Moniek Bloks's Blog, page 87

A reigning Princess for Liechtenstein – A distant dream

The principality of Liechtenstein is the only European monarchy which completely bars the succession of women to the throne.

Karl I, the first Prince of Liechtenstein and his brothers Maximilian and Gundakar signed a Family Convenasnt in 1606 agreeing that the “firstborn son of the oldest line would have the hereditary title and would represent the House.” 1 The House Laws were updated in 1993 but did provide for the succession of a woman to the hereditary title.2 The succession is now limited to male patrilineal descendants of Prince Johann I Joseph, who are born to married parents and for which marriage the sovereign has given their consent.

This issue was later raised by the United Nations by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, saying, “While acknowledging the dual system of the State party, the Committee is concerned about the State party’s reservation to article 1 of the Convention with respect to hereditary succession to the throne within the Princely House of Liechtenstein, which denies women’s access to the throne, as confirmed by the delegation.” 3

Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein, fired back, saying “that the ancient family law that regulates the men-only rule is older even than the actual state of Liechtenstein and that it is a family tradition that does not affect the citizens. The Prince also points out that the monarchies of Monaco, Denmark and Spain all follow male-preference primogeniture.” 4 It should be noted that since the Prince’s comments, Denmark and the United Kingdom have changed their succession to absolute primogeniture. However, Spain and Monaco currently still practice male-preference primogeniture, which affected Princess Gabriella of Monaco directly as she, despite being the firstborn, is preceded in the line of succession by her brother Prince Jacques. 

However, discrimination cannot be defended by saying it’s a family tradition. Over the years, many Liechtenstein Princesses have missed out on becoming the reigning Princess. This includes the first Prince’s eldest daughter, Princess Anna Maria Franziska, the second Prince’s eldest daughter Princess Eleonora Maria, the third Prince’s eldest daughter Princess Maria Elisabeth, the sixth Prince’s eldest surviving daughter Princess Maria Theresia; the seventh Prince’s only surviving child Princess Maria Antonia… the list goes on.

The current heir has a firstborn son, but this does not make it a moot point. The United Kingdom also saw fit to change the rules of succession while there was a male heir with a firstborn son. Get with the times, Liechtenstein! (And Spain, Monaco and all other non-European monarchies with archaic rules!).

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Princess Iman of Jordan holds henna party ahead of wedding

As the eldest daughter of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan prepares for her wedding, a henna party was held for her.

Princess Iman is set to marry Mr Jameel Alexander Thermiotis on Sunday. The party was held at the Al Husseiniya Palace on Tuesday.

Click to view slideshow.

Among those in attendance were several princesses and members of the Jordanian Royal Family, Crown Prince Al Hussein’s fiancée, Ms Rajwa Al Saif, and a number of women from across Jordan’s governorates.

At the party, Naya Group, the first all-female musical ensemble in Jordan, performed traditional Jordanian music.

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Book Review: The Empress in the Pepper Chamber: Zhao Feiyan in History and Fiction by Olivia Milburn

*review copy*

*contains affiliate links*

Zhao Feiyan, also known as Empress Xiaocheng, was an Empress during the Han Dynasty. She has been known in history for being so wanton that she has been the main character in many lewd Chinese pieces of literature. Her notorious reputation has remained alive for two millennia, but is it deserved?

The Empress in the Pepper Chamber: Zhao Feiyan in History and Fiction by Olivia Milburn examines Zhao Feiyan and her literary legacy. The Scandalous Tale of Zhao Feiyan is an erotic novella that described the lifestyle of the Imperial favourites in the harem of Emperor Cheng. This text became the basis for writing about women in the palace and their sexual dealings. The author details how Zhao Feiyan’s story has evolved over the years and how she gained her reputation. Tragically, it seems that Zhao Feiyan has been degraded for all this time because she was being unable to give the Emperor a son.

This book attempts to rehabilitate the Empress by taking apart the fiction that has been built up around her and is quite successful too. One cannot help but feel sorry for the way she has been treated for all these years. The book is very well-written and researched, though it can be a little dry at times. I really appreciated the conclusions at the end of the chapters as well.

