Engagement of Princess Theodora of Greece and Matthew Kumar - November 16, 2018

[Lipe]

Princess Theodora's wedding was canceled in January, it has not been celebrated yet.
But Matthew has been integrated into the family for a long time, in 2022, in Denmark, Matthew posed with members of the Danish and Greek Royal House, at the cousins' reunion in Grasten, with Queen Margrethe, Queen Anne'marie and the princess Benedikte. At events of the Danish Royal House he has been invited as a member of the Greek Royal Family. He is very integrated into the family.
It is sad that the wedding has been canceled so many times, King Constantine died in January 2023, for Theodora her father's presence was important, it is obvious that the wedding will have a very relevant absence, and that makes her daughter very sad.

 

[Stefanie]

I guess we will never know what the reason was that they never married so far.

 

[IRIS1983]

Theodora's wedding was canceled due to covid. But we cannot forget that it is not an easy wedding, I do not know where Matthew's family lives, but it is obvious that his last name is from India, if his family must move from India to Greece... and the friends of Theodora and Matthew from California to Spetses...It is not easy to organize.

 

[Countessmeout]

Theodora's wedding was canceled due to covid. But we cannot forget that it is not an easy wedding, I do not know where Matthew's family lives, but it is obvious that his last name is from India, if his family must move from India to Greece... and the friends of Theodora and Matthew from California to Spetses...It is not easy to organize.

Matthew is born and raised in California. His immediate family at the least is likely still there. And depending if they were born there, or when they came, many others could be as well. Flying from US to Greece for a wedding if you have a few months notice not a huge issue for most.

 

[Linda_26]

A possible reason for the further delay of the wedding?

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2024/02/will-princess-theodora-and-matthew.html?m=1

On June 29, 2023, the Supreme Court of California "issued an order suspending attorney Matthew J. Kumar from the practice of law for one year, with the execution of suspension stayed." Kumar was placed on probation for one year.

The case "In the matter of Matthew J. Kumar" was brought by the California State Bar. Kumar was found guilty "of multiple violations related to his handling of client trust (CTA) account funds." He "allegedly commingled personal and law funds in the CTA," using the funds "to pay personal expenses."

 

[An Ard Ri]

That sounds very serious and would explain a lot too!

 

[Blog Real]

This could actually be one of the reasons why they haven't announced a new date for the wedding yet. And it's very strange that they announced their engagement in 2018 and haven't gotten married yet.

 

[Lipe]

The disciplinary resolution of the State Bar says: "the absence of harm to clients, and the respondent's good character", he used the client's account (Fidecomiso) to carry out personal transactions or pays. That is, using a bank account that you are not the owner of to carry out personal operations, without appropriating your client's assets, because Matthew entered personal assets to carry out these operations (you read resolution). I agree that there is no harm, and indeed there is bad practice on the part of the lawyer, and for this reason the College suspends him for one year.

This, in my opinion, has no significance to be the cause of the impediment to his wedding, on the contrary, they could take advantage of this moment to get married.

The Royal House has never issued a statement about the date of their wedding, or about their wedding, we have deduced the date from the rumors that come, for example, from the designer of the dress.... We do not know if they are already married or not. They could have gotten married and we not know about it. They might want a wedding in the strictest privacy, like Filippos's first wedding, and that nothing should be revealed to the media. I'm trying to say, we are waiting for a wedding, looking for reasons, for a wedding where, so to speak, we and the press might not even be invited.

 

[Somebody]

Failing to respond to the State Bar's inquiries regarding the disciplinary investigation makes it even more serious. And apparently, his suspension will not automatically be lifted after a year but only if he meets certain requirements. It seems the year of probation started on March 27 or June 29 last year.

The fact that prior to this offense he had been warned multiple times makes it rven more concerning. He is taking on clients with debts but apparently cannot handle money well himself either...

Normally an actual suspension of 90 days is given, however, Matthew received a stayed suspension for 1 year in which he needs to comply with specific requirements.

 

[Lipe]

In Spain, to access the state Bar you need an exam too, it is not enough to have a university title. ...There are two types of suspensions, the temporary ones, due to bad practices, like Matthew, and the very serious ones. , which are total expulsion from the profession. When the suspension period has elapsed, you have to take that exam again.

I reiterate again. A year where he cannot practice as a lawyer, but he can do other procedures that do not require a lawyer's license, for example administrative or creating a business, a company...or taking it as a sabbatical year...Like he decides , which is clear that he cannot carry out laws activities.
This does not have to harm him financially or reputation, in the resolution, it speaks to the fact that Matthew did not cause damage to his client, and , his good conduct Financially, in Spain, lawyers have private insurance that covers these suspension, even, the lawyers' insurance covers his income during the period in which he is suspended. If this is in Spain, I imagine that in the US they will also have private insurance to it, it is county of the insurances.

 

[kalnel]

It appears that something happened in November 2023 that caused his license to be "ordered inactive." This is after the suspension and stay earlier in the year. His current status is "not eligible to practice law in CA."

I wonder if he failed to comply with the requirements in the order staying his suspension or something.

https://apps.calbar.ca.gov/attorney/Licensee/Detail/283521

 

[Adda]

His absence in Tatoi this January makes sense now.
Oh boy.

 

[Lipe]

The suspension resolution is June 29, 2023, if it starts counting then until June 29, 2024, he cannot exercise, therefore it is logical that he put that. In fact, his name is in the State bar, that is, he is a member, but he cannot practice until "June 29 of 2024" and if he passes the exam....

 

[tommy100]

Hmmm yes could be a very good reason why the wedding hasn't been publicly rescheduled. Doing so would probably make it fodder for the media linking a Greek Princess to a "scandal". Much better to let it resolve itself before any big announcement.

