The TRUE Royal Wedding

The truth is...

Technically, the upcoming weddings of two European royals, Prince William of Wales (April 29, 2011) and Prince Albert II of Monaco (July 1, 2011) cannot be called "royal weddings" in the correct sense because they are not marrying royal Princesses.

Prior to the 20th century, all European royals married into royalty, hence the term "royal wedding" but following World War II, well, except Queen Elizabeth II of Britain and King Juan Carlos of Spain who married true blooded royals (Elizabeth to Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark and Juan Carlos to Philip's niece, Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark), none of the current European monarchs and their heirs (including the successors of Elizabeth and Juan Carlos) married into royalty.

 Prince Georg of Prussia and his fiancee, Princess Sophie of Isenburg (photo from www.theroyalcorrespondent.com)

All potential European monarchs took commoner spouses eroding the true mystic of their respective Kingdoms. But elsewhere in Europe, one Prince, the current head of the royal house of Hohenzollern in Germany, sticked to the old royal tradition of taking a royal spouse to retain its royal status both in sentiment and reality. Prince Georg Friedrick of Prussia, a third cousin to all current European crown heads through Queen Victoria of England, announced his engagement last January 21, 2011 to the 32-year-old Princess of Isenburg, Sophie whose two sisters, Princess Katharine and Princess Isabel, also married into royalty. Hohenzollern and Isenburg in Germany are the only remaining royal houses in Europe that admonished its descendants to strictly marry fellow royals. Prince Georg and Princess Sophie's wedding might happen late this year. 

Georg and Sophie finished Business Administration degree in Germany and both connected with prestigious business firms in Germany. As Queen Elizabeth II's double third cousin, Prince Georg is in line of succession to the British throne, but just like his second cousin, Prince Ernst of Hanover who married Princess Caroline of Monaco (sister of Prince Albert II), a Roman Catholic, he too would be removed from his position in the British succession after his marriage to Princess Sophie because she is a Roman Catholic. The rule of succession in Britain strictly barred any descendants from succeeding if they will take a Roman Catholic spouse because a British monarch will be automatically become the Supreme head of the Church of England, a protestant religion. Some of the Queen's cousins already cost their places in the line of succession: Prince Michael of Kent, the Earls of St. Andrews and Downpatrick are no longer eligible to succeed. King Juan Carlos of Spain, his wife, Queen Sophia, King Albert II of Belgium, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg are all third cousins Queen Elizabeth II but because they are Roman Catholics, they and their descendants are removed from the line of succession.

Anyway, the tradition of royalty marrying within their circle is in order to protect the throne from attracting scandals and controversies that haunted the present European royal houses. Royalists believe that keeping within the tradition, crowns could never be tarnished and the reverence could forever be preserved. But when royals started taking a different route by allowing commoners to join their mystical existence, the enchantment  ceases and the public began treating them like movie stars which annoyed Queen Elizabeth II.

Discarding Royal Traditions

No glass Coach for Kate Middleton

For many centuries, royal weddings helped invigorate the monarchy, with all its pageantry and magical rituals,  nothing more fascinating than royal weddings. The ancient tradition of transporting royal brides into a glass coach drawn by prancing horses is one of the most inspiring, if not, stirring sights among the royal parades. But this tradition will no longer be seen on the upcoming wedding of Prince William. It was revealed in the royal news that Kate Middleton would be riding a car on April 29, 2011 instead of a glass coach, ceasing the term “fairytale Princess”. This would further symbolize that Middleton came from an ordinary, less-than-privilege background.

 Glass Coach drawn by horses and guarded by the Queen's long-serving footmen

Glass Coach carrying royal brides during medieval time and up to the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in 1981

 The Prince and Princess of Wales riding at an open carriage after their wedding

Prince William and Kate Middleton

Open-Air wedding for Prince Albert II of Monaco

In another twist of event, Prince Albert II of Monaco, who will wed his commoner girlfriend, Charlene Wittstock, on July 2, 2011, expressed his wish to be married in the courtyard of Place du Palais. The spokesman revealed that the palace court of honor and the palace gate will be left open. It will be officiated by the Archbishop of Monaco in a Roman Catholic ceremony. They will wed in the courtyard of Place du Palais. Their civil wedding (required by Monaco law) will be held the day before (July 1, 2011) in the Palace Throne Room presided by the Monaco’s registrar.

