Wednesday, March 20, 2024

A new book on Serbian-Romanian relations

 




Belgrade, 20 March 2024 - Promotion of the new international collection of works on Serbian-Romanian relations called "New Cultural and Political Perspectives on Serbian-Romanian Relations" was held today at the Royal Palace in Belgrade, under the patronage of HRH Crown Prince Alexander's Foundation for Education and Culture.





TRH Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine welcomed the guests in the home of the Royal Family of Serbia and hosted a very successful promotion of the book, published by Peter Lang, New York, and edited by Aleksandra Djuric Milovanovic, Jovana Kolundzija, Mircea Maran, Otilia Hedesan, and Cristene D'Anca. 


"I do not think there is a better and more symbolic place to have this presentation and discussion, than this Palace. This is the Palace that my grandfather, King Alexander I, built as a home for his family, after his marriage with Princess Maria of Romania, later Queen Maria of Yugoslavia, my grandmother. Their matrimony started as a state marriage, very often to many European Royals of the time, but it was much more than that. Many testimonies which remain from that time, also say that when my grandparents met each other, it was love at first sight. Love that outgrows the boundaries of state interest. It also became one of the strongest bridges between the two countries and the symbol of sincere friendship between the nations of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Kingdom of Romania", stated His Royal Highness.




The promotion was opened by the Crown Prince, followed by the address of HE Mrs Silvia Davidoiu, Ambassador of Romania in Serbia. Speakers at the panel were: Prof. Slobodan G. Markovic, PhD, Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade and a member of the Crown Council, Aleksandra Djuric Milovanovic, PhD, Dragan Bakic, PhD, and Anemari Sorescu Marinkovic, PhD, all from the Institute for Balkan Studies of SASA, and Ionut Nistor, conf. uni. dr. from the Faculty of History, University Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Iasi.



HE the Ambassador of Romania emphasized that "friendships are like flowers, we need to cherish them". Her Excellency also reminded of the old saying, by Nicolae Iorga, that "Romania has only two true friends - the Black Sea and Serbia".





"These brotherly relations have persevered during our history, and they are equally strong today, with my grandparents' marriage remaining as a symbol of sincere friendship between Romania and Serbia. For every nation, it is important to have a true and honest friend in the international community. We should all work together so that these ties remain strong, and to be even firmer in the future.  We owe it to our ancestors, but also to future generations", concluded HRH Crown Prince Alexander. 


 

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

A Very Private School by Charles Spencer


 

Charles Spencer's memoir, A Very Private School, has garnered attention for his honesty in discussing the sexual abuse he suffered when he was a young boy at boarding school.   Spencer was recently interviewed on NBC's Today show.

https://www.today.com/video/charles-spencer-reveals-childhood-trauma-and-abuse-206107717720

The book has been published in the United States (Gallery Books) and the United Kingdom (William Collins).

Spencer is a respectable historian who has received praise for his earlier books: The Spencer Family, the White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream,  Prince Rupert Blenheim: Battle for Europe, and The Killers of the King.

Charles Spencer is better known as the 9th Earl Spencer, younger brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.  He has eschewed using his title as the author of his books.



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I hate Amazon for removing the photo book links.  These links are for Charles Spencer's previous book.  I am a member of Amazon Associates, which means I earn a percentage from purchases made using my links - click on a link, buy a book or shop for other things.  The percentages are small, but add up to Amazon gift cards -- more books for me to buy.  Thanks


Thursday, February 29, 2024

The Crown Dissected by Hugo Vickers

 


Acclaimed royal biographer Hugo Vickers watched The Crown so you don't need to watch it!

This volume covers all six seasons of the Netflix series.  Vickers writes about the errors and the inconsistencies in the episodes.


Hugo's "definitive analysis" of The Crown is available solely in a Kindle edition.


https://amzn.to/3UWEsYc

https://amzn.to/3V1WR5U


Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Sirrell the Squirrel by Juliet Rood

Sirrell the Squirrel looks positively adorable.  According to the book's website, this is a "very special book written with the sole purpose of bringing the magic of the Scottish Highlands to life."

It is a "heartwarming tale of a squirrel who unexpectedly finds himself a long way from his home in the Scottish Highlands."

 


The book costs £14.99 (UK orders only.)  If you live outside the UK and want to order the book, please use this email: sirrellthesquirrel@gmail.com

https://www.sirrellthesquirrel.com/

The author is Juliet Rood, who has the honor of being the last person to receive permission to marry from the Sovereign, according to the Royal Marriages Act, which was superseded by the Succession to the Crown Act.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2015/02/queen-approves-marriage-of-cousin-at.html

Mrs. Rood is the second of three children of the Hon. Katharine Nicolson and Captain Mark Nicolson.  Katharine is the heiress presumptive to her mother, Lady Saltoun.

The illustrations were created by Saskia Robertson, a "Scotland-based artist, illustrator and calligrapher."  She and Juliet Rood are childhood friends.

Robertson runs Edinburgh Letters, a design company.  https://www.edinburghletters.com/

Juliet Rood is a QVD.

Victoria - Arthur - Patricia - Alexander - Katharine - Juliet

Friday, January 12, 2024

The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy


 

Robert Hardman is an excellent biographer.  I look forward to reading this book, which will be published in the UK (Macmillan) and in the US (Pegasus) on January 18.   


https://amzn.to/3O3cZ2N



https://amzn.to/48TvUVB



Full transparency.  If you order the book (or other items) from my links, I make a few pennies on every item someone purchases through my links.  When I reach a certain threshold ($10.00 in the US and £25.00 in the UK), I am sent an Amazon gift card.  I can more books. It takes about 2 years for me to earn a UK gift card.   Thank you

Monday, January 1, 2024

Queen Margrethe II

 Queen Margrethe II of Denmark announced on December 31, 2023 that she will abdicate on January 14, 2024.  Her successor is her older son, Crown Prince Frederik.

There are few books on the Danish monarchy and its sovereigns.  This is the only one in English about Margrethe.  There is a plethora of rushed "books" on Amazon, published on December 31, 2023.  Do not waste your money.





https://amzn.to/48CHBjr




Theo Aronson's book, A Family of Kings, is one of the best books in English about Christian IX of Denmark and his descendants.



Thursday, November 9, 2023

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II


I spotted this magazine while in the checkout line at Target.  I grabbed it and added it to my items.  A good purchase.  I am surprised by how good it is.

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II is a 98-page magazine published by A360 Media.  The price is $13.99.  

It is well-illustrated and well-researched as the writers focus on how the coronation made the queen an international star, the voice of a nation.  There are also articles on the procession, the pomp and pageantry, and the guest list.  The final article is about the Coronation of Charles III.

I have seen this publication in the magazine sections and checkout lines at several supermarkets, Target, and Walmart.  It is also sold at Barnes & Noble and other bookstores.


https://amzn.to/42YH4XB