All posts tagged: European Royals

Queen Sonja leaves heartbreaking final message for late husband King Harald by his coffin

Queen Sonja leaves heartbreaking final message for late husband King Harald by his coffin

Published by Daniella Wilson

Queen Sonja left a heartbreaking final message for her beloved husband, King Harald, as the royal family honours his memory.  The Norwegian King passed away aged 89 last Friday after being diagnosed with haemolytic anaemia, a rare condition that reduces the number of red blood cells.  On Monday, the late monarch’s coffin was moved from the Red Room of the Palace to the Palace Chapel, where it will remain until the state funeral on 9 September, so members of the public can pay their respects.  The royals left two wreaths with white flowers and embroidered ribbons on either side of the coffin, with Queen Sonja, 89, leaving a touching tribute for her husband of 58 years.  © NTB/AFP via Getty ImagesQueen Sonja’s message for King Harald Her ribbon, also embellished with her monogram, read “Takk for et godt liv”, which translates to English as “thank you for a wonderful life”.   A second wreath simply read “takk”, meaning “thank you”, alongside the names of Haakon, Mette, Ingrid, Magnus and Marius Borg Hoiby, Haakon’s stepson, who …

Princess Anne’s little-known link to new monarch King Haakon of Norway

Princess Anne’s little-known link to new monarch King Haakon of Norway

Published by Daniella Wilson

Since the sad passing of King Harald V of Norway, King Charles has made his special relationship with the Norwegian royals clear, referring to the late monarch as his “dear cousin.” He added of the close bond: “The United Kingdom and Norway share particularly close historical and family ties,” and this is particularly true for King Charles’ sister, Princess Anne, who has a little-known link to Norway’s new monarch, King Haakon of Norway. © Getty ImagesPrincess Anne of Great Britain and King Haakon have a strong bond Princess Anne’s Norwegian ties King Charles’ only sister, Princess Anne, was named one of the newly crowned King Haakon of Norway’s godparents when he was born in 1973. King Haakon has quite the glittering roster of godparents, with the role also bestowed upon the late King Olav V of Norway, who was King Haakon’s grandfather, 94-year-old Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, the new King’s paternal great-aunt, the late Prince Carl Bernadotte, his paternal cousin, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, his paternal cousin, and finally, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, his paternal …

The new Norwegian Order of Succession after King Harald’s death

The new Norwegian Order of Succession after King Harald’s death

Published by Daniella Wilson

The Norwegian royal family is currently in mourning following the death of King Harald, who was on the throne for 35 years before his death at the age of 89. Harald has been succeeded by his son, King Haakon VIII, who has assumed the throne at the age of 53. His Queen Consort is Queen Mette-Marit, whose status has been shrouded in controversy over her links to Jeffrey Epstein and her son, Marius Borg Hoiby’s conviction for rape. At the time that Haakon was born, Norway adopted a system of agnatic primogeniture, which prevented women from being in the line of succession. Although the country has operated under absolute primogeniture since 1990, this wasn’t applied retroactively, meaning that Haakon’s older sister, Princess Martha Louise is behind him and his children in the line of succession. The current heir to the Norwegian throne is Crown Princess Ingrid, 22, and she is set to become the second-ever Queen Regent. Currently behind her in the line of succession is her younger brother, Prince Sverre.  WATCH: All you need …

Liechtenstein royal confirms engagement – 1 year after being linked to Princess Elisabeth

Liechtenstein royal confirms engagement – 1 year after being linked to Princess Elisabeth

Published by Daniella Wilson

Congratulations are in order for Prince Georg of Liechtenstein and Princess Maria-Nives von der Leyen, as the couple’s engagement was announced on Friday. The joyous news was confirmed by Georg’s parents, Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie. A statement read: “HRH Hereditary Prince Alois and HRH Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein are delighted to announce the engagement of their son Prince Georg to Princess Maria-Nives von der Leyen.” It finished: “The wedding of Princess Maria-Nives and Prince Georg is expected to take place in Germany in late summer 2027.” Georg is the third child of Alois and Sophie, and he previously studied at Malvern College in the UK. The 27-year-old royal currently works in business development for the tech sector in New York City. Meanwhile, Princess Maria-Nives is the youngest daughter of Prince Philipp von der Leyen and Princess Elisabeth von der Leyen, who hail from the Leyen noble family of Germany. The 25-year-old has been working at a marketing agency in Vienna since 2024. © Schloss VaduzGeorg and Maria-Nives will marry next year …

Prince Gabriel, 23, marks major graduation with family – as palace reveals his unprecedented next step

Prince Gabriel, 23, marks major graduation with family – as palace reveals his unprecedented next step

Published by Daniella Wilson

Prince Gabriel marked a major milestone as he was joined by the Belgian royal family for his military graduation on Thursday.  The royal, 23, was accompanied by his proud parents, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, as well as older sister Crown Princess Elisabeth, as he received his degree in Social and Military Sciences from the Royal Military Academy. Dressed in military uniform, he participated in a moving ceremony after three years of training in Brussels, shaking hands with his father, the King.  Graduates from the 176th Polytechnic Class, the 162nd Class in Social and Military Sciences, and various classes from the Special Division were honoured during the ceremony.  © Photonews via Getty ImagesPrince Gabriel was joined by his proud parents and older sister King Philippe and Princess Elisabeth both wore their official uniforms, displaying their titles within the Belgian army.  Elisabeth, 24, previously graduated from the Royal Military Academy in 2023, before going on to study at Oxford and Harvard universities.  Gabriel also has two younger siblings, Prince Emmanuel, 20, and Princess Eleonore, 18.  What …

