WEDDING FLOWERS: #Spain
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Showing posts with label #Spain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Spain. Show all posts

Spain's King stays silent...for now

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King Felipe is expected to stay silent in the coming hours on the crisis engulfing his country. In the last few hours, the parliament of Catalonia has declared independence in a move that it hopes will lead to the establishment of a republic in the region. The government in Madrid, meanwhile, is preparing to take control of Catalonia. Felipe began October knowing that a disputed referendum was set to take place. He can never have imagined it would end with part of his country trying to break away from his crown.





On the afternoon of October 27th 2017, the Catalan Parliament voted by 70 to 10 in favour of declaring independence from Spain following a disputed referendum on October 1st this year. There were two abstentions in the vote. Soon afterwards, the Spanish government approved plans to impose direct rule on Catalonia which has been an autonomous region of the country for four decades. The details of that are being worked out now but they could see Catalonia's leaders, including its president Carles Puigdemont, being removed from office and Madrid taking control of finances and police in the region. Spain is in turmoil but Felipe won't be talking publicly - for now at least.



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It is an extremely difficult situation for the newest monarch in Europe to find himself in. Since the referendum, Felipe has made two speeches including an extraordinary televised address in which he defended the unity of Spain. However, he faced criticism then, and following a second intervention during an appearance at the Princess of Asturias Awards in Oviedo last week, for not making any comment on the way police tried to stop people voting during the referendum or referencing the fact that almost 900 people were injured during the day of the vote.




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Now there is growing expectation that the King of Spain will make some kind of declaration but, again, it is a difficult situation for him to navigate. His country is in turmoil and politicians from all sides are taking a hammering. It is in times like this that monarchies can be a neutral centrepoint. They can fly - or they can wobble. Felipe's next move will be crucial. The King of Spain is staying silent for now - but keeping quiet may not be an option for very much longer.

Meet Gabriel, Duke of Dalarna

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The newest prince in Europe is ready for his close up. Gabriel Carl Walther, Duke of Dalarna has starred in his first official photo taken by, who else, but his proud dad.





Prince Gabriel, born on August 31st 2017, has already been briefly seen peeking out of the top of his car seat in an image released as his parents took him home on September 1st 2017. Now he's doing what all royal babies do and filling up the albums with official images.



The baby prince, sixth in line to the throne of Sweden, is the second child of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia and a little brother for Prince Alexander, Duke of Sodermanland. Photos of the whole family are expected to be shared soon.

Photos: kungahuset.se

Meghan and Harry: we are in love

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''We're two people who are really happy and in love''. Meghan Markle has been speaking to Vanity Fair magazine and, boy, is the world taking notice. Almost a year on from the confirmation of her relationship with Prince Harry, Meghan has been talking about their relationship and everything in this regal garden is looking really rather rosy. Do the ironing now, 2018 looks set to be a really busy royal year.



Meghan is featured in the October edition of the magazine under the headline ''She's Just Wild About Harry'' and she really is. As well as declaring their love for each other, Meghan confirms that the couple started dating in July 2016 and that the first few months of their relationship were pretty hectic as she was working non stop while the couple hopped across oceans to see each other. But she is very clear of where they are now. Harry is called her boyfriend in no uncertain terms and she tells the magazine that this is ''our time, this is for us'' before adding ''it's part of what makes it so special, that it's just ours''.

And Meghan also drops the biggest hint yet that you need to get that bunting ready for 2018. She says ''I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell...''. Yep, I'm taking that as a preview of an engagement press interview, too. 




The interview is accompanied by some gorgeous photos by Peter Lindbergh and there's plenty of chat, too, about Meghan's career and her charity work. She's also quite frank about the issues, including racism and sexism, that she's faced. The whole piece leaves the reader in no doubt of two things. Meghan is very much her own person with strong opinions and a streak of diplomacy that even that most matriarchal of Windsors, Queen Mary, would find deeply appealing. And she and her prince are very much a couple who will make the future their own when they're ready. But no one can read this and not decide that that future is definitely together.

Photo: Vanity Fair Instagram

5 things we already know about #RoyalBaby Cambridge no 3

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The Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant  with her third child and the royal guessing games have begun. Gender, weight, name and hair colour are all already topics of discussion with bookies offering odds on all sorts of royal baby guesses. Like the previous Cambridge pregnancies, the information we have right now is rather limited but we can start to put together a picture of Kate's latest great expectations. Here are five things we already know about #RoyalBabyCambridge number three...




