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real: the romantic history of the Khedive Tiara

When even the royal families were opinion and really count on the diplomatic scene and European politics, it could happen that a king, read Edward VII of England, praying his brother child to show around her two beautiful daughters, hoping to arrange a royal marriage and "attract" the British orbit, the happy bridegroom with an adjacent country. The age, the first years of the twentieth century, it is favorable, both on the English throne to sit on the Portuguese two young bachelors (Catholic, this is true, while the princesses are obviously British Anglican, but ecumenism begins to go out of fashion and the favor of the king of England is a LIKELY excommunication) and even beyond the young men crowned there, so in January 1905, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, with his wife Louise and two daughters Margaret and Patricia, began a long journey across Europe. The first stop on this tour unusual is Lisbon, where the two princesses are "inspected" by King Charles I and Queen Amelia on a possible union with one of their two sons, Carlos and Manuel, the Connaught pass from Portugal to Spain to visit the young King Alfonso XIII who seems interested in Patricia. The two will meet again in effect in England, but she says no and he will eventually marry another grandson of Queen Victoria, Princess Victoria Eugenia of Battemberg.
Meanwhile, having finished the first part of the demanding journey in search of a king or a crown prince for their girls, the Dukes of Connaught head for North Africa and Cairo happens during a stop at an unexpected miracle. In the Egyptian city of passage is also the Prince Gustav Adolf of Sweden, the grandson of King Oscar II, who falls in love with Margaret. La passione è reciproca e la principessa inglese accetta subito la proposta di matrimonio che le fa questo ragazzone alto, serio, coltissimo, appassionato di libri, di archeologia (diventerà un grande esperto di arte ed antichità orientali) e di botanica.

Il fidanzamento, salutato con entusiasmo da entrambe le famiglie, è brevissimo e i due innamorati si sposano il 15 giugno 1905 nella St. George Chapel del castello di Windsor.
In occasione delle nozze il khedivè d’Egitto Abbas Helmi II (titolo persiano che utilizzarono tutti i viceré d’Egitto dal 1867 al 1914) offre alla sposa una bellissima tiara, come ricordo del grande amore nato proprio nella sua terra. L’elegantissimo gioiello costituito by a series of light swirls of brilliant posts in platinum, in a pattern typical of the era, was built at the beginning of 1904 the Maison Cartier.
How is it a future king's wife, Margaret (renamed in 1907 following the death of King Oscar II and the ascension to the throne of her father Gustav V of Sweden Crown Princess) gives birth to one after the other five children Gustavo Adolfo, Sigvard, Ingrid, and Carl Johan Bertil. She is passionate about gardening, the princess turns Sofiero Castle Gardens, the house that she and her husband had received as a wedding gift, but between one thing and one is also interested in painting and photography. During World War I Margaret crea in Svezia un gruppo di sostegno alla Croce Rossa e si prodiga per venire in aiuto ai prigionieri. La favola però ha un epilogo inatteso e tragico, mentre attende del suo sesto figlio, Margaret contrae un'infezione che la conduce rapidamente alla morte, il 1° maggio del 1920 a soli 38 anni.

Ingrid principessa di Svezia, regina di Danimarca

I suoi gioielli vengono divisi fra i figli e la tiara del Khedivè tocca alla figlia Ingrid che nel 1935 sposa il principe ereditario di Danimarca, il futuro re Federico IX. La sua prima figlia si chiamerà Margaret in memory of a mother too soon disappeared. And 'the present Queen Margarethe II of Denmark. But the memory of her grandmother never knew this thanks to a continuing tradition of his tiara to the Khedive.

The three daughters of Queen Ingrid, from left, Anne-Marie, Benedikte and Margarethe

All three daughters of Queen Ingrid wore on the day of their wedding tiara's grandmother: Princess Margaretha , the future queen in 1967 on the occasion of his marriage to the French Count Henri de Laborde Montpezat and Princess Benedikte in 1968 when she married Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. In 1964, the youngest daughter of the Danish kings, Princess Anne-Marie had united her fate to that of the new King Constantine II of Greece, and despite the fabulous treasure of this royal family, had chosen to stop the veil with a tiara of the Khedive.

Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

A romantic family tradition that continues into the next generation, with Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Benedikte's daughter, who takes the tiara in 1998 , and Princess Alexia of Greece, daughter of Anne-Marie, in 1999.

Over the five heirs to the famous tiara of Queen Ingrid also wear the veil in place of Ireland made for the wedding of Princess Margaret of Connaught

Alessia of Greece with her husband Carlos Morales Quintana

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The beautiful Versailles, joking aside

This post, which apparently has nothing to do, in fact has two reasons to be . First comes the invitation of Lady Placida ( here but not otherwise read after you have fun) to write me a story that I mentioned its parts. Then since October 20 in Versailles will be inaugurated the first major exhibition on Louis XIV (of which I spoke here), it seemed nice to come back. Then I am a huge fan di storia francese, di reali francesi, di vacanze francesi, questo non c'entra assolutamente nulla. Giuro.

Ad ogni modo l'esposizione resterà aperta fino all'inizio di febbraio e chissà che non io riesca a fare un salto, anche se Versailles è davvero splendida soprattutto in primavera-estate, oppure organizziamo una gita in torpedone?

Che ne dite, non sembra un signore serio? Corazza, elmo, parruccone d'ordinanza, il bastone da maresciallo del regno (che sarebbe poi quello di Francia) il personaggio di cui sopra è Luigi Alessandro di Borbone, conte di Tolosa, figlio illegittimo, ma legittimato di Luigi XIV e della celebre marchesa di Montespan. Great conqueror of beautiful women, the Sun King of course also has a bevy of babes, as we said then, "the left hand, which he loves dearly, a system in which key posts, and forgive almost anything. The Count of Toulouse (1678-1737) is, in the large group of children one of the most successful de Re, an admiral, a brave soldier is also a man unwilling to intrigue. In fact, to be held away from the squabbles of his father's succession to see the clash of the other legitimate children (Louis XIV in his will makes it next to the crown, this is a scandal) and the Regent Philippe d'Orleans and live happy animating a brilliant court in his castle of Rambouillet. Meanwhile, back when he lived on a permanent basis in the wonderful and crowded the palace of Versailles, the young and lively Count of Toulouse it combines one of his, knowing that the paternal benevolence to escape from punishment.

Night Alessandro Luigi is introduced, with a few friends in the room of the Marquis de Gramont who sleep snoring at full blast. The silent visitors are quickly soak up clothes, underwear and shoes that bring in a great hurry in the rooms of the Count of Toulouse, where a crowd waiting for them to tailors, embroiderers and socks ready to get down to work. In a flash all the seams of the dresses of the Marquis are undone and then stitched up taking care to tighten the original measurements. After the work of pranksters, the company is in the room of rinfila gentiluomo e rimette tutto a posto.

