William and Harry: Contact with Foreign Royals


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I think they are a bit young to be overawed by Grace Kelly, many young people barely remember her. She died when they were quite young and her Hollywood days were behind her long before Diana married Charles.

(Also, I once read that the BRF referred to some of the Dutch or Scandanavian royals as "the bicycle kings.") :)

Well, I'm a year and some months younger than William, but I've seen nearly all of Grace's films, so I don't buy that his age makes him ignorant about her accomplishments as an actress. (I loathe the 'young people are stupid where Golden Age Hollywood is concerned' stereotype too.)

But LOL about "the bicycle kings" comment.
 
Philip, Charles and Harry have visited their German relatives quite often in private, it's just that they prefer private meetings, hunting etc. to attending the big weddings.
 
What does the bicycle Kings mean? Never heard that expression. I'm guessing it doesn't mean that they ride bicycles all the time. Just curious.
 
What does the bicycle Kings mean? Never heard that expression. I'm guessing it doesn't mean that they ride bicycles all the time. Just curious.

I was going to ask that very same question. Only thing I could possibly come up with is that there is a company called Bicycle that makes playing cards and perhaps they look like the kings in that deck?
 
I was going to ask that very same question. Only thing I could possibly come up with is that there is a company called Bicycle that makes playing cards and perhaps they look like the kings in that deck?
No, it means the kingdoms of Denmark and the Netherlands (and probably Sweden and Norway as well) those who have gone more "modern" and not up for the Pomp and circumstance that the Brits are famous for.
 
I think it has to do with the fact that during WWI and WII (and actually until the last King of Sweden died), the Scandanivan royals were very "relaxed" in how they carried themselves in their homeland. They were very often seen walking and bicycling with their people.

In fact, I can't remember the King and the country. Maybe it was Frederik of Denmark....there was concern that he was out and about and he needed protection from the Germans during WWII, and he replied something along the lines that he didn't need security as he had several thousands (maybe millions) Danes who would watch over him. I think it was Frederik.
 
:previous:
It was King Olav V of Norway back in 1973 using public transportation to the Holmenkollen ski jump without any security personnel. :)
 
Thanks for that but I was actually thinking of Christian X of Denmark. I ran into his name when I was reading the latest Majesty. From Wikipedia:

King Christian used to ride through the streets of Copenhagen unaccompanied while the people stood and waved to him. One apocryphal story relates that one day, a German soldier remarked to a young boy that he found it odd that the king would ride with no bodyguard. The boy reportedly replied, "All of Denmark is his bodyguard." This story was recounted in Nathaniel Benchley's bestselling book "Bright Candles" as well as in Lois Lowry's book Number the Stars. The contemporary patriotic song "Der rider en Konge" (There Rides a King) centres on the king's rides. In this song, the narrator replies to a foreigner's inquiry about the king's lack of a guard that "he is our freest man" and that the king isn't shielded by physical force but that "hearts guard the king of Denmark".[4]

Back on topic:

I think that William and Harry (moreso William) will develop some type of relationship with his fellow European royals when the time comes and he is out representing his father and grandmother. Right now, the gap has been filled by the Earl of Wessex and the Prince of Wales.
 
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been with the other European royal families a few times.

With the Swedish Royal Family:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oDh4DVFL.../Kate-Middleton-Crown-Princess-Victoria-1.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UOe9DDzC...EC5yviNb9caQCLcBGAs/s1600/DU4dlvRXcAAu7-E.jpg

With the Norwegian Royal Family:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lqwMWqgJ...2745355bdc5a4b4873f2a607c5e55a734e1e2efc5.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3VMROln...ucDO-bV8uw8GhoDWNnGBgEMgCLcBGAs/s640/im51.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQd4zOXN...z_u_QtD__ztACLcBGAs/s1600/DVCAEcjXUAAhXn4.jpg

With the Danish Royal Family:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z07p-uDk...392YPr9KWRtzTCgf_v8k1rRAJgCLcBGAs/s1600/4.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bILNmcaC...CGUSsLuQHH0xWAJ_SYVopBJJQCLcBGAs/s1600/12.jpg

With the Royal Family of Belgium:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ODwWmed...DgdkV8q5ixOTYTn2yACLcBGAs/s1600/824524576.jpg