1. Fifth in line to the throne


This one is set in stone. Baby Cambridge number three will be fifth in line to the throne from birth. New succession laws which do away with gender preference were brought in before the arrival of Prince George and it means that William and Kate's third child will follow their grandad Prince Charles then dad, big brother, George and big sister, Charlotte, in the succession regardless of whether they are a boy or a girl. The birth of a boy would mean Charlotte becoming the most senior royal yet to benefit from the changes, writing her name in the history books as the first princess in direct line to the throne not to be automatically overtaken by a boy. 


2. A spring baby


We don't yet know the Duchess of Cambridge's due date and we will probably never find out as Kensington Palace didn't announce exactly when George or Charlotte was expected and there's no reason to change third time round. But we can do some sums here. Kate has, once again, begun experiencing Hyperemesis Gravidarum, an extreme form of morning sickness, which has made her so ill she has had to announce her pregnancy well before the 12 week date usually chosen as she has been forced to cancel engagements. But it also gives us a clue or two. Clarence House confirmed Kate was expecting for the first time on December 3rd 2012 and George was born on July 22nd 2013, a gap of eight months. Her second pregnancy was confirmed on September 4th 2014 and Charlotte was born on May 2nd 2015, another eight month gap. So September 4th 2017 means we'll likely meet baby Cambridge number three around the end of April 2018. 



3. An eight pounder



The Duchess of Cambridge has really upped the Royal Family's average when it comes to birth weights. Prince George weighed in at 8lbs 6oz while Princess Charlotte tipped the scales at 8lbs 3oz, both big babies for the House of Windsor which has seen several seven pounders in its day. It makes it extremely likely that baby Cambridge number three will be over eight pounds and we can be all but sure the scales that weigh them will be at the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington where Kate had George and Charlotte. 



4. Three names for a prince or princess


William and Kate chose three names for their first two children making it all but confirmed that their third baby will also get a trio of monikers to carry through life. The latest baby expected at Kensington Palace will definitely be an HRH (again, thanks to a law change brought in before the birth of Prince George) and they will be known as Prince X or Princess X of Cambridge.



5. Sixth great grandchild for the Queen



Unless Kate is expecting twins or triplets, we also know for sure that the Queen will become a great grandmother for the sixth time in 2018. Baby Cambridge number three will be her sixth great grandchild. She has four great granddaughters (Savannah Phillips, 6, Isla Phillips, 5, Mia Tindall, 3 and Princess Charlotte, 2) and just the one great grandson (you already know this bit, it's four year old Prince George) right now but will see her considerable dynasty stretch just a little bit further into the future when Royal Baby Cambridge number three arrives. 

Photo credit: Kensington Palace Twitter/ Wiki Commons/ Royal Family Instagram

The new Swedish line of succession

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We have a name, let's give him his place. The latest addition to the Swedish Royal Family has been announced as Prince Gabriel, Duke of Dalarna and he comes in as number six in the line to the throne. To celebrate his arrival, here's a rundown of how the Swedish succession looks now little Gabe has made his debut. Don't get too comfy, Madeleine has another to add come March 2018....






First in line
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
Victoria Ingrid Alice Desiree
Duchess of Vastergotland
Born July 14th 1977



Second in line
Princess Estelle of Sweden
Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary
Duchess of Ostergotland
Born February 23rd 2012




Third in line
Prince Oscar of Sweden
Oscar Carl Olof
Duke of Skane
Born March 2nd 2016




Fourth in line
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden
Carl Philip Edmund Bertil
Duke of Varmland
Born May 13th 1979




Fifth in line
Prince Alexander of Sweden
Alexander Erik Hubertus Bertil
Duke of Sodermanland
Born April 19th 2016




Sixth in line
Prince Gabriel of Sweden
Gabriel Carl Walther
Duke of Dalarna
Born August 31st 2017




Seventh in line
Princess Madeleine of Sweden
Madeleine Therese Amelie Josephine
Duchess of Halsingland and Gastrikland
Born June 10th 1982




Eighth in line
Princess Leonore of Sweden
Leonore Lilian Maria 
Duchess of Gotland
Born February 20th 2014




Ninth in line
Prince Nicolas of Sweden
Nicolas Paul Gustaf
Duke of Angermanland
Born June 15th 2015

Photos: kungahuset.se

Royal Baby Cambridge: the Windsor fifth

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third child. The baby, due in spring 2018, will be fifth in line to the throne from birth. And as far as the House of Windsor is concerned, that's a pretty interesting position to arrive in. Here's a run down of the babies born as fifth in line since the House of Windsor was created in July 1917....


