Click here to see the photo from the Washington Post

 Nearly 15 months ago, Washington, D.C.-based secretary Peggielene Bartels received a phone call that would change her life forever. Early one morning, at 4:00 AM to be exact, a phone call came that woke Bartels from her sleep. The call came from Otuam, a seaside town in the African nation of Ghana. The caller addressed Bartels as “Nana”, which is a term Ghanians use to refer to people of high stature. Bartels, who is not a grandmother and does not have any children of her own, thought that the call was a joke, according to an article in the Washington Post.

The caller stated that the King of Otuam had recently passed away, and that the village elders had selected her as their new king. The King of Otuam was the uncle of Peggielene Bartels, and the village elders performed a traditional ritual to decide upon the heir to the throne. The ritual consisted of praying, then pouring schnapps on the ground. The elders waited for the steam to rise as they called out the names of 25 relatives. The steam would indicate the name of the relative who was destined to be king. The elders announced that Peggielene Bartels was to become the new King of Otuam.

When the caller broke the news, Bartels stated, “Oh please don’t play games with me”, and proceeded to tell the caller that since she was female, she would be more suited for the role of queen. The caller replied that the only position available was that of king, and said that they already had a queen. Bartels told the Washington Post that the caller said to her: “Things are changing. Women can now hold many more positions, even king. You have to accept it”. Read more…

sgl Other African Monarchies Coronation, Female Kings, Ghana, Otuam, Peggielene Bartels

 The government of Uganda has officially recognized the Kingdom of Rwenzururu. The kingdom struggled for a while to gain recognition from the Ugandan government. President Musveni recently announced that the coronation of Prince Charles Mumbere will take place on October 19, according to an article from allafrica.com.

The president’s announcement was greeted with celebration, turning the church service where the announcement was made into a jubilant atmosphere. Musveni’s statement was completely unexpected. He cancelled a trip to Libya in order to deliver the news. When asked about the reason for the delay, Musveni said that “it was due to bad elements who were telling him lies about it”, referring to the kingdom.

The kingdom is comprised of the Bakonzo and Bamba people, who live in the mountains of Uganda. The Bakonzo people have stated that they want the kingdom to protect their culture and heritage. To learn more about the Bakonzo people, please visit this website.

sgl Other African Monarchies Coronation, Prince Charles Mumbere, Rwenzururu, Uganda

Click for the image at the BBC website

 Today is one of the Days on which it is commanded by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II that the Union Flag be flown on all UK Government Buildings, Gun Salutes will be fired, at St. George’s Chapel and Westminster Abbey the bells will be rung and in the Abbey evensong will feature Byrd’s “O Lord Make thy servant Elizabeth our Queen”.

Click for the gallery at the British Monarchy website

These celebrations are all in honour of Coronation Day, fifty six years ago today, Elizabeth II was crowned amid much pomp and circumstance in the Collegiate Church of St. Peter’s Westminster (Westminster Abbey). Her Majesty dedicated herself to the service of the Nation and The Commonwealth before God and promised to uphold the Christian faith and the established Church. Read more…

RoyalProtocol British Royals Ceremonial, Coronation, Elizabeth II, Protocol

The last Tsar of Russia, His Imperial Majesty Nicholas II The Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russians, was official crowned in an elaborate coronation which took place 113 years ago this past Tuesday in Moscow. After a suitable period of mourning for his father, the Late Tsar Alexander III (who died in 1894), the festivities celebrating the new Tsar could begin. And begin they did.

The Tsar and Tsarina during the Coronation Ceremony

The coronation celebration lasted for around two weeks, beginning with the Tsar and his wife, Alexandra Feodorovna, arriving at the Petrovsky Palace outside of Moscow on May 19. Preperations for the Ceremonial Entry to the Kremlin, an event which would take place three days later, then began in greater detail.

On May 22, thousands lined the streets of Moscow for the grand procession of the Tsar and Tsarina from the Petrovsky Palace to the Kremlin Palace, where they would remain until the coronation. The crowds waited for a gun salute to signal their departure from the Palace, and when it rang out across the streets of Moscow, the crowds cheered. The elaborate procession saw Nicholas riding a grey dapple mare named Norma, dressed in a new outfit befitting the occasion. Tsar Nicholas II’s mother, Dowager Tsarina Maria Feodorovna, followed him in a gold carriage topped by an Imperial Crown encrusted with priceless stones. A golden carriage carrying Tsarina Alexandra came next. Read more…

JessRulz Historical Royals, Russian Royals Coronation, Nicholas II