L'indomani mattina come il marchese appena sveglio riceve la visita guarda un po' del conte di Tolosa che fra un'amenità e un complimento lo osserva con attenzione ed esclama "ma che avete amico mio, mi sembrate gonfio!". Altri amici sopraggiungono per augurare il buongiorno al marchese e anche loro notano in lui un aspetto insolito, "che sia l'idropisia" si domandano. Già leggermente in ansia, il marchese ordina ai camerieri di vestirlo, ma ovviamente non c'è verso di farlo entrare negli abiti. Evidentemente, osservano i presenti, il povero Gramont nel corso della notte si è gonfiato, quindi c'è bisogno di un medico, ma non uno qualunque qui ci vuole un luminare. Che naturalmente il conte di Tolosa si affretta a cercare. Dopo un'oretta ecco arrivare nelle stanze del marchese di Gramont il dottor Bassompietrus (cioè Tolosa traverestito) che visita, osserva, tasta, esamina e conclude: "è gonfio, brutto segno, vi conviene fare testamento". Il marchese spaventato a morte fa chiamare il notaio per stendere l'atto, scrive a parenti e amici, ordina Messe in memoria. Il finto medico però gli offre una vita d'uscita, una cura, che dovrebbe salvarlo, ma c'è una condizione. Gramont se si salverà deve giurare recarsi dal re entro sera e per fargli esaminare il suo vaso da notte. Disperato il marchese è combattuto fra la paura di morire e le reazioni del re, ma alla fine giura solennemente per iscritto che farà as required. Toulouse, always disguised as a doctor writes a prescription, go to the sick and leaves. Left alone, the Marquis looks at the paper and reads "Accipite Cisal purpunctum et dissuasion" (get the scissors and Undoing the seams), after the date ends ingenuous groom to open their eyes: the first of April.

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MARRIED YESTERDAY: 25 years ago the wedding of Astrid of Belgium and Lorenz of Habsburg-Lorraine

wanted the bride? Eccheli here and here as things get for good or not, today is the twenty-fifth wedding anniversary of two that are almost unknown to most, perhaps even if, by chance, they are two people with strong ties to Italy. She's Astrid of Belgium, daughter at the time of Prince Albert of Liege, and Paola Ruffo di Calabria, the beautiful Italian who in the late 50s, married the brother of the king of Belgium. He is the Archduke Lorenz of Habsburg-Lorraine (on the title, there are disputes, according to some should be called Archduke Lorenz of Austria, but I like more so), nephew to turn some people truly legendary. His paternal grandparents are the last Austrian emperor, Charles I and his wife, the extraordinary and tostissima Empress Zita, born Princess of Bourbon-Parma. A small woman of steel in two short years of his reign is working to end a war (World War) and then exiled tragic and devastating, and soon a widow with eight children, chooses the path of rigor, understatement and social commitment in the memory of the Beloved Husband deceased. By Lorenz maternal grandfather as Duke of Aosta Amedeo, the hero of the Battle of the Area Alagi who was defeated, he prefers to stay in Africa with his soldiers. Amedeo, who died in captivity, the British make the honors of war and his name lives on today in one of the great-grandchildren, the eldest son of Lorenz and Astrid.

The Princess and the Archduke (she is 22 years old and he almost 31) convoluted relations between the satisfaction of real (at a time when many of the principles brought to the altar of bourgeois girls), 22 September 1984 in Notre Dame du Sablon in Brussels and said piovosissima "sposa bagnata sposa fortunata", in questo caso pare ci abbia preso davvero. La coppia resiste da 25 anni senza scosse, senza turbamenti e soprattutto senza scandali. Lui è un banchiere, lei assolve ai doveri di rappresentanza "reale" da quando (dopo la modifica della Costituzione nel 1993) alle donne è stato consentito l'accesso al trono. Insieme hanno tirato su cinque figli, Amedeo, Maria Laura, Joachim, Luisa Maria e Laetizia Maria e, nonostante qualcuno sussurri che Astrid non è una mamma molto presente, la coppia pare felice e la famiglia unita ed armoniosa.

Eccoli oggi (nella foto qui sopra), nella loro veste ufficiale e di rappresentanza. Il giorno delle nozze, a cui prendono by representatives of all the royal families of Europe, Astrid is wearing a crinoline dress of the Belgian couturier Louis Mies and chooses not to bring one of the beautiful crowns of the royal house, but stops the bun with some white flowers. The veil, in old lace-up in Brussels, belongs to the family Ruffo di Calabria and is worn by all the women of the family.