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Name Princess Beatrice of York
Born Beatrice Elizabeth Mary on August 8th 1988, London
Daughter of HRH Prince Andrew, Duke of York and  Sarah, Duchess of York
Relation to the Queen granddaugther
Took over as fifth from her uncle, the Earl of Wessex
Stood in line behind Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew
Remained as fifth until July 22nd 2013 when the birth of Prince George moved her down to sixth
Position now Beatrice is currently seventh in line to the throne
And come 2018...baby Cambridge number three will see Bea hop down to eighth in line to the throne, quite appropriate for a princess born on 8/8/88.




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Name Peter Phillips
Born Peter Mark Anthony Phillips on November 15th 1977, London
Son of HRH Princess Anne, the Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips
Relation to the Queen grandson
Took over as fifth from his great aunt, Princess Margaret
Stood in line behind Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Princess Anne
Remained as fifth until June 21st 1982 when the birth of his cousin, Prince William, moved him down to sixth in line
Position now Peter Phillips is currently thirteenth in line to the throne
And come 2018...the Queen's eldest grandchild will now move to fourteenth in the line of succession





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Name David, Earl of Snowdon
Born David Albert Charles Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley on November 3rd 1961, London
Son of HRH Princess Margaret  and Antony Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon
Relation to the Queen nephew
Took over as fifth from HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
Stood in line behind Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Princess Margaret
Remained as fifth until March 10th 1964 when the birth of his cousin, Prince Edward, moved him down to sixth in line
Position now The Earl of Snowdon is currently eighteenth in line to the throne
And come 2018...he'll be nineteenth in the order of succession



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Name Richard, Duke of Gloucester
Born HRH Prince Richard Alexander Walter George of Gloucester on August 26th 1944, Northamptonshire
Son of HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucster and HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
Relation to the Queen first cousin
Took over as fifth from HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
Stood in line behind Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Prince William of Gloucester
Remained as fifth until November 15th 1948 when the birth of Prince Charles moved him down to sixth in line to the throne
Position now The Duke of Gloucester is twenty fourth in line to the throne
And come 2018...you've done the maths already, this prince will be number 25 come next spring

Prince Gabriel of Sweden

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The newest prince in Europe is called Gabriel. The King of Sweden, baby's grandad, announced his names at a special cabinet meeting this morning. The sixth in line to the Swedish throne and sixth grandchild of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia is Gabriel Carl Walther.


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Prince Gabriel of Sweden was born on August 31st 2017 at the Danderyd Hospital. He is the second child of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia and a baby brother for Prince Alexander, now nineteen months old.



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Gabriel is a bit of a new name for Sweden's royals although baby Bernadotte's middle names are much more familiar. He shares Carl as a name with his dad (Carl Philip) and granddad as well as cousin Oscar who has it as his second name. Walther was the name of Queen Silvia's father  and Gabriel's great grandfather. He has also been given the title of Duke of Dalarna - another announcement made this morning at the cabinet meeting which Crown Princess Victoria also attended. 



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The Swedish Royal Family then attended a Te Deum at the Royal Palace for Gabriel's safe arrival with King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia looking about as proud as grandparents can look. Also in the front row were Victoria, her husband Prince Daniel and Carl Philip. Just behind were Princess Madeleine, who announced her own third pregnancy just last week, her husband Chris O'Neill and Princess Christina, sister of Carl Gustaf.




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We're promised some official photos soon, a first chance to get a close up look of Gabriel and see him with big brother, Alexander. Until then, the sixth in line to the throne of Sweden is staying tucked up at home with mum and dad while everyone get used to the name. Another royal Gabriel has been announced.

William and Kate: royal baby Cambridge number 3

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are to be parents again. Kate is pregnant with baby number 3 and while there's no official due date, all eyes are turning to late spring for the arrival the latest royal baby.







