Queen Paola´s Family (Ruffo di Calabria)

[amedea]

Yes relationship with Italian relatives is close, I know that also young generations are visiting in Belgium and Astrid's children are visiting some same age Italian cousins as well.
The queen also came in Italy for masses on her older sister burying place.
Mafalda of Aosta and Alessandro Ruffo di Calabria did marry in church since none of them was divorced, it was the groom's father that was. This can't be the real reason for which queen Paola didn't attend..
Could the real reason be that public opinion don't like to see their sovereigns attending former ruling royal families' events?

[Lina RdC]

Originally Posted by amedea

Mafalda of Aosta and Alessandro Ruffo di Calabria did marry in church since none of them was divorced, it was the groom's father that was. This can't be the real reason for which queen Paola didn't attend..
Could the real reason be that public opinion don't like to see their sovereigns attending former ruling royal families' events?

I think, you're right, amedea -even if her relationship to her older brother had been somehow strained at that time, the queen wouldn't have burdened her nephew with it.
With regard to the "former ruling royal families-problem", I'm not sure -considering that there are some family ties between the Belgian royal family and the Savoy/Aosta family (king Albert II's aunt queen Marie-José of Italy and prince Lorenz's mother).

[MAfan]

Here is the article I was referring to (in Italian); it says that the Queen didn't attend because the wedding was hosted by the divorced parents of Alessandro, and the protocol and the rules of Catholic Church prevented her from attending. It also says that the groom's father, Paola's brother Fabrizio, didn't attend the wedding as well, because his second wife was not welcome by his former wife, Alessandro's mother.

[Lina RdC]

Originally Posted by Donna Mia

There are a few variations of the Ruffo arms according to branches. I am listing them below for others:

1) Scilla branch: like the arms above.
2) Palazzolo branch: like the arms above.
3) Guardialombarda branch: like the arms above.
4) S. Antimo branch : like the arms above, but minus the sea shells.
5) Bagnara branch: like the arms above, but minus the sea shells.
6) Scaletta branch: like the arms above, but minus the sea shells.
7) Floresta branch: like the Scaletta branch, but completely surrounding the edge of the shield is a band of black and white checkerboard.

Donna Mia, I was just wondering if you know anything about the coat of arms of Princess Luisa's family (Gazelli di Rossana e di Sebastiano) as well...
Hopefully, this is not too far away from the thread's topic (Queen Paola's paternal family)

[amedea]

Originally Posted by Lina RdC

Donna Mia, I was just wondering if you know anything about the coat of arms of Princess Luisa's family (Gazelli di Rossana e di Sebastiano) as well...
Hopefully, this is not too far away from the thread's topic (Queen Paola's paternal family)

You can find it here, just go down until you find the Gazelli di Rossana family http://xoomer.virgilio.it/blasonpiemon/Pagina5.html

[Lina RdC]

Thanks a lot for posting the link, amedea! The website's short associated commentary was exactly of the right amount and difficulty in order to make sense to me -speaking/understanding English, French and a diminutive bit of Spanish but unfortunately not Italian .

[Marengo]

Prince Alessandro Ruffo di Calabria married Marzia Palau earlier this month. The princewas married fistly to princess Mafalda of Aosta, which ended in divorce. He was also rumoured to be involved wth Chantal of Hanover, ex-wife of prince Ernst-August.

Photo: Alessandro e MArzia Ruffo di Calabria con Giulia Bonomi

Marrazzo ha ripreso ad allenarsi al circolo Due Ponti - Schifani scomparso - radio tamburini - violetta si risposa - monica setta cancellata - paolo romani lotta per gianvito losbaglio - panettone forever - a shangai passera fa terna - ALLA CAMERA SI

And more info about the bride's mother: Annaclara Cataldi Palau - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Lina RdC]

So Prince Laurent was the only member of the Belgian royal family to attend Prince Alessandros 2nd wedding... I.m.o., Alessandro bears some resemblance to his remote cousin Crown Prince Philippe -at least considering this photo!

[MAfan]

Originally Posted by Lina RdC

I.m.o., Alessandro bears some resemblance to his remote cousin Crown Prince Philippe -at least considering this photo!

At first sight I didn't notice it, but I think you're right; in the smile perhaps?

[Lina RdC]

Well, predominantly, I’ve thought about the princes’ noses and eyes looking similar: like Philippe, Alessandro inherits a nose which is curved downwards at its tip (although Philippe’s nose is longer) and seemingly, their pairs of eyes resemble each other in shape and grayish(?) colour.
But you’ve made a good point as well –the cousins’ smiles (of course, they are not only remote cousins since Alessandro’s father Fabrizio is Philippe’s uncle ) contribute a lot to their similarity!

[Lina RdC]

Giovanna San Martino di San Germano (a daughter of Queen Paola's late sister Maria Cristina Ruffo di Calabria and one of the queen's favourite nieces cf. Koningspaar op kerstvakantie bij nichten Paola - Het Nieuwsblad) assisted Alain Coninx with presenting his new book about wine:
http://1.nieuwsbladcdn.be/Assets/Ima...k.jpg.h380.jpg; Nicht koningin Paola op voorstelling wijnboek (Sint-Truiden) - Het Nieuwsblad

[CyrilVladisla]

Would Queen Paola's brother, Fabrizio Ruffo di Calabria have been named after the Roman Catholic cardinal, Fabrizio Ruffo (1744-1827)?

[eya]

The brother of Queen Paola , Don Antonello Ruffo di Calabria has died at the age of 87 in Rome.

Roma, è morto Antonello Ruffo di Calabria: il fratello di Paola di Liegi - Repubblica.it

He died August 24 and the funeral was this morning in Selva

Paliano, il sindaco Alfieri piange il principe Ruffo di Calabria Casilina News

"Antonello Ruffo of Calabria inevitably binds his name to the Selva di Paliano, the first Italian ornithological park created in the 1970s, one of Lazio's largest natural reserves, a project that the mayor does not hesitate to call fascinating and visionary."

[Biri]

Originally Posted by eya

The brother of Queen Paola , Don Antonello Ruffo di Calabria has died at the age of 87 in Rome.

Roma, è morto Antonello Ruffo di Calabria: il fratello di Paola di Liegi - Repubblica.it

Sad news.
And Queen Paola is now the only of the siblings who is still alive:

Descendants of Count Felice Rignon

[An Ard Ri]

How sad for Queen Paola,do we know when the funeral with take place?

[maria-olivia]

King Albert and Queen Paola are in Italy , why no attendence?

[Marengo]

You mean that they did not attend the funeral?

[An Ard Ri]

Are the Ruffo di Calabria family and Paola's children close?

[maria-olivia]

Marengo , if the Funerals were this morning we should have had pictures of the Attendance.
Queen Paola was close to her Sisters , but I never saw pictures of the Ruffo in Laeken.

[Duc_et_Pair]

So to see, Prince Antonello Ruffo di Calabria was given a farewell during a quite casual service, held in the ornithologic nature reserve the Prince established. Maybe there will be an official Service of Remembrance later?

Link