WEDDING FLOWERS: Spanish Royalty
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Showing posts with label Spanish Royalty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spanish Royalty. Show all posts

State Visit Sparklers: Israel to Spain

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You don't need to get overly excited here. As the King and Queen of Spain hosted their first incoming State Visit since February, there were only ever really two options on the tiara table for the banquet that Felipe and Letizia hosted for the President of Israel and his wife at the Royal Palace in Madrid on the night of November 6th 2017. As Queen of Spain, Leti has only ever cracked out the Floral Tiara or La Buena and given the state of her country right now, bringing out all the bling was never an option. So settle back and enjoy the sparkle of Letizia's diamond flowers, part 9843.



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The tiara's history is well known. Let's start with the bit no one minds talking about. The tiara was originally made for Maria Theresa of Austria when she became the second wife of King Alfonso XII in 1879. It's the work of British jewellery firm, J.P. Collins, and it features some really rather lovely flowers made entirely of diamonds set on gold and silver. Floral tiaras are a common find in European royal collections and they do tend to go with absolutely everything. So far, so very flowery.






 
But the other part of this tiara's back story is more problematic. It left the Spanish Royal Family at some point in the 20th century - they went into exile in 1931. It arrived in the modern Borbon jewellery box back in the 1960s when Franco bought it as a wedding gift for the then Princess Sofia of Greece as she wed Juan Carlos, the man who would be king. Sofia liked it a lot as did her younger daughter, Infanta Cristina, who wore it more often than most and chose it for her wedding tiara when she wed Inaki Urdangarin in 1997. Since her husband became king in 2014, Letizia has made this a bit of a go to piece of her own.



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So there was no surprise seeing it sparkle into action again tonight. This is a rare public appearance for Felipe and Letizia whose agenda has been sparse since the start of October and the disputed independence referendum in Catalonia which led to the region's leaders declaring independence and Madrid imposing direct rule ahead of fresh regional elections on December 21st. King Felipe has made several speeches about the crisis, with his comments sparking much debate, especially as he made no reference to the almost 900 people injured when Guardia Civil moved in to try and stop the referendum taking place on October 1st 2017.




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This State Dinner is one part of a very low key State Visit for President Reuven Rivlin and his wife, Nechama. The visitors arrived to an official welcome on the morning of November 6th 2017 before going on to a private lunch with Felipe and Letizia. The King of Spain and the President of Israel also held an audience during the day.



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 The two day trip comes to an end on November 7th 2017 with an event hosted by President and Mrs Rivlin for their hosts and that will also mark the end of Felipe and Letizia's agenda for the week. We can expect appearances in the coming days from King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia but both relatively low profile. Which is the best way to sum up Letizia's look for this latest State Banquet. If a gala look could be described as under the radar this is it. Which is why the appearance of the old favourite floral was so expected. Welcome, but expected.

Sofia, the strength of the Spanish monarchy

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It's probably fair to say that Sofia, Queen of Spain has had happier birthdays. As she celebrates turning 79, no doubt with friends and family around her, she's not just contemplating another year done and another to come. Her royal house is facing one of its toughest tests to date with many months of tumult ahead. In the midst of this, Sofia remains the strength of the Spanish monarchy.


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That can be seen in the comments left on the official Twitter account. In the weeks since the disputed independence referendum in Catalonia and King Felipe VI's controversial speech in which he didn't mention the almost 900 injuries incurred as Guardia Civil tried to close polling stations on October 1st, the replies to the tweets sent by @CasaReal have been less than flattering. With one exception. The message shared as Queen Sofia presented an award was followed by comments about how well she carries out her role. While the Spanish monarchy attracts the ire of those angry with the whole establishment, Sofia is singled out as an exception and an example. She remains the bedrock of her family's fortune.





But then Sofia is used to toughness. Despite some glittering highs (remember when the Spanish royals were the most popular in Europe with ratings that made everyone else as green as emeralds?), the sea has been far from smooth for this former Olympic sailor. Take her birthday exactly a decade ago. On November 2nd 2007, the Queen of Spain appeared to have it all. Her royal house was popular, all three of her children were married and she had eight grandchildren around her including a six month old infanta who shared her name. And yet the smiles hid cracks that had already taken hold. Just days later it was announced that the eldest child of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, the Infanta Elena, was separating from her husband, Jaime de Marichalar, after 12 years of marriage. In the decade that followed, her younger daughter, Infanta Cristina, faced court action while the monarchy's popularity ratings tumbled. The unexpected abdication of King Juan Carlos in June 2014 has been followed by three years of ups and downs with 2017 ending on a low.