The couple began their married life in Basel, where Lorenz works, and only return to Brussels in the early 90s, but remaining in the shadows. Astrid and Lorenz are screened on the front of the scene in the summer of 1993 to the death of his uncle, King Baudouin. What is now the new king's daughter assumes his duties in full because, in addition to being second in line of succession, is also one of the few women in the family since the brothers are not yet married and widowed Queen Fabiola is moving towards a life almost monastic.

Who knows speaks of it as a very shy person, but also very friendly and pleasant, easy and gentle. Some Princess Astrid was opened a little 'more, you buy a certain security, after over 40 years and since then has also changed their way of dressing, leaving the classic and put a little' old-fashioned clothes more fashion. The photo above, taken in December last marriage of Archduchess Marie Christine of Habsburg-Lorraine, however, demonstrates how she and her daughter, despite the change and modernization, have an urgent need of a good stylist and hairdresser.

Insights for French here site Noblesses & Royautées.

a ps - I apologize to those who waited on Lord Mountbatten's third episode, coming in a few days, but this silver anniversary seemed an opportunity not to be missed, plus (mea culpa) I had never spoken the real Belgium

ps 2 - I'm sorry, I did not put links to the names of various characters, impeatrice Zita, the Duke of Aosta, but lately I wikipedia has a little 'disappointed. Be patient ...

How Long Until Dead Mouse/rat Smell Goes Away?

One day in mid-June, I realized that the name of my blog (born suddenly and without much thought, after months in which the idea effects smoldered in a remote corner of my brain) is the title of a novel by Thomas Mann. And to say that "Royal Highness" I'd read and enjoyed as a young girl (shy and unsociable, and very often hidden behind that wonderful weapon of defense, also known as Chinese walls, which are stacks of books) and then have me re-read several times by large (We are so passionate, I dedicate it to work almost every year the complete works of Jane Austen), always drawing a lot of satisfaction. Because it is a perfect work, in writing, plot, style, tone a little 'decadent. However, despite the mood of the author, apparently ends well and this comforted my unquenchable thirst for romance, unfortunately met only by the novels of Barbara Cartland, but it reads like Mickey Mouse. A few days ago a kind remarks (Nicole) has written to me telling me of his "shock", even in the name of the blog she remembered something and eventually it became a flash and the novel by German writer. So (in attesa del post sulle spose reali, si lo faccio, lo faccio e della terza parte su lord Mountbatten) eccomi qui a consigliarvi questa lettura o rilettura.

“Altezza reale” racconta la storia di un principe cadetto nato con una mano atrofizzata: fin dalla nascita il difetto fisico si mescola ad un felice presagio, che racconta della felicità a venire per il regno dominato dal re con questo difetto. Ma solo più avanti nella sua vita il secondogenito sarà destinato alla rappresentanza del potere, dopo l'abbandono delle funzioni pubbliche da parte del primogenito, di salute cagionevole. Molto amato dal suo popolo il principe salverà il regno dalla rovina Economic marrying a wealthy American. It will not be a marriage only of interest because the two really love each other. The novel is full of symbolism and references to history and society of the late '800. The Kaiser Guglielmo II, dragging Germany in the disaster of World War I, just happens to have an arm ankylosed birth. In those years there are many families of the old castles in Europe and privileges to save their children are convoluted with American heiresses happy to come in aristocracy. "Royal Highness" is the title under which ordinary mortals should be put to the person who by birth (or marriage) are owned by the Crown or former rulers.

Service Information:

1 - I put a new function in the post, I feel funny and are also able to enter it without exploding everything

2 - there is a new link, and Sabrina of Aubergine who writes stories of cooking and life.

And now I also have a question, but the world of blogs (those interesting and well written, accurate) is all female?

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Royal Highness Royal wedding: from the set at Hampton Court, the marriage of Lord Frederick Windsor with actress Sophie Winckelman

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warned / and this is a place of pure gossip, gossip very low levels, but so mica can only ever speak of philosophy! And then there were requests. In addition, raise your hand if the hairdresser goes "Limes" to avoid reading the trashy magazines heavily stationed next to the chairs. Having said that we come to the photos.