 The royal palace in Monaco where the royal wedding will take place

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock

ZARA PHILLIPS, the eldest granddaughter of the ruling British Queen

There will be three royals who will be walking-down-the-aisle next year.

Although technically, Zara Phillips is not royal by birth because her father, Captain Mark Phillips, whom Princess Anne married in November 14, 1973 ( on Prince Charles' 25th birthday), is a commoner without any noble title, she is informally regarded as royalty because she is a daughter of a true-blooded Princess and a granddaughter of a ruling sovereign. It was even reported that aside from Prince William, Zara is the only family member who has a direct access to the Queen, she can call or see her grandmother anytime without passing through an appointment.

Zara Phillips, only daughter of Princess Anne. Currently, she is 13^th in the line of succession to the British throne. She is reportedly the closest cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry.

Sounds like “Love Is In The Air” for European royals. After Prince Albert II of Monaco and Prince William of Wales had announced their engagement, Will’s closest cousin, Zara Phillips, quickly followed the wedding euphoria. While William and Albert already revealed the exact date of their wedding day, Zara has yet to finalize the schedule and venue of her big day.

Born Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips (her first name, Zara, was given by her uncle, Prince Charles, because it carries a fantastic meaning in Greek: Bright as the Dawn) on May 15, 1981 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London (where her royal cousins, Prince William and Prince Harry, were also born). She is the youngest child of Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne the Princess Royal, only daughter of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Zara's father is Captain Mark Phillips, an Olympian in the Equestrian division. She studied at Exeter University but it was not known whether she finished her Physiotherapy course. Just like her parents who are both Olympic gold medalists, Zara also is an accomplished equestrianne, having represented Britain in various international competition, in 2006, she won the Equestrian World Championship in Germany. She was named in 2006 by the BBC news as Sports Personality of the Year and on the following year she was given an honor called Member of the British Empire (MBE) by her grandmother during Her Majesty’s New Year Honour’s List. For two succeeding Olympics (2004 and 2008) Zara's dream to join the British team was halted by the injury suffered by her horse, Toy Town, but she is set to join the competition in 2012 London World Olympics.

Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips

Zara, the champion equestrianne

Zara during the Badminton Horse Trials

With her two closest cousins, Prince William and Prince Harry, during 2009 Christmas celebration at Sandringham estate of the Queen, where they traditionally gathered to celebrate the Christmas eve.

Her mother tried to raise her and her older brother, Peter Phillips, in a normal environment away from the trappings of royalty, so they never take royal engagements except when necessary (like charitable causes). Her parents filed for divorce after 18 years of marriage in 1992 and when it was finalized, Princess Anne remarried to Timothy Laurence, a commander in the Royal Navy. Zara has two half-siblings on her father's side.

with her brother, Peter Phillips, and grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II

Mike Tindall and Zara's mother, the Princess Anne

Zara's boyfriend of seven years, Mike Tindall, is a Captain in Gloucester Rugby Team in England (rugby union is a popular sport in Britain similar to football—only that rugby is a sport based on running with an oval-shaped ball in hand). Other than having a father as a Rugby Union Captain, reports about his break-away with his former rugby team, reckless driving charges and his regrets for refusing to put on braces to strengthen his teeth, nothing much have been reported on Tindall's personal life.

Mike Tindall will soon join the British royal family

Mike Tindall in action. He is reportedly one of the highest-paid rugby players in England

Zara and Mike shared a home at Princess Anne’s estate, Gatcombe’s Park, in Gloucestershire since 2007, so people have been speculating they'll get married soon, finally, the couple announced their engagement on December 21, 2010 but no specific date have been finalized. On the day of their engagement, Mike Tindall, presented Zara a diamond solitaire ring set on a split band made of platinum which he personally designed. The couple, who reportedly wants to avoid the hoopla of an elaborate wedding, will possibly choose St. George Chapel in Windsor Castle as the site of the ceremony. Most royals who want to avoid the throngs of people and reporters on their wedding day chose this historical chapel to say "I do"because of its exclusive location, Zara's uncles Prince Edward and Prince Charles (on his marriage to Camilla Parker-Bowles) and her brother, Peter Phillips, were all married at St. George's Chapel.