Overall, it’s a wonderful look at a much-maligned Empress, and I would highly recommend it.

The Empress in the Pepper Chamber: Zhao Feiyan in History and Fiction by Olivia Milburn is available now in the UK and the US.

 

 

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The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles III has conferred the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, on the occasion of His Royal Highness’s 59th birthday.

This means that Prince Edward and his wife Sophie will now be known as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. However, in a break with tradition, the title has not been made hereditary. It was announced that the title would only be held by Prince Edward during his lifetime.

The Dukedom was last created for Prince Philip, upon his marriage to the then Princess Elizabeth in 1947. Upon his death in 2021, the title was inherited by the then Prince of Wales. Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, the Prince of Wales became King, and the Dukedom of Edinburgh merged with the Crown. It was then available for King Charles to be created again.

Their son, previously Viscount Severn, will now be known as the Earl of Wessex. Lady Louise’s courtesy title remains unchanged.

Buckingham Palace states that “The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are proud to continue Prince Philip’s legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential.”

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Royal Jewels – The Australian Wattle Brooch

The Australian Wattle brooch is “claw- and pavé-set with three large brilliant and a variety of white, pale and deep yellow brilliants and baguettes in the form of a sprig of a golden wattle with a spray of Australian tea tree blossom.”1

The Queen’s Australian Wattle Brooch – Royal Collection Trust / © All Rights Reserved

The brooch represents the national flower of Australia and was commissioned by William Drummond & Co. Ltd from designer Paul Charles Schneller. The Prime Minister of Australia presented it to Queen Elizabeth II on 16 February 1954 during a state banquet in Parliament House in Canberra. It was Queen Elizabeth II’s first visit to Australia, and it was also the first visit by a reigning monarch.

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II wore the brooch often to Australian events but also during Commonwealth events. It was also famously worn to the wedding of then Prince of Wales to Camilla Parker Bowles – now the King and Queen.

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Spokesperson for Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirms use of title for Lili

A spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has confirmed that the Duke and Duchess’s daughter Lili was christened a few days ago while using her royal title.

The statement reads, “I can confirm that Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3 by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor.” This appears to be the incorrect name for the Archbishop, though.

The use of the title of Princess had long been thought not be in use, even though both Lili and her brother Archie are entitled to Prince(ss) before their Christian names under the current Letters Patent.

The 1917 Letters Patent state, “It is declared by the Letters Patent that the children of any Sovereign of the United Kingdom and the children of the sons of any such Sovereign and the eldest living son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales shall have and at all times hold and enjoy the style, title or attribute of Royal Highness with their titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their respective Christian names or with their other titles of honour.” This was amended in 2013 to include all the children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales (namely The then Duke of Cambridge’s children, George, Charlotte and Louis), mainly because if George had been born a girl, she would have been “Lady” rather than “Princess,” while changes to make the succession gender neutral were already underway.1

Now that Charles is King, Archie and Lili are “the children of the sons of any such Sovereign” and are thus entitled to HRH Prince(ss). It is being reported that Buckingham Palace will update the official line of succession to include Lili and Archie’s titles.

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Infanta Eulalia of Spain – “More time in the headlines than in the Court of Spain”

The Infanta María Eulalia was born on 12 February 1864 to the ruling Queen of Spain, Isabella II and her husband, Francisco, Duke of Cádiz. Known as Eulalia, the Infanta was the youngest surviving child to be born to the couple and spent the first years of her life living in the Royal Palace of Madrid with her brother and three sisters. The marriage between Eulalia’s parents has been a dynastic match and was often tumultuous. Her father was rumoured to have been homosexual, while her mother, the Queen, was involved in numerous affairs which have led many to doubt the paternity of the royal children.

Though as an Infanta of Spain, Eulalia was afforded a luxurious upbringing in the palace for the early years of her life, her mother’s reign was filled with difficulties. As the only female ruler of modern Spain, Isabella II was constantly doubted by those who did not wish to have a woman on the throne. For decades, wars raged across the country between those who supported Isabella and those who supported her rival, her cousin Infante Carlos. Furthermore, as Spain’s first constitutional monarch, Queen Isabella’s power was greatly limited compared to those that ruled before her. Regents ruled the country during Isabella’s youth, and this was followed by a series of unstable governments and military coups, which meant that Isabella’s reign hung by a thread and was only maintained with the support of the army.