The young couple fresh (the wedding date back to yesterday afternoon) are Lord Frederick Windsor, 31st in the order of succession to the British throne in quantoil his great-grandfather was King George V, and Sophie Winckelman professional actress, which, as is evident in the image above has the air to tell everyone "I did, I caught a really nice party." He, who works in the City and does not have substantial assets, has relatives in exchange for the prestige they call Queen Elizabeth II, Prince of Wales and so on, which, however, did not attend the mass wedding celebrated with great pomp in the royal residences the most beautiful surroundings of London, Hampton Court Palace. The bride wears a creation by Anna Roza Bystrov for Couture: crinoline skirt and backless blouse as it seems on the verge of collapse on decoltée. The coprispalla lace does not improve the situation.

Photo Copyright Getty Images

Actually parents him, Prince Michael of Kent and his wife Marie Christine (also known as Princess Michael) are not part of the entourage real tight, because sometimes, especially her, they did discuss and have been subject to ferocious attacks by the press. Marie Christine, Austrian-born father and a compromise with the Nazi regime, is a Catholic (at the time of the wedding then Michael had to give up his rights to inheritance) and yet divorced at the time of marriage was, incidentally, Lord Mountbatten to the Queen to digest the bitter pill. In the years following the birth of children, Marie Christine, whose husband does not enjoy the benefits of a "civil list" (that is bestowed by the Queen of pocket money in return della copertura di un certo numero di eventi pubblici) si è inventata dei lavori decisamente redditizi: ha scritto saggi storici su personaggi reali (con relative accuse di plagio) e partecipa, insieme al marito, a feste di ogni genere previo congruo compenso. Pare abbia anche avuto diversi amanti, ma il matrimonio è rimasto in piedi.

Copyright foto Getty images

Ecco qui la mamma dello sposo che è ancora una bellissima donna e per le nozze del figlio, nonostante l'amore per le mise un tantino vistose, ha scelto la sobrietà di un abito blu notte la cui scollatura è stata arricchita da uno splendido collier di pelle and sapphires in the purest Art Deco style. The jewel, along with many others, belonged to Marie Christine's mother-in-law, Princess Marina of Greece, the wife in the 30s of Prince George Duke of Kent, youngest son of King George V.

A technical detail, the husband is only Lord Frederick, because after World War I King George V decided that only the royal princes were sons and grandsons of the sovereign, all others should have been accontentari of courtesy titles.

And since we're on the subject of actresses who espouse similar principles and here comes a couple of pictures of the wedding took place Saturday, September 5 to Antoing in Belgium, Prince Edouard de Ligne with Italian actress Isabella Orsini. Anche in questo caso il ramo è molto collaterale (con sono i Ligne del famoso castello di Beloeil), ma lei è comunque soddisfatta della conquista che la porta nel circolo della chiusissima aristocrazia belga. Piccola delusione, alle nozze erano annuncianti i duchi di Brabante, principi ereditari del Belgio, che però non si sono fatti vedere.

La sposa indossa un abito del couturier belga Gerard Watelet, porta un diadema ornato di acquamarine (o di topazi blu, vista la dimensione delle pietre sarei per questa seconda opzione) ed un lungo velo di famiglia, ma forse avrebbero dovuto avvisarla che le principesse non fanno le standing ovation.

Altre immagini here and then here for a detail of the tiara, here and here for the mother of him in fuchsia pink pantsuit. The biorgrafia her is here, but there is also an official site here. photos are from the site of the wedding Ligne Noblesses & Royautées

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Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy - part

The viceroy and the clothes viceregina coronation

Lord Mountbatten knows and deeply loves India, nation visited on several occasions, becoming friends with many people. But there is also a deep and romantic between Mountbatten and the mysterious country that at the end of World War II is crying out for independence. In New Delhi, in February 1922, the young lord Louis, then adjutant of the Prince of Wales on the road in the dominion of the Crown, asked her to marry Edwina Ashley. Twenty-five years later, despite a tumultuous marriage to say the least and a war that saw them heroically in the front line, the two are once again in New Delhi. The task ahead of them need all their energy and a good dose of recklessness on the part of both. The plural is necessary because the role of Edwina with her husband last viceroy with the thorny task of managing the transition, is crucial.

