#queen claudia of denmark

[krasivaa]

Queen Claudia of Denmark, Princess of Savoy

Her Majesty Queen Claudia, consort of Denmark, was born as the youngest daughter of Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, Prince of Venice and his wife Clotilde Courau, after her sisters Vittoria and Luisa. Her Majesty married His Majesty King Christian at the age of 25. After one year, the couple was given a gift from God with a daughter named Alexandra. Crown Princess Alexandra is currently 2 years old, and last week the royal couple announced that The Queen is pregnant again. This time twins will be born. Queen Claudia is well-known for her good heart and wisdom, but she also has awesome style and breathtaking beauty. She styles her own clothes and combines the jewelry she received from her husband's family and old Savoy pieces.

Her Danish tiara

Italian royal family dress worn by Queen Elena of Montenegro

Green Savoy necklace

Danish royal family jewelry

Italian royal family bracelet

Those Princess Marie, Christian's aunt, gave to the Queen and I can tell that the heels fits her very much.

@abigaaal

[ifreakingloveroyals]

Through the Years → Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark (651/∞)

18 May 2022 | The Crown Princess participated in The Womenomics Nordic Business Conference and presented this year's "Womenomics Awards" in Copenhagen. At the conference, which focuses on gender diversity and gender equality in the global economy, a number of leaders from home and abroad, as well as leading diversity experts and politicians, met to debate the latest statistics, trends and solutions in the field of diversity and gender equality. In 2017, the Crown Princess received “The Womenomics Global Impact Award” for her work to help women improve their conditions and utilize their full potential in Denmark and abroad. (Photo by Claudia Dons/Kongehuset)

[blackswaneuroparedux]

Τα μεν γαρ άλλα δεύτερα αν πάσχη γυνή, ανδρός δ’ αμαρτάνουσα, αμαρτάνει βίου.* - Euripides *Other misfortunes are secondary for a woman, but if she loses her husband, she loses her life.

Queen Anne-Marie of Greece is the widow of the late King Constantine II of Greece, who reigned from 1964 until 1973. She was born Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark on 30 August 1946.

Anne-Marie is the youngest daughter of King Frederick IX of Denmark and his wife Ingrid of Sweden. She is the youngest sister of the reigning Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and cousin of the reigning King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

In 1961, she spent a year at an English boarding school in Switzerland - the Chatelard School for Girls. In 1963, to improve her French, Queen Anne-Marie attended a Swiss finishing school, 'Le Mesnil', until the Spring of 1964. She also speaks Greek, English and of course Danish.

Queen Anne-Marie first met King Constantine of Greece as a young girl in 1959, when he visited Copenhagen on a journey to Sweden and Norway, as Crown Prince, with his parents, King Paul I and Queen Frederica.

She met him again in Denmark in 1961. He had declared to his parents that he intended to marry her.

On 14 May, 1962, Crown Prince Constantine's elder sister, Princess Sophia, married the Spanish Prince Juan Carlos in a double ceremony in Athens at the Roman Catholic Cathedral and the Orthodox Cathedral.

More than 100 royal guests came to Athens, and Princess Anne-Marie was a bridesmaid. Queen Frederica of Greece recorded that, at the reception, her son Crown Prince Constantine 'would dance only with Anne-Marie'.

In 1963, centenary celebrations of the Greek Royal Family began with a State Visit from Princess Anne-Marie's parents, King Frederick and Queen Ingrid of Denmark.

In March 1964, King Paul I died after a short illness, and Constantine succeeded him to the Greek throne.

King Constantine came to the throne with much goodwill, which was expressed in abundance when, on 18 September 1964 (six months after his accession) he married his beautiful Danish Princess in what was described at the time, as 'the most radiant of Athenian royal weddings'. Even an old republican, the 76 year old Prime Minister, George Papandreou, was seen to be enjoying himself thoroughly with the bride and bridegroom.

Queen Anne-Marie devoted much of her time as Queen of Greece to 'Her Majesty's Fund'. This was a charitable foundation started by her mother-in-law, Queen Frederica. It helped people in rural areas of Greece and supported crafts such as embroidery and weaving. She also worked closely with the Red Cross, and various charities.

On 21 April, 1967, political problems in Athens intensified with the Colonel's coup. A month later, Queen Anne-Marie gave birth to Crown Prince Pavlos at the family's country estate, Tatoi.

