Death and Funeral of King Michael, 5th & 16th December 2017

[Hans-Rickard]

Originally Posted by Gaudete

As with Queen Fabiola’s funeral, there are all kinds of excuses made and if certain courts don’t feel they need to bother then that’s a matter for them. However, it remains a poor show. Very disappointing.

But there is no Royal Court in Romania. It's a former royal court that is no longer existing more than inside the family so you can't be expected to attend unless you know or is is close related to the grieving family.

The country is a republic so you can't compare this situation with Belgium. A full State funeral for the Romanian President would have been a totally different matter. Queen Fabiola was not a former Queen and nor did she live in exile. She was Queen in a monarchy from her marriage until her death. Protocollary that's a huge difference.

[wyevale]

Duc_et_Pair,

We well remember your outrage when the BRF failed to send Royal representation to Queen Fabiola's funeral, but it is somehow different when the Dutch fail to attend the Funeral of a [once] reigning Monarch, rather than a 'mere' consort ?
#DoubleStandards...

[Gaudete]

Of course. I do see what you’re saying and I agree. But in my opinion, it’s still a little shabby.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by wyevale

Duc_et_Pair,

We well remember your outrage when the BRF failed to send Royal representation to Queen Fabiola's funeral, but it is somehow different when the Dutch fail to attend the Funeral of a [once] reigning Monarch, rather than a 'mere' consort ?
#DoubleStandards...

No double standards at all. I feel the same when -if the rumours are true- the Dutch Royal House is not represented, that would be a quite remarkable and rare exception on the rule that they are always represented.

Originally Posted by Gaudete

W [...]

But the Dutch have a former monarch, the King, the Queen, Beatrix’s sisters, Beatrix’s children, Margriet’s children....seems a little extraordinary that they’re all pre-booked and can’t spare an afternoon.

The Dutch have two fulltime royals: the King and Queen Máxima.
Three royals are -in principle- retired and two royals pursue an own career outside the royal role. And that is it. The De Bourbon de Parmes, the Van Vollenhovens and the Guillermos are no part of the Dutch Royal House.

The Duke of Parma did represent his cousin the King at the funeral of Queen Anne of Romania (probably as he was already there anyway as Head of the House Bourbon-Parma).

[eya]

Guest list for King Michai Funeral

Familiile Regale participante la funeraliile Regelui Mihai I | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania

No Netherland, Norway, Denmark, Monaco.

Today King Simeon accompanied by CP Margareta and Prince Radu paying respect to coffin of King Mihai

https://www.rexfeatures.com/livefeed...l_i,_bucharest

The Royal Family of Portugal indeed represented. In the list there is the name of Duke of Braganza.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by eya

Guest list for King Michai Funeral

Familiile Regale participante la funeraliile Regelui Mihai I | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania

No Netherland, Norway, Denmark, Monaco.

Also no Liechtenstein, no Hohenzollern (the late King was Prinz von Hohenzollern) and no Bourbon-Parma (the late Queen was Princesse de Bourbon de Parme).

Remarkable absences from quite a lot of Houses, for the funeral of a once reigning King (twice). We can only guess why.

[LadyFinn]

Video and photos of Nicholas and Alina Maria. The people wanted to talk with Nicholas.
FOTO&VIDEO. Fostul principe Nicolae, la Palatul Regal

[wyevale]

So the broadcasters [National?] describe him as 'Principe' even if his family doesn't ???

Interesting....

[Andy T]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

Also no Liechtenstein, no Hohenzollern (the late King was Prinz von Hohenzollern) and no Bourbon-Parma (the late Queen was Princesse de Bourbon de Parme).

Remarkable absences from quite a lot of Houses, for the funeral of a once reigning King (twice). We can only guess why.

Liechtenstein is still being quoted in some media sources as being represented. That leaves the Dutch, Danes, Norwegians, Monegasques & Bourbon Parmas as the notable absentees. I dare say in most cases, there is little or nothing to read into these absences at all. Stephanie de Monaco was in Romania visiting not long ago, for example. It's rare for any funeral to have a full house - no British Royal went to Fabiola's funeral, for example. I imagine the absence of Nikola II of Montenegro is also not a slight. He was at the King's 90th.