Eulalia (right) with her mother and sisters (public domain)

In 1854 and 1861, there had been failed attempts to depose the Queen. On 28 September 1868, the Queen’s forces were finally overthrown, and two days later, she left her country after a 35-year reign. Infanta Eulalia then found herself an exiled royal living in Paris at just two years old. She was later enrolled in a French convent school and was not raised as a Princess for many years.

While living in exile, Queen Isabella abdicated in favour of her son Alfonso. Then, in December 1874, the First Republic of Spain ended when Alfonso, Eulalia’s brother, was declared King Alfonso XII of Spain. Suddenly the ten-year-old Eulalia was whisked back to the Spanish court and into the public eye as the sister of the King. This must have been very confusing for the young girl who would not have remembered her life in Spain. Following this, Eulalia moved around for a few years, living in a number of palaces with her mother, the former Queen.

When she reached her early twenties, it was time for Eulalia to marry, and she was soon betrothed to Infante Antonio of Orléans and Borbón, Duke of Galliera, who was the son of the French Duke of Montpensier and his wife, Infanta Luisa Fernanda of Spain. The pair were first cousins, and the families were also bonded due to the marriage between Eulalia’s brother King Alfonso XII and Antonio’s sister Mercedes. However, by the time of Eulalia’s wedding, both Alfonso and his wife were dead. Unfortunately, Mercedes died shortly after their honeymoon in 1878, and the King died in November 1885, aged just 27. The untimely death of the king sent shock waves throughout Spain and led again to regency rule as the new King Alfonso XIII was a newborn child.

Due to the passing of her brother, Eulalia’s wedding was delayed, and when it was finally celebrated on 6 March 1886, it was perhaps a more sombre affair than it would have been if her brother had lived. Following the wedding, the couple had a brief honeymoon in Madrid and soon came to the realisation that they had little in common. Though her husband was the grandson of two Kings, creating a fine match, Eulalia simply did not like him and had initially said no to the marriage. As she had seen her mother do, she put on a show in public, but behind closed doors, the couple bickered, and Eulalia treated Antonio with vicious disdain. As was her duty, Eulalia bore two children in quick succession; the first was Alfonso, born in 1886 and named after her brother, followed in 1888 by Luis Fernando.

As soon as the two boys had been born, Eulalia moved out of her husband’s home and set up households of her own in Paris and Spain, and she also spent lots of time visiting England.

In 1893, Infanta Eulalia made the long voyage to visit America. Eulalia visited Puerto Rico and Havana before visiting the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. This huge event was held to celebrate 400 years since Christopher Columbus reached America, and as a member of the Spanish Royal family with links to Columbus, Eulalia was a guest of honour. Following this, Eulalia set off for Washington, where she was greeted by the President before continuing on to New York.

While travelling, Eulalia was flooded with invitations to all sorts of events and parties from politicians and high society in Chicago and New York. While Eulalia did attend some of these events, she refused many invitations and unsurprisingly did her own thing. She caused a scandal by dressing in paupers clothing to attend a fun fair where she ate fairground foods and tried to blend in with the public. She also smoked in the street and worshipped at a small, impoverished chapel. Still, the Americans fawned over her, and she filled countless pages of newspapers it was said by the New York Times that she “spent more time in the headlines of newspapers than in the Spanish court” and turned her family “crimson with rage.”1

After returning from her trip, Eulalia sought a divorce from her husband, but she was denied Papal permission. However, Eulalia did not return to her husband and spent more and more time at her Parisian home, where she would host her rich American friends. She became known for introducing these wealthy Americans to European royals, many of whom were rich in titles but severely lacking in funds. For her efforts, Eulalia received cash and extravagant gifts.

