royalty

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Her Wife by Her Side, Hawaii's 'Last Princess' Dies

Abigail Kawananakoa, 96, descended from royal family that first ruled islands, Irish businessman

(Newser) - Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa, the so-called last Hawaiian princess whose lineage included the royal family that once ruled the islands and an Irish businessman who became one of Hawaii's largest landowners, died on Sunday. She was 96. Her death was announced Monday morning outside Iolani Palace, America's only...

Danish Queen 'Sorry' She Stripped Grandkids' Titles

Queen Margrethe II issues apologetic but firm statement

(Newser) - Update: Denmark's Queen Margrethe II has issued a mea culpa after her decision to strip four of her eight grandchildren of their royal titles caused some hurt feelings in the family. In a statement issued Monday, the queen says she was simply trying to "future-proof" the monarchy and...

It Sank in 1682. Its Discovery Has Been a Secret for 15 Years

Gloucester was carrying the future King James II when it met its demise off coast of England

(Newser) - A royal shipwreck discovered off the coast of England is being called "the single most significant historic maritime discovery" for the country in four decades. Found by amateur divers in 2007 but only revealed this week, the wreck of the Gloucester—which ran aground and sank on May 6,...

Ex-Royals Sue Italy for $335M Crown Jewels

Children of Italy's last king say the treasure chest held at bank is rightfully theirs

(Newser) - The children of Italy's last king are suing the Italian state to reclaim the crown jewels, including more than 6,000 diamonds and 2,000 pearls. The Guardian has the story from Rome, where the descendants of King Umberto II have been fighting to get their hands on a...

Royal Family: Sorry for Princess's Birthday Bash

Dutch heir Amalia welcomed 21 guests for celebration amid rising COVID-19 cases

(Newser) - The Dutch royal family says it regrets hosting an 18th birthday party for future queen Princess Amalia amid rising cases of COVID-19. Prime Minister Mark Rutte says 21 people attended Saturday's party in the gardens of the Huis ten Bosch royal palace in the Hague, where canopies were erected...

Guess Who Is Turning 7, Complete With New Pictures?

Prince George was photographed by mom Kate Middleton

(Newser) - It's not out of the ordinary for moms to take pictures of their kids on their birthdays. What is unusual is for those photos to get worldwide exposure. Per a statement issued by Kensington Palace, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka Wills and Kate) are "delighted to...

Have $1,600 for a Tree? France Is Calling

Marie Antoinette's private garden is finally being revived

(Newser) - Marie Antoinette's reign ended badly—the queen of France was guillotined for treason in 1793—but her taste in gardening lives on, the New York Times reports. A private garden designed to her liking is being rebuilt at Versailles, and after years of debate, caretakers have decided her taste...

Thai King Cleans House Over 'Extremely Evil' Acts

The royal drama continues

(Newser) - Days after demoting Thailand's first royal consort in nearly a century, King Maha Vajiralongkorn is cleaning house. Four royal guards have been fired in addition to the six palace officials let go in the aftermath of Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi 's dismissal. Two male guards who monitored palace bedrooms were...

As Thai Elections Approach, a Princess and a 'Game Changer'

Royals aren't supposed to run for prime minister, but Ubolratana Mahidol is changing that

(Newser) - A Thai political party on Friday named a princess as its nominee to be the next prime minister, upending a tradition of the palace eschewing politics and upsetting all predictions about what might happen in next month's elections. The selection of Princess Ubolratana Mahidol by the Thai Raksa Chart...

Judge Has Bad News for Hawaiian Princess

Abigail Kawananakoa is deemed mentally incapable of managing her trust

(Newser) - A judge ruled this week that Hawaiian "princess" Abigail Kawananakoa isn't mentally capable of handling her $215 million fortune—the latest development in a saga of aging royalty and alleged abuse, the Guardian reports. Kawananakoa, 92, who descends from the royal family that once ruled the Hawaiian kingdom,...

