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Welcome to my blog,

Here you can find pictures and news of among others births, christenings, engagements, weddings and holidays.

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HQ Pictures Last update: 7 March 2014
Current Royal Pregnancies Last update: 7 March 2014
Current Royal Engagements Last update: 7 March 2014
Royal Births - 2002 till 2013 Last update: 7 March 2014
Royal Deaths - 2002 till 2013 Last update: 7 March 2014
Royal Weddings - 2002 till 2013 Last update: 7 March 2014
Extended Ruling Royal families of Europe Last update: 7 March 2014
Other extended ruling families WORK IN PROGRESS, Last update: 7 March 2014
Other extended non-ruling families WORK IN PROGRESS, Last update: 7 March 2014

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Please have fun and come back soon.

Josette

My Dutch blog: Gekroonde Hoofden
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3/28/2011

Wedding W&C: The wedding cake

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The British Royal Court has released information about the wedding cake of HRH Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton. The couple is to marry on April 29, 2011.

From the official website about the wedding:

"Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton have chosen Leicestershire-based cake designer Fiona Cairns to create their wedding cake.

The wedding cake will be a multi-tiered traditional fruit cake. The cake, which will be decorated with cream and white icing, will have a strong British floral theme using elements of the Joseph Lambeth technique. Fiona was chosen for her creative style and beautifully crafted handmade cakes using traditional British ingredients. Her business, started 25 years ago on her kitchen table, is now based in a state of the art bakery in Leicestershire, the heart of the English countryside.

In addition, the couple have also asked McVitie's Cake Company to create a chocolate biscuit cake for the reception at Buckingham Palace. The chocolate biscuit cake will be made from a Royal Family recipe and was specially requested by Prince William."

3/25/2011

Update posts! - March 25

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The following posts have been updated, but are not visible on the main page:
Current Royal Pregnancies 
Current Royal Engagements 
Royal Births - 2005 till 2011
Royal Deaths - 2005 till 2011
Royal Weddings - 2005 till 2011

Wedding Z&M: Guestlist to the wedding

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Confirmed guests to the wedding of Zara Phillips and Michael Tindall.

Bride and groom:
- Zara Phillips and Michael Tindall.

Mother, father, stepfather and stepmother of the bride
- HRH the Princess Royal, Princess Anne of the UK, and Timothy Laurence.
- Mark and Sandy Phillips.

Father and mother of the groom:
- Phillip and Linda Tindall.


Brother, sister-in-law and half-sister of the bride:
- Peter and Autumn Phillips.
- Stephanie Phillips.

Brother of the groom:
- Ian Tindall.

3/23/2011

The Prince of Orange celebrates World Water Day 2011 in Cape Town

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HRH the Prince of Orange, Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, celebrated World Water Day 2011 in Cape Town, South Africa.

HQ pictures:

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Source: RVD via koninklijkhuis.nl

3/22/2011

Wedding W&C: The Wedding Carriages

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The British Royal Court has released information about the transportation of HRH Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton on their wedding day, April 29, 2011.

From the official website about the wedding:

"At the end of their wedding service at Westminster Abbey, Prince William and Miss Middleton will travel in the 1902 State Landau along the Processional Route to Buckingham Palace. In the event of severely wet weather, the couple will travel in The Glass Coach.

There will be five horse-drawn carriages in the Carriage Procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. The first carriage will be the 1902 State Landau or Glass Coach carrying the Bride and the Bridegroom. The second and third carriages will be Ascot Landaus carrying the Best Man, Maid of Honour and Bridesmaids. The fourth carriage will be a Semi-State Landau carrying The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh. The fifth carriage will be a Semi-State Landau carrying The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and Mr and Mrs Middleton.

The 1902 State Landau, the Glass Coach, the Ascot and Semi-State Landaus are housed at the Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace.