With the Dutch Royal Family:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d_-uqY62...Ilk40B-QyxU4upCITTj7qtN5OO_MggCLcB/s640/3.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sDHP8ib9...VYh_0HqeMNBBgCLcBGAs/s640/D9RsOpDXoAU0fTJ.jpg

With the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fj37-4Z9...BqGILga1D8O7wCLcB/s640/PITJ4647_800_thumb.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QWpa7080.../wphoto_14945128151494512815199_800_thumb.jpg

With the Spanish Royal Family:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DFlCSPdJ...14896806-7150303-image-a-98_1560785579818.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h47LnTAE...0FxNp5M5Jm5ACLcBGAs/s640/desfile1-gtres-a.jpg

With the Princely Family of Monaco:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.c...I+Accompanied+Duke+Edinburgh+q_bdQt2Yrh2x.jpg

I think that at upcoming European royal events, the British Royal Family will be represented by the Princes of Wales.
All these years since 2011 have also served to bring Prince William and Catherine closer to European royalty.
 
Philip, Charles and Harry have visited their German relatives quite often in private, it's just that they prefer private meetings, hunting etc. to attending the big weddings.
I don’t think Harry visited these relatives, it was mainly the DOE, Charles and Edward who visited, Harry I’ve never heard nor I am sure he visited Germany to see relatives. The only time he has visited Germany was for hunting parties at the Oettingen family’s estate who aren’t relatives.
 
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been with the other European royal families a few times.

With the Swedish Royal Family:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oDh4DVFL.../Kate-Middleton-Crown-Princess-Victoria-1.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UOe9DDzC...EC5yviNb9caQCLcBGAs/s1600/DU4dlvRXcAAu7-E.jpg

With the Norwegian Royal Family:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lqwMWqgJ...2745355bdc5a4b4873f2a607c5e55a734e1e2efc5.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3VMROln...ucDO-bV8uw8GhoDWNnGBgEMgCLcBGAs/s640/im51.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RQd4zOXN...z_u_QtD__ztACLcBGAs/s1600/DVCAEcjXUAAhXn4.jpg

With the Danish Royal Family:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z07p-uDk...392YPr9KWRtzTCgf_v8k1rRAJgCLcBGAs/s1600/4.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bILNmcaC...CGUSsLuQHH0xWAJ_SYVopBJJQCLcBGAs/s1600/12.jpg

With the Royal Family of Belgium:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ODwWmed...DgdkV8q5ixOTYTn2yACLcBGAs/s1600/824524576.jpg

With the Dutch Royal Family:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d_-uqY62...Ilk40B-QyxU4upCITTj7qtN5OO_MggCLcB/s640/3.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sDHP8ib9...VYh_0HqeMNBBgCLcBGAs/s640/D9RsOpDXoAU0fTJ.jpg

With the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fj37-4Z9...BqGILga1D8O7wCLcB/s640/PITJ4647_800_thumb.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QWpa7080.../wphoto_14945128151494512815199_800_thumb.jpg

With the Spanish Royal Family:

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DFlCSPdJ...14896806-7150303-image-a-98_1560785579818.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h47LnTAE...0FxNp5M5Jm5ACLcBGAs/s640/desfile1-gtres-a.jpg

With the Princely Family of Monaco:

https://blogger.googleusercontent.c...I+Accompanied+Duke+Edinburgh+q_bdQt2Yrh2x.jpg

I think that at upcoming European royal events, the British Royal Family will be represented by the Princes of Wales.
All these years since 2011 have also served to bring Prince William and Catherine closer to European royalty.
Most of these were events by the government or by the Queen not personal events hosted by the Cambridge’s or Harry.

What a laugh: the Casiraghis royalty!? Monaco is a princely house, it's reigning prince is not strictly independent nor sovereign.

The Princess of Hanover is styled HRH by virtue of her marriage; she is by this marriage a member of the old royal family (as Queen Mary refered to it) of Great Britain. Indeed if salic law had prevailed in Great Britain, Caroline Grimaldi would have been the present queen consort. Strangely enough Queen Victoria had a soft spot for the princely Grimaldis and often gave them presedence over foreign royals. What she would have made of their present life style is open to conjecture.
I do not believe Queen Victoria was interested in the Grimaldis because her response to a possible match between one of her descendants and a Grimaldi Prince was that she wouldn’t want to be allied with a family that made money in casinos.
 
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Most of these were events by the government or by the Queen not personal events hosted by the Cambridge’s or Harry.