Infante Antonio (public domain)

Though Eulalia acted less and less like a royal all the time, she still maintained ties to her family. This was until the Infanta decided to pick up a pen and become a writer in 1912. Her first book was written in French- Au fil de la vie or The Thread of Life was published under a pseudonym, but it was clear that the author was Eulalia. The work was filled with Eulalia’s thoughts on politics, women’s rights and education and the inequality between classes. It is here that Eulalia began to reflect on how she was so quickly moved between classes in her early years depending on the fortunes of her mother and brother, and it seemed that Eulalia was angered by this and by the rules of society. Eulalia’s nephew King Alfonso XIII was furious when she published the book without him approving it first.

The Infanta carried on writing until 1935; publishing works on court life and the German Emperor Wilhelm II. She even dared to write about post-war relations between France and Germany and to comment on the regime of Mussolini in Italy. Her final publication was her own memoirs filled with tales of teen romances, complaints about the strict etiquette at the Spanish court and predictions on how General Franco would modernise Spain. The public, of course, lapped up her works to the dismay of her family.

Infanta Eulalia lived until the age of 94 and witnessed great changes to the world and to the role of royalty. She died following a heart attack in March 1858 and was buried in El Escorial.2

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Empress Xiaorui Min – The widow of the last Emperor of China

Empress Xiaorui Min was the fifth and last wife of Puyi, The Last Emperor of China. She was a nurse who met Emperor Puyi after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. Empress Xiaorui Min became the last symbol of the imperial monarchy. After Emperor Puyi’s death, Empress Xiaorui Min worked tirelessly to preserve his legacy. Because of her efforts, Emperor Puyi became a global phenomenon.

Empress Xiaorui Min was born on 4 September 1924. Her personal name was Li Shuxian, and she was Han Chinese. Her father was a bank clerk.[1] Li Shuxian grew up in Hangzhou. When she was ten years old, her mother died. Her mother’s death would have a great impact on her life.[2] Her father then relocated to Shanghai, and he remarried. She was often beaten by her stepmother. Li Shuxian’s father died when she was fourteen years old, and she was in the care of her stepmother.[3] To escape from her stepmother, Li Shuxian had to marry.[4]

When Li Shuxian was nineteen years old, she married the son of a surgeon. Her husband was from a wealthy family. However, he neglected her and often lavished his affections on his concubine.[5] They had no children. Six years later, Li Shuxian realized that she could no longer tolerate being in an unhappy marriage.[6] She decided to leave her husband and move to Beijing. She entered Yuwen School and began intensive training to become a nurse. After she finished her training, she received a job at Guanxiang Hospital. This meant that she was now financially independent, and she officially divorced her husband.[7]

In 1962, Li Shuxian’s friend Sha Zengxi introduced her to Puyi, the former Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. She was thirty-seven, and Puyi was fifty-six.[8] Puyi immediately fell in love with Li Shuxian.[9] They both shared a common interest in medicine, economics, and history.[10] They married on 30 April 1962. The wedding was simple, but many leaders in the Chinese government witnessed the ceremony. Their wedding also became a national sensation because it was rare for an Aisin-Gioro royal to marry a Han Chinese.[11]

However, problems quickly arose in their marriage. They could not consummate their marriage.[12] This was because Puyi was sexually abused as a child, and it had traumatized him.[13] Therefore, he could not perform his duty as a husband.[14] Puyi tried to get treatment by getting hormone injections and medicines, but it didn’t work.[15] This frustrated Li Shuxian because she wanted a family with Puyi.[16] The fact that she could never have children with her husband was a big blow to her.[17] She felt Puyi cheated her into marrying him, and she immediately regretted her marriage.[18] She considered divorcing him. After much contemplation, she decided to stay with Puyi.[19]

