Prince Eitel Friedrich of Prussia

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Prince Eitel Friedrich of Prussia; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince Wilhelm Eitel Friedrich Christian Karl of Prussia (known as Eitel Friedrich or Eitel Fritz) was the second son of Wilhelm II, German Emperor and King of Prussia and his first wife Auguste Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg. He was born at the Marble Palace in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg, on July 7, 1883.

Eitel Friedrich had six siblings:

From 1896, Friedrich Eitel lived and studied at the Prince’s House on the grounds of Plön Castle along with his brothers. He was later a member of the Corps Borussia Bonn, the corps of the House of Hohenzollern. At the beginning of World War I, he served on the front line, commanding the First Foot Guards. From 1915 to 1918, he led the 1st Division of Guards on both the Western and Eastern fronts. Friedrich Eitel was highly decorated for his leadership and valor and received the Iron Cross and the Prussian Order of Merit, Prussia’s highest award for valor.

Eitel Friedrich and Sophie Charlotte. source: Wikipedia

On February 27, 1906, in Berlin, Eitel Friedrich married Duchess Sophie Charlotte of Oldenburg. She was the daughter of Friedrich August II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg and Princess Elisabeth Anna of Prussia. The couple first met in June 1905 at the wedding of Eitel’s elder brother Crown Prince Wilhelm and Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and met again later that month. They became engaged in the fall of 1905. Following the wedding, the couple resided at Villa Ingenheim (link in German) in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg, and had no children.

The marriage was never happy because Eitel Friedrich was continually unfaithful, and Sophie found it difficult to make friends in her new home. While he was off fighting during World War I, Sophie lived primarily at the Bellevue Palace in Berlin. In 1922, several newspapers published allegations of infidelity against Sophie. She was summoned as a witness in a divorce case and admitted having had an affair with the gentleman involved. Eitel Friedrich filed for divorce, and the couple was formally divorced on October 20, 1926.

Villa Ingenheim. photo: Von karstenknuth – Eigenes Werk, Attribution, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23295620

After the war and the end of the German Empire, Eitel Friedrich remained active in monarchist circles and supported the Stahlhelm paramilitary organization. In 1921, he was found guilty of a fraudulent transfer of 300,000 marks abroad and was fined 5,000 marks. He was later one of the founders of the Harzburg Front, a radical right-wing alliance formed to present unified opposition to the government of Chancellor Heinrich Brüning. However, he was an outspoken opponent of Adolf Hitler.

Prince Eitel Friedrich died at Villa Ingenheim in Potsdam, Germany on December 8, 1942. The Nazi regime refused to allow him any military honors at his funeral and forbade anyone attending the funeral to wear their uniforms. Despite this, many of his former military comrades, all in civilian clothes, attended his funeral. Eitel Friedrich is buried in the Antique Temple in Sanssouci Park in Potsdam, Germany.

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.

Princess Caroline of Great Britain

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Princess Caroline of Great Britain; Credit – Wikipedia

Born at Herrenhausen Palace in the Electorate of Hanover, now in Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany, on June 10, 1713, exactly two years after the birth of her sister Princess Amelia, Princess Caroline was the fourth of the eight children and the third of the five daughters of the future King George II of Great Britain and his wife Caroline of Ansbach. At the time of her birth, her father was the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Caroline’s paternal grandparents were the future King George I of Great Britain, who was the Elector of Hanover and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg at that time, and his divorced, disgraced, and virtually imprisoned first cousin and former wife Sophia Dorothea of Celle. Caroline’s maternal grandparents were Johann Friedrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach and his second wife Princess Eleonore Erdmuthe of Saxe-Eisenach. The day after her birth, the infant princess was christened Caroline Elizabeth at Herrenhausen Palace.

Caroline had seven siblings:

Frederick, Prince of Wales, playing the cello, Anne, Princess Royal at the harpsichord, Princess Caroline playing the mandora and Princess Amelia reading; Credit – Wikipedia

Caroline’s great-grandmother, Sophia, Electress of Hanover was the heiress presumptive to Queen Anne of Great Britain per the Act of Settlement 1701, but Sophia died two months before Queen Anne died. Upon Queen Anne’s death on August 1, 1714, Caroline’s grandfather succeeded to the British throne as King George I of Great Britain and her father became the heir apparent to the British throne and was created Prince of Wales the following month. Amelia was then styled Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Great Britain. One-year-old Caroline along with her elder sisters Anne and Amelia accompanied their mother to England where they settled in the new home, apartments in St. James’ Palace in London.

The three elder daughters of King George II: Anne, Amelia, and Caroline; Credit – Wikipedia

Caroline’s parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, disagreed over the choice of godparents for the short-lived son George William, born in 1717. The disagreement grew out of proportion, and Caroline’s father George was placed under arrest. The result was that her parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, were exiled from St. James’ Palace. They moved into Leicester House in Leicester Square, London which became their chief residence for the rest of King George I’s reign. However, their children were kept at St. James’ Palace in the custody of their grandfather. The Prince and Princess of Wales were allowed to see their children only once a week. After two years, the Princess of Wales acted as a mediator for her husband, and in cooperation with Prime Minister Robert Walpole, she finally reconciled King George I and his son.

Princess Caroline was not only her mother’s namesake but her favorite child. She was known in the family for telling the truth and was always consulted when there were disagreements between the royal siblings because she could be counted on telling exactly what happened. On June 11, 1727, Caroline’s grandfather King George I died in Hanover, was buried there, and her father succeeded him as King George II. After the marriage of her eldest sister Anne to Willem IV, Prince of Orange, Caroline became her mother’s main confidant and she remained so for the rest of her mother’s life.

Portrait of Caroline from 1728, probably from the time of her father’s coronation; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Caroline never married. When her mother died in 1737, Queen Caroline expressly left her three youngest children, all teenagers, in the care of her daughter Caroline. Caroline probably had an affair with John Hervey, 2nd Baron Hervey, a courtier and political writer. Lord Hervey was married and had eight children but apparently, he was bisexual and had affairs with both men and women. It is unknown if Lord Hervey had any real affections toward Caroline but she had affections toward him. After Lord Hervey died in 1743 at the age of 46, Caroline became a recluse, rarely leaving St. James’ Palace and seeing only her father, her sister Princess Amelia, her brother Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, and some favorite courtiers. She donated most of her money to charities, especially those associated with prisoners’ welfare, and also saw that Lord Hervey’s children were financially secure.

John Hervey, 2nd Baron Hervey,; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Caroline had been a hypochondriac for most of her life and she lost the will to live. As she lay dying, she refused to see any of her family. On December 28, 1757, at the age of 44, Princess Caroline died at St. James’ Palace in London. She was buried in the Hanover vault below the central aisle of Henry VII’s chapel in Westminster Abbey in London. Horace Walpole, a writer and art historian,  wrote of Princess Caroline: “Her kindness was constant and united, her immense generosity, her charity were the most extensive; In short, I, not a royalist, can be generous in praise of her.”

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. (2019). Princess Caroline of Great Britain. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Caroline_of_Great_Britain [Accessed 13 Jul. 2019].
  • Flantzer, Susan. (2019). Princess Amelia of Great Britain. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/princess-amelia-of-great-britain/ [Accessed 13 Jul. 2019].
  • Van der Kiste, J. (2013). King George II and Queen Caroline. New York: The History Press.
  • Van Der Kiste, John. The Georgian Princesses. Phoenix Mill: Sutton Publishing, 2000. Print.
  • Williamson, David. Brewer’s British Royalty. London: Cassell, 1996. Print. London: Cassell, 1996. Print.