Updates as senior Norwegian royals rush to his side

Updates as senior Norwegian royals rush to his side

Published by Daniella Wilson

© Getty ImagesKing Harald is surrounded by family in hospital We’ve been closely following the health of King Harald of Norway, and now we are sad to report that his condition has worsened and now his family have chosen to cancel all royal engagements and gather at his bedside at Oslo University Hospital.  His wife Queen Sonja and his son Crown Prince Haakon and his own wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit are said to be with the 89-year-old royal. The King was hospitalised for a rare blood condition called haemolytic anaemia and a bacterial blood infection.  The Norwegian Palace issued an update on his health today which read: “His Majesty the King’s health condition is extremely serious.” Following the news, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in a comment to French news agency AFP: “I stand together with the entire country as we now send our warmest thoughts to the king and the rest of the royal family.” “I am confident that the king is being well taken care of, and that he is receiving good and …

Crown Prince Haakon’s disgraced stepson Marius Borg Høiby makes surprise appearance in anniversary photos after rape sentence

Crown Prince Haakon’s disgraced stepson Marius Borg Høiby makes surprise appearance in anniversary photos after rape sentence

Published by Daniella Wilson

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette Marit shared never-before-seen photos to mark their silver wedding anniversary on Tuesday – including a rare picture of Marius Borg Høiby.  The Norwegian royal couple is celebrating 25 years of marriage after tying the knot at Oslo Cathedral on 25 August 2001.  To mark the occasion, they opened their family album to share a series of unseen throwback pictures from their 2001 honeymoon to Long Island in the US.  In the fourth picture, Marius, then aged four, was seen on the Crown Prince’s shoulders as they swam in the sea.   The now-disgraced royal relative, who is from Mette-Marit’s previous relationship, was convicted of rape during a high-profile trial that concluded earlier this year, so it’s perhaps unexpected to see him in an official post by the royal house.  The milestone comes as Norway’s King Harald, 89, remains in the National Hospital amid growing fears for his “deteriorating” health.  Marius Borg Høiby’s high-profile trial Marius, 29, was found guilty of two counts of rape in June and was …

Prince Laurent of Belgium quietly makes his secret son a Prince after 26 years

Prince Laurent of Belgium quietly makes his secret son a Prince after 26 years

Published by Daniella Wilson

Prince Laurent has legally recognised his secret love child, meaning Belgium has a new Prince.  Clément Vandenkerckhove, 26, who is a former car salesman, is Laurent’s son from his relationship with Flemish model Wendy van Wanten, before his marriage to Princess Claire in 2003.  Last September, a documentary aired on Flemish TV channel VTM titled Clement, Son of… in which the new royal identified himself as the Prince’s son. He recalled his mother telling him when he was 16: “Your daddy is a Prince.”  Clément was officially declared as Laurent’s son and heir in a town hall ceremony six months ago, with details only now being made public. © Instagram / @clement_vandenkerckhovePrince Laurent and his son Clement However, he will not receive a royal allowance and won’t be part of the royal line of succession.  Though he has the option to change his surname to Saxe-Coburg, he is not expected to do so.  He told Nieuwsblad: “I am proud of the Vandenkerckhove surname. To renounce that surname would be a betrayal of everything my mother …

Crown Princess Mette-Marit surprises in newly released family birthday portrait after difficult year

Crown Princess Mette-Marit surprises in newly released family birthday portrait after difficult year

Published by Daniella Wilson

Crown Princess Mette Marit has celebrated her 53rd birthday with a newly released family portrait.  The Norwegian royal was pictured alongside her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, and children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 20. Mette-Marit, who has been in recovery since her lung transplant in June, wore an elegant golden silk skirt and a navy blazer.  The picture was shared by the Norwegian Royal House on Instagram on Wednesday with the caption: “Congratulations to Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who turns 53 today!” © The Royal Court of NorwayCrown Princess Mette-Marit with her family for her 53rd birthday The photograph of the family was taken earlier this year.  Crown Princess Mette-Marit visits King Harald in hospital Earlier this week, the Crown Princess made a rare public outing to visit her father-in-law King Harald, who has been in hospital with a rare condition called hemolytic anaemia, which causes the number of red blood cells in the body to be reduced.  The Norwegian monarch, 89, was admitted to Oslo National Hospital on Monday …

Princess Martha Louise of Norway’s daughter Leah Behn, 21, signs up for country’s equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing

Princess Martha Louise of Norway’s daughter Leah Behn, 21, signs up for country’s equivalent of Strictly Come Dancing

Published by Daniella Wilson

Princess Martha Louise‘s rarely seen daughter is set to appear on Norway’s answer to Strictly Come Dancing this autumn.  Captioning her post “surprise!”, Leah Isadora Behn, 21, shared her official dance portrait on Instagram on Tuesday.  The model, who is sixth in line to the throne, will appear on Skal vi danse, which translates to Shall We Dance, and is part of the Dancing With The Stars Franchise.  The post was “liked” by her mother, Princess Martha Louise, and her stepfather, Shaman Durek. Princess Martha commented: “So much fun!”, while Durek added: “So proud of you angel.” In her official picture, Leah looked glamorous in a light blue ball gown surrounded by purple disco balls, before joining the rest of the contestants for a group photo. “This fall will be crazy,” she added.  Professional dancer Andreas Holsthiim shared photos with Leah, adding: “Let the show begin.” Who is Princess Martha’s daughter Leah Behn? Born on 8 April 2005, Leah is Princess Martha’s second daughter from her first marriage to the late Ari Behn, who tragically …