The marriage between Puyi and Li Shuxian eventually improved.[20] They lived on a salary that was provided by the government, and the former Emperor learned how to budget.[21] The couple spent their evenings reading and discussing books. They also practised calligraphy and took evening strolls. Puyi also liked to cook for his wife.[22] He also accompanied her if she went shopping. Every time Li Shuxian went to work, he would walk her to the bus station and wait for her when she got off the bus.[23] If she worked late nights, he would send her clothes and food.[24] One midsummer day in 1963, Puyi went to meet his wife in the heavy rain.[25] Along the way, he noticed that there was an opening in the sewer. Instead of greeting his wife at the bus station, he stood guard at the sewer opening for more than an hour so that his wife would not fall into the sewer.[26] Puyi would also take care of her when she was sick. Puyi frequently took Li Shuxian to the Forbidden City. He often reminisced with her about his life in the Forbidden City.[27] Their favourite places were the imperial gardens, where the couple hosted tea parties.[28]

However, their marriage only lasted five years. Puyi’s health was quickly deteriorating. On 7 June 1965, Puyi had to have his left kidney removed. He quickly found out that his right kidney was cancerous.[29] Li Shuxian remained by his side. She nursed him and tried to cheer him up through these difficulties.[30] Puyi died on 17 October 1967. Puyi was cremated and buried in the Eight Treasures Mountain Cemetery.[31]

Li Shuxian deeply mourned the loss of her husband. She would go to the cemetery every day and often brought her lunch.[32] Her health declined so rapidly that she was forced to resign from work. Once she recovered, she struggled to survive on the salary that the government had allotted to her. She left the large mansion that she and Puyi once lived in and bought a smaller house. Yet, her greatest struggle was her medical bills.[33] She pleaded her case to the government. They increased her salary and gave her a more suitable residence.[34]

Since Li Shuxian was the widow of Emperor Puyi, she immediately became a national celebrity.[35] She was often invited to attend state banquets, performances, and parties.[36] In 1980, the government decided to finally hold a memorial service for Emperor Puyi. They would also rebury his ashes in the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery.[37] On 12 June 1980, the memorial service was held.

Through the 1980s, Li Shuxian began to collect and publish Emperor Puyi’s memoirs. She even published her memoir surrounding her husband titled My Husband Puyi: The Last Emperor of China. Because of these memoirs, there were many movies and television shows about Emperor Puyi.[38] Some of them are The Last Emperor, Fire Dragon, and The First Half of My Life. This sparked a global interest in Emperor Puyi.[39] Through books, movies, and television series, Li Shuxian became a global celebrity and a very wealthy woman.[40]

On 25 August 1993, Li Shuxian went to New York to meet the Aisin-Gioro royals who were currently living in America. As soon as she arrived, she was greeted by journalists.[41] She was given a private tour of New York. She attended parties given by wealthy Chinese American businessmen and politicians.[42] She was treated as an Empress.[43] She stayed in New York for a month.

In 1995 C.E., Li Shuxian was finally given permission to rebury Emperor Puyi near the Western Qing Mausoleum. On 26 January 1995, many prominent government officials attended the reburial.[44] On 9 June 1997, Li Shuxian died of lung cancer at the age of seventy-two. The only people who were by her bedside were a distant relative, a friend, and her maid.[45] She did not have any plans for her funeral.[46]

On 29 June 1997, the government held a mourning ceremony for her. Many prominent government officials attended her funeral.[47] Li Shuxian was cremated, but the government did not know where to bury her.[48] They decided to bury her in the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery.[49] In 2004, Li Shuxian became the posthumous Empress Xiaorui Min.

It was a blessing that Empress Xiaorui Min did not divorce Emperor Puyi. While she did not get the family she wanted, she was at least able to have a happy marriage. Empress Xiaorui Min was devoted to him all her life. She spent decades preserving his legacy and helped him to become a worldwide phenomenon. It is no wonder why her faithfulness to Emperor Puyi won the admiration and respect of many people around the world. Because of Empress Xiaorui Min, the tragic story of The Last Emperor of China will never be forgotten.

Sources:

Becker, J. (2008). City of Heavenly Tranquility. Oxford England: Oxford University Press.

Wang, Q. (2014). The Last Emperor and His Five Wives. (Translated by Jiaquan Han et al.). Beijing, China: China Intercontinental Press.

Li, S. and Wang, Q. (2017). My Husband Puyi: The Last Emperor of China. (Translated by Na Ni, China). Beijing, China: China Intercontinental Press, 2017.