The Strange Case of the Tombs of Two 19th Century Princesses and a 20th Century 15-Year-Old Missing Girl

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

The poster of Emanuela Orlandi that was posted on the streets of Rome in 1983; Credit – Wikipedia

This story sounds like a plot from a novel by Dan Brown, the author of the Robert Langdon novels (Angels and Demons, The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol, Inferno and Origin).

Emanuela Orlandi was the 15-year-old daughter of Ercole and Maria Orlandi. Her father was an employee of the Institute for the Works of Religion, more commonly known as the Vatican Bank. The Orlandi family were citizens of and lived in Vatican City. On June 22, 1983, Emanuela walked outside of Vatican City to a Rome bus stop for the short ride to the Sant’Apollinare complex in central Rome where she took flute lessons three times a week. She never returned home, and the case remains unsolved.

There are various theories about what happened to Emanuela which include possible links to the Sicilian Mafia, the KGB, and the assassination attempt by Mehmet Ali Ağca on Pope John Paul II. Check out these Wikipedia articles. The Italian article is much more comprehensive.

In January 2023, it was announced that the Vatican opened a new investigation into the disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi.

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The New York Times has published several stories about Emanuela’s disappearance over the years. This author is a New York Times subscriber and the links below are gift links so anyone can read them.

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Teutonic Cemetery in Vatican City; Credit – CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=499225

The Teutonic Cemetery is a burial site adjacent to St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City that has been dedicated to the German-speaking residents of Rome. Traditionally, prominent German-speaking people who have served the Roman Catholic Church and died in Rome can be buried there.

In the summer of 2018, the Orlandi family received a letter with a photo in it. The photo was of a marble statue of an angel in the Teutonic Cemetery. The letter instructed to “look where the angel is pointing” and led the Orlandi family to the tombs of Princess Sophia of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein and Duchess Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Hereditary Princess of Denmark. Their tombs are next to each other and Princess Sophia’s tomb, known as the Tomb of the Angel, has an angel who is pointing down.

Duchess Charlotte’s tomb on the left, Princess Sophia’s tomb on the right; Credit – Vatican Media, Reuters, CBS News

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When the Orlandi family went to see the tombs, they saw evidence that Princess Sophia’s tomb had been opened recently as there was new cement on it but they were given no information regarding a possible recent opening. In February 2019, the Orlandi family petitioned the Vatican Secretary of State to permit the tombs to be opened. A Vatican tribunal granted the request. during the first week of July 2019.

Workers opening the tomb of Duchess Charlotte Frederica; Photo Credit – CNS photo/Vatican Media

On July 11, 2019, Giovanni Arcudi, a forensics expert and professor at Tor Vergata University in Rome, led the team that opened the tombs. His job was to exhume the remains and verify their identities. It was decided to open both tombs to avoid possible misunderstandings about which grave was the grave indicated in the letter the Orlandi family received. Members of the two princesses’ families, the Orlandi family, and the Vatican police were present when the tombs were opened. However, to much surprise and amazement, there was no work for Arcudi to do. Not only was there no sign of Emanuela’s remains, but the remains of Princess Sophia and Duchess Charlotte Frederica were also missing. Vatican officials said they would research the burial records to try to discover what happened to their remains. It is possible that their remains were moved due to renovations at the end of the 1800s and again in the 1960s and 1970s.

Updates

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So who are these two princesses whose final resting places have become entangled in a long-unsolved missing person case?

Schillingsfürst Castle, Princess Sophia’s birthplace; Credit – Von Alexp1993 – Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73775583

Princess Sophia of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein

Not very much is known about Princess Sophia. Sophia was born on December 13, 1758, at Schillingsfürst Castle (in German) in Schillingsfürst, now in Ansbach, in Bavaria, Germany, and was given the names Sophia Carolina Josepha Philippina Maria Anna Lucia. She was the eldest of the seven children of Ludwig Leopold, ruling Prince of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein (in German) and Josepha Friederike Polyxena Alexandrina, Countess of Limburg-Stirum. Her father’s principality was located in present-day northeastern Baden-Württemberg, Germany. During the French Revolution, Sophia’s father gave refuge to many French noblemen and their families.

Sophia’s brother Prince Ludwig Aloys of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein was a Lieutenant General in the Austrian Army who fought against Napoleon in the Napoleonic Wars. After the defeat of Napoleon, Ludwig Aloys became a naturalized a French citizen, a Peer of France and a Marshal of France.

There is no indication that Sophia married. She died on January 20, 1836, in Rome at the age of 78.

Duchess Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Hereditary Princess of Denmark

Duchess Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Hereditary Princess of Denmark; Credit – Wikipedia

The first wife of the future King Christian VIII of Denmark, Charlotte Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, was born December 4, 1784, in Ludwigslust Palace in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, now in Germany. She was fifth of the six children and the youngest of the two daughters of Friedrich Franz I, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg.

Charlotte Frederica married the future King Christian VIII of Denmark at Ludwigslust Palace in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (now Germany) on June 21, 1806. The couple only had one surviving child, King Frederik VII of Denmark.

Christian and Charlotte Frederica’s marriage soon became unhappy. Charlotte Frederica had an affair with her singing teacher Édouard Du Puy. In 1809, when Christian found out, Charlotte Frederica was sent into internal exile to the city of Horsens, Denmark while Du Puy was banished from Denmark. The marriage officially ended with a divorce in 1810 and Charlotte Frederica never saw her son again.

While in Horsens and later in Aarhus, both in Denmark, Charlotte Frederica cultivated friendships with the local gentry and allegedly had affairs with army officers. In 1829, she was allowed to travel out of Denmark and moved to Carlsbad, a spa town, then in Germany, now in the Czech Republic. She made one last move in 1830 to Rome, Italy where she lived in the Palazzo Bernini on Rome’s main street and converted to Roman Catholicism.

Charlotte Frederica had been exiled when her son, now King Frederik VII of Denmark, was only one year old. She had hoped to see her son again but she soon became ill. Charlotte Frederica died in Rome on July 13, 1840, at the age of 55. She was buried in a tomb paid for by her son and created by the Danish sculptor Jens Adolf Jerichau at the Teutonic Cemetery.

Tomb of Charlotte Frederica; Credit – By Altera levatur – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59545772

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.