From left Nehru, Mountbatten and Jinnah, Mountbatten behind General Ismay

According to General Ismay, a close associate of Lord Louis, to become Viceroy of India was how to take command of a burning ship in the middle of the ocean and the hold full of ammunition. On paper, the job seems easy, sign on some documents, the organization of the return of British officials, the celebration of some lavish ceremonies, but the reality is more complex because the Indian people do not exist in name and fact. The 360 \u200b\u200bmillion inhabitants of the subcontinent are divided into many communities that do not love (260 million Hindus, 95 million Muslims, 500 principles and maharaja independent siksa, Parsis, Christians, Jews), and while the Congress Party led by Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi argues for an India united the Muslims of Jinnah want at all costs an independent state. For months the country is on the brink of civil war and when King George VI and Prime Minister Attlee to Mountbatten asked to accept the daunting task, Lord Louis, perhaps for the first time in life, is confused and hesitant. The prevailing sense of duty and loyalty to the King and his cousin, but in exchange for full power and total freedom of action. On 24 March 1947, the enthronement ceremony is magnificent and in the days to follow the Maharaja, which Mountbatten had good relations, I accept the transition to the new republic, but the negotiations are unlocked sull'irremovibilità of Jinnah. The leader of the Muslims want an independent state, for which already has a name, Pakistan, the initials of the adjoining regions: Pendiab, Afghan, Kashmir, Indis, Sind and Balouchistan.

The Mountbatten with Gandhi

Over the weeks the clashes turned into riots that often degenerate into slaughterhouses and faced with a situation like Mountbatten is decided, the principle of the division in May in two states is acquired and the date for the handover is August 15, meanwhile border minorities make your luggage. Edwina its part, strives to bring aid and assistance to people devastated by what not only a political crisis is also a major humanitarian emergency. In the chaos the restless vice queen is also the manner and time to fall in love and relationship, perhaps only platonic, but certainly very intense, and soon became well known because he's Nehru. An important relationship for both tolerated by Lord Mountbatten, who among other things, greatly esteem the leader of the Congress Party and has excellent relations with the Gandhi. Lord Louis on the other hand can not penetrate the armor Jinnah's "cold as ice, arrogant, conceited, relentless." "It seemed that the Indian subcontinent - writes the biographer of Mountbatten, Richard Hough - were scattered bombs political race to watch. While Mountbatten was running around the country to defuse them, others were placed a bit 'everywhere. " Soon the riots and massacres convince the viceroy of the need "to do quickly." Edwina is always at his side to bring aid where possible and visit the massacres took place, often with cries el'affranta viceregina Nehru for Mother India. A restless and unfaithful wife, but crucial to Mountbatten, which concluded the handover becomes Governor of the new Indian state, because the charm, charm and temperament of the beautiful Edwina decided to win a lot of mistrust. Episodes of unprecedented violence and anarchy continue even after independence and Lady Mountbatten as may strives to bring comfort and aid to suffering people with the same desperate energy that he had sustained during his mission in Southeast Asia.