The 1902 State Landau was specifically built for King Edward VII in 1902 and was intended to be used at his Coronation. It is the carriage in most general use at the Royal Mews and is usually used by The Queen to meet Foreign Heads of State when they arrive on State Visits to Britain. The Prince of Wales travelled to St Paul’s Cathedral in the 1902 State Landau for his wedding in 1981, returning in it with The Princess of Wales after the service. The Duke and Duchess of York also used it for their return to Buckingham Palace at their wedding in 1986.

The Glass Coach was built in 1881 and was purchased for use at King George V’s Coronation in 1911. The Glass Coach has carried previous Royal brides to their weddings – Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon in 1923, Princess Alexandra in 1963, Princess Anne in 1973, Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 and Miss Sarah Ferguson in 1986. It has also carried the bride and bridegroom from the church, as it did when Princess Elizabeth married The Duke of Edinburgh and again when Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips.

There are five Ascot Landaus in the Royal Mews. These carriages are always used for The Queen’s procession up the course at the Royal Ascot Race meeting and also for other visits of an official nature.

There are five Semi State Landaus in service. They have been used for The Queen’s coronation visit to Edinburgh, the Investiture of The Prince of Wales at Caernarfon Castle, The Queen’s silver Jubilee visits to Glasgow and Cardiff, and on State Visits following the 1902 State Landau. They are also used to transport new High Commissioners of Republics within the Commonwealth when they are received by The Queen.

Further information

Miss Middleton and Prince William will travel separately to the wedding service using State Cars from the Royal Mews. The State Car collection includes two Bentleys, three Rolls-Royces and three Daimlers.

The Processional route from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace runs from Westminster Abbey to Parliament Square and then on to Whitehall, Horse Guards Parade before The Mall to Buckingham Palace.

The Royal Mews is part of the Lord Chamberlain’s Office and is run by the Crown Equerry. The Royal Mews houses 30 carriage horses and has 38 staff including liveried helpers, coachmen, chauffeurs.

There are two breeds of horses at the Royal Mews, Windsor Greys and Bays (the majority of which are Cleveland Bays).

There are over 100 carriages in the collection, although not all of them are kept at Buckingham Palace.

For the Royal Wedding, 14 sides of State Harness will be used with matching appointments for outriders. All the harness requires regular cleaning and polishing which is undertaken by Royal Mews staff in addition to their other duties."

3/21/2011

Princess Antoinette of Monaco died

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HSH Princess Antoinette of Monaco, Baroness de Massy, died March 17, 2011. The funeral will take place on March 24 at 10 a.m.

The Princess was the first child and only daughter of TSH Princess Charlotte and Prince Pierre of Monaco, Duchess and Duke of Valentinois, born Count Pierre of Polignac, and reached the age of 90 last December.

Princess Antoinette married 3 times, first to Alexandre Noghès, with whom she has 3 children, Elisabeth-Anne, Christian and Christine, all 3 born out of wedlock, she then married Jean-Charles Rey and finally, she married John Gilpin. All 3 of her children are/were married and have children.

Elisabeth-Anne de Massy first married Baron Bernard Taubert-Natat, with whom she has a son, Baron Jean-Léonard Taubert-Natat. Baron Jean-Léonard is married. After they divorced, she married Nicolai Vladimir Costello, dit de Lusignan with whom she has a daughter, Mélanie.

Christian Louis de Massy first married Maria Marta Quintana y del Carril with whom he has a daughter, Laetizia. Laetizia married Thomas de Brouwer and they have 2 children, Rose and Sylvestre. Christian then married Anne Lütken, they didn't have children together. Christian then married Julia Lakschin. They also divorced without having children. Finally, Christian married Cécile, they have 2 sons, Brice and Antoine. Brice was adopted.

The late Christine de Massy, married first Charles Knecht, they have a son, Keith. Keith is married to Donatella di Guevarra Fabbri and they have 4 children, Christine, Alexia, Vittoria and Andrea. After the divorce, Christine (de Massy) married Leon Leroy. Christine died February 15, 1989.

Dutch Royal family joins national voluntary action NL DOET 2011

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The Dutch Royal family joined the national voluntary action NL DOET on March 18 and 19, 2011.


HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, TH Prince Bernhard and Princess Annette of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, and HH Prince Pieter Christiaan of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, helped the Foundation Grote Broer in Nijmegen, on March 18, 2011.

HQ pictures:
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Pictures: Bart Homburg


TRH the Prince and Princess of Orange, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, took care of the English High Tea at nursing home "De Opmaat" in Monstar, on March 18, 2011.

HQ pictures:
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Pictures: Jeannette Schols


TH Prince Floris and Princess Aimée of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, helped at the hospital wing of Havenzicht, which is part of CDV, in Rotterdam.

HQ pictures:
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Pictures: Redmar Kruithof


TRH Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands helped with the renovation of the building of the Waterscouts in Vlissingen, on March 19, 2011.

HQ pictures:
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Pictures: Redmar Kruithof


TH Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, taught kick boxing and street dance at the sporting centre of Ronald McDonald, on March 19, 2011

HQ pictures:
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Pictures: Bart Homburg

Wedding A&C: Guestlist to the wedding

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Guests to the wedding of HSH Prince Albert of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock.

Bride and groom:
- HSH the Sovereign Prince of Monaco, Prince Albert, and Charlene Wittstock.

Father and mother of the bride
- Michael and Lynette Wittstock.

Sisters of the groom
- HRH the Princess of Hanover, Hereditary Princess Caroline of Monaco.
- HSH Princess Stéphanie of Monaco.

Brothers of the bride:
- Gareth Wittstock.
- Sean Wittstock.

Other members of the direct family of the groom:
- Andrea Casiraghi and his girlfriend, Tatiana Santo Domingo.
- Charlotte Casiraghi and her boyfriend, Alex Dellal.
- Pierre Casiraghi and his girlfriend, Beatrice Borromeo.
- HRH Princess Alexandra of Hanover.
- Louis Ducruet.
- Pauline Ducruet.
- Camille Grimaldi.
- Elisabeth-Anne de Massy with her children, Jean-Léonard and Mélanie-Antoinette.

Step family of the groom: 
- HRH Hereditary Prince Ernst-August of Hanover.
- HRH Prince Christian of Hanover

Other Royals:
- TM King Albert and Queen Paola of the Belgians.
- TM King Carl Gustav and Queen Silvia of Sweden.
- HM King Leruo Molotlegi of the Royal Bafokeng Nation.
- HM King Letsie III of Lesotho
- HIM Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran.
- TRH Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg.
- HRH Markgrave Maximilian and HIRH Margravine Valerie of Baden, Archduchess of Austria, Princess of Hungary, Princess of Bohemia, Princess of Tuscany.
- HRH the Aga Khan, Prince Karim Aga Khan.
- TRH Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden, the Duchess and Duke of Västergötland.
- TRH the Duke and Duchess of Brabant, Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium.
- TRH Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway.
- TRH the Prince and Princess of Orange, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands.
- TRH Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Count and Countess of Monpezat.
- HRH the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
- HRH Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg.
- HSH Hereditary Prince Alois and HRH Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, Princess of Bavaria, Duchess in Bavaria.
- TIRH Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduchess and Archduke of Austria-Este.
- TRH Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium.
- HIRH Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia and his fiancée, HSH Princess Sophie of Isenburg.
- TRH the Count and Countess of Paris, Prince Henri and Princess Micaela of Orléans.
- TRH the Duke and Duchess of Anjou, Prince Louis Alphonse and Princess María Margarita of Bourbon.
- TRH Hereditary Prince Bernhard and Hereditary Princess Stéphanie of Baden.
- TRH the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Prince Edward and Sophie, Princess Edward of the United Kingdom of Great-Britain and Northern Ireland.
- TRH Prince Michael and Marie-Christine, Princess Michael of Kent, Baroness of Reibnitz.
- TRH Prince Faisal bin Hussein and Princess Sarah of Jordan.
- HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana of Thailand.
- TRH Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark, Count and Countess of Monpezet. (July 2)
- HRH Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, the Duke of Värmland. (July 1 till 3)
- HRH Princess Madeleine of Sweden, the Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland. (July 1 till 3)
- HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia.
- HIRH Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia, Prince of Prussia.
- TRH Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia
- TRH Crown Princess Margarita and Prince Radu of Romania.
- HSH Princess Virginia Ira of Fürstenberg.
- TRH Prince Leopold and Princess Ursela of Bavaria.
- TRH the Duke and Duchess of Bragança, Dom Duarte Pio and Dona Isabel of Portugal.
- TRH the Prince and Princess of Naples, Prince Vittorio Emanuele and Princess Marina of Savoy.
- TRH the Prince and Princess of Venice and Piedmont, Prince Emanuele Filiberto and Princess Clotilde of Savoy.
- Lalla Soukaïna Filali of Morocco.