You are right, these are largely official gatherings that have been listed. I suspect any interactions on a personal level are unlikely to be pubicised.

Given that in the last decade or so W&C have met most royal houses in an official capacity, there would be a degree of personal rapport established. It it not unreasonable to think that, say, Victoria & Daniel do not drop in to see W&C when in London. Similarly when Guillaime & Stephanie of Lux lived in London, there may well have been private interactions with W&C which were not made public.
 
You are right, these are largely official gatherings that have been listed. I suspect any interactions on a personal level are unlikely to be pubicised.

Given that in the last decade or so W&C have met most royal houses in an official capacity, there would be a degree of personal rapport established. It it not unreasonable to think that, say, Victoria & Daniel do not drop in to see W&C when in London. Similarly when Guillaime & Stephanie of Lux lived in London, there may well have been private interactions with W&C which were not made public.
I simply think that William and Kate are cordial and respectful to the other royals they have met, but as to whether they meet with them privately or not is speculation. IMO I highly doubt they have met privately with these couples, the only person with the most visibility in interacting with continental and foreign royalty and nobility is KCIII over the years and that’s because he was from a generation where meeting other royals was done more often not only with state visits, but private visits too because there are photos to show in his case.
 
IMO I highly doubt they have met privately with these couples, the only person with the most visibility in interacting with continental and foreign royalty and nobility is KCIII over the years and that’s because he was from a generation where meeting other royals was done more often not only with state visits, but private visits too because there are photos to show in his case.

There may be some photos of Charles having met foreign royals from time to time, but there are also many occasions when time has been spent together, and there are no pictures. That is just the way the BRF prefer it.

As an example, when C&C visited Stockholm as part of an official visit, King Carl-Gustaf, whilst speaking at an official dinner, referred to Queen Silvia's recent visit to Highgrove. There had been no public mention or pictures of this till that speech.
 
Most of these were events by the government or by the Queen not personal events hosted by the Cambridge’s or Harry.

William has known King Felipe VI of Spain since he (William) was a little boy. William and Kate also seem to have developed a private relationship with Frederik and Mary and with Willem-Alexander and Maxima.

I don't think they are as close to the continental royals as Queen Elizabeth II was for example to Queen Sonja and King Harald, Queen/Princess Beatrix, Queen Sofia, or Queen Margrethe, but I believe their ties to other Royal Houses will be strengthened in the future.

I also agree with other posters that, as the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate will probably start attending royal weddings, funerals and enthronements as the King's representatives.
 
As an example, when C&C visited Stockholm as part of an official visit, King Carl-Gustaf, whilst speaking at an official dinner, referred to Queen Silvia's recent visit to Highgrove. There had been no public mention or pictures of this till that speech.

King Carl Gustaf has told about the many times he's spent with Prince Philip and his children while growing up and in his youth. The older generations of the two families were closer than we think. At the same time I remember Queen Silvia saying that they never really got to know Princess Diana which isn't that hard to believe considering the two families were busy with small children and a lot of work in addition to the stormy private lives of the Waleses during the time when Charles and Diana were married.
Victoria and Daniel often meet with Haakon and Mette-Marit and to a lesser degree with Frederk and Mary. We also know that they met Willem-Alexander and Maxima in Spain a few years ago, but had to leave early because of the paparazzi. They've also spent time with Felipe and Letizia (Letizia was heard telling Victoria during the Japanese coronation that they had to get together soon again). It was also obvious during the many celebrations of the 2000s that the younger generation of royals (heirs plus siblings) all knew each other well and enjoyed spending time together. This in addition to the heir meetings that seems to have included everyone except for the British (that we know of).
We never hear about William and Catherine meeting their European colleagues privately. Whether this is because they don't or if it's because, as we know, they are highly protective of their private lives is hard to tell. It does seem from when we've seen them interact on the job that they're no strangers to each other.
 
William has known King Felipe VI of Spain since he (William) was a little boy. William and Kate also seem to have developed a private relationship with Frederik and Mary and with Willem-Alexander and Maxima.

I don't think they are as close to the continental royals as Queen Elizabeth II was for example to Queen Sonja and King Harald, Queen/Princess Beatrix, Queen Sofia, or Queen Margrethe, but I believe their ties to other Royal Houses will be strengthened in the future.

I also agree with other posters that, as the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate will probably start attending royal weddings, funerals and enthronements as the King's representatives.

