1412), and Sweden (reigned 1389 – 1412).

Margrethe and her family in 1956: left to right Princess Benedikte, Princess Anne-Marie, Queen Ingrid, Princess Margrethe, and King Frederik IX 

In 1947, King Frederik IX succeeded to the Danish throne upon the death of his father King Christian X. At that time, women were excluded from the line of succession. Having only three daughters, and unlikely that there would be more children, King Frederik IX’s heir presumptive was his younger brother Prince Knud. Frederik soon began to work toward changing the succession laws in Denmark. Finally, in 1953, a new Act of Succession was passed, changing the succession to male-preference cognatic primogeniture – meaning that sons would come before daughters. (A 2009 succession law now allows for the succession of the firstborn child regardless of gender.) The 1953 Act of Succession meant that in the absence of a son, King Frederik IX’s daughters could succeed to the throne, and Frederik’s eldest daughter Margrethe became the heiress-presumptive. Her uncle Prince Knud, who had held the title of Hereditary Prince of Denmark, was not very happy with the new laws, as he and his two sons were now pushed further down the line. In somewhat of a consolation, Knud was given the title Hereditary Prince Knud even though he was no longer the direct heir to the throne. However, Margrethe, as heiress-presumptive, was never given the title of Crown Princess.

Prime Minister Jens Otto Krag proclaiming Margrethe Queen of Denmark on January 15, 1972; Credit – photo: Radical Royalist

On January 15, 1972, in keeping with tradition, Margrethe was formally proclaimed Queen of Denmark by Prime Minister Jens Otto Krag from the balcony at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen. To the crowds gathered below, she gave a brief speech: “My beloved father, our King, is dead. The task that my father had carried for nearly 25 years is now resting on my shoulders. I pray to God to give me help and strength to carry the heavy heritage. May the trust that was given to my father also be granted to me.” After being joined briefly on the balcony by her husband Prince Henrik, the couple traveled back to Amalienborg where they again appeared on the balcony, this time with their two young sons, three-and-a-half-year-old Crown Prince Frederik and two-and-a-half-year-old Prince Joachim.

Queen Margrethe II with her husband Prince Henrik and their sons Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim on the balcony at Amalienborg on January 15, 1972

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The first official photograph of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, 1972

Due to COVID-19, a number of the events that had been scheduled in mid-January 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary were rescheduled for September 2022. These include a celebration at the Copenhagen City Hall, a command performance at the Royal Danish Theatre’s Old Stage, a celebratory church service in Copenhagen Cathedral, and a gala banquet at Christiansborg Palace.

Queen Margrethe’s youngest sister Queen Anne-Marie of Greece was unable to participate in the limited number of events on January 14, 2022. Her husband former King Constantine II of Greece was ill with COVID-19 and because she had been exposed to COVID-19, Anne-Marie was not allowed to travel to Denmark.

The program for January 14, 2022 was as follows.

  • 9:30 AM – Queen Margrethe II began the day with a Council of State at Christiansborg Palace together with her son Crown Prince Frederik
  • 10:00 AM – Queen Margrethe II, her son Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Crown Princess Mary, her son Prince Joachim and his wife Princess Marie, and her sister Princess Benedikte attended the Danish Parliament’s official celebration of the anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the throne.
  • 12:00 PM – Queen Margrethe II, her son Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Crown Princess Mary, her son Prince Joachim and his wife Princess Marie, and her sister Princess Benedikte participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid’s grave outside Roskilde Cathedral.

For more information see:

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.

Works Cited

  • Flantzer, Susan, 2015. King Frederik IX of Denmark. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/king-frederik-ix-of-denmark/> [Accessed 14 January 2022].
  • Kongehuset.dk. 2022. The 50 years anniversary of HM The Queen’s accession to the throne. [online] Available at: <https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/the-50-years-anniversary-of-hm-the-queens-accession-to-the-throne> [Accessed 14 January 2022].
  • Kongehuset.dk. 2022. The 50th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen’s accession to the throne. [online] Available at: <https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/the-50th-jubilee-of-her-majesty-the-queens-accession-to-the-throne> [Accessed 14 January 2022].
  • Mehl, Scott, 2014. Accession of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/january-14-1972-accession-of-queen-margrethe-ii-of-denmark/> [Accessed 14 January 2022].
  • Mehl, Scott, 2014. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/queen-margrethe-ii-of-denmark/> [Accessed 14 January 2022].

Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

The Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace in Stockholm looking toward the entrance; Credit – By Holger.Ellgaard – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14663353

The Royal Palace is located in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden. It is the official residence and major royal palace of the Swedish monarch although the actual residence of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia is Drottningholm Palace in Ekerö municipality on the island of Lovön in Lake Mälaren, west of Stockholm, Sweden. However, the offices of the Swedish monarch, other members of the Swedish royal family, and the Royal Court of Sweden are located at the Royal Palace.

The Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden; Credit – By Grishasergei – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16370245

The current palace was built on the site of the former Tre Kroner Castle (Three Crowns Castle), built in the 13th century, which was destroyed by fire in 1697. Construction began in 1697 and was completed in 1760. The Royal Palace was designed by Swedish architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger. After Tessin the Younger died in 1728, the Royal Palace was completed by Swedish architect Carl Hårleman who also designed a large part of its interior.

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The Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, looking toward the altar; Credit – By Holger.Ellgaard – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14663324

The Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, which this writer has visited, is a church of the Church of Sweden, an Evangelical Lutheran church. It is the parish church for the members of the Royal Parish which comprises the Swedish royal family, employees at the court, and their relatives. Services are held every Sunday and on holy days, and the royal family uses the church for other ceremonies.

Ceiling painting and decorations of the Royal Chapel; Credit – By Ad Meskens – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72492390

Built during the 18th century along with the rest of the Royal Palace, the Royal Chapel was consecrated in 1754. The ceiling paintings and decorations have the theme of the Ascension of Jesus Christ and were the collaborative work of Swedish architect Carl Hårleman, French painter Guillaume Taraval and Swedish decorative artist Johan Pasch and French sculptors Jacques Philippe Bouchardon (link in French) and Charles Guillaume Cousin (link in Swedish).

Thanksgiving service in 2013 marking the 40th anniversary of King Carl XVI Gustaf’s accession to the throne. There is a good view of the pulpit on the right.

A close-up view of the pulpit; Credit – By Holger.Ellgaard – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14663388

The pulpit was created in the years 1748 -1751 mainly by French sculptor Jacques-Philippe Bouchardon.

The magnificent altarpiece; Credit – By Steven Lek – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=61789914

Jacques-Philippe Bouchardon had been working on an altarpiece but he died before it was completed. His replacement Swedish sculptor Pierre Hubert L’Archevêque damaged Bouchardon’s incomplete work out of rivalry and began his own altarpiece. L’Archevêque eventually tired of working on the altarpiece and it was completed in 1779 by Johan Tobias Sergel, one of Sweden’s greatest sculptors. The magnificent altarpiece depicts Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. Above the altar is a banner carried by two angels with the Latin words Pro Mundi Vita, “For the world to live” from the Gospel of John.

This short video of video clips from the christening of Princess Estelle, daughter of Crown Princess Victoria, provides some views of the Royal Chapel.

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The Duke of Småland’s baptism at the Royal Chapel in 1782, oil painting by Elias Martin; Credit – Wikipedia

It can be assumed that after the completion of the Royal Palace in 1754, christenings and other religious events occurred at the Royal Chapel. It is a tradition in the Swedish royal family to attend a Te Deum at the Royal Chapel to give thanks for the birth of a new royal baby within days of the birth. Some recent Te Deums are listed below.

Some royal events at the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden include:

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.

Works Cited

  • En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Stockholm Palace – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_Palace> [Accessed 3 December 2021].
  • Flantzer, Susan, 2019. Swedish Royal Christenings. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/swedish-royal-christenings/> [Accessed 3 December 2021].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2021. Stockholms slott – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholms_slott> [Accessed 3 December 2021].
  • Sv.wikipedia.org. 2021. Slottskyrkan – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slottskyrkan> [Accessed 3 December 2021].