Succession
All William and Kate’s children to be Princes and Princesses
On 9 January, the 31st birthday of the pregnant Duchess of Cambridge, it was announced from Buckingham Palace that the Queen had issued Letters Patent on 31 December 2012, extending the number of members of the royal family entitled to the style of Royal Highness and the prefix Prince or Princess. This change is very specific, affecting only the children of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and is consistent with the new legislation introducing equal primogeniture.
Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant, succession laws to change soon
Speculation in the press about the Duchess of Cambridge being pregnant has increased in recent weeks, and on 3 December that speculation was finally laid to rest by an announcement from Clarence House that she was pregnant but suffering from severe morning sickness and was being hospitalised for a few days. According to the announcement, Kate is in the very early stages of pregnancy, meaning that the baby is probably due to be born next summer. Although many people were hoping for a Jubilee Year baby, we did at least get a Jubilee Year announcement!
Saudi Succession
On Saturday 16 June 2012 the Saudi state television announced that Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, aged 79, had died. Reuters reported that he had died in a hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. The Crown Prince had been suffering from diabetes mellitus and osteoporosis for years. He was buried last Sunday, according to Muslim traditions, at the Al Adl cemetery in Mecca.
The Act of Settlement and Its Consequences
Two seemingly unrelated events took place at the end of May 1660. On 29 May, his 30th birthday, Charles II arrived in London after nearly a decade in exile to begin (or resume) his reign after the restoration of the monarchy. On the previous day in Hanover, Sophia, wife of Ernst August, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Elector of Hanover, gave birth to her first son, George Louis. Sophia was the youngest of the 12 children of Frederick V, Elector Palatinate, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of James I of England/VI of Scotland and aunt of Charles II.
Crown Princess Victoria Pregnant
The Swedish court announced Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel are expecting their first child. The Crown Princess is expected to give birth in March 2012. The couple and the whole Swedish royal family are delighted to share the news with their country.
The Royal Waiting Room – Crown Princess Victoria
The times are changing, and – taking in account the age of many of the monarchs worldwide – it is safe to assume that the coming years, we will see at least a few changes in the succession lines. Time to take a closer look at all those heirs, how they have prepared for their duties and how they are perceived among the public. This final blog in the series looks at Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, the only current female heir apparent in the world.
The Royal Waiting Room – The Hereditary Princess of Monaco
The times are changing, and – taking in account the age of many of the monarchs worldwide – it is safe to assume that the coming years, we will see at least a few changes in the succession lines. Time to take a closer look at all those heirs, how they have prepared for their duties and how they are perceived among the public. Caroline, Princess of Hanover, Hereditary Princess of Monaco, is quite unique in this series, as she is the only heir presumptive to be discussed in here.
The Royal Waiting Room – The Hereditary Grand Duke
The times are changing, and – taking in account the age of many of the monarchs worldwide – it is safe to assume that the coming years, we will see at least a few changes in the succession lines. Time to take a closer look at all those heirs, how they have prepared for their duties and how they are perceived among the public. The Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg is the youngest of the lot, and because of his age and lack of experience in royal duties, I have long wondered if I should or should not include him.
The Royal Waiting Room – Hereditary Prince Alois
The times are changing, and – taking in account the age of many of the monarchs worldwide – it is safe to assume that the coming years, we will see at least a few changes in the succession lines. Time to take a closer look at all those heirs, how they have prepared for their duties and how they are perceived among the public. This blog looks at Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein, the heir to one of the smallest but also one of the richest monarchies in Europe.
The Royal Waiting Room – Brunei and Thailand
The times are changing, and – taking in account the age of many of the monarchs worldwide – it is safe to assume that the coming years, we will see at least a few changes in the succession lines. Time to take a closer look at all those heirs, how they have prepared for their duties and how they are perceived among the public. This blog looks at the very different situations faced by the crown princes of the East Asian monarchies of Brunei and Thailand.