Spacey Accused of Groping Princess's Hubby

Ari Behn says misconduct occurred at 2007 Nobel Peace Prize concert

(Newser) - As co-host of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo, Kevin Spacey rubbed elbows with Norway's Princess Martha Louise and her husband, who was seated beside him. But Ari Behn says Spacey also rubbed something else. In an interview with Norwegian radio station P4 , Behn, 45—who was...

Archaeologists Trying to Find Legendary King's Body

'It's like 'Game of Thrones' and 'Outlander' all rolled into one—except this story is real'

(Newser) - Almost exactly 580 years ago, King James I of Scotland was murdered by a group of conspirators in a sewer tunnel beneath a monastery as he attempted to escape, recounts the BBC . Stabbed dozens of times, he is said to have died in a pool of his own blood. His...

It's Known as Dracula's Castle, to Its Owner's Dismay

Dominic Habsburg aims to educate tourists about its true history

(Newser) - Just about everyone associates Bran Castle with Dracula—except its owner. For Archduke Dominic Habsburg, the Romanian fortress is the former home of his grandparents, Queen Marie and King Ferdinand I, who made it "a happy place of light and flowers." Today, however, few know anything about the...

Eccentric Duchess More 'Noble' Than Elizabeth Dead at 88

World's most titled person loved bull-fighting, flamenco dancing

(Newser) - Spain's Duchess of Alba, the world's most titled person, died today at her 14th century palace in Seville after battling pneumonia. Officially Maria del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Francisca Fitz-James Stuart y Silva, the eccentric duchess who loved bull-fighting, flamenco dancing, and fishnet tights, was as Reuters...

Why It Sucks to Be the Royal Baby
 Why It Sucks to Be 
 the Royal Baby 
OPINION

Why It Sucks to Be the Royal Baby

Well, it doesn't suck compared to your life, but...

(Newser) - OK, sure, the royal baby is instantly rich and famous and will almost certainly have a better time on this planet than you. But, as the world awaits his first appearance, his name, and any other detail, a lot of reports are focusing on why it kind of sucks—relatively...

Richard III Had Unpleasant Burial

 Richard III Had 
 Unpleasant 
 Burial 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Richard III Had Unpleasant Burial

King was given no death shroud, may have been bound

(Newser) - If you thought being found buried under a parking lot was about as unroyal as it could get for King Richard III, think again. In a paper published this week in Antiquity , researchers describe his body as being buried in haste, crammed into a too-small grave that was roughly dug...

Royal Family's Inbreeding Reveals Marvel of Evolution
Royal Family's Inbreeding Reveals Marvel of Evolution
in case you missed it

Royal Family's Inbreeding Reveals Marvel of Evolution

Researchers assert natural selection went to work to root out genetic mutations

(Newser) - Scientists have been able to study the effects of inbreeding on plants and animals in detail; when it comes to humans, not so much. As Nature explains, there isn't exactly endless data on generation after generation of inbred families—with at least one notable exception. A new study published...

Dutch Freak Over 'Imbecilic' New Royal Song

Composer withdraws piece for new king

(Newser) - So much for a beloved new royal anthem. As the Netherlands' crown prince, Willem-Alexander, prepares to ascend the throne, a British-born composer wrote an official song to mark the occasion. But instead of celebrating, some 38,000 people have signed an online petition utterly rejecting the tune, performed by 51...

Spanish Princess Suspected in Fraud Case

1st time modern Spain has seen royal suspect called to testify

(Newser) - For the first time since Spain re-adopted democracy in the 1970s, a member of its royal family has been summoned for testimony as a criminal suspect. Princess Cristina, King Juan Carlos' youngest daughter, is suspected in a case related to her husband's financial dealings. Iñaki Urdangarin allegedly moved...

Why an African King Lives on Public Assistance in Virginia

Rwanda's last royal ruler still yearns to reunite his nation

(Newser) - Figure the last king of Rwanda is living on a swanky estate somewhere in Africa? Try again: Kigeli V Ndahindurwa, who ruled from 1959-61, has spent years living in low-income housing in Virginia, where he likes watching wrestling on TV and handing out candies to kids, reports the Washingtonian . But...

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