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But each decade of this royal life, which began on November 2nd 1937 in Greece, has had more ups and downs that most. The first ten years of Sofia's life saw her family head into exile from Greece only to return in 1946. Seventy years ago, as Sofia turned 9, her father, King Paul, was beginning a reign that would be bumpy to say the least. By the time she turned 29 in 1967, her brother had taken the throne as King Constantine and was just weeks away from going into exile after a coup earlier that same year. Sofia was by then married to Juan Carlos and living in Madrid in a Spain ruled by the dictator, Francisco Franco. In 1977, as she turned 39, Sofia was Queen of Spain and the country was completing the path to democracy. Just weeks earlier elections had led to the re-establishment of the Generalitat in Catalonia, paving the way for the region to become autonomous. Now, forty years later, the region is at the heart of the Spanish monarchy's agenda once again.



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There's no doubt that behind the scenes. Sofia will be as much of a support to her son as she has been to the father, brother and husband who were all kings before him. Sofia is in some ways the last of a generation, the final consort to boast such royal links, the last queen to have been raised so regally and lived so dramatically. And yet it is her ability to reach out to others that have made her such a success. Her passion for issues like research into Alzheimers has been noted around the world (she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in that area) while her constant smile and gentle grace have won her fans far and wide. Now, as she heads into the final year of her seventies, she must help reinvent royalty all over again as she stands behind a son who is facing criticism on many fronts and who is Head of State of a country facing a political crisis not seen in Europe for many years. But Felipe has a secret weapon and one that has steered the royal ship through choppier waters before. Sofia is and perhaps always will be the strength of the Spanish monarchy.

6 royal birthdays for November

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It's candles for Charles this month as he celebrates his birthday
(photo By Korona Lacasse [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons) 

There might not be as many royal birthdays in November as in other months, but these ones pack a real regal punch. On this list you'll find two heirs as well as a first born grandson of a monarch. Get the cards and cake ready, here are six royal birthdays for November.


  
 
  Charles, the Prince of Wales is 69 on November 14th 2017
Charles Philip Arthur George was born on November 14th 1948 at Buckingham Palace, London. He was the first child of the then Princess Elizabeth, heir to the throne, and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and he arrived just days short of his parents first wedding anniversary. His birth, like their marriage,was a high point for a country still recovering from the Second World War. He became heir to the throne on February 6th 1952 on the accession of his mother as Elizabeth II and he has held that role ever since making him the longest serving first in line in British history. 





Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg is 36 on November 11th 2017
Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie was born on November 11th 1981 at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital in Luxembourg. He was the first child of the then Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess, Henri and Maria Teresa, who had married on Valentine's Day that year. He became heir to the throne on his father's accession in 2000 and married Stephanie Lannoy in 2012.


 

Queen Sofia of Spain is 79 on November 2nd 2017
Sofia of Spain has had happier birthdays and that's saying something. She was born a princess of Greece and Denmark on November 2nd 1938 in Athens. She was the first child of Paul, then first in line for the Greek throne, and his wife, Federica, who had married in January that year. Her father became King of Greece in 1947 and in 1962 she married Juan Carlos of Spain who would become his country's king in 1975. She saw her son, Felipe, become King of Spain in June 2014 on the abdication of Juan Carlos and will spend this birthday watching him wrestle with the biggest political crisis to hit his country in decades. Sofia is still much admired in Spain despite her more background role now. 



Peter Phillips is 40 on November 15th 2017
Well, that's something to make the longest reigning monarch in British history feel even more historic. Her eldest grandchild turns forty this month. Peter Mark Andrew Phillips. first grandchild of the Queen, was born on November 15th 1977 at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. He was the first child of Princess Anne and her first husband, Mark Phillips. At birth he was fifth in line to the throne and his parents' decision to not raise him with a title caused huge debate at the time. He was educated at Gordunstun and the University of Exeter before taking jobs in sports sponsorship and management. He married Autumn Kelly in 2008 and the couple has two daughters.




  
  
David, Earl of Snowdon will be 56 on November 3rd 2017
David Albert Charles Armstrong-Jones was born on November 3rd 1961 at Clarence House, London, He was the first child of the Queen's only sister, Princess Margaret, and her then husband, Anthony Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon. At birth, the new Viscount Linley was fifth in line to the throne. He spent a lot of time with his royal cousins growing up and would go on to develop a career in furniture making and antiques. He married Serena Stanhope in 1993 and the couple has two children. Earlier this year he became Earl of Snowdon on the death of his father.



