Serbia's Alexander II looks ahead

Of Europe's would-be kings, Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia (son of King Peter II of Yugoslavia who as this Telegraph article to its credit admits was betrayed by Churchill during World War II) may have the best chance at restoration. The recent reburials in Belgrade of his parents, grandmother, and uncle highlighted the strong interest in the royal family that persists in Serbia.  Long live King Alexander II!

German prince advocates restoration

Today is the 37th birthday of HRH Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia, rightful King of Prussia and German Emperor. But it is his cousin Prince Philipp Kirill (who would be the next head of the House of Hohenzollern if not for its equal marriage requirements--his mother is not noble, while Georg Friedrich's, born a countess of Castell-Rüdenhausen, is), a Lutheran pastor and father of six, who is more committed to thoughtfully and reasonably advocating the restoration of the German monarchy, an idea which while still far from mainstream is encouragingly more popular among young Germans than older ones.

Annoyingly, most of the reactions from Local readers were hostile. I posted the following in response:

As a convinced and passionate monarchist, I am appalled--though unfortunately not really surprised--by most of the comments here. This is a thoughtful man who takes his inheritance seriously, obviously loves his country in spite of the shabby way his family have been treated since 1918, and reasonably proposes an alternative that works quite well in ten modern European countries, and all people can do is tear him down. The causes of the First World War were extremely complex and cannot be blamed on any one individual. In any case a new German monarchy would not be exactly like the old one but would be a new creation suitable for the 21st century, as the British, Dutch, and Danish monarchies manifestly are. 

I fail to see that Germany's elected presidents and politicians have been in any way an improvement on the noble and royal houses that shaped German culture and destiny for a thousand years. What happened in 1918 was a tragedy from which Western Civilization has still not recovered and must be reversed. I find it amazing that after Hitler anyone can still believe it is better for leaders to come from humble backgrounds. A king born in a palace is much safer. Everything that is good and beautiful in Germany, everything that tourists admire, comes from the time of the monarchies--not just the Hohenzollerns, but all of them, including the Wittelsbachs of Bavaria (my personal favourite)--before the apocalypse of 1918. But monarchy should not be confined to nostalgia; the principle of a head of state who by being separate from the divisive political process, precisely because he is not elected, can represent the entire nation as a politician cannot, is as relevant today as it ever was. God bless Prince Philip Kiril and long live the German monarchies!

Coronation Anniversary

This past Sunday, June 2, was the sixtieth anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey. The occasion was celebrated two days later by a commemorative service (excellent pictures at the Daily Mail) at the Abbey featuring much of the music sung at the original event and attended by a wide variety of participants and representatives as well as the entire Royal Family. Being in Brazil I was not able to watch live, but fortunately the service is available in its entirety online. (Thanks to Matt Follows of the excellent British Monarchist Society for bringing the YouTube link to my attention.)



Here is a chart I made of the Monarchs of the World at the time of the Coronation. In many ways this was a better time, especially for those countries listed which could not be included on a similar chart today. 

Peter Hitchens sounded a pessimistic note that I cannot dismiss completely, though I think the service was glorious and there is still much to celebrate in the present British Monarchy.

Back from Brazil

As some readers may know, but others will not, I just returned today from a Baroque musical tour of Brazil (São Paulo and Belém), which is why I haven't posted lately. While as in Amsterdam my hopes of meeting royalty were unfulfilled (a descendant of Emperor Dom Pedro II was a registered participant at the recorder festival in São Paulo but at the last minute was unable to attend), otherwise it was a wonderful trip and everything went splendidly, with sightseeing including a visit to the Independence Monument where Emperor Dom Pedro I (1798-1834) and his two wives Empress Leopoldina (1797-1826) and Empress Amélie (1812-1873) are buried. Here is a video of me performing the Sonata No. 6 in A Minor by Francesco Geminiani (1687-1762) on May 29 at the Church of Our Lady of Consolation in São Paulo which I hope readers will enjoy:



Having visited Brazil, it and its history loom larger in my mind than previously. I can no longer accept a return to the 1914 status quo (in terms of monarchies vs republics) as minimally adequate. Brazil is too important, and its monarchical story too unique and remarkable, for monarchists to ignore. Only a return to the pre-1889 status quo (essentially 1914's monarchies plus those of Brazil, Hawaii, Portugal, and China) will do. That would still leave republicans with the continental USA, Spanish-speaking Latin America, France and its former colonies, Switzerland, San Marino, and Liberia. (They ought to be satisfied with that, the greedy bastards!)

Brazil is an amazing country. But this incorrigible royalist cannot resist pointing out that it could be even more amazing if it would restore the Monarchy that unlike any other Latin American nation guided its first 67 years of independence. Viva o Imperador!

Independence Monument

A monarchist pays his respects at the tomb of Emperor Dom Pedro I

 

Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse (1926-2013)

RIP Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse, de jure Grand Duke of Hesse (1980-2013). The new head of the grand ducal house is his son Heinrich Donatus (b 1966), himself suitably married to Countess Floria-Franziska von Faber-Castell, with their son Moritz (b 2007) the new heir. The Hesse-Kassel branch has been the primary House of Hesse since the extinction of the Darmstadt line in 1968. Prince Moritz was the grandson of Friedrich Karl, elected King of Finland in 1918, and therefore could have been considered a claimant to the Finnish throne. His maternal grandfather was the actual King Victor Emanuel III of Italy. He was well known as an art collector.

 

Large minority of Serbians back monarchy

An encouraging new poll shows 39% of Serbians in favour of restoring the monarchy. While monarchists still have some work to do, this is not at all a bad showing and can be built on. If the tables were turned and 39% of a current monarchy's population favoured a republic, the media cries for change would be deafening.

Prince Harry in the US

Deep down, even Americans know that royalty bring a special magic to any event that politicians never will, as Prince Harry's visit to the United States gets off to a great start in Washington and Colorado.