All of the heirs/Royals of William and Kate's generation have married. The last Royal wedding of their age group was HGD Guillaume's in 2012.

So they will be attending mostly Royal funerals and enthronements, I would think.

But if the funeral is for a Royal Head of State, the proper protocol is for King Charles himself to attend.

For example, I can't see the King sending his Heir when Harald of Norway or Margrethe of Denmark passes on.
 
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IIRC King Abdullah has mentioned that he is glad that William and Hussain have a good relationship (as forever showcased watching the football in Hussain's mancave in 2018 ;) ) I doubt they'll make it over for the wedding but it's a notable contact.
 
There may be some photos of Charles having met foreign royals from time to time, but there are also many occasions when time has been spent together, and there are no pictures. That is just the way the BRF prefer it.

As an example, when C&C visited Stockholm as part of an official visit, King Carl-Gustaf, whilst speaking at an official dinner, referred to Queen Silvia's recent visit to Highgrove. There had been no public mention or pictures of this till that speech.
The point is that Charles is from a different generation when royal-to-royal interactions were more frequent whereas for William and Harry, it is less more than frequent to have those types of relationships. I am aware that the King of Sweden mentioned visited Charles at Highgrove but it was Charles hosting not his sons.

William has known King Felipe VI of Spain since he (William) was a little boy. William and Kate also seem to have developed a private relationship with Frederik and Mary and with Willem-Alexander and Maxima.

I don't think they are as close to the continental royals as Queen Elizabeth II was for example to Queen Sonja and King Harald, Queen/Princess Beatrix, Queen Sofia, or Queen Margrethe, but I believe their ties to other Royal Houses will be strengthened in the future.

I also agree with other posters that, as the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate will probably start attending royal weddings, funerals and enthronements as the King's representatives.
I am aware of William knowing the King of Spain as from the holiday pictures but he’s older than William and at different stage of life. I can’t speak on Willem Alexander and Maxima’s relations with the current POW. All I can say regarding Crown Princess Mary is that she and Kate seem to get on well, but I can’t say much more than that.
There is a difference between not interacting with a royal as opposed to not actually knowing of them. Sure William knows the King of Spain, but is he actually close to him? Not sure

IIRC King Abdullah has mentioned that he is glad that William and Hussain have a good relationship (as forever showcased watching the football in Hussain's mancave in 2018 ;) ) I doubt they'll make it over for the wedding but it's a notable contact.
Yes, they seemed to be enjoy each other’s company and seem to get on well.
 
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I think both William and Beatrice are close with CP Hussein from Jordan, we saw how warmly he greeted both of them, highlighting their closeness.

Queen Rania is Council member if earthshot prize and she confirms that that her sin and William are close friends.

As for Swedish RF
Madeleine mentioned when she was in UK, she would love to see her and the Wales kids bonding with each other since they're the same age. I am sure they had some playdates when Madeleine is in London.

I feel they have close relationship with CP Frederik and CP Mary.
 
I think both William and Beatrice are close with CP Hussein from Jordan, we saw how warmly he greeted both of them, highlighting their closeness.

Queen Rania is Council member if earthshot prize and she confirms that that her sin and William are close friends.

As for Swedish RF
Madeleine mentioned when she was in UK, she would love to see her and the Wales kids bonding with each other since they're the same age. I am sure they had some playdates when Madeleine is in London.

I feel they have close relationship with CP Frederik and CP Mary.

Do they even know Madeleine? Just because your royal doesn’t mean you are in club. Maybe they do or alternatively she may have been the Uber hot girl they say at big royal things when they were teenagers.
 
Do they even know Madeleine? Just because your royal doesn’t mean you are in club. Maybe they do or alternatively she may have been the Uber hot girl they say at big royal things when they were teenagers.
I don’t think they know of her. Maybe they heard of her?

IIRC King Abdullah has mentioned that he is glad that William and Hussain have a good relationship (as forever showcased watching the football in Hussain's mancave in 2018 ;) ) I doubt they'll make it over for the wedding but it's a notable contact.
Well you’re in luck because the Cambridges went to his wedding.

They seem to have no contact with the fashionable jet set crowd that the someone like Charlotte Casiraghi reigns over. I'm surprised even Beatrice and Eugenie are out of it as well...
The York girls have mutual friends of Casiraghi family like the Niarchoses, and a few others.
 
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