Lord Mountbatten with Jinnah

January 30, 1938 When is killed Gandhi, Mountbatten is among the first to reach the scene and the angry mob ready to accuse the Muslims replied "no it was a Hindu. " "I was drawn to guess," he confessed later, but turn out to be true, and his presence of mind to at least prevent another massacre.
The war hero does not come out well from this experience in India, the criticism was fierce and the last viceroy, was accused of "having your foot on the accelerator pushed too hard and not being able to negotiate with Jinnah, more irritated by friendly relations with Nehru and Gandhi. A Mountbatten's no excuse to say that Prime Minister Attlee would not accept negotiations and indeed had long decided that everything was completed quickly, but the fast partition was a tragedy. The result was the most terrible and ferocious battles interracial and the most horrendous carnage that India had ever known. Many had advised Mountbatten not to accept this assignment "a hopeless mission," because "he had obtained any result would still be frowned upon and criticized." In addition, Lord Louis, despite the experience of war in Southeast Asia (and the alleged sympathies that Labor had made him special sympathy to the British Prime Minister) was "constitutionally inappropriate" because of his Teutonic mentality and a soldier, "a lead to slow, patient negotiations with the East, to sail between the rocks and the currents of politics, religion and races. " After
periodo trascorso in India, Mountbatten torna al servizio attivo in Marina e qualche anno dopo raggiunge finalmente il suo obiettivo e chiude un cerchio, ma questa è un'altra storia.
II - segue.
ps se volete saperne di più vi consiglio di leggere "Stanotte la libertà" di Dominique Lapierre e Larry Collins. A metà fra il saggio ed il romanzo è coinvolgente, molto documentatto e ben scritto, lo trovate qui

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Villa San Michele in Anacapri: magical refuge of true loves

Vi piacerebbe ricevere o fare una proposta di matrimonio su questa terrazza?

o anche all'ombra di questo pergolato in un tiepido giorno di inizio summer?

They happened, but after playing in the house because the house San Michele in Anacapri is owned by the Swedish state and the royal family, of course, can come and go at will. So Jonas Berström (born in 1979, famous lawyer with New York experience and upper-class Scandinavian family) for years official escort and unofficial boyfriend of Princess Madeleine, youngest daughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, has seen fit to ask for the hand its beautiful there. A place to dream, a beautiful island. She of course agreed immediately because they were years trembled on hold, not so much of the proposal, as a similar decision by the Crown Princess Victoria and her older sister. After placing the large historic home with her boyfriend (they married June 19, 2010, here the engagement), the cadet has wasted no time even if the father king seems to have a little bit concerned about the onerous costs of two marriages by return mail. The subjects, however, can rest assured, the marriage of Madeleine, with a view to the end of 2010 or early 2011, will certainly be "more intimate and less opulent" than her sister's heir to the throne, and above all be borne by the
King on August 11 in Stockholm, the happy couple met la stampa, posato per la foto di rito e mostrato l'anello di fidanzamento. Lui bello e aitante come sempre, lei un tantino meno nonostante di Fendi in un rosa cipria un po' penalizzante per l'incarnato e gli splendidi colori di una principessa che fino ad oggi aveva mostrato una netta predilezione per Gucci e Chanel.

Perché a quasi un mese di distanza vi propongo questa news che sa un po' di naftalina nonostante l'accenno in un post scriptum di qualche settimana fa? Semplice, proprio oggi ho letto un articolo molto interessante su villa San Michele, luogo incantevole che ha accolto non una, ma due vicende reali. Una è quella del fidanzamento di Madelaine e Jonas e l'altra la storia della grande amicizia (forse anche amore) fra la regina Victoria of Sweden, wife of King Gustav V and quadrisavola the newly engaged, and the doctor, writer and philanthropist Axel Munthe, Swedish.

Queen Victoria of Sweden (1862-1930) was born Princess of Baden

love with Italy and especially struck by the beauty of the island of Capri, Munthe buy a small house in ruins, with an adjacent chapel dedicated to St. Michael, who restores gradually with the savings of his work as a doctor. After the money, but not yet completed the home that the intent of the owner must be "a monument of the spirit, according to the principle that the soul needs more space than the body," Munthe following the advice of the ambassador of Sweden to Rome opened a clinic in the capital. The Swedish doctor, known for its cutting-edge theories, but also because free care for the poor and raise money for soup kitchens, orphanages and children's hospitals, has sought and much appreciated.