Zara during the Emirates Melbourne Cup Day in Australia (2009)

Her cousin, Prince William, will wed on the 29th of April, 2011 at Westminster Abbey, while another European royal, Prince Albert II of Monaco, is set to marry on the 3rd of July, 2011 in Monaco. Zara's wedding however is expected to happen  either summer or autumn in 2011 so as not to overlap with her cousin's spring wedding.

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock, a South African Olympian

It was earlier reported that Prince Charles will foot the bill on William's wedding and a little share from Her Majesty, it is not known however if Princess Anne and the Queen will do the same for Zara.

ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS FROM ZARA&MİKE

Engagement photos from Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall at their Gloucestershire home in England

ZARA PHİLİPS &MİKE TİNDALL ENGAGED

Zara Phillips  engaged to England rugby star Mike Tindall

**Official Announcement from British Royal House**

THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS ISSUED BY THE PRESS SECRETARY
TO THE QUEEN

The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Zara Phillips to Mr Mike Tindall, son of Mr Phillip and Mrs Linda Tindall

information(.royal.gov.uk)

ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS OF PRİNCE WİLLİAM AND KATE MİDDLETON

Official engagement photos from  Prince William and Kate Middleton

ROYAL ENGAGEMENT RINGS

The eye-popping engagement rings of the European royals. Their choices of stones and designs reflect tradition and opulence.

CABOCHON-CUT SAPPHIRE AND HEART-SHAPED DIAMOND
When Crown Prince Pavlos proposed to American heiress, Marie Chantal, eldest daughter of billionaire and Duty Free mogul, Robert Miller, in 1995, he gave her a rare cabochon-cut sapphire and heart-shaped diamond ring. Prince Pavlos is the eldest son of Constantine II, the deposed King of Greece and Princess Ana Marie of Denmark. Pavlos and Marie Chantal, a children clothing designer, married on July 1, 1995 at St. Sophia’s cathedral, London, England.

  Marie Chantal Miller and Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece on their wedding day, July 1, 1995. The Prince presented Miller an elegant Cabochon-cut Sapphire diamond ring during the announcement of their engagement. Photo from www.brideuniverse.com

DIAMOND SOLITAIRE WITH WHITE GOLD

The official engagement of Princess Victoria, the future Queen of Sweden, to gym-owner Daniel Westling was announced by the Swedish palace spokesman on April 2009. Westling gave his fiancée a simple solitary round diamond band with a white gold on it. Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling wed on June 19, 2010 at Stockholm, Sweden.

 Princess Victoria of Sweden showing her diamond solitaire engagement ring. Photo from www.hellomagazine.com

DIAMOND RING WITH WHITE GOLD TRIM

Pavlos' first cousin, the Prince of Asturias, Prince Felipe, only son of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, gave his future bride, Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano in 2003 with a 16 baguette diamond ring set in a white gold trim.

Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz. Photo from www.royaldish.com

EMERALD-CUT DIAMOND WITH RUBIES

Prince Frederick of Denmark proposed to his Australian girlfriend, Mary Donaldson, a former marketing executive, in 2003. He gave his future bride a gorgeous ring of emerald-cut diamond surrounded with two ruby baguettes.

 Mary Donaldson and Prince Frederick posed during the announcement of their official engagement. Photo from www.pricescope.com

OVAL-SHAPED BLUE SAPPHIRE WITH 18 DIAMONDS

When Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, proposed marriage to Lady Diana Spencer in February 1981, he presented his future bride with a fabulous engagement ring from Garrads, an 18-carat oval-shaped blue sapphire surrounded with 14 brilliant-cut diamonds, valued at $50,000.00 that time. It was reported that Lady Diana personally picked the ring when the crown jeweler brought several stones in her presence, the 19-year-old Diana giggled when she saw the eye-catching large stone and exclaimed “I love it!” She wore this ring everyday of her life even after her divorce to the Prince of Wales in 1996. The ring attached a sentimental value that when Diana’s eldest son, Prince William (who revealed how much he missed his mother everyday), proposed to Kate Middleton in October 2010 at Kenya, Africa, he decided to give her the engagement ring which is very precious to his mother to make sure Diana would not be missed out on the important occasion of his life.

 Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer in February 1981. Prince William and Kate Middleton in November 2010 showing the same engagement ring.

The ring is very precious to the late Princess of Wales, Diana, who personally chose it among the array of precious stones when crown jeweler, Garrads, brought several designs to Buckingham Palace in 1981. The Princess wore it everyday of her life.

