I wish them well, they deserve it.
A marriage probably doesn't make that much difference in their personal relationship, but it is still a nice formality to have in place. Also in regards to the locals for that matter, who now for real have an official lady of the manor.
They couldn't get married and have children because of that idiotic and anachronistic will. And when Prince Richard died his corpse wasn't even cold before an IMO greedy relative, Prince Ludwig-Ferdinand, sued for the right of Schloss Berleburg. - That happened the week after Prince Richard's death. Something that in the interview and between the lines really angered Prince Gustav.
And who can blame him! He and Carina were forced to de facto separate for several years while this case went before a court. Not to mention that Gustav was in reality evicted from him childhood home, only having a small apartment at his disposal - he couldn't even move freely on the estate!
- I don't think that relative can expect to forgiven any decade soon, let alone being invited to the wedding and other events at Schloss Berleburg.
In the interview Gustav points out that his father was a difficult man at times (read: unreasonable, pig-headed and frustrating) and that that was a help for Gustav in coping with this lawsuit.
But wonder what will happen now? Can and will they have a child? There are treatments ensuring that a pregnancy can be "arranged" pretty fast.
If that's what they want, we may see an heir next year. I hope so.
Additional details from the interview, in no particular order.
In the ruling by the Oberlandesgericht for Nordrhein-Westfalen it was determined that the will was contrary to Gustav's human rights and also that most European royal houses today have members who were commoners, so the will about Gustav's wife having to be a noble, went out the window as well. And by being unmarried Gustav had not done anything contrary to the will.
So because Gustav had done nothing wrong, the ruling went in his favor and he is now free to marry whomever he wants.
During her exile in UK, which was to some extent prolonged due to Corona, Carina got herself two cocker spaniels. Jane and Zadie.
It is emphasized that they don't look as much forward to the wedding as sealing a bond between them, but because it marks an end to a very difficult period.
Which is why the wedding is celebrated with only the closest relatives and close friends. Carina smooths out that one, by interjecting that that was also how it was done a hundred years ago. Small weddings.
When the lawsuit came, Carina went to England to write on two books she had signed a contract for - and to get away from the chaos. While Gustav from time to time visited her, while handling the lawsuits back in Berleburg.
Being separated for period wasn't anything new for them. When they first met, Prince Richard was ill with cancer, so he used the weekend visiting Carina in Paris as a way to relax and get away from the stress of his daily life, and that's what he did when he visited Carina in England as well, until Corona put an end to that for more than six months. But nevertheless the stress of it all also affected Carina, so it wasn't an easy time! Not least because with everything in the hands of the lawyers, they felt helpless.
There will 40 for the dinner in the evening after the civil wedding. There will be a lot of traditions, but also new traditions. Their dogs will take an active part in the wedding.
Gustav has two black labradors, Anna and Alice.
The whole of the DRF has been invited and parts of the Greek RF as well.
Carina's parent cannot take part, due to bad health, but her brother and sister will fly in from California.
A Danish tailor has made her wedding dress.
They have been busy preparing after the court ruling, because a number of rooms that will be used at the wedding has been renovated. The hall where the big dinner will take place hasn't been used for a hundred years and they will be the first couple who will actually live in the Schloss. (Benedikte and Richard lived in an adjacent - but still large - building.)
Carina is fond of cooking and she miss talking cooking with uncle Henri (PH) and she does use a number of his recipes.
It is Carina who is doing the decorating of the rooms and who oversee the renovations of the rooms as well.
Towards the end Gustav and Richard developed a close relationship and Carina had a good relationship with him, in the sense that he treated her kindly (at least towards the end) and they had a common interests in antiques and old houses.
As such they plan to have exhibitions at Schloss Berleburg, about culture and the 900 year long history between Schloss Berleburg and the region.
Carina in particular will be busy!
Apart from keep on writing she also intends to dedicate herself in the local culture by arranging local cultural events (typical lady of the manor work, so to speak.) And she is passionate about horses as well as classical music.
The big start of all that will in particular be the the annual Berleburg Schützenfest in July, which will be held for the first time in two years due to the pandemic. (I guess BB will cover that.)
They both believe Prince Richard would have been delighted that they could finally marry. (He was never a snob.)
During the interview Carina is wearing a ring on her left hand. That was a Christmas gift from Gustav, many years ago at Fredensborg. (Probably the Christmas where the whole extended DRF-family gathered at Fredensborg.)
Scans will come up later.