In December, after his attempt to restore democracy failed, King Constantine and his family left Greece from Kavalla for Rome. With the King, the Queen and the two children were King Constantine's mother, Queen Frederica and his younger sister Princess Irene. They landed at a military airport in Italy because they were running out of fuel.

Queen Anne-Marie and her family stayed first at the Greek Embassy in Rome for 2 months and then took a house at Olgiata on the outskirts of the city.

Later in 1968, they moved to 13, Via di Porta Latina - where they lived until 1973. On 1 October 1969, Queen Anne-Marie gave birth to Prince Nikolaos in the Villa Claudia Clinic near her home in Rome.

In 1974, Queen Anne-Marie moved with King Constantine to England, after a brief stay with her mother in Denmark. King Constantine had been officially deposed by the military Government on 1 June 1973 and a Republic declared by colonel Papadopoulos.

The family's first home was in Chobham in Surrey. Then they moved to a house in Hampstead in North London, where they have lived ever since. Queen Anne-Marie calls it her 'Home away from home'.

Queen Anne-Marie's family grew larger with the birth of Princess Theodora at St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, in London on 9 June 1983, and Prince Philippos on 26 April 1986.

Queen Anne-Marie helped to start this remarkable bilingual educational initiative in 1980. She is now Honorary Chairman of the school, and devotes a lot of her time to it.

Her first visit to Greece since she left with her family in 1967, was for a few hours, for the funeral of King Constantine's mother, Queen Frederica, in 1981.

Queen Frederica died suddenly in Madrid. Her wish had been to be buried beside her husband, King Paul, at the family estate at Tatoi. The family was given permission to attend - but could not spend a night in their country. They landed at a little airfield near Tatoi, and were welcomed by large crowds. It was, for Queen Anne-Marie and her family, a moving and sad occasion.

She visited Greece again with King Constantine and her family on a private visit by sea in 1993. They went, 'Not knowing what to expect. Wherever we went, people came out to greet us. It was extraordinary and very moving'. It was the first visit for her younger children.

In 2013, The Greek government allowed the ex-monarch to come back to Greece. Constantine returned to reside in Greece. He and his wife Anne-Marie purchased a villa in Porto Cheli, Peloponnese, residing there until they relocated to Athens in the spring of 2022

Wherever they were in the world, Queen Anne-Marie was a constant source of support and stability not just for her exiled husband but also their five children. She made sure that the family spoke Greek at home with all her children learning to be fluent.

She was the one also the family retained close links with all the royal families of Europe - and particularly with the British, Spanish and Danish Royal Families.

Queen Anne-Marie's father, King Frederik IX of Denmark was an accomplished musician and she has inherited his love of classical music - Beethoven, Bach, Tchaikowsky, Wagner. She has always been fascinated by historical biographies.

She had been, above all, the greatest support to her husband over many years of change. They had been happily married for 58 years until the King Constantine II died on 10th January 2023. She remains the last Queen of Greece.

[brielledoesastrology]

Asteroids in astrology that is named after Kings and Queens, plus the meaning of the asteroids in astrology ✨👑

Credits to : wikipedia from google and other astrology websites because i didnt wrote this all

If you want to know what the asteroid means in astrology go to google and search the story of it. (Example : asteroid "hatshepsut (2436)" was named after the female pharoah hatshepsut from egypt, and then i checked her story and it was said that she was the greatest female pharoah of all time but receive jealousy from men because of her sucess , so then i interpret that into what the asteroid means in astrology, as simple as that)

(i will update and keep updating this post of I found some of the meanings of what the asteroid means is astrology)

12 Victoria (officially named after the Roman goddess of victory, but also honours Queen Victoria) - this asteroid also means victory in astrology so in astrology this asteroid symbolize "victory"

45 Eugenia (Empress Eugénie), with its moon Petit-Prince in part for her son Napoléon Eugène, Prince Imperial - displacement to the source of nourish, like migratory birds in nature

115 Thyra (Thyra, consort of King Gorm the Old of Denmark)

216 Kleopatra (Cleopatra VII of Egypt) - a femme fatale, amazing sex appeal, messy love life, having power over your lovers

220 Stephania (Princess Stéphanie of Belgium) - being in a unhealthy relationship and then break up and suddenly be in a healthy relationship with someone else

295 Theresia (Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina Empress consort of the Holy Roman Empire and Queen consort of Germany)

