kissalostsoul

For those who understand german. A Radio contribution about King Wilhelm II. of Württemberg. http://www.swr.de/swr2/-/id=7576/did=7548636/pv=mplayer/vv=popup/nid=7576/1f61fpn/index.html

Hohenzollern Castle is located on top of the mountain Hohenzollern near Hechingen. a city on the Swabian Alb. It is the ancestral seat ofthe Family of  Hohenzollern.  The first Castle was constructed in the first half of the 11th Century. Later the  Family split into two branches, but the Castle remained the property of the Swabian branch, which was dynastically senior to the Franconian/Brandenburg branch which eventually became Kings of Prussia.  In 1423 the Castle was completly destroyed in a 10m-month siege by the imperial Cities of Swaba.  From 1454-1561  a second bigger Castle was build and served as refugee for the cathloic swabian branch of the Family during wartime including the 30-years War. By the end of the 18th century, however, the Castle was thought to have lost its strategic importance and gradually fell into disrepair, leading to the demolition of several dilapidated buildings. Today, only the chapel remains from the medieval castle. The third and present version

Hi & RH Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia,, the Head of the Royal Family has announced his engagemnt to HSH Princess Sophie of Isenburg on 21.01.2011 as announced on the official Website of the prussian Royal House. No Wedding Date was mentioned but it was said that the Wedding will take place later this year and most likely in Potsdam. Princess Sophie is the third and youngest daughter of Fürst Franz Alexander of Isenburg and his wife Christine, née Countess Saurma, Freiin von und zu der Jeltsch. She has 2 older sisters Katharina married to Archduke Martin of Austria-Este and Isabelle married to Fürst CArl zu Wied and 2 brothers Alexander and Viktor. http://www.preussen.de/de/heute/aktuell/verlobung_im_haus_hohenzollern.html

A memorial Service for the late Countess Celia of Bismarck took place on 17.01.2011 at the Temple de Saint Gervais in Geneva. Among the 400 guest who attended the Service where her former husband hereditary Count Carl Eduard of Bismarck, Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, Archduchess Francesca of Austria and Rolf Sachs. http://www.bild.de/BILD/unterhaltung/royals/2011/01/17/beerdigung-celia-von-bismarck/auch-prinzessin-maxima-trauert.html

The annual New Year reception of the House of Württembergtook place on 16.01.2011 at Altshausen. But not as in previous years in the Castle. This year the Event was hosted for the first time in the former Remise of the Castle which has been renovated and opened as Gallery for the artworks of Duchess Diane on her 70th birthday. The members of the Royal Family who where present where Duke Carl and Duchess Diane, Duke Friedrich and Duchess Marie, Duke Michael and Duchess Julia. In his speech Duke Carl spoke about other things about the taks around the project "Stuttgart 21". http://www.suedkurier.de/region/bodenseekreis-oberschwaben/bodenseekreis/Kunst-der-Herzogin-begleitet-Empfang;art410936,4677495

Fürstin Nadja zu Schaumburg-Lippe, née Zsoeks is expecting her second child. This was confirmed by her husband Fürst Alexander when he attended the annual Bückeburger New Yerrs Concert. He said hie wife was not able to attend for the happiest occasion who could  be. The couple is very happy. It is theri second child together. They have already a daughter Princess Felipa born in 2008. And Fürst Alexander has a son Herediary Prince Heinrich Donatus (born 1994) from his divorced marriage with Princess Marie Louise (Lily) zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. http://www.bunte.de/royals/alexander-zu-schaumburg-lippe-er-wird-wieder-vater_aid_22344.html

As became only now known Prince Ludwig (Louis) zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn gotengaged to Countess Philippa Spannocchi on 26.12.2010. Prince Ludwig is the third son of Fürst Alexander zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn and his wife Gabriela, née Countess of Schönborn-Wiesentheid. Countess Phuilippa is a daughter of Count Hieronymus Spannocchi and his wife Verena, née Coutness of Schönborn-Buchheim  who live at Sprinzenstein Castle in Austria. Announcement and a pic of the Couple

HI & RH Duchess Ilona zu Mecklenburg, née Archduchess of Austria passed away in the morning of 12. Janaury 2010 at Bad Krouingen. She was born on 20.04.1927 as second daughter of Archduke Joseph Franz of Austria (from the hungarian line) and his wife Anna, née Princess of Saxony.  In 1045 she married at Sigmaringen Duke Georg Alexander of Mecklenburg, from the Strelitz line, who was the only son of Duke Georg. The marriage ended in divorce in 1974. The couple had four children: Duchess Elisabeth Crhstine (*1947), Duchess Maria katharine (*1949), Duchess Irene (*1054) and Duke Borwin (* 1956). http://www.mecklenburg-strelitz.org/news.html