[1] Wang, 2014

[2] Wang, 2014

[3] Wang, 2014

[4] Wang, 2014

[5] Wang, 2014

[6] Wang, 2014

[7] Wang, 2014

[8] Becker, 2008

[9] Becker, 2008

[10] Wang, 2014

[11] Wang, 2014

[12] Wang, 2014

[13] Wang, 2014

[14] Wang, 2014

[15] Wang, 2014

[16] Li and Wang, 2017

[17] Li and Wang, 2017

[18] Li and Wang, 2017

[19] Li and Wang, 2017

[20] Becker, 2008

[21] Wang, 2014

[22] Wang, 2014

[23] Li and Wang, 2017

[24] Li and Wang, 2017

[25] Li and Wang, 2017

[26] Li and Wang, 2017

[27] Li and Wang, 2017

[28] Li and Wang, 2017

[29] Wang, 2014

[30] Wang, 2014

[31] Wang, 2014

[32] Wang, 2014

[33] Wang, 2014

[34] Wang, 2014

[35] Wang, 2014

[36] Wang, 2014

[37] Wang, 2014

[38] Li and Wang, 2017

[39] Li and Wang, 2017

[40] Becker, 2008

[41] Wang, 2014

[42] Wang, 2014

[43] Wang, 2014

[44] Wang, 2014

[45] Wang, 2014

[46] Wang, 2014

[47] Wang, 2014

[48] Wang, 2014

[49] Wang, 2014

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Queen Camilla’s coronation oil has been consecrated in Jerusalem

The Chrism oil, which will be used to anoint Queen Camilla and King Charles III, had been consecrated in Jerusalem.

The ceremony took place on 3 March in The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The oil was consecrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, and the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, The Most Reverend Hosam Naoum.

Patriarchate of Jerusalem/Buckingham Palace

The olives used in the oil came from two groves on the Mount of Olives, at the Monastery of Mary Magdalene and the Monastery of the Ascension. King Charles’s grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, is buried in the Monastery of Mary Magdalene. The olives were pressed just outside Bethlehem.

Essential oils have been added for perfume; sesame, rose, jasmine, cinnamon, neroli, benzoin, orange blossom and amber.

The Archbishop of Canterbury said: “I am honoured and grateful that His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III and Archbishop Hosam Naoum have consecrated the oil that will be used to anoint His Majesty The King. I want to thank especially His Beatitude for providing this Coronation Oil, which reflects The King’s personal family connection with the Holy Land and his great care for its peoples. I am also delighted that the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem shared in the consecration of the oil.

“Since beginning the planning for the Coronation, my desire has been for a new Coronation Oil to be produced using olive oil from the Mount of Olives. This demonstrates the deep historic link between the Coronation, the Bible and the Holy Land. From ancient kings through to the present day, monarchs have been anointed with oil from this sacred place. As we prepare to anoint The King and The Queen Consort, I pray that they would be guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.”

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The Siegen Upper Castle

The Siegen Obere Schloss (Upper Castle) dates from around the 13th century, and it has carried the name Oberes Schloss since around 1670.

In the 15th century, the Counts of Nassau ran the town, and the castle and the castle gained defensive towers and walls. Unfortunately, much of the main building was destroyed by fire in 1503. As the centuries went on, the counts lived there less and less. The castle briefly served as a prison for Anna of Saxony, Princess of Orange, who gave birth to an illegitimate daughter called Christine von Dietz at the castle. She was later moved elsewhere and died while imprisoned.

The House of Nassau-Siegen used the castle as a residence, although the Catholic line eventually resided in a former monastery, later known as the Unteres Schloss (Lower Castle). This is also where the crypt is now located. Both branches of the family became extinct in the 18th century, and the possessions passed to the Nassau-Dietz line. This meant that the castle stopped being a main residence, although it continued to be used as a dower residence.

Click to view slideshow.

Since 1888, the castle has belonged to the City of Siegen, and it has housed the Siegerland Museum since 1905. It houses some fantastic portraits, such as the childhood portraits of several of William I, Prince of Orange’s daughters. It also has an amazing view of the city.

Plan your visit here.

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