326 Tamara (Queen Tamar of Georgia)

344 Desiderata (Queen Desideria of Sweden and Norway)

359 Georgia (King George II of Great Britain) -

392 Wilhelmina (Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands)

525 Adelaide (Queen Adelaide, consort of William IV of the United Kingdom)

545 Messalina (Messalina, Roman empress) - uncontrollable sexual desire or having nymphomaniac.

546 Herodias (Herodias, wife of Herod II and mother of Salome)

562 Salome (Salome, daughter of Herod II and Herodias) -

598 Octavia (Claudia Octavia, Roman empress)

650 Amalasuntha (Amalasuntha, queen of the Ostrogoths)

653 Berenike (Berenice II, Egyptian queen)

689 Zita (Empress Zita of Bourbon-Parma)

816 Juliana (Queen Juliana of the Netherlands)

823 Sisigambis (Sisygambis, mother of Darius III of Persia)

831 Stateira (Stateira, wife of Artaxerxes II of Persia)

832 Karin (Karin Månsdotter, wife of Eric XIV of Sweden)

888 Parysatis (Parysatis, wife of Darius II of Persia)

911 Agamemnon (Agamemnon)

1068 Nofretete (Nefertiti)

1128 Astrid (Astrid of Sweden)

2436 Hatshepsut (Pharaoh Hatshepsut)

3362 Khufu (Pharaoh Khufu)

4414 Sesostris (Greek version of Senusret, name of four pharaohs)

4415 Echnaton (Pharaoh Akhenaten; German spelling of his name)

4416 Ramses (Pharaoh Ramses II)

4568 Menkaure (Pharaoh Menkaure)

4721 Atahualpa (Atahuallpa)

4846 Tuthmosis (Thutmose, name of four pharaohs)

4847 Amenhotep (Pharaoh Amenhotep IV)

4848 Tutenchamun (Pharaoh Tutankhamun)

4906 Seneferu (Pharaoh Sneferu)

5009 Sethos (Greek version of Seti, name of two pharaohs)

5010 Amenemhet (Amenemhet, name of four pharaohs)

5242 Kenreimonin (Empress Dowager Kenrei)

7117 Claudius (Emperor Claudius)

7207 Hammurabi (Hammurabi)

7208 Ashurbanipal (Ashurbanipal)

7209 Cyrus (Cyrus II of Persia)

7210 Darius (Darius I of Persia)

7211 Xerxes (Xerxes I of Persia)

7212 Artaxerxes (Artaxerxes II of Persia)

8740 Václav (Václav I, Duke of Bohemia)

10293 Pribina (Pribina, ruler of Nitrian Principality)

11014 Svätopluk (Svätopluk, ruler of Great Moravia)

16951 Carolus Quartus (Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia)

18349 Dafydd (Dafydd ap Llywelyn, prince of Wales)

20969 Samo (Samo, ruler of Samo's Empire)

25340 Segoves (Segoves, Celtic duke)

44613 Rudolf (Rudolph II, Holy Roman Emperor, king of Bohemia and Hungary)

48844 Belloves (Belloves, Celtic duke)

53285 Mojmír (Mojmír I, ruler of Great Moravia)

151834 Mongkut (King Mongkut, or Rama IV, the king of Siam)

326290 Akhenaten (Akhenaten, a pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt) - forcing people that they don't like

[greekroyalfamily]

Happy 52nd birthday to HRH Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark .

HRH was born at 01–10–1969

The prince was born "in perfect health" on Wednesday, 1 October 1969, at the Villa Claudia clinic in Rome as the third child and second son of King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes. The twenty-nine year-old father Constantine declared that the family had been blessed with "a beautiful baby boy." Queen Anne-Marie, twenty-three at the time of her second son's birth, had suffered a miscarriage in December 1967 shortly after the royal family had fled Greece. Nikolaos joined older sister Princess Alexia (b.July 1965) and older brother Crown Prince Pavlos (b.May 1967). Although the Greek royal family had went into exile in December 1967 following an unsuccessful countercoup to the country's military junta, Greece was still officially a monarchy: thus, the new princeling was second in line to the throne after his elder brother.

In 1975 the family settled in London, where Prince Nikolaos was home-educated for six years. He then attended the Hellenic College of London. 

In 1988 he began his studies in International Relations at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, focusing on Diplomacy and National Security. During his sophomore year, he took a sabbatical to join the British Army on a Short Service Limited Commission, serving as 2nd Lieutenant with the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. 