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Works Cited

  • Cbsnews.com. (2019). Emanuela Orlandi mystery: Bizarre twist in hunt for missing teen as Vatican tombs unsealed. [online] Available at: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/vatican-open-graves-search-missing-teen-girl-emanuela-orlandi-cryptic-clue-cemetery-angel/ [Accessed 13 Jul. 2019].
  • De.wikipedia.org. (2019). Ludwig Carl Franz Leopold zu Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein. [online] Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludwig_Carl_Franz_Leopold_zu_Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein [Accessed 13 Jul. 2019].
  • En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Emanuela_Orlandi [Accessed 13 Jul. 2019].
  • En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Louis Aloysius, Prince of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Aloysius,_Prince_of_Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein [Accessed 13 Jul. 2019].
  • It.wikipedia.org. (2019). Cimitero Teutonico. [online] Available at: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cimitero_Teutonico [Accessed 13 Jul. 2019].
  • It.wikipedia.org. (2019). Sparizione di Emanuela Orlandi. [online] Available at: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparizione_di_Emanuela_Orlandi [Accessed 13 Jul. 2019].
  • Nytimes.com. (2019). In Italy, a Decades-Long Search for a Missing Girl Brings Another Twist. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/11/world/europe/italy-vatican-emanuela-orlandi.html [Accessed 13 Jul. 2019].
  • Sheena McKenzie, C. (2019). She disappeared at 15. A cryptic tip-off in the Vatican could hold key to her case. [online] CNN. Available at: https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/11/europe/vatican-missing-girl-emanuela-orlandi-intl/index.html [Accessed 13 Jul. 2019].
  • Wooden, C. (2019). Vatican discovers empty tombs in search for missing woman | Catholic Herald. [online] Catholic Herald. Available at: https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2019/07/12/vatican-discovers-empty-tombs-in-search-for-missing-woman/ [Accessed 13 Jul. 2019].

Princess Amelia of Great Britain

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Princess Amelia of Great Britain; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Amelia of Hanover was born at Herrenhausen Palace in the Electorate of Hanover, now in Lower Saxony, Germany, on June 10, 1711. Christened Amelia Sophia Eleanora, she was known in the family as Emily. At the time of her birth, her father (the future King George II of Great Britain) was the Hereditary Prince of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Her mother was Caroline of Ansbach,  the eldest of the three children of Johann Friedrich, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach and his second wife Princess Eleonore Erdmuthe of Saxe-Eisenach. Her paternal grandfather (the future King George I of Great Britain) was the Elector of Hanover and Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg.

Amelia was the third of eight children and the second of her parents’ five daughters. She had seven siblings:

Frederick, Prince of Wales, playing the cello, Anne, Princess Royal at the harpsichord, Princess Caroline playing the mandora and Princess Amelia reading; Credit – Wikipedia

Amelia’s great-grandmother, Sophia, Electress of Hanover was the heiress presumptive to Queen Anne of Great Britain per the Act of Settlement 1701, but Sophia died two months before Queen Anne died. Upon Queen Anne’s death on August 1, 1714, Amelia’s grandfather succeeded to the British throne as King George I of Great Britain and her father became the heir apparent to the British throne and was created Prince of Wales the following month. Amelia was then styled Her Royal Highness Princess Amelia of Great Britain. Three-year-old Amelia, along with her elder sister Anne and her younger sister Caroline, accompanied their mother to England where they settled in the new home, apartments in St. James’ Palace in London.

The three elder daughters of King George II: Anne, Amelia, and Caroline; Credit – Wikipedia

Amelia’s parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, had a disagreement over the choice of godparents for the short-lived son George William, born in 1717. The disagreement grew out of proportion, and Amelia’s father George was placed under arrest. The result was that her parents George and Caroline were exiled from St. James’ Palace. They moved into Leicester House in Leicester Square, London which became their chief residence for the rest of King George I’s reign. However, their children were kept at St. James’ Palace in the custody of their grandfather. The Prince and Princess of Wales were allowed to see their children only once a week. After two years, the Princess of Wales acted as a mediator for her husband, and in cooperation with Prime Minister Robert Walpole, she finally reconciled King George I and his son.

Amelia’s paternal aunt, Sophia Dorothea of ​​Hanover, Queen of Prussia, wanted Amelia to marry her eldest son, the future King Friedrich II of Prussia (the Great). However, Sophia Dorothea’s husband King Friedrich Wilhelm I did not support the idea and insisted his son marry Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern. Amelia never did marry.

In 1727, Amelia’s grandfather died and her father succeeded to the British throne as King George II. After the death of her mother in 1737, Amelia became the constant companion to her father. She also acted as hostess for her unmarried brother Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, who had a career in the Royal Army, whenever he was in England. Amelia followed her brother’s military campaigns and was always quite worried about him when he was at the front.

In 1751, Princess Amelia became the Ranger of Richmond Park. According to her instructions, only family members and a few close friends were allowed into the park. This caused a great uproar from the public, accustomed to using the park. In 1758, a local brewer John Lewis was banned from the park and decided to take the case to court and won. Disgusted, Amelia resigned from her position as the ranger of Richmond Park.

Plaque to John Lewis, the Richmond brewer who secured public rights of access to the park in 1758; Credit – By Spudgun67 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=46307376

On October 25, 1760, King George II woke up early at Kensington Palace and had his usual cup of chocolate. He asked about the direction of the wind as he was anxious about receiving his overseas mail, and then he entered his water closet. A few minutes later, his valet heard a crash and found George lying on the floor. He was put into bed and asked for his favorite daughter Princess Amelia, but he died before the princess reached him. Amelia hurried to her father’s rooms and, not realizing he was already dead, she put her head close to his head to hear what he had to say. Because she was quite deaf, Amelia did not realize her father was dead.

Amelia was the last surviving child of her parents and lived for the first twenty-six years of the reign of her nephew King George III whose father Frederick, Prince of Wales had predeceased his father King George II. Because of her deafness, Amelia retired from court life. She lived in a home in Cavendish Square when in London. In 1761, Amelia bought Gunnersbury Park, a country estate in the London Borough of Hounslow where she was famous for her parties and political intrigues.

Gunnersbury House around 1750; Credit – Wikipedia

In her later years, Amelia enjoyed taking the waters, playing cards, and engaging in gossip at Bath. Amelia was always fond of horses and dogs and every morning she visited the stables to see her horses. She donated generously to charity and was a wonderful great-aunt to the children of King George III, regularly inviting them to Gunnersbury Park.

In October 1786, Amelia knew she was dying and she put her affairs in order and made arrangements to provide for her servants. She left nothing to her relatives in England, instead, she left her estate to her three Hesse-Kassel nephews, the children of her sister Princess Mary. Princess Amelia Sophie died at the age of 75, on October 31, 1786, at her home in Cavendish Square. After her death, a pendant was found around her neck with a miniature portrait of her would-be husband, Crown Prince Friedrich of Prussia who became King Friedrich I of Prussia (the Great). Princess Amelia was buried in the Hanover vault below the central aisle of Henry VII’s chapel in Westminster Abbey in London. An inscription was carved in the black and white pavement in 1866 reads Amelia Sophia Eleonora 2 DA. of K.GEO. II 1786.

Amelia Island, an island in the Sea Islands chain that stretches along the East Coast of the United States from South Carolina to Florida and Amelia County in Virginia, United States are named for Princess Amelia.

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.Amelia Sophie von Großbritannien, Irland und Hannover. [online] Available at: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amelia_Sophie_von_Gro%C3%9Fbritannien,_Irland_und_Hannover [Accessed 11 Jul. 2019].
  • En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Princess Amelia of Great Britain. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Amelia_of_Great_Britain [Accessed 11 Jul. 2019].
  • Van Der Kiste, John. The Georgian Princesses. Phoenix Mill: Sutton Publishing, 2000. Print.
  • Williamson, David. Brewer’s British Royalty. London: Cassell, 1996. Print.. London: Cassell, 1996. Print.

Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, German Crown Princess

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, German Crown Princess; Credit – Wikipedia

Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was the wife of Wilhelm, German Crown Prince. She was born in Schwerin, Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, now in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, on September 20, 1886, to Friedrich Franz III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia.