First pictures of Paola ten Cate

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HRH Princess Margarita of Bourbon-Parma, Countess of Colorno, and Tjalling ten Cate released the first pictures of their newborn daughter, Paola. The pictures include 1 picture of the Princess, Tjalling and Paola, 1 picture of the Princess with both her daughters and 1 picture of the family of 4 together.


The couple were married on May 3, 2008, and their first child, Julia, was born September 3, 2008.

Click HERE to see the pictures at PPE.

3/17/2011

Official wedding website Sovereign Prince Albert of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock

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The Princely Court of Monaco has released the official wedding website of HSH Sovereign Prince Albert of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock.

http://www.mariageprinciermonaco2011.mc/en/home.html

 

3/16/2011

Wedding W&C: The Prince William & Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Gift Fund

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HRH Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton have created a charitable gift fund to help celebrate their wedding. The fund will focus on assisting charities which support the five causes chosen by the couple. These causes are close to their hearts and reflect the experiences, passions and values of their lives so far. Having been touched by the goodwill shown to them since their engagement, they have asked that anyone wishing to send them a wedding gift consider doing so in the form of a donation to the fund.

http://www.royalweddingcharityfund.org/

3/15/2011

Wedding W&C: Musicians for the Wedding

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The British Royal Court has confirmed the musicians for the Wedding Service at Westminster Abbey. The wedding of HRH Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton takes place on April 29, 2011.

Two choirs, one orchestra and two fanfare teams will perform the music at the Wedding Service of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29th. These are:

•    The Choir of Westminster Abbey
•    The Chapel Royal Choir
•    The London Chamber Orchestra
•    The Fanfare Team from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force
•    The State Trumpeters of The Household Cavalry

The choirs will be under the direction of Mr James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers at Westminster Abbey. The Choir of Westminster Abbey is made up of 20 boys, all of whom attend the Abbey’s dedicated residential Choir School, and 12 professional adult singers, known as Lay Vicars. In addition to singing the daily choral services in the Abbey throughout the year, it plays a central role in the many royal, state and national occasions which take place at the Abbey. The Abbey’s Sub Organist, Robert Quinney, will play the organ.    

The Chapel Royal Choir consists of ten Children of the Chapel, boy choristers who hold scholarships at City of London School, and six Gentlemen-in-Ordinary, who are professional singers. The Chapel Royal Choir has existed since at least the Norman Conquest. The Organist, Choir Master and Composer at Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal is Dr. Andrew Gant. The Choir’s duties are to sing the weekly service in the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace and to perform for the Sovereign on other occasions, including at the weddings of members of the Royal Family. The distinctive State uniforms worn by the Children date from the reign of Charles II.

The London Chamber Orchestra will be conducted by Mr Christopher Warren-Green, its Music Director and Principal Conductor. The orchestra will comprise 39 musicians located in the organ loft of the Abbey.  The LCO is the longest established professional chamber orchestra in the UK, having been founded in 1921 by Anthony Bernard.  HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is a patron of the orchestra. Mr Warren-Green has conducted numerous concerts for the Royal Family.

A Fanfare Team of seven musicians from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force will perform under the direction of Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs. The Central Band was established in 1920 and provides musical support to the Royal Air Force throughout the UK. In addition to their musical duties, Royal Air Force musicians also serve overseas in support of the broader Defence cause.