Upon his college graduation (1993), Prince Nikolaos moved into TV production for Fox News in New York. He returned to London in 1995 to work in the foreign exchange options department of NatWest Markets. From 1997 to 2003 he worked in King Constantine’s Family Office. Since then he has been active in business consulting.

On 25 August 2010, Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark married Tatiana Ellinka Blatnik (b.28 August 1980) at the monastery of Ayios Nikolaos in the old harbour of Spetses in Greece. Tatiana is the daughter of Marie Blanche Bierlein (b.1954), daughter of Ernst Bierlein (1920-2009) and Countess Ellinka von Einsiedel (b.1922), and of the late Ladislav Vladimir Blatnik. Through her maternal grandmother, Princess Tatiana of Greece is a descendant of Elector Wilhelm II of Hesse (1777-1847)

Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana make their home in Greece. The prince is a talented photographer, and the princess engages in numerous charitable activities. A down-to-earth and popular couple, they are often seen attending royal events around Europe.

Χρόνια Πολλα στην ΑΒΥ Πρίγκιπα Νικόλαο της Ελλάδας και Δανίας .

Η ΑΒΥ γεννήθηκε στις 01–10–1969

Ο πρίγκιπας γεννήθηκε "με τέλεια υγεία" την Τετάρτη, 1 Οκτωβρίου 1969, στην κλινική Villa Claudia στη Ρώμη ως το τρίτο παιδί και δεύτερος γιος του Βασιλιά Κωνσταντίνου Β and και της Βασίλισσας Άννας-Μαρί των Ελλήνων. Ο εικοσιεννιάχρονος πατέρας Κωνσταντίνος δήλωσε ότι η οικογένεια ήταν ευλογημένη με "ένα όμορφο αγοράκι". Η βασίλισσα Anne-Marie, είκοσι τριών κατά τη γέννηση του δεύτερου γιου της, είχε υποστεί αποβολή τον Δεκέμβριο του 1967, λίγο μετά τη φυγή της βασιλικής οικογένειας από την Ελλάδα. Ο Νικόλαος εντάχθηκε στη μεγαλύτερη αδερφή Πριγκίπισσα Αλεξία (γεν. Ιουλίου 1965) και στον μεγαλύτερο αδελφό, τον πρίγκιπα διάδοχο Παύλο (γεν. Μάιος 1967). Παρόλο που η ελληνική βασιλική οικογένεια είχε εξορία τον Δεκέμβριο του 1967 μετά από ένα ανεπιτυχές αντίπαλο στη στρατιωτική χούντα της χώρας, η Ελλάδα ήταν επίσημα μοναρχία: έτσι, ο νέος πρίγκιπας ήταν δεύτερος στη σειρά του θρόνου μετά τον μεγαλύτερο αδελφό του.

Το 1975 η οικογένεια εγκαταστάθηκε στο Λονδίνο, όπου ο πρίγκιπας Νικόλαος εκπαιδεύτηκε στο σπίτι για έξι χρόνια. Στη συνέχεια παρακολούθησε το Ελληνικό Κολλέγιο του Λονδίνου.

Το 1988 ξεκίνησε τις σπουδές του για Διεθνείς Σχέσεις στο Πανεπιστήμιο Brown στην Providence, στο Ρόουντ Άιλαντ, εστιάζοντας στη Διπλωματία και την Εθνική Ασφάλεια. Κατά τη διάρκεια του δευτέρου έτους του, πήρε το Σάββατο για να ενταχθεί στον Βρετανικό Στρατό σε μια Short Service Limited Commission, υπηρετώντας ως 2ος Υπολοχαγός με τους Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.

Με την αποφοίτησή του από το κολέγιο (1993), ο πρίγκιπας Νικόλαος πέρασε στην τηλεοπτική παραγωγή για το Fox News στη Νέα Υόρκη. Επέστρεψε στο Λονδίνο το 1995 για να εργαστεί στο τμήμα συναλλαγματικών επιλογών της NatWest Markets. Από το 1997 έως το 2003 εργάστηκε στο γραφείο της οικογένειας του Βασιλιά Κωνσταντίνου. Έκτοτε δραστηριοποιείται στη συμβουλευτική επιχειρήσεων.