Lady Louise Windsor will be 14 on November 8th 2017
Louise Alice Elizabeth Mary was born on November 8th 2003 at Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey, the first child of the Earl and Countess of Wessex. She was born prematurely after her mother was rushed to hospital. Like her November cousin, Peter Phillips, there was debate about her title at birth but her parents announced she would be known as Lady Louise Windsor. She makes appearances at major royal events like Trooping the Colour. Lady Louise is eleventh in line to the throne.

Leonor's first official portrait

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It's a birthday tradition that Spain's royals don't tend to follow as much as other European houses but this year they've made an exception. To mark her 12th birthday, Princess Leonor, heir to the throne, has a new portrait to celebrate. In fact, it's her first official portrait and it comes at a very interesting time indeed.




The image, taken on Spain's national day just a few weeks ago, has been shared on the official Casa Real website on the royal birthday. It's by Francisco Gomez and shows the girl who will be queen posing, relaxed and happy, at the Royal Palace in Madrid. It is released exactly twelve years after the arrival of the first child of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia - Leonor was born on October 31st 2005 in Madrid.


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So far, so very standard. But it's the timing that's really interesting about this portrait.  Spain's royals have barely been seen in the weeks since the disputed independence referendum in Catalonia on October 1st 2017. Leonor's father, King Felipe, has cancelled several engagements in the past few days - a tumultuous time which has seen Catalonia declare independence and the Spanish government impose direct rule on the region ahead of new elections in December this year. No one was expecting this portrait of Leonor and yet, just when her Royal Family needs her, there she is smiling out in a portrait for the history books.



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Turning twelve is a big deal and so it may always have been the plan to release this image. But the last time that Spain's royals shared an official portrait of Leonor to mark her birthday was back in 2006 when she turned one. Then the photos also celebrated the news that her parents were expecting another baby. Now, this new picture comes as her family faces tough questions about its role and little chance of making any public appearances given the political situation. It's a good news stories for Spain's beleagured royals. Any first official portrait is always one for the history books but this photo really does have a special place in Spain's regal story.

Letizia flies solo again as Spain's royals are hit by crisis

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The Queen of Spain will, again, be the sole representative of her royal household at a public event this week as the country is engulfed by crisis. The agenda for the Spanish Royal Family, published every Friday, shows just one appearance in the days ahead with Letizia due to attend an awards ceremony on October 30th 2017. 

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The single engagement will take place in Valencia where Queen Letizia is due to present awards celebrating scientific innovation. She will also give a short speech. King Felipe had originally been set to attend but will miss the ceremony now because of the political crisis threatening Spain.



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It's the second time in just days that Letizia will end up flying solo at engagement after she attended journalism awards in Madrid by herself on Thursday when it was decided that King Felipe couldn't accompany her, as planned, because of the situation in Catalonia. That, of course, came just hours before chaos became crisis. 

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On Friday, the Catalan Parliament voted to declare the region an independent republic. Soon afterwards, the Spanish government in Madrid triggered article 155 of the country's constitution, imposing direct rule on Catalonia which was given autonomy in 1977.  It follows a disputed referendum on independence, called by the Catalan Parliament on October 1st 2017. Spanish police moved in to close polling stations on the day and almost 900 people were injured.




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The next appearance of the King of Spain remains unknown. Felipe caused controversy with his first intervention following the referendum when he gave a rare, televised address calling for the unity of Spain to be preserved and criticising those who had called the referendum. But it was his failure to acknowledge the injuries caused that led to criticism on several fronts. A second speech, at the Princess of Asturias Awards in Oviedo last week, repeated calls for unity and condemnation of Catalan independence leaders. Since then, Felipe hasn't been seen in public. He was declared persona non grata by Girona this week and comments on the official Casa Real Twitter feed have been less than sympathetic at time. Elsewhere, there is support for the Spanish monarchy as a symbol of unity.




But how that continues remains to be seen. The Spanish Royal Family has faced many critical situations in its modern history but this threatens to be one of the greatest of them all. There is continued tension in Catalonia where many feel the declaration of independence has been thrust on them but where many are celebrating a move they have wanted for years. The world is now watching to see how power is administered in the area after the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, sacked the Catalan leaders and the chief of the local police force. The area's considerable civil service will now be expected to take orders from Madrid while the administration of politics in the area, ahead of new regional elections called for December this year, remains in doubt as many ask how the Spanish government can take control of a strong region hundreds of miles away. In the midst of this is Europe's newest monarch who will be expected by many in his country to be a neutral figurehead, helping to soothe a crisis that threatens the very notion of Spain as we know it now. Felipe will have to be seen, and soon, but his next move could be crucial.

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.

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