End of a Bad Romance

It was on this day in 1880 that HSH Prince Charles III of Monaco, on his own authority as Sovereign Prince, legally dissolved the marriage of (then) Hereditary Prince Albert and Princess Mary Victoria. There were some high-powered match-makers behind the marriage but, alas, the two never seemed to really hit it off. The daughter of the Duke of Hamilton didn't really seem to like anything about her life after she said "I do". She didn't like her husband, didn't like her new country or her new family. After the birth of their son Louis, Princess Mary Victoria essentially ran away and it was years before she and her husband even exchanged letters. When they did it was because she had fallen in love with a Hungarian nobleman and asked Prince Albert to see about getting their marriage annulled. That took a great deal of time, money and arguing with the Vatican before it was all settled. However, on the civil side of things, Prince Charles III could settle things easily, as in Monaco he was the law, and so he did 131 years ago today. Prince Albert I later went on to marry the American-born Alice Heine who, if that marriage did not last either, was at least much more pleased with and popular in Monaco.

More Bad News for Hanover

Rumors of an impending divorce for the Prince and Princess of Hanover have surfaced again after HRH Prince Ernst August V was caught in a lip-lock with a mystery woman while on vacation in the Kingdom of Thailand. The talk of marital discord began to spread after the Hanoverian couple stopped being seen together and last year Princess Caroline moved away from their home in France back to Monaco with their daughter Princess Alexandra and enrolled her in school there. Caroline was in the Middle East when Ernst was in court in Germany, Princess Caroline was also on her own at the National Day festivities and other events while Ernst was seen in Austria at a photo-shoot involving fast cars and topless models. Most recently, while the Grimaldi clan were taking their usual winter ski vacation the Prince of Hanover was in Thailand, obviously feeling his oats. The Palace earlier denied reports that a divorce was on the horizon, but this news does nothing to assuage such fears. I've never totally bought in to the whole legend of the "curse of the Grimaldis" supposedly imposed on Lord Rainier I that would prevent any of his family from happiness in marriage, but sometimes you cannot help but wonder. I will admit to never being a big fan of the Prince of Hanover, after all she's been through Princess Caroline deserves better and I had hoped this would work out but such does not seem to be the case. I'm sure this whole embarassing mess does nothing to make Prince Albert II very anxious to rush down the aisle. Whatever happens I hope everything works out for the best and that Princess Caroline and little Princess Alexandra find happiness through all of these problems.

Princess Caroline in the Middle East

Last Tuesday HRH the Princess of Hanover was in Dubai where she met with Princess Haya, wife of the ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed, Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. The two princesses met to discuss humanitarian issues and their shared concerns on the subject. Princess Caroline then went to a luncheon hosted by the Young President's Organization which is a forum for young presidents of companies to meet, exchange ideas and dialogue. Many of the most preeminent finance leaders in the world were present. The following day the Princess went to another luncheon hosted by the Rotary Club of Dubai at the U.A.E.'s World Trade Center. All in all a fairly typical trip for the Princess, but royal watchers could not help but notice that it happened to coincide with the trial of her husband HRH Prince Ernst August V in Germany where she had been expected to appear to give testimony. The couple have not been seen in public together for many months and this has caused speculation of an impending divorce to increase despite a recent denial that there are any such plans by the Princely Palace of Monaco.

Is the Wettin-Grimaldi Match Over?

The royal rumor mills are getting crowded with stories that the Prince and Princess of Hanover (aka Ernst August V of Hanover and Caroline of Monaco) are on the road to the big "d" (and that's not Dallas, TX). Several magazines and tabloids have already published predictions that the royal marriage is over. Princess Caroline did testify for her husband in his legal trouble with the hotel owner but she has not been seen together with her prince since June and that she and the children have left the family chateau. Princess Caroline has been spending more time in Monaco as of late and considering the romantic record of the Grimaldis another divorce would probably not be earth-shattering news to most people (though we hope each time they will find domestic happiness). The Royal Representative calls to mind the old legend about Lord Rainier I raping a woman who turned out to be a witch and put a curse on the Grimaldi clan that they would never find happiness in love; though this would be good story to come up with to explain things after the fact. The marriage between Caroline and Ernst took some by surprise and may not have been entirely planned as it was a "shotgun marriage" to use the old term, Caroline already being pregnant with Princess Alexandra. I would hope that everything works out and that the rumor mills are wrong again but the stories are getting harder to dismiss. It is, however, nice to see the Hereditary Princess spending more time in Monaco. We will be watching.