Στις 25 Αυγούστου 2010, ο πρίγκιπας Νικόλαος της Ελλάδας και της Δανίας παντρεύτηκε την Τατιάνα Έλλινκα Μπλάτνικ (γεν.28 Αυγούστου 1980) στο μοναστήρι του Αγίου Νικολάου στο παλιό λιμάνι των Σπετσών στην Ελλάδα. Η Τατιάνα είναι κόρη της Marie Blanche Bierlein (γεν. 1954), κόρης του Ernst Bierlein (1920-2009) και της κοντέσας Ellinka von Einsiedel (γ. 1922), και του αείμνηστου Ladislav Vladimir Blatnik. Μέσω της γιαγιάς της μητέρας της, η πριγκίπισσα Τατιάνα της Ελλάδας είναι απόγονος του εκλέκτορα Βίλχελμ Β Hes της Έσσης (1777-1847)

Ο πρίγκιπας Νικόλαος και η πριγκίπισσα Τατιάνα κάνουν το σπίτι τους στην Ελλάδα. Ο πρίγκιπας είναι ταλαντούχος φωτογράφος και η πριγκίπισσα συμμετέχει σε πολλές φιλανθρωπικές δραστηριότητες. Ένα προσγειωμένο και δημοφιλές ζευγάρι, συχνά βλέπουν να παρακολουθούν βασιλικές εκδηλώσεις σε όλη την Ευρώπη.

[wrsworlddomination]

eurovision 2018 top

1-11 i adore, 12-22 i immensely enjoy, 23-27 i like, the rest i don't care about at all

Ukraine - what even is Eurovision without a vampire act

Austria - while u were busy arguing between the pop girlies, i was loving this masterpiece

Albania - 2018 is just full of emotional songs huh?

Cyprus - do i need to say anything?

Czechia - yess shake that ass

Moldova - this sparks joy

Latvia - who hurt her i just wanna talk

Hungary - oh he's got no shoes

Finland - party goth icon

Ireland - i sing this way too passionately for someone who's never been in love

Switzerland - i don't use this word lightly but OH MY GOD THEY WERE ROBBED

Portugal - i remember being obsessed with Claudia back in 2018 <3

Germany - why couldn't HE be Ed Sheeran??

Italy - could have used more languages

France - what is it with the automatic finalists and making me emotional this year??

Norway - i never want to see Rybak dance again

Spain - this was beautiful, despite the constant forced smiles

Denmark - really appealing to my long haired boy loving ass

Bulgaria - an absolute powerpoint presentation of a staging

Israel - yes i like the chicken song

Netherlands - its simple, actually: country music is only good when done by europeans (and dolly parton)

Slovenia - idk what she's singing about but i agree

Romania - i love the goth polyamorous mannequin environment we've created here

Estonia - not a fan of opera but go off queen

Greece - a joke about greek mythology would be too cliche but idk what else to say

United Kingdom - sure, it's corny, but that's why it works

Croatia - really feeding into my hand kink in the beginning

Serbia - the beat is too repetitive to make it in any way memorable

Malta - what is Rebecca Black doing at Eurovision

Sweden - sure

Australia - just fine

Belgium - her eyes freak me out

Lithuania - she looks like Nina Dobrev

Montenegro - solid native language ballad

Armenia - idk what qami means but i have a friend whose name sounds like that and this was very funny to me

Azerbaijan - good, but it tries too hard to be a Eurovision song

Belarus - this whole performance made me really uncomfortable

Russia - could use a more complex chorus idk

Macedonia - not even a hot mess

Iceland - why is a business major singing to me about kindness

Poland - this is the least energetic dance song ever

San Marino - what the fuck is this robot shit

Georgia - this is what my dad listens to when he's drunk

[fictionfromafar]

My favourite Crime fiction novels in Translation from 2020

Whatever 2020 has thrown at us, it has certainly given us more time to read!

Before listing my favourite books published in 2020, here is a mention of some of the older books that I have enjoyed this year:

The Fragility Of Bodies – Sergio Alguin (Argentina)

The Shadow Of The Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon (Spain)

Miss Smila’s Feeling For Snow – Peter Hoeg (Denmark)

The Undesired - Yrsa Sigurdardottir (Iceland)

Baby Blue – Pol Koutsakis (Greece)

Red April – Santiago Roncagloilo (Peru)

Endgame – Ahmet Altan (Turkey)

The Body Snatcher – Patricia Melo (Brazil)

The Good Son - You-Jeong Jeong (South Korea)

Havana Fever - Leonardo Padura (Cuba)