The proceeds of his work soon became more than enough to meet all the needs and what initially seemed to be just a refuge, it becomes an imposing building, a house museum, enriched by precious works of art and archaeological objects, in the area was rich for being the site of a sumptuous villa, probably belonged to the Emperor Augustus. The chapel became his studio, where raccoglie libri, opere d'arte e un grande pianoforte. "Voglio che la mia casa sia aperta al sole, al vento e alla voce del mare, come un tempio greco, e luce, luce, luce dovunque!", scrive molti anni dopo nel suo libro-testamento "La storia di San Michele" che consacra definitivamente la sua fama di scrittore e assicura il futuro dell'omonima fondazione, dove ancora oggi studenti provenienti dalla Svezia si dedicano a studi storici e naturalistici su Capri.

Grande amante degli animali, Munthe accoglie nel parco di piante rare ed esotiche che circonda la dimora numerosi cani i quali vengono curati con la stessa affezione dei suoi più importanti pazienti. San Michele diventa presto il centro di un vero movimento spirituale. Vi arrivavano from all over the world, writers, painters, philosophers, kings, the pursuit of happiness and health. Munthe care of his patients that not only the body but the soul, in 1892 became the personal physician of the Crown Princess Victoria (queen of Sweden since 1907), whose poor health causing considerable concern. The Scandinavian climate is not ideal for a woman weakened by three difficult pregnancies, suffering because of frequent bronchitis and possibly tubercular. Victoria is probably even a little depressed, like the famous Sissi, and Munthe therapy is simple: Mediterranean climate, motorcycles, good company, that is, it must be said, a good remedy for the nerves as fragile as it was then. On the other hand è noto che il matrimonio fra l'erede del regno di Svezia e la principessa tedesca è molto infelice.

In un'epoca che ancora non conosce la penicillina chi se la può permettere sverna al caldo e Capri, guarda caso è l'ideale. Dal 1910 la regina su consiglio del suo medico trascorre lunghi periodi sull'isola dove acquista la piccola e spartana villa Caprile. Victoria e Munthe ogni giorno fanno lunghe passeggiate, spesso portando uno dei cani al guinzaglio, visto che l'amore per gli animali è uno dei punti in comune fra la sovrana e il medico. Anzi lei è al suo fianco nell'impegnativa impresa di strappare al proprietario il monte Barbarossa, sulle cui falde ogni primavera e autunno i cacciatori facevano strage di uccelli. Pagato una somma esorbitante, il monte va a completare il grande sogno, e diventa un eden dove gli uccelli possono liberamente sostare nei lunghi viaggi migratori. Musicista raffinata, quando il medico organizza dei concerti a San Michele no di rado si siede seduta al pianoforte. "Fuggo la neve come le rondini" scrive la regina, aggiungendo "se non passassi l'inverno a Capri, morirei".

Munthe come già in altri casi, non mantiene un distacco professionale dalla sua paziente e Victoria sviluppa una profonda dipendenza dal suo medico visto che il suo problema, oltre i polmoni, era di natura psicologica. La regina trascorre gli ultimi 20 anni della sua vita in compagnia di Munthe, con l’unico intermezzo della I Guerra Mondiale, quando il medico can not agree to be on the side of Germany, is working with the British Red Cross, while Victoria is inclined to the Germanic world. They were lovers? Hard to say, it is certain that the relationship between them was so long and intimate to be fed gossip and judging from the letters that were written, the physical involvement can not be excluded completely.

ps I have not forgotten one of Lord Mountbatten, the action in the coming days ...

ps 2 here a very funny story, masterfully written by the fantastic myths Vigliero. There are king Ferdinand IV of Naples, Maria Carolina of Habsburg-Lorraine and the Emperor Joseph II. Do not miss ...