Cecilie had two older siblings:

Crown Prince Wilhelm. source: Wikipedia

During the wedding celebrations of her brother Friedrich Franz in June 1904, Cecilie got to know Crown Prince Wilhelm who was representing his father Wilhelm II, German Emperor and King of Prussia. On September  4, 1904, Cecilie and Wilhelm celebrated their engagement at the Mecklenburg-Schwerin hunting lodge. Cecilie married Crown Prince Wilhelm in ceremonies held on June 6, 1905, in the Royal Chapel of the Berlin Palace and the Berlin Cathedral in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany.

They had six children:

Cecilienthof – court of honor. photo: By Gryffindor, panorama made by Digon – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2180563

Following their marriage, the couple made their home at the Marble Palace in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany, for the summers, and the Crown Prince’s Palace in Berlin for the winters and court season. Years later they had Cecilienhof built in the New Garden in Potsdam, near the Marble Palace. Construction was completed in 1917 and the family moved in right away. Although seemingly happy at first, the couple soon began to have difficulties. Wilhelm was a perpetual womanizer and made little attempt to keep any of his affairs quiet. He would often boast to Cecilie of his escapades, once even bringing her to the point of considering suicide. Despite this, their family continued to grow with the birth of their six children.

As Crown Princess, Cecilie was immensely popular and took on charity work. She particularly enjoyed working with organizations that promoted and provided education for women. She traveled extensively, including a visit to the United Kingdom in 1911 to attend the coronation of King George V of the United Kingdom. A friendship developed between Cecilie and King George V’s wife Queen Mary, and the two maintained a correspondence until Mary died in 1953. When the German Empire fell in 1918, Cecilie’s husband and father-in-law went into exile in the Netherlands. Cecilie first left Cecilienhof for the safety of the Neues Palais with her mother-in-law but was soon given permission to return to her home, and ensured of her safety. However, her husband was not permitted into the country at that time.

Oels Castle in Silesia. photo: By Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova – Praca własna, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=27187345

The family managed to retain numerous personal properties, including Oels Castle in Silesia, where she met her husband in November 1923 after five years of separation. By then, it was a marriage “in name only”. In 1926, a settlement was reached between the German State and the former royal family. Cecilienhof became the property of the state but Cecilie and Wilhelm were given the right of residence for three generations. Cecilie based herself at Cecilienhof and stayed active in charitable organizations such as the Queen Luise Fund, the Fatherland’s Women Union, and the Ladies of the Order of St. John. All of these were later abolished in 1933 by Adolf Hitler.

Cecilie continued to live a private life at Cecilienhof in the years leading up to World War II. In May 1938, her son Ludwig Ferdinand married Grand Duchess Kira, the daughter of the pretender to the Russian throne, at Cecilienhof. This would be the last big family occasion before the war. In the midst of the war, her father-in-law died in 1941 and her husband became head of the House of Hohenzollern. The family spent most of their time at Oels Castle but returned to Potsdam in 1944 to celebrate Christmas.  In February 1945, they left Cecilienhof for the last time, fleeing the Red Army. Their beloved home Cecilehof was seized by the Soviets. It would later be the site of the Potsdam Conference in the summer of 1945, hosting British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, US President Harry Truman, and Soviet leader Josef Stalin.

Churchill, Truman, and Stalin at Cecilienhof for the Potsdam Conference, July 25, 1945. source: Wikipedia

Cecilie settled in Bad Kissingen, Germany for the next several years, while her husband lived in Hechingen until his death in July 1951. The following year, Cecilie moved to an apartment in the Frauenkopf district in Stuttgart. That same year, her memoirs were published and she made another visit to England where she attended the christening of her granddaughter and enjoyed a final visit with Queen Mary. Later that year, her sister, Queen Alexandrine of Denmark, died and Cecilie never fully recovered from the loss.

Cecilie, German Crown Princess and Crown Princess of Prussia, died on May 6, 1954, her late husband’s birthday, while visiting Bad Kissingen. She was buried six days later beside her husband at Hohenzollern Castle in Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany.

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.

Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, German Empress, Queen of Prussia

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, German Empress, Queen of Prussia; Credit – Wikipedia

Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was the wife of Wilhelm I, German Emperor and King of Prussia. She was born Princess Augusta Marie Luise Katharina on September 30, 1811, in Weimar, Grand Duchy of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, now in the German state of Thuringia, the second daughter of Karl Friedrich, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia, daughter of Paul I, Emperor of All Russia.

Augusta had three siblings:

Augusta’s husband, the future Wilhelm I, German Emperor and King of Prussia in 1848; Credit – Wikipedia

Augusta first met her future husband in 1826 when she was just 15 years old. Wilhelm found her personality to be wonderful but did not find her as attractive as her older sister. However, his father encouraged the marriage. At that time, Wilhelm was in love with a Polish princess, Elisa Radziwill, but marriage would not have been allowed as it was considered unequal. Wilhelm’s father King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia forced him to end that relationship and to marry Augusta. He proposed on August 29, 1828, and the two were formally engaged on October 25, 1828. The marriage took place in the chapel at Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg, on June 11, 1829, and they had two children:

Their marriage was not without struggles. Augusta was deeply in love with Wilhelm, but he was still in love with Elisa Radziwill. Although welcomed in the Prussian court, she soon found the strict protocol stifling. She wanted to get involved in charitable causes but found that her sister-in-law, then Crown Princess Elisabeth Ludovika took precedence over her in such activities.

In 1837, the family took up residence in a new palace in Berlin, which became known as the Kaiser Wilhelm Palais, and later the Altes Palais (Old Palace). This would remain Augusta’s primary residence for the rest of her life. In 1850, the couple moved to Koblenz, where her Wilhelm served as Governor-General of the Rhine Province. Augusta flourished in Koblenz, away from the strict court life of Berlin. They remained there until 1858 when Wilhelm was named Regent for his older brother, King Friedrich Wilhelm IV who was ill. They returned to Berlin and their increased responsibilities. In January 1861, the King died, and Wilhelm and Augusta became the new King and Queen of Prussia. The new Queen was more interested in politics than many of her predecessors and did not hesitate to voice her opinion. She despised Otto von Bismarck, who her husband had appointed, and the feeling was mutual. Ten years later, Wilhelm was named the first German Emperor (Kaiser), with Augusta as his Empress (Kaiserin). During their reign, Augusta founded the National Women’s Association and numerous hospitals and schools throughout Prussia to help those in need.

Mausoleum at Charlottenburg Palace. photo: Von Manfred Brueckels – Selbst fotografiert, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4833730

Augusta’s husband died on March 9, 1888, and was succeeded by their son Friedrich III. Friedrich was terminally ill with throat cancer, died just 99 days later, and was succeeded by his eldest son Wilhelm II, who became the last German Emperor and King of Prussia. Despite having been in ill health for nearly 10 years, Augusta continued to participate in official duties. Shortly after a New Year’s reception, Augusta died at the Altes Palais in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany on January 7, 1890, at the age of 78. She was buried in the mausoleum at Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, alongside her husband.