The Lady Killer - Masako Togawa (Japan)

Entanglement - Zygmunt Milosewski (Poland)

Snare - Lilja Sigurðardóttir (Iceland)

The Defensiveness - Kati Heikkapelto (Finland)

Three Days And A Life - Pierre Lamaitre (France)

The Winter Queen - Boris Akunin (Russia)

Back Up - Paul Colize (Belgium)

Death of a Red Heroine - Qui Xiaolong (China)

Smaller and Smaller Circle - FH Batacan (Philippines)

Three, An Imperfect Number - Patrizia Rinaldi (Italy)

So due to the above list and more, it took me a while to get really started in 2020. The following 10 novels are at the timing of writing, each but one I have already reviewed, so my favourite reads published this year:

The Silence Of The White City by Eva García Sáenz, translated by Nick Caistor, Vintage Crime / Black Lizard (Spain)

A captivating read about twin murders in the Basque Country – this novel gives a strong location setting, history, intrigue, convincing characters and a great whodunit!

The Man In The Woods by Ilaria Tuti, translated by Ekin Oklap, Weidenfield & Nicholson Orion (Italy)

Set in the Italian Alpes this novel features both a unique lead detective and a unpredictable and wild perpetrator.

The Coral Bride by Roxanne Bouchard, translated by David Warriner, Orenda Books (Canada)

Set in a remote fishing community in Quebec, this is a captivating read in an enchanting setting.

The Creak On The Stairs by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir, translated by Victoria Cribb, Orenda (Iceland)

Such an accomplished debut novel, set in a small town in Iceland

The Lost and The Damned – Olivier Norek, translated by Nick Caistor, MacLehose Press (France)

The first volume of the Banlieues Triology featuring Captain Victor Coste of the Parisian violent crime unit. Review coming soon

The next five as as follows:

Summer of Reckoning by Marion Brunet, translated by Katherine Gregor. Bitter Lemon Press (France)

Betrayal by Lilja Sigurðardóttir, translated by Quintin Bates, Orenda Books (Iceland)

Like Flies From Afar by K. Ferrari, translated by Adrian Nathan West, Canongate (Argentina)

Mexico Street by Simone Buchholz, translated by Rachel Ward, Orenda Books (Germany)

Sword by Bogdan Teodorescu, translated by Marina Sofia, Corylus Books (Romania)

Special mentions also for Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor – Fitzcarraldo Editions (Mexico) and The Fox by Solveig Palsdottir (Iceland)

I’ve still more books to review from 2020, among this pile are some you may see reviewed soon.

Here is a list of most of 2020's releases available through Bookshop.org

So it’s far from out with the old and in with the new. Happy Hogmanay!

[thearrangment-phff]

The Six Sussexes

The sons of King Henry IX and Queen Isabella

Charles, The Prince of Wales 2018-2053

Born as The Earl of Ross, Charles was the firstborn of his parent’s nine children. His childhood was marked by the struggles between his mother and the British Royal Family. His titles changed several times by the time he was 11 years old and his father’s unpredicted reign as King of the United Kingdom had made Charles the heir.

Falling under pressure, Charles began what would later become a 25-year long relationship with Count Joseph Kinsky. Charles was bi-sexual and entered non-monogamous relationships during his lifetime. The most famous of which included his relationship with Count Joseph and his marriage to Zita von Habsburg. Charles and Zita married in 2043 but his relationship with Count Joseph continued. Unlike the marriage of 3 that destroyed his paternal grandparent’s marriage, his marriage was one of love and happiness.

His marriage with Zita was part of a new era of European royalty. Zita was the only daughter of the Habsburg pretender to the Austrian-Hungarian throne. She was also the niece of the future Prince Consorts of the Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium. Her mother had been Queen Isabella’s first cousin, Princess Charlotte of Nassau. The return of the Croatian monarchy with Zita’s father as king had given Zita a more elevated position among European royalty as the daughter of a king and wife of a future king.

The couple had four children including their eldest child Charlotte who succeeded her grandfather King Henry IX as Queen Elizabeth III. Charles never became king due to his death in 2053. He and his four younger siblings died in a car crash in France several months after the death of their mother in 2052.

Albert, Alexander, The Tsar of Russia 2018-2053

Albert was born a lord but like his siblings, his titles changed until the ascension of his father as King of the United Kingdom. His childhood was best remembered as being in a relationship with Grand Duchess Maria Olga Georgievna of Russia. The two had begun a relationship at just 13 years old as Albert fell in love with the idea of becoming Tsar of Russia and Maria Olga fell in love with the family stability Albert gave her.