PLATINUM-SET OVAL ORANGE DIAMOND

The Dutch throne announced the official engagement of Queen Beatrix’s heir, Prince Wilhelm-Alexander, to Argentinian investment banker, Maxima Zorreguieta Cerruti on March 30, 2001. He presented his future bride with a unique platinum-set ring which has an oval orange diamond on its center flanked by two emerald-cut diamond encrusted with sparkling gems.

 Prince Alexander and Maxima Zorreguietta with a platinum-set oval diamond engagement ring.

PEAR-SHAPED DIAMOND RING

The sovereign Prince of Monaco, Albert II, will finally embark into married life. At 52, the Prince maybe the oldest royal bachelor in the present-day European monarchy. The royal palace of Monaco announced the official engagement of the Prince on June 26, 2010. He gave her an exquisite pear-shaped ring with round brilliant-cut diamonds set in a unique gray gold. This ring is reportedly created by Parisian jeweler, Maison Repossi.

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock posed for photographers. The pair will get married on the summer of 2010 says the palace insider.

Prince William's Engagement!

The Prince of Wales announced the engagement of his eldest son, Prince William, to a commoner woman, Kate Middleton, on November 16, 2010, Tuesday. William presented Middleton an exquisite oval-shaped blue sapphire engagement ring surrounded with 18 diamonds previously worn by his mother, Princess Diana, on her engagement to Prince Charles in 1981. Prince William is the first British heir in history to marry a middle-class woman, if he had lived prior to the 20th century, his marriage would be considered "morganatic" and would lose his place in the line of succession.

Kate Middleton and Prince William. 

 

His future wife, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton, who is six months older than him, is a daughter of Michael and Carole Middleton, both flight attendants before founding a family business, Party Pieces. They lived in Berkshire county near Windsor Castle. Her middle class background is viewed as nothing but a mockery at its finest form to the most exalted royal court on earth. Since the 17th century, no future British King ever married a middle class woman.

Unlike the late Princess of Wales, Diana, Kate Middleton did not generate mass hysteria when she started dating Prince William. Her unimpressive personality failed to capture everybody's fascination of a fairytale Princess. Let's admit it, the survival of the monarchy partly relies on public approval, King Edward VIII already cost his throne all because of inappropriate choice for a wife. Though Kate is not divorced unlike Wallis Simpson, she is hardly a phenomenon who could add glamour and charm to the dilapidated House of Windsor. Some royal watchers are even disgusted with her wild partying image and her eagerness to jump into the royal bandwagon, in contrast to other commoners who are independently-established, accomplished, and have soaring careers before marrying royal Princes in the European court, Middleton has no career of her own and was seen as very dependent to Prince William all through out their 8-year relationship. It is doubted if she could really carry a role of a future Queen Consort and could handle the pressure of being in the royal fold.

The engagement ring previously belonged to William's mother, Princess Diana which was valued at $75,000 in 1981.

William should learn from history. His great-great uncle, King Edward VIII, voluntary abdicated in 1936 because his choice for a wife almost created a Constitutional Crisis. The King was besotted to a commoner, twice divorced American woman, Wallis Simpson, the British subjects strongly opposed her to be their "regina". The King abdicated and lived in a lonely exile, he was also stripped of his properties and his wife did not receive a royal status.

Though William and Kate had been in a relationship for almost eight years, her total lack of aristocratic background and unfamiliarity of the royal routine fretted other royalists and doubted if she could survive in the rigid system of the British establishment. After the collapse of his parents' marriage in 1990s, many royalists suggested that Prince William should choose a woman within his circle who is more discreet and familiar with the royal decorum. The "outsiders" (royal family's term for commoners) find the royal routine dour and boring that some of them who joined the establishment became disillusioned with their role. The marriages of Princess Anne to Mark Phillips, Prince Andrew to Sarah Ferguson and Princess Margaret to Tony Armstrong-Jones, all ended in divorce.

Andrew Morton once wrote "Grafting commoners into the Hanoverian (Queen Elizabeth's bloodline) Tree proved to be very disastrous". Lord Mountbatten, the favorite uncle of Prince Charles, told the latter in early 70's "Love is not an option for a man who would be King of England, it is a consideration in marriage but not a guiding force".