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Prussia Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria, Queen of Prussia

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria, Queen of Prussia; Credit – Wikipedia

Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria was the wife of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia. She was born in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria., now in the German state of Bavaria, on November 13, 1801, the daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and his second wife Princess Caroline of Baden, and had six siblings:

Elisabeth Ludovika also had five older half-siblings from her father’s first marriage to Princess Auguste Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt:

Raised at the Bavarian court, Elisabeth Ludovika received an extensive education, much more than was typically given to princesses at that time. She remained close to her tutor, Friedrich Thiersch, an archeologist and former theologian, for the rest of his life. Having a large family, she was also very close to her siblings particularly her sister Ludovika Wilhelmine and her twin sister Amalie. Ludovika Wilhelmine’s daughter, later Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) of Austria, was her goddaughter and namesake.

King Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia; Credit – Wikipedia

In Berlin on November 29, 1823, Elisabeth Ludovika married Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, after four years of negotiations regarding religion. The Crown Prince was required to be Lutheran, while Elisabeth Ludovika was Catholic. Eventually, it was agreed that she could retain her religion with the expectation that she would eventually convert. She did convert, but not until 1830. Other than a stillborn child born early in their marriage, the couple had no children.

The couple lived at the Berlin Palace and in 1825, they were given a parcel of land bordering Sanssouci Park in Potsdam. There they had the Charlottenhof Palace built, which became their summer residence, and remained one of Elisabeth Ludovika’s homes until her death. Ten years later, in 1835, they were permitted to move into Sanssouci Palace. The palace had been built as a summer residence by King Friedrich II and had remained largely unused since his death. Elisabeth Ludovika and Friedrich Wilhelm took up residence in the west wing, formerly the guest quarters while using the east wing, formerly the private rooms of Friedrich II, for official duties. After they became King and Queen of Prussia, the east wing was incorporated into their private quarters as well, and official duties were conducted elsewhere.

Two additional residences were Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin and Stolzenfels Palace on the Rhine. Elisabeth Ludovika and Friedrich Wilhelm took up residence at Charlottenburg after their accession. Stolzenfels Castle, one of Friedrich Wilhelm’s reconstruction projects, quickly became one of their favorite homes.

After becoming Queen of Prussia in 1840, Elisabeth Ludovika welcomed her role and became greatly involved in charity work throughout Prussia. She also wandered into the political realm, working to strengthen the relationship between Prussia and Austria. Wholly devoted to Friedrich Wilhelm, and he to her, Elisabeth Ludovika spent the last few years of her time as Queen serving instead as nurse and caretaker for her husband after his first series of strokes in 1857.

Charlottenhof Palace. photo: By Momay – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16489837

Elisabeth Ludovika was widowed on January 2, 1861. She spent the remainder of her life at her homes at her various homes, including Sanssouci and Charlottenhof Palace in Potsdam, Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin, and Stolzenfels Castle on the Rhine. She continued her charity work, in honor of her late husband, and enjoyed a close relationship with her brother-in-law, King Wilhelm I of Prussia. She was also close to Victoria, Princess Royal, the wife of her nephew, the future Friedrich III of Prussia. Victoria had been a great comfort to Elisabeth Ludovika after the death of her husband. Because of that closeness, Elisabeth Ludovika bequeathed her jewels to Victoria instead of following tradition and leaving them to the new Queen. This act of kindness ended up causing a rift between Victoria and her mother-in-law, which would last until her death.

Dowager Queen Elisabeth Ludovika of Prussia died on December 14, 1873, in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, now in Saxony, Germany while visiting her twin sister Queen Amalie of Saxony. A week later, she was buried beside her husband in the crypt of the Friedenskirche (Church of Peace) in Sanssouci Park in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany.

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.

Prussia Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Prince Archie of Sussex

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Archie on his father’s lap with his mother and sister Lilibet, from the 2021 Christmas card of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex; Credit – Alexi Lubomirski/The Duke and Duchess of Sussex; Credit – Alexi Lubomirski/The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

The first child of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and the former Meghan Markle, Prince Archie of Sussex, was born at 5:26 AM on May 6, 2019, at Portland Hospital for Women and Children, a private hospital on Great Portland Street in London, England. He weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces, and his father was present for his birth. Because his mother is American, Archie is an American citizen in addition to his British citizenship.

Credit – https://www.royal.uk/archie-harrison-mountbatten-windsor

Two days after his birth, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex presented their newborn son in St. George’s Hall, one of the State Rooms at Windsor Castle. They spoke with the representative of the press for several minutes. Click on the article below for more photos and a video.

Following their meeting with the media, the Duke and Duchess took their son to meet his great-grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Archie’s maternal grandmother Doria Ragland was also in attendance.  Shortly after that meeting, an announcement was made that the Duke and Duchess had named their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Archie is a name the Duke and Duchess liked and Harrison is from an English surname that means “son of Harry” and is quite fitting in this circumstance. For more background on the name, see Unofficial Royalty: What’s in a Name? – Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

Credit – https://www.royal.uk/archie-harrison-mountbatten-windsor

At the time of his birth, Archie was seventh in the line of succession to the British throne after his grandfather Charles, Prince of Wales (now King Charles III), his uncle Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (now Prince of Wales) and his three children, and his father Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.

Archie is the heir apparent to his father’s Dukedom of Sussex, Earldom of Dumbarton, and Barony of Kilkeel. It is customary that a peer’s heir apparent use one of their parent’s subsidiary titles as a courtesy title. In this case, the courtesy title would be Earl of Dumbarton. However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex instead decided that their son would be styled as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor in accordance with their wish that he lives his life as a private citizen.

However, at birth, Archie was not entitled to the style and title His Royal Highness Prince. In 1917, King George V issued Letters Patent changing the rights to the style Royal Highness and the title Prince/Princess. The children of the Sovereign, the children of the sons of the Sovereign, and the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales would be entitled to the style Royal Highness and the title Prince/Princess. Exceptions to the rule can be made by the Sovereign. For instance, in 2012, Queen Elizabeth II issued a Letters Patent declaring that all the children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales should have the title Prince or Princess and the style Royal Highness. This meant that all the children of Prince William would be HRH Prince/Princess. Under the 1917 Letters Patent, Archie was entitled to the style and title His Royal Highness Prince, when his paternal grandfather succeeded to the throne. Archie would then be a male-line grandchild of the Sovereign.

With the accession of Archie’s grandfather as King Charles III on September 8, 2022, Archie is a male-line grandchild of the monarch and is entitled to be styled His Royal Highness Prince Archie of Sussex under the 1917 Letters Patent. In March 2023, after her christening, Archie’s sister was referred to as Princess Lilibet Diana by a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, the first time that either child was referred to in public as Prince or Princess.

For more information, see Unofficial Royalty: Their Royal Highness Prince and Princess.

Windsor Castle: the Private Chapel, after the restoration drawn 1999 by Alexander Creswell: Credit – Royal Collection Trust

Archie was christened into the Church of England on July 6, 2019, by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in a private ceremony at the Private Chapel in Windsor Castle, not to be confused with St. George’s Chapel. The names of his godparents were not made public. Three of the godparents were later reported to be Charlie van Straubenzee (who attended Ludgrove School with Prince Harry and Prince William), Tiggy Pettifer (nanny and companion to Prince Harry and Prince William), and Mark Dyer (a former equerry to King Charles III who became a mentor and close friend to Charles’ sons). Twenty-five guests attended the christening but their names were not released.  A group photo, which is no longer available, showed Archie with his parents, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Doria Ragland, Archie’s maternal grandmother, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes, Archie’s great-aunts, the sisters of Diana, Princess of Wales.