The State Trumpeters of The Household Cavalry comprises musicians from both The Band of The Life Guards and The Band of The Blues and Royals. The Fanfare Team of eight Trumpeters will be led by Trumpet Major Grant Sewell-Jones of The Band of The Blues and Royals. In addition to their musical duties, all Army Musicians can be called upon to act as individual augmentee soldiers in support of operations across the world.

Both Prince William and Miss Middleton have taken a great deal of interest and care in choosing the music for their Service, which will include a number of well-known hymns and choral works as well as some specially-commissioned pieces. 

Following the Wedding Service at Westminster Abbey, Claire Jones, the Official Harpist to HRH The Prince of Wales will perform at a Reception hosted by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

3/11/2011

Wedding W&C: Update guestlist to the wedding

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The Swedish Royal Court has confirmed (via their official website) the attendence of TRH Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden, the Duchess and Duke of Västergötland, at the wedding of HRH Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton on April 29, 2011.

3/10/2011

The Earl of Wessex appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order

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HRH the Earl of Wessex, The Prince Edward of the United Kingdom of Great-Brittain and Northern-Ireland, has been appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

Wedding W&C: Royal Wedding Route

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Click HERE to view the Royal Wedding Route for the wedding of HRH Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton.

3 events for Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton

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HRH Prince William of Wales and his fiancée, Catherine Middleton, had their first activities as an engaged couple in Wales, Scotland and Northern-Ireland. Their first activity as an officially engaged couple took place when the couple attended a Christmas charity concert on December 18, 2010, in Norfolk. Click HERE to view the entry on this visit at the official wedding website.

On February 24, 2011, Prince William and Miss Middleton officially named a new lifeboat "Hereford Endeavour." This even took place in Wales. Click HERE to view the entry on this visit at the official wedding website.

On February 25, 201, the couple  joined St. Andrews University in celebrating it's St. Andrews University. Prince William has become the Patron of the University of St. Andrews 600th anniversary appeal. The Prince and his fiancée attended a reception at the Principal's house and visited the St. Andrews museum. Click HERE to view the entry on this visit at the official wedding website.

The Prince and  Miss Middleon visited City Hall in Belfast,  had a meeting with mr Paterson at Hillsborough Castle and attended lunch. After that, the couple visited Youth Action NI .Click HERE to view the entry on this visit at the official wedding website.

3/09/2011

Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Khalifa of Bahrain and Princess Sahab bint Abdullah bin Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia are engaged

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HRH Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Khalifa of Bahrain and HRH Princess Sahab bint Abdullah bin Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia are engaged. The Sheikh announced the happy news on March 7, 2011, on his Twitter account.

The Sheikh is the 5th son of HM the King of Bahrain.
The Princess is one of the daughters of HM the King of Saudi Arabia.

Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall announce wedding date and place

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The British Royal Court has announced that the wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall will take place on July 30, 2011, at the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Old pictures of Catherine Middleton have been released

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The British Royal Court has released 5 pictures of Catherine Middleton taken during the her life so far.

HQ pictures:
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Source: British Royal Court/Middleton family

Official wedding website Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton

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The British Royal Court has released the official wedding website of HRH Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton.

http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/

3/03/2011

Religious wedding of Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Alexander Johannsmann

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HSH Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Alexander Johannsmann will marry religously on June 18, 2011. The couple married civilly on May 27, 2010,  and their first child, a son named Konstantin, was born on July 24, 2010.

The wedding will take place in the Evangelical Church in Bad Berleburg.

The Princess is the youngest daughter of HSH Fürst Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and his wife, née HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark, the middle sister of the Danish Queen and the older sister of the (former) Greek Queen.

3/01/2011

New picture Royal family of Morocco in honour of the 4th birthday of Princess Lalla Khadija

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HRH Princess Lalla Khadija of Morocco, the second child and only daughter of HM King Mohammed and HRH Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco, celebrated her 4th birthday on February 28, 2011. To celebrate this, a picture of the Princess, her parents and her older brother, HRH Crown Prince Moulay Hassan of Morocco, was released.

Click HERE to download the HQ picture from MAP.