Kensington Palace announced the third pregnancy of the Duchess of Cambridge just after 10am on September 4th 2017. Kate is already suffering from the same severe form of morning sickness that marked the early parts of her previous two pregnancies and has cancelled her forthcoming engagements.


The baby will be a little brother or sister for Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, 2 and the change in succession law means that a boy won't leapfrog his big sister. The newest prince or princess of the House of Windsor will be fifth in line to the throne. They will also be a sixth great grandchild for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Settle down and stock up, royal baby mania is about to begin again. Congratulations to William, Kate, George and Charlotte as the Cambridges prepare to become five.

Sapphires for September: Sweden

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Queen Silvia of Sweden wears blue sapphires for the marriage of her only son in June 2015
(photo kungahuset.se)

September's birthstone is the beautiful blue sapphire. This stunning stone has been a staple in royal jewellery for centuries and in the modern era, it's found in some of the most sparkling tiaras owned by European ruling houses. Sweden owns a stunning set of sapphires and, let's face it, blue for a boy is quite appropriate there now as the country's royals are awash with princes. As we find out the name of the latest little man to join the House of Bernadotte later, let's celebrate his arrival with some sparkling blue stones. Welcome to sapphires for September.





The super sapphires of Sweden got a starring role at a big royal wedding when Silvia chose this tiara for the marriage of her only son, Carl Philip, to Sofia Hellqvist. Not only did they tick the blue for a boy box (remember, on his wedding day, Carl Philip was the only chap in the Swedish line of succession) but they also meant the Queen of Sweden attended the marriage of the country's former Crown Prince in a set of gems with real royal history.





The sapphires began their royal story at the start of the 19th century when they were given to Augusta of Bavaria when she married Eugene de Beauharnais. He was the son of the Empress Josephine by her first husband but just before he got married, Napoleon adopted him and it's thought that the stunning sapphires were a wedding gift from his new dad to his new wife.





Their daughter, Josephine, married the future King Oscar I of Sweden in 1823 and when Augusta died in 1851, the sapphires came to Stockholm. They were worn by Queen Josefina (she did that old royal thing of changing her name to suit her new country) but remained a personal possession. They eventually ended up with the woman who would become Queen Louise of Sweden and on her death she gave them to the royal family trust which means they now belong to the ruling house - there's no giving this one away as a present any more.






This is a tiara fit for a queen. It's huge to start off with, made up of a sprawling panel of diamonds set as floral and leaf motifs and even if there were no other stones in this diadem, it would still be impressive. But at the very top are eleven sapphires and you wouldn't describe them as modest. The square cut gems are surrounded by more diamonds and it makes a stand out piece of sapphire jewellery.





Queen Silvia is very fond of it - you can't blame her for that, it's a cracker. It's been seen as State Banquets, at the Nobel Prize ceremony and at her son's wedding. The only way to describe this tiara is royal. It has an air of majesty and grandness about it that never fails to impress.  But it's also very pretty and delicate in its own way. It's a terrific tiara all round.





It's got another big plus point - it's part of a parure. Yes, there are more sapphires to go with this tiara and they're all terrific as well. To match, Silvia has a necklace, hairpins, earrings and a brooch and the sapphires dominate these smaller pieces where they still have diamond surrounds but no sparklers to sit on.






The tiara may well have been the inspiration, in part at least, for the new diadem worn by Princess Sofia for her marriage which follows the same basic design of a wall of diamonds topped by coloured stones, in her case emeralds. And if it was, it's no wonder. These sapphires are stunning and the tiara design still looks fabulous, two centuries after it was first created. These take some beating as sapphires for September.

Meet Baby Bernadotte

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He's home. The newest member of the Swedish Royal Family has left hospital with his parents just a day after being born. And here's the photo to prove it.



The little prince, sixth in line to the throne, was born at 11.24 on August 31st 2017 at the Danderyd Hospital. He is the second son of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia and a little brother for nineteen month old Prince Alexander. He came home on Friday September 1st and we were treated to the now traditional photo of proud royal parents with little person in car seat as he headed into the Villa Solbacken. His names and title will be announced on September 4th but in the meantime, the newest royal on the continent is back home with his family.

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