 

From September 23 – October 2, 2019, when Archie was four-and-a-half months old, he accompanied his parents on an official trip to Africa. The trip started in South Africa and then the Duke of Sussex visited Angola, Malawi, and Botswana before rejoining the Duchess and his son in South Africa.  The Duke and Duchess took their son to visit South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Archie’s parents announced on January 8, 2020, that they would step back as senior royals and divide time between the United Kingdom and North America. However, since that time the Duke and Duchess have made a home in California in the United States.

On June 4, 2021, Archie’s younger sister was born at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California. Princess Lilibet of Sussex, nicknamed Lili, is named after her paternal great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and her paternal grandmother Diana, Princess of Wales. “Lilibet” is Queen Elizabeth II’s family nickname, which originated from Elizabeth’s pronunciation of her name when she was young.

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.

British Royal Christenings: House of Windsor

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

Children of the British Royal Family are christened following the Holy Baptism rite of the Church of England of which the monarch is the Supreme Governor. Royal christenings are small, private affairs usually attended by the immediate family, the godparents and their spouses. Only the christening of Princess Eugenie of York, the younger of the two daughters of Prince Andrew, Duke of York and his former wife Sarah, Duchess of York, was held at a regular Sunday service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, England.

Christenings of members of the House of Windsor have been held at intimate settings, mostly palace chapels, including the Private Chapel in Windsor Castle, the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace, the Music Room at Buckingham Palace, the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace, and St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. Only one christening, that of Prince Harry in 1984, was held at a large church, St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, but it was still a private, family affair.

The christening of Victoria, Princess Royal in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace in 1841; Credit – Wikipedia

Several of the British Royal Family’s christening traditions started with the christening of Queen Victoria’s eldest child. After the birth of her first child Victoria, Princess Royal in 1840, Queen Victoria commissioned a christening gown to be made.  The gown of Honiton lace lined with Spitalfields silk was made by Janet Sutherland, the daughter of a Scottish coal miner from Falkirk, who received the title Embroiderer to the Queen for her work.  First worn by Victoria, Princess Royal at her christening on February 10, 1841, her parents’ first wedding anniversary, the gown was worn by 62 descendants of Queen Victoria.  Lady Louise Windsor, the elder of the two children of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, was the last to wear the 1841 gown at her christening in 2004.

Exact replica of the original royal christening gown; Credit – www.rct.uk/collection

Due to the gown’s age and delicate condition, Queen Elizabeth II commissioned Angela Kelly, Dressmaker to The Queen, to make a hand-made replica in order to preserve the original.  James, Viscount Severn, the younger of the two children of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, was the first to wear the replica gown at his christening in 2008.  Photos of royal babies wearing the original gown and the replica can be seen below.

The Lily Font; Photo Credit – https://www.royalcollection.org.uk

The Lily Font is a silver baptismal font commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840 after the birth of their first child, Victoria, Princess Royal. It was first used at the christening of Victoria, Princess Royal in 1841 and has been used for royal christenings ever since except that of Princess Eugenie of York. Prince Albert helped design the font which is made from a silver gilt with the appearance of gold. Three winged cherubs sit on the base of the font above the royal arms of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and Victoria, Princess Royal. The cherubs are playing lyres and above them leaves reach up to support the bowl which is edged by water lilies. For the christening of Victoria, Princess Royal, the Lily Font was placed on a table as seen in the portrait above.  Sometimes the Lily Font is placed into the larger 1660 Charles II font and its basin or the christening basin made in 1735 and first used at the christening of the future King George III in 1738.  The portrait below shows the Lily Font placed in the 1660 Charles II font and basin.  The Lily Font is part of the Crown Jewels and is kept at the Jewel House at the Tower of London when not in use.

The Lily Font on top of the Charles II Font and Basin at the christening of Queen Victoria’s eldest son Albert Edward, Prince of Wales in 1842; Credit – Wikipedia

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Please note that not all of the photos below are christening photos. The first photo below shows the future King George V wearing the 1841 christening gown.

King George V, born Prince George of Wales

The Princess of Wales holding Prince George; Credit – http://glucksburg.blogspot.com/

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Queen Mary, born Princess Victoria Mary of Teck

With her parents The Duke and Duchess of Teck; Credit – Wikipedia

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The Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII, born Prince Edward of York

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Four Generations: Queen Victoria holding Prince Edward, The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and The Duke of York (later King George V)

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King George VI, born Prince George of York

The Duchess of York holding Prince Albert; Credit – https://www.royalcollection.org.uk

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Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, born The Honorable Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon

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  • Unofficial Royalty: Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
  • Parents: Claude Bowes-Lyon, Lord Glamis, later the 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and Nina Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck
  • Born: August 4, 1900
  • Christened: September 23, 1900 at All Saints Church in St Paul’s Walden Bury, Hertfordshire, England
  • Names: Elizabeth Angela Marguerite
  • Godparents (incomplete list):
    • Lady Maud Bowes-Lyon (her paternal aunt)
    • Mrs. Arthur James (her mother’s second cousin, born Venetia Cavendish-Bentinck)

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Princess Mary, The Princess Royal, born Princess Mary of York

The Duchess of York with her only daughter Princess Mary

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Prince Henry, The Duke of Gloucester, born Prince Henry of York

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Queen Victoria at Osborne with the children of the Duke and Duchess of York (left to right) Prince Albert (George VI), Princess Mary (Princess Royal, Countess of Harewood), Prince Edward (Edward VIII) and Prince Henry (Duke of Gloucester) on Queen Victoria’s lap

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Prince George, The Duke of Kent, born Prince George of Wales

Prince George with his eldest brother Prince Edward of Wales

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Prince John of the United Kingdom, born Prince John of Wales

Queen Mary; Prince George, Duke of Kent; Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood; Prince John; Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester by William Edwin Sorrell, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd bromide postcard print, 1905 NPG x29776 © National Portrait Gallery, London

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Alastair Windsor, 2nd Duke of Connaught, born Prince Alastair of Connaught

Photo Credit – www.royalcollection.org.uk

  • Wikipedia: Alastair Windsor, 2nd Duke of Connaught
  • Parents: Prince Arthur of Connaught and Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife
  • Born: August 9, 1914 at 54 Mount Street in Mayfair, London, England
  • Christened: August 25, 1914 at 54 Mount Street in Mayfair, London, England
  • Names: Alastair Arthur
  • Godparents:
    • King George V (his father’s first cousin and his mother’s uncle)
    • Alfonso XIII, King of Spain (husband of his father’s first cousin and his mother’s first cousin once removed)
    • Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught (his paternal grandfather and his mother’s great-uncle)
    • Queen Alexandra (his father’s aunt by marriage and his maternal great-grandmother)
    • Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll (Queen Victoria’s daughter, his father’s aunt and his mother’s great-aunt)
    • Princess Mary (his father’s first cousin once removed and his mother’s first cousin)

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Queen Elizabeth II, born Princess Elizabeth of York

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Back Row (left to right): The Duke of Connaught, King George V, The Duke of York, The Earl of Strathmore; Front Row (left to right): Lady Elphinstone, Queen Mary, The Duchess of York holding Princess Elizabeth, The Countess of Strathmore, Princess Mary, Viscountess Lascelles