The Prussian Hohenzollerns are there, just not the Sigmaringen Hohenzollerns. As you say, Duc, we can't know why. Perhaps they stayed away in a huff or perhaps it's to underline the message that they have no interest in Romania - or both, or neither....

Things may change even yet.

[Hans-Rickard]

Norway might not have anyone to send. Neither The King, nor Princess Astrid, is in the best health and might not want to go abroad. The King is expected to attend the installation of the new Bishop of Oslo at the morning service in Oslo Cathedral the day after. That leaves The Queen and The Crown Prince Couple. If both Sonja and Haakon is unavailable (all engagements are not published in the calendar) there is no one to send.

And with Frederik and Joachim abroad, Prince Henrik retired due to illness and Princess Benedikte already having engagements, there is only The Queen left in Denmark. If she's unavailable there is no one to send. There is no reason for QMII to order Prince Joachim to break his christmas holiday and go to a funeral of a former King in a republic country, unless there is a strong personal connection. Had it been a funeral for Grand Duke Jean, King Juan Carlos, Princess Beatrix or King Albert II it would have been a different situation. Had Queen Anne-Marie represented Greece, then maybe QMII could have asked her sister to represent her too but only Princess Irene seems to be on the Guest list from the Greek Royals.

[Gaudete]

Queen Anne Marie is on the list but she’s not listed with her son or sister or law. So could it be that she’s representing Margrethe and Nikolaos and Irene are representing Constantine?

[Duc_et_Pair]

In the communiqué they mention Liechtenstein but no names in the guestlist. Also strange: no one from Switzerland, the land where King Michael and Queen Anne have lived for decades. Or they are not named because not royal?

[Andy T]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

In the communiqué they mention Liechtenstein but no names in the guestlist. Also strange: no one from Switzerland, the land where King Michael and Queen Anne have lived for decades. Or they are not named because not royal?

I imagine that these things can be a bit fluid in the lead-up, particularly at this time of year, and even if someone doesn't attend, it may well be because they can't rather than because they don't want to. We'll know after the event who was there and who wasn't, I'm sure.

In any event, the Romanians themselves are showing up in their thousands to pay homage to their King at the Royal Palace, which is far more important to me than whether Good Queen Daisy is there or not (no disrespect intended to HM the Queen of Denmark). Apparently, the palace gates will remain open all night.

[Hans-Rickard]

Originally Posted by Gaudete

Queen Anne Marie is on the list but she’s not listed with her son or sister or law. So could it be that she’s representing Margrethe and Nikolaos and Irene are representing Constantine?

I discovered now that Queen Anne-Marie is indeed on the guest list. She is listed as Queen of the Hellenes and is probably representing her husband but it's not impossible that QMII has asked her sister to represent her too if there is no one else available.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Andy T

Liechtenstein is still being quoted in some media sources as being represented. That leaves the Dutch, Danes, Norwegians, Monegasques & Bourbon Parmas as the notable absentees. I dare say in most cases, there is little or nothing to read into these absences at all. Stephanie de Monaco was in Romania visiting not long ago, for example. It's rare for any funeral to have a full house - no British Royal went to Fabiola's funeral, for example. I imagine the absence of Nikola II of Montenegro is also not a slight. He was at the King's 90th.

The Prussian Hohenzollerns are there, just not the Sigmaringen Hohenzollerns. As you say, Duc, we can't know why. Perhaps they stayed away in a huff or perhaps it's to underline the message that they have no interest in Romania - or both, or neither....

Things may change even yet.

Probably nobody invited the Princely House of Hohenzollern.

[JR76]

A bit nitpicky maybe but as Grand Duke Henri is on guestlist there will be a Bourbon-Parma present at the funeral.

[An Ard Ri]

Really surprised that there's no one from the Monegasques Princely Family seeing as Princess Stephanie was only in Romania last month and met with the Crown Princess and her husband.

[Cory]

Near the King's coffin is not the original Royal Crown used by Ferdinand I but a copy of it:

https://m.antena3.ro/actualitate/cor...ai-446609.html

http://m.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate...de-otel-845694

[Andy T]

I've also heard on TV news this evening a report that mentioned the Royal Family of Portugal will also be represented. It was repeated that Liechtenstein will be represented and King Constantine II was mentioned with Queen Anne-Marie. The list still seems fluid.

[principessa]

Monaco is also not represented.