It is a long time from engagement but I guess we have to factor Covid and then her father's health into it.

 

[stef]

The wedding of Prince Filippos in 2020 in Switzerland and the wedding in Greece in 2021 were not announced by the Greek Royal House, I remember that we knew that date because the Spanish blog published it, a person close to the designer Celia Kritharioti had told them that the Greek designer had an avalanche of clients, because the son of King Constantine was getting married on October 23, 2021. Nothing was announced about King Constantine's funeral, 2023, nor the time of the funeral, we learned about it from the press but there were no official statements. May of 2020and may 2023 had not communicated about it, we have discovered it indirectly......I do not believe that a one-year suspension from practicing as a lawyer from the California Bar Association has anything to do with Theodora's wedding. This is a professional problem for Matthew. The resolution is June 2023, I do not believe that his wedding was subject to Matthew approving access control to the California Bar Association.When and where Theodora will get married we will know through indirect means. Regarding the suspension of Theodora's wedding, there was also no official statement, it was the designer Celia Kritharioti who said it, since Theodora had called her to tell her.

 

[Somebody]

Theodora herself confirmed the original wedding date in a post in that specific weekend expressing thanks for those reaching out to them on what was supposed to be their wedding day.

 

[kalnel]

The suspension resolution is June 29, 2023, if it starts counting then until June 29, 2024, he cannot exercise, therefore it is logical that he put that. In fact, his name is in the State bar, that is, he is a member, but he cannot practice until "June 29 of 2024" and if he passes the exam....

No, originally they stayed his suspension, so he would have been able to practice on probation. But, something happened in November that got his license pulled.

...I do not believe that a one-year suspension from practicing as a lawyer from the California Bar Association has anything to do with Theodora's wedding. This is a professional problem for Matthew. The resolution is June 2023, I do not believe that his wedding was subject to Matthew approving access control to the California Bar Association.When and where Theodora will get married we will know through indirect means. Regarding the suspension of Theodora's wedding, there was also no official statement, it was the designer Celia Kritharioti who said it, since Theodora had called her to tell her.

In November, his license was pulled. It's not clear if the stay on the suspension was revoked or something else happened, but he is not able to practice now.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

I was always strongly suspicious that one way or another it involved money as the stumbling block....

 

[IRIS1983]

I read in a Spanish blog: Princess Theodora's wedding will be in autumn and in Athens, the source of the blog is an article published by the Greek journalist close to the designer Celia Kritiatori. This journalist is the same one who announced the wedding date of Filippos and Nina.

Matthew's most important exam will be autumn and in Greece.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I wonder if Princess Theodora and Matthew will resettle in Europe?

 

[Moonmaiden23]

I hope so. I would like very much to see Matthew put this mess with the State bar behind him

He seems like a good guy.

 

[kalnel]

I read in a Spanish blog: Princess Theodora's wedding will be in autumn and in Athens, the source of the blog is an article published by the Greek journalist close to the designer Celia Kritiatori. This journalist is the same one who announced the wedding date of Filippos and Nina.

We've heard from sources supposedly close to that designer about this wedding so many times over the years, I don't put much credence in the rumors.

I hope so. I would like very much to see Matthew put this mess with the State bar behind him

He seems like a good guy.

I'd be curious to know what he did that caused the stay on the suspension to be lifted and his license pulled. The behavior noted in the background on his case, including ducking calls and failing to respond to official inquiries in a timely way, doesn't scream "good guy."

 

[Stefanie]

Any news on Theodora ' s weddingdate? It' s already May and still no new developments?

 

[Lipe]

The last thing I've seen published is that it will be at the end of September.

 

[stef]

Not at the end of September, I have read that mid-September. But I recognize that these are rumors, the office of the Greek Royal House has not made any comment.

 

[Lady Daly]

Will Princess Theodora and Matthew Kumar ever get married?

royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com

Excellent read! Marlene Eilers Koenig's Royal Musings blogspot indicates Mr Kumar was found guilty of multiple violations related to his handling of client trust (CTA) account funds. He allegedly commingled personal and law funds in the CTA, using the funds to pay personal expenses. He also failed to respond to the State Bar's inquiries regarding the disciplinary investigation. These details and more have also been mentioned on this thread. I don't think this reflects well on Mr Kumar.

Regarding official wedding announcements, Princess Theodora nor the family have made any recently, have they?

 

[Biri]

According to this article wedding will take place this autumn.

 

[Lady Daly]

According to this article wedding will take place this autumn.

Yes Biri, that is my understanding as well; yet only speculations by the press and others such as designer Celia Kritiatori. Princess Theodora nor the Greek Family haven't actually made an official wedding announcement. We shall wait and see.

 

[Biri]

And Matthew was reinstated to the California Bar on 1 March.

 

[Somebody]

Looks like he is still in trouble. They opened a case in April because he is not meeting his probation requirements. A Zoom viedo conference on this matter was initially scheduled for May 28.

The state bar's representative asked for consolidation between this case and the previous case, so that one is also still open, meaning that (additional) disciplinary actions might be taken. Matthew so far was a no show on two pre-trial online meetings (May 6 and May 13, a nother one is scheduled for May 28).

He did however meet for the Voluntary Settlement Conference related to the earlier case and made promises to respond to various matters.

The trial itself is scheduled to start on June 4. However, Matthew failed to comply with the court's requests to provide information. Because of this, he is again facing disciplinary action. On May 16, he finally sent in someting, however, that eas rejected by the court both based on procedural issues (among others, wrong dates and names as well as content-related; the argument about not being required to follow an ethics course doesn't fly). He has 15 days to resubmit.

See: State Bar Court Portal