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Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, born Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark

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  • Unofficial Royalty: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
  • Parents: Prince Andrew of Greece and Princess Alice of Battenberg
  • Born:  June 10, 1921 at the Villa Mon Repos on the Isle of Corfu, Greece
  • Christened: [no date] at St. George’s Church in the Old Fortress in Corfu, Greece according to the rites of the Greek Orthodox Church
  • Name: Philippos
  • Godparents:
    • Queen Olga of Greece (his paternal grandmother, born Grand Duchess Olga Konstantinovna of Russia)
    • The Corfu City Council (represented by Alexander S. Kokotos, Mayor of Corfu and Stylianos I. Maniarizis, Chairman of the City Council)

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Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, born Princess Margaret of York

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Princess Margaret with her mother The Duchess of York

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Prince Edward, The Duke of Kent, born Prince Edward of Kent

Credit – Prince George, Duke of Kent; Prince Edward, Duke of Kent; Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent by Unknown photographer, bromide print, 1936, NPG x182255 © National Portrait Gallery, London

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Princess Alexandra, The Honorable Lady Ogilvy, born Princess Alexandra of Kent

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A nanny holding Princess Alexandra

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Prince William of Gloucester

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Back Row (left to right): The Duke of Gloucester, King George VI, Lord William Montagu Douglas Scott; Front Row (left to right): Princess Helena Victoria, The Duchess of Gloucester, Queen Mary holding her grandson, Lady Margaret Hawkins

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Prince Michael of Kent

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Prince Michael with his family at his christening; three weeks later his father was killed in a plane crash

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Prince Richard, The Duke of Gloucester, born Prince Richard of Gloucester

Prince Richard with his brother Prince William and his mother The Duchess of Gloucester; Credit – cms.countrylife.co.uk

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King Charles III of the United Kingdom, born Prince Charles of Edinburgh

Christening of the future King Charles III with his parents and godparents: Seated left to right: Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven (born Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine), the then Princess Elizabeth holding the infant Charles and Queen Mary. Standing left to right: Patricia Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (representing godparent Prince George of Greece), King George VI, David Bowes-Lyon, Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone (representing godparent King Haakon of Norway), and Princess Margaret

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Diana, Princess of Wales, born The Honorable Lady Diana Spencer

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Diana with her parents at her christening
  • Unofficial Royalty: Diana, Princess of Wales
  • Parents: John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, later the 8th Earl Spencer, and The Honourable Frances Burke Roche
  • Born:  July 1, 1961 at Park House in Sandringham, Norfolk, England
  • Christened: August 30, 1961 at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, England
  • Names: Diana Frances
  • Godparents:
    • John Floyd (Chairman of Christie’s, her father’s friend)
    • Alexander Gilmour (her father’s cousin)
    • Lady Mary Colman (niece of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother)
    • Mrs. Michael Pratt (friend and neighbour of Diana’s parents)
    • Mrs. William Fox (friend and neighbour of Diana’s parents)

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Camilla, Queen Consort of the United Kingdom, born Camilla Shand

Camilla on left with her siblings, Mark in the middle and Annabel on the right; Photo Credit – www.dailymail.co.uk

  • Unofficial Royalty: Camilla, Queen Consort of the United Kingdom
  • Parents: Major Bruce Shand and The Honourable Rosalind Cubitt
  • Born: July 17, 1947 at King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London
  • Christened: November 1, 1947 at Firle Church in Lewes, Sussex, England
  • Names: Camilla Rosemary
  • Godparents:
    • The Honourable Harry Cubitt (her maternal uncle, later the 4th Baron Ashcombe)
    • Major Neil Speke
    • Mrs. Lombard Hobson
    • Mrs. Heathcoat Amory
    • Miss Vivien Mosley

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Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, born Princess Anne of Edinburgh

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Back Row (left to right): 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, Princess Margarita of Greece and Denmark and The Honorable Reverand Andrew Elphinstone. Front Row (left to right): Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, Princess Elizabeth holding Princess Anne and Queen Elizabeth

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Prince Andrew, The Duke of York

Andrew on his christening day with his parents and his elder brother Charles and elder sister Anne; Photo Credit – daysofmajesty.blogspot.com

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Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh

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Edward with his mother and brother Andrew

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Prince William, The Prince of Wales, born Prince William of Wales

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The Prince and Princess of Wales with Prince William and his godparents (seated) ex-King Constantine of Greece, (standing, left to right) Princess Alexandra, Lord Romsey, Lady Hussey, Sir Laurens Van Der Post and the Duchess of Westminster

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Catherine, The Princess of Wales, born Catherine Middleton

  • Unofficial Royalty: Catherine, The Princess of Wales
  • Parents: Michael Middleton and Carole Goldsmith
  • Born: January 9, 1982 at Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, Berkshire, England
  • Christened: June 20, 1982 at St. Andrew’s Church in Bradfield, Berkshire, England
  • Names: Catherine Elizabeth
  • Godparents:

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Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, born Prince Harry of Wales

Prince Harry’s Christening; Photo Credit – www.abc.net.au

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Princess Beatrice of York

Princess Beatrice’s christening; Photo Credit – entertainment.xin.msn.com

  • Unofficial Royalty: Princess Beatrice of York
  • Parents: Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson
  • Born: August 8, 1988 at Portland Hospital in London, England
  • Christened: December 20, 1988 at the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace in London, England
  • Names: Beatrice Elizabeth Mary
  • Godparents:
    • David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon (her father’s first cousin)
    • Peter Palumbo, Baron Palumbo (her maternal grandfather’s friend)
    • The Duchess of Roxburghe (the former Lady Jane Grosvenor, later Lady Jane Dawnay)
    • The Honourable Mrs. John Greenall (her mother’s friend, the former Gabrielle James)
    • Mrs. Henry Cotterell (her mother’s friend, the former Carolyn Beckwith-Smith)

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Princess Eugenie of York

photo: Days of Majesty

  • Unofficial Royalty: Princess Eugenie of York
  • Parents: Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson
  • Born: March 23, 1990 at Portland Hospital in London, England
  • Christened: December 23, 1990 at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, England
  • Names: Eugenie Victoria Helena
  • Godparents:
    • James Ogilvy (her father’s second cousin)
    • Captain Alastair Ross (her father’s former commander on HMS Edinburgh)
    • Mrs. Ronald Ferguson (her mother’s stepmother)
    • Mrs. Patrick (Julia) Dodd-Noble (her parents’ friend)
    • Miss Louise Blacker (her mother’s friend)

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Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor

Front row (left to right) The Duke of Edinburgh, The Queen, The Earl of Wessex, The Countess of Wessex holding Lady Louise, Mr and Mrs Christopher Rhys-Jones, back row (left to right) Lord Ivar Mountbatten, Lady Alexandra Etherington, Lady Sarah Chatto, Mrs Urs Schwarzenbach and Mr Rupert Elliott; Photo by Lichfield/Getty Images

  • Unofficial Royalty: Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor
  • Parents: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie Rhys-Jones
  • Born: November 8, 2003 at Frimley Park Hospital in Frimley, Surrey, England
  • Christened: April 24, 2004 in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England
  • Names: Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary
  • Godparents:
    • Lady Alexandra Etherington (her father’s third cousin, daughter of James Carnegie, 3rd Duke of Fife)
    • Lady Sarah Chatto (her father’s first cousin)
    • Lord Ivar Mountbatten (her father’s second cousin, son of David Mountbatten, 3rd Marquess of Milford-Haven)
    • Rupert Elliott (her father’s friend from Cambridge University)
    • Francesca Schwarzenbach (her parents’ friend)

