Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Sad Egyptian Anniversary

It was on this day in 1953 that the Egyptian monarchy was abolished and a republic declared, deposing HM King Fuad II of Egypt and Sudan, the last reigning monarch of the Muhammad Ali dynasty which had ruled Egypt since 1805. The Egyptian Royal Family was good friends to the House of Grimaldi and King Fuad II (who was only an infant at the time he lost his throne) spent much of his time in exile in the Principality of Monaco. His father, King Farouk, had been a good friend of HSH Prince Rainier III and when his Egyptian citizenship was revoked in 1959 the Prince of Monaco extended him Monegasque citizenship and they always had a warm welcome in the Principality. As seen in the photo above, when King Fuad II was all grown up and decided to get married, to Dominique-France Loeb-Picard (a well-educated French woman who converted from Judaism to Islam to marry the King) the ceremony was held in Monaco with TSH Prince Rainier and Princess Grace looking on. Unfortunately, the marriage did not endure but the two royal families have always remained close. Princess Ferial of Egypt accompanied her father King Farouk to the wedding in Monaco of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace and, many years later, the same Egyptian princess returned to Monaco to say farewell to Prince Rainier at his funeral. Particularly today, in light of the trauma of the "Arab Spring" and the continued unrest under the government which replaced the Mubarak dictatorship, it is more obvious than ever than the loss of the Egyptian monarchy was a terrible mistake.

Friday, June 14, 2013

Swedish Royal Wedding


HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco represented the Principality and the House of Grimaldi at the wedding last Saturday of HRH Princess Madeleine of Sweden and New York banker Chris O'Neill. Here the Princess arrives alongside TRH the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Princess Charlene chats with TRH Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. They do have an odd "almost" connection. Both princesses are from former parts of the British Empire and married into European royalty and both met their husbands through the Olympic games (though in very different ways).  


Saturday, June 8, 2013

Happy Birthday Andrea!

 It was on this day in 1984 that Andrea Albert Pierre Casiraghi was born to Stefano Casiraghi and HSH Princess Caroline of Monaco. Doesn't seem that long ago does it? Yesterday's bundle of joy is today's proud papa. How time flies...

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