There was no August edition of Musings on Monarchy, as I was on hiatus for August and it tends to be a slow month for royals everywhere. I did not expect September to be quite so… everything. With the death of Queen Elizabeth II and all of the events held afterwards, the accession of King Charles III, and royal engagements picking up, September has been busy. Equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful, it has been difficult to follow. In any case, there is rather a lot to talk about this month. Without further adieu, here are my Musings on Monarchy: September 2022.
The Passing of Queen Elizabeth II & The Accession of King Charles III
I have written somewhat extensively on both of these (interconnected) topics in individual posts, so I will not recount them here again. If you would like to read more, you can find them here:
Queen Elizabeth II Passes: The End of an Era
The History of St. Giles’ Cathedral
Style Bite: The Imperial State Crown
Historic Moments Since Queen Elizabeth II’s Death
The Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II
I must say, seeing the corgis waiting for Her Majesty’s final return to Windsor was heartbreaking as a dog owner, as well as her fell pony.
Queen Margrethe of Denmark Tests Positive for Covid Again
After testing positive for Covid-19 in February of 2022, Queen Margrethe of Denmark has tested positive again. A press release that went out only two days after Queen Elizabeth’s funeral explained that she had tested positive again and that other members of the family would be covering events. Margrethe, known as Daisy, was close friends with Elizabeth, and she was clearly affected by her passing. Factoring in that there was a major gathering of over 500 heads of state on Sunday evening, 2,000 people at the funeral at Westminster Abbey, and 800 people at the committal service, others likely have caught it as well. Margrethe remains one of my favourite royals, and I hope that she recovers quickly.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess were in New York this week. The Danish Consulate there was hosting the Citizen Sustainability Summit, and they both took part before returning to Denmark to host a government event for The Queen.
Princess Amalia of the Netherlands Opens Parliament
The Princess of Orange, Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands has had an incredibly busy and probably stressful week. She attended her first opening of Parliament, known as Prinsjesdag. The eighteen-year-old attended along with her parents, and listened as her father read the Speech from the Throne to both houses.
This is a very formal event for the Dutch Royal Family, and it includes a ride in the state carriages. However, the family was met equally by cheers and boos as they rode through the streets. And in their balcony appearance afterwards, there was considerable booing again. And shortly afterwards, the heir to the throne was forced to leave her student accommodations at university. Amalia, among other public figures, has been the target of kidnapping plots, and she moved back to the secure palace.
The Prince of Wales Misses Earthshot Prize Summit
The new Prince of Wales was unable to travel to New York for the Earthshot Prize Summit, as the court is still in mourning. He recorded a message for participants though, taking care to share his appreciation and comfort in their work. While many people were disappointed that he could not attend, it is more than understandable. Not only are these seven days the only time the Royal Family can grieve privately*, William and Catherine will now be taking on the Duchy of Cornwall in addition to becoming Prince and Princess of Wales. Big things ahead without a doubt.
What royal news has piqued your interest? I hope you’ve enjoyed Musings on Monarchy: September 2022.
Cheers,
The Historian
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