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James Mountbatten-Windsor, Earl of Wessex

James, Viscount Severn with his parents; Credit – Daily Mail/Camera Press

  • Unofficial Royalty: James Mountbatten-Windsor, Viscount Severn
  • Parents: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie Rhys-Jones
  • Born: December 17, 2007 at Frimley Park Hospital in Frimley, Surrey, England
  • Christened: April 19, 2008 in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England
  • Names: James Alexander Philip Theo
  • Godparents:
    • Denise Poulton (a friend of his mother and trustee of the Wessex Youth Trust)
    • Jeanye Erwin (his mother’s former flat-mate)
    • Alastair Bruce of Crionaich
    • Duncan Bullivant (a school friend of his father)
    • Thomas Hill

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Prince George of Wales, born Prince George of Cambridge

Four generations: Prince George with his father, grandfather, and great-grandmother; photo: Jason Bell/Camera Press

  • Unofficial Royalty: Prince George of Wales
  • Parents: Prince William, The Prince of Wales and Catherine Middleton
  • Born:  July 22, 2013 at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, England
  • Christened: October 23, 2013 in the Chapel Royal at St. James’ Palace in London, England
  • Names: George Alexander Louis
  • Godparents:
    • Oliver Baker (a schoolmate of his parents at The University of St Andrews)
    • Emilia d’Erlanger Jardine-Paterson (a schoolmate of his mother at Marlborough College)
    • Hugh Grosvenor, Earl Grosvenor (friend of his father)
    • Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton (private secretary to his parents)
    • Julia Samuel (a close friend of his late grandmother Diana, Princess of Wales)
    • William van Cutsem (a friend of his father)
    • Zara Phillips TIndall paternal first cousin of his father)

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Princess Charlotte of Wales, born Princess Charlotte of Cambridge

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Princess Charlotte with her mother
  • Unofficial Royalty: Princess Charlotte of Wales
  • Parents: Prince William, The Prince of Wales and Catherine Middleton
  • Born:  May 2, 2015 at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, England
  • Christened: July 5, 2015 at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, England
  • Names: Charlotte Elizabeth Diana
  • Godparents:
    • The Honorable Laura Fellowes (maternal first cousin of her father)
    • Adam Middleton (paternal first cousin of his mother)
    • Thomas van Straubenzee (a close friend)
    • James Meade (a close friend)
    • Sophie Carter (a close friend)

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Prince Louis of Wales, born Prince Louis of Cambridge

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Prince Louis with his parents and siblings
  • Unofficial Royalty: Prince Louis of Wales
  • Parents: Prince William, The Prince of Wales and Catherine Middleton
  • Born:  April 23, 2018 at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, England
  • Christened: July 9, 2018, at The Chapel Royal, St. James’s Palace in London, England
  • Names: Louis Arthur Charles (Louis is pronounced Lou-ee)
  • Godparents
    • Mr. Nicholas van Cutsem (a friend of his father)
    • Mr. Guy Pelly (a friend of his father)
    • Mr. Harry Aubrey-Fletcher (an Eton College friend of his father)
    • Lady Laura Meade (friend of his father formerly Laura Marsham, daughter of Julian Marsham, 8th Earl of Romney; wife of James Meade who is a godfather of Princess Charlotte)
    • Mrs. Robert (Hannah) Carter (a school friend of his mother)
    • Miss Lucy Middleton  (paternal first cousin of his mother)

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Prince Archie of Sussex

  • Unofficial Royalty: Prince Archie of Sussex
  • Parents: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle
  • Born:  May 6, 2019 at the Portland Hospital for Women and Children in London, England
  • Christened: July 6, 2019 at the Private Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, England
  • Names: Archie Harrison
  • Godparents

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Princess Lilibet of Sussex

  • Unofficial Royalty: Princess Lilibet of Sussex
  • Parents: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan Markle
  • Born:  June 4, 2021, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California,
  • Christened: March 3, 2023 at the family home in Montecito, California
  • Names: Lilibet Diana
  • Godparents: Tyler Perry (friend of her parents)

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Friedrich Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Kingdom of Prussia: The Protestant Franconian branch of the House of Hohenzollern ruled as Margraves of Brandenburg, Dukes of Prussia, Electors of Brandenburg, Kings of Prussia from 1415 until 1918. In November 1700, in exchange for supporting the Holy Roman Empire in the Spanish War of Succession, Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor agreed to allow Friedrich III, Duke of Prussia, Elector of Brandenburg to make Prussia a kingdom and become its first king. In the aftermath of World War I, Prussia had a revolution that resulted in the replacement of the monarchy with a republic. Wilhelm II, German Emperor, King of Prussia abdicated on November 9, 1918.

The Kingdom of Prussia had territory that today is part of Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, and Switzerland. All or parts of the following states of today’s Germany were part of the Kingdom of Prussia: Brandenburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saarland, Saxony-Anhalt, and Schleswig-Holstein.

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Friedrich Wilhelm IV, King of Prussia – source: Wikipedia

King Friedrich Wilhelm IV reigned from 1840 until 1861. He was born at the Crown Prince’s Palace in Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, now in the German state of Brandenburg, on October 15, 1795, the eldest son of Friedrich Wilhelm III, King of Prussia, and Luise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Friedrich Wilhelm had eight younger siblings:

As he was directly in the line of succession, Friedrich Wilhelm was given a broad education by numerous private tutors, as well as a military education in the Prussian Army. Early in life, he developed interests in architecture and the arts and later in life served as patron of several artists, including famed composer Felix Mendelssohn.

Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria. source: Wikipedia

In Berlin, on November 29, 1823, Friedrich Wilhelm married Princess Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria, the daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Princess Caroline of Baden. Aside from one stillborn birth, the couple had no children.

Friedrich Wilhelm became King of Prussia upon his father’s death on June 7, 1840. As his father had done himself, the new King changed many of his father’s policies – including reducing the censorship of the press and promising to provide a new constitution for the Prussian people.

In 1849, the King was offered the title Emperor of the Germans but refused as he did not feel it was the right of the Frankfurt Parliament to offer it. Instead, he wanted to reestablish the Holy Roman Empire, where a College of Electors would hold the authority to name an Emperor. Some years later, his successor, Wilhelm I, became the first German Emperor (Kaiser).

Stolzenfels Castle. photo: By Holger Weinandt – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40032919

King Friedrich Wilhelm IV is perhaps best known for his contributions to architecture and the buildings he constructed. These included:

In July 1857, the King suffered several strokes from which he never fully recovered.  Eventually, in October 1858, he appointed his brother and heir, as Regent. A further stroke in November 1859 left him partially paralyzed and unable to speak, and another the following November left him mostly unconscious. Following one last stroke, King Friedrich Wilhelm IV died on January 2, 1861, in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany. He was buried in the crypt beneath the Friedenskirche (Church of Peace) in Sanssouci Park, Potsdam, and his heart was placed in the mausoleum at Charlottenburg Palace, beside the tombs of his parents.

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Prussia Resources at Unofficial Royalty