Traditionally, royal brides should come from a suitable background with royal pedigree, not a Roman Catholic because a British King would automatically become a Supreme head of the Church of England which is a protestant church. She should free from any sort of scandal and could carry a royal responsibility with ease. Royals who were suggested to Prince William during his teenage years include Princess Madelaine of Sweden and Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark both well-educated, very independent and accomplished.

Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark. She is more familiar with the royal routine and could handle the pressure of royal responsibilities

The idea of choosing a royal bride is this: The monarchy is a different institution, people within their circle are reared with a certain role to fulfill which only royalty could grasp, inviting commoners into the turf, would mean exposing the "magic and charm" they held precious. The outsiders hardly understand this ancient royal tradition.

  

Only fortune teller could tell how long Kate Middleton could endure the upper-lip system of the British establishment which Princess Diana later on found "unbearable". Let's just hope that Prince William's future marriage wouldn't pass to the same troubled water his royal relatives' marital union gone through.

Royal Engagements!

Last June 19, 2010, the world witnessed the lavish wedding ceremony of Sweden's future Queen, Victoria, to a commoner gym owner, Daniel Westling. But it seems the European royals caught a marriage bug after attending the ceremony that two of the most eligible princes in the world followed by announcing their

engagements!

The first to announce is the 52-year-old ruler of Monaco, Prince Albert II, current head of the Royal House of Grimaldi. Monaco is a tiny, but glamorous principality in the Mediterranean coast, southwest of France. The palace spokesman announced Albert's official engagement to the 32-year-old South Afrian Olympian, Charlene Wittstock, on June 26, 2010. The royal wedding is set on the summer of 2011. 

His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco and his fiancee, Charlene Wittstock

Prince Albert has been Monaco's ruler since April 2005 upon the death of his father, Prince Rainier III. Prince Albert is the only son of Prince Rainier and Hollywood actress, Grace Kelly. He has two sisters, Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie. Charlene Wittstock is a South African Olympian who took part in the 2000 Sydney Olympics as a backstroke swimmer. She and the Prince met in 2006 during a swimming competition in Monaco and started dating months later. Charlene moved a year later to the principality and became Albert's constant companion in many social events.

Albert's stubbornness to find a suitable wife created a growing concern among the people of Monaco, if he would die without a legitimate successor and provided none of his sisters would willing to assume the responsibility to head the House of Grimaldi, the tiny principality would be taken back by France. Prior to his death, Prince Rainier declared his eldest child, Princess Caroline as Albert's presumptive heir until Albert sired legitimate children. Prince Albert's former girlfriends include Supermodel Claudia Schiffer, Brooke Shields, Tatjana Oxenova, and one German aristocrat.

  His Royal Highness, Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark with his fiancee, Tatiana Blatnik

Another European royal who will soon walking-down-the-aisle is the dashing Greek Prince, Nikolaos, second son of Constantine II, the deposed King of Greece and Queen Anna Marie, both direct descendants of Queen Victoria of England and King Christian IX of Denmark. The 40-year-old Greek royal is related to all European royals. His father is the closest friend and second cousin of Prince Charles of England and a younger brother of Queen Sophia of Spain, her mother, Anna Marie, is the youngest sister of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. He is working in his father's business in London. His future bride, 29-year-old Tatiana Blatnik is of noble origin, her German mother is a descendant of King George II of England. She is a fashion designer and event planner of the fashion house, Diane von Furstenberg, based in London. The Prince previously dated Supermodel Elle Mcpherson and actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Prince Nikolaos and Tatiana will wed on August 25, 2010 with a romantic backdrop of sunset at the whitewashed 19th century monastery of Ayios Nikolaos, overlooking the ancient harbor of the mystical Greek island of Saronic and Spetses.

It seems, the children of Ex-King Constantine II is mesmerized with the fashion designing world. His eldest son, Prince Pavlos, married Marie Chantal Miller, daughter of American billionaire, Robert Miller. Chantal is into fashion designing too and owns a children clothing line in London. His youngest daughter, Princess Theodora is recently opened a fashion house in London after she graduated from the prestigious fashion school in London, St.Martin. Both Princess Theodora and Prince Nikolaos earned a college degree at the prestigious Brown University in the United States.

Anyway, this news is a relief to all royal watchers who had been tailing the romantic affairs of these two irresistible royal princes, who, for so long, refused to settle down.