The marriage was initially made for the couple’s 18th birthday was postponed until their 21st birthday. Albert and Maria Olga did not wait as they married in 2038. Albert converted to Russian orthodoxy, renamed Alexander, and given the title Grand Duke Alexander Feodorovich of Russia. Despite rumors and doubts, the marriage was happy producing five children of which only one son.

Albert’s early death in 2053 placed his six-year-old son Alexander on the throne under the regency. While having children who married into various royal families his daughters made famous marriages. Albert’s grandchildren included Tsar Alexander VI of Russia, King Harald VI of Norway, King Oscar III of Sweden, and King Christian XII of Denmark representing a new era of Scandinavianism.

Robert, Duke of Sussex 2023-2053

Born as the middle son of six, Robert struggled to find his identity. He was the first son to be born a Prince of Sussex but did not have any memories of his mother’s struggles with his paternal family. Like most of his siblings, he married young, at the age of 22 to his triple third cousin Princess Maria Theresa of Ligne.

What was meant to be an escape from his family quickly turned into a nightmare. Robert believed starting a family would give him character but the couple were ill-matched for each other. Robert took after his mother in being more socially liberal and intellectual. Maria Theresa was a simple woman who was famously religious. The two had four daughters before Robert’s death in 2053.

The desire for a son was Maria Theresa’s only goal and ignored her daughters leaving Robert to take care of them. The death of his mother in 2052 and his five older siblings weeks later in 2053 left him with depression. While not seeking help, Robert passed away from what was later revealed to be suicide. At first, the death was announced as a brain aneurysm but revealed later that Robert died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

After Robert’s death, Maria Theresa brought their daughters up in a strict religious background at home and the girls found the only escape from their mother was marriage. The Sussex daughters were not well educated and when compared to their various cousins, proved to be shy and not well-read. Robert’s four daughters married Catholic relatives but only one of Robert’s grandchildren married a king. His granddaughter Archduchess Claudia of Austria married the King of Croatia. His daughter’s converted to Catholicism thus being barred from the British line of succession.

Nicholas, Duke of Clarence 2023-2122

The longest living siblings was Nicholas, the seventh born child of King Henry and Queen Isabella. His twin brother was Prince Robert and their birth made history as the first second set of twins in the British Royal history. Like his siblings, he married young and to a second cousin, Princess Maria Anna of Liechtenstein.

Mirroring his parents, Nicholas had nine children including having three daughters and six sons. His marriage in 2046 was monumental as Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Nicholas converted to Catholicism months after the wedding. The choice was the first to happen in centuries, but Nicholas and his family continued to support the British Royal Family since his brother Albert was in Russia and his sister’s moved to foreign courts.

The marriage was happy and historic as Maria Anna was the first Princess of Liechtenstein to marry into the British Royal Family. Two of Nicholas’ children married into monarchs. Prince Maximilian, the third child and third son, married the future Queen Wilhelmina II of the Netherlands. Nicholas became the grandfather of Queen Juliana II of the Netherlands. 

Sophia, the youngest of Nicholas and Maria Anna’s children married Henri, the future Prince of Monaco. Through this marriage, Nicholas became the grandfather of Prince Rainer IV of Monaco. Nicholas’ other children married into various royal families including the Croatian, Belgian, and Spanish Royal Families.

Joseph, Duke of Suffolk 2024-2104

As the eighth youngest child, Joseph was often doted on by his mother. Unlike his elder siblings, Joseph spent much time in French never learning English until his father was years into his reign. Following the footsteps of his older brother, Joseph converted to Catholicism in 2046 with the intention of marrying the Catholic Princess Astrid of Belgium. The young couple had been together 

Joseph and Astrid had six children and their grandchildren were scattered across Europe. Through their eldest son Prince Amedeo, Joseph is the grandfather of Queen Eugenie of Belgium. Through their eldest daughter and second child, Princess Stephanie, Joseph and Astrid were the grandparents of Queen Eleanor of the United Kingdom nee Princess of Nassau. As a son of the United Kingdom, his Catholic Nassau granddaughter marrying the future King of the United Kingdom was historical.

From two more sons, Joseph became the grandfather to Elena, The Princess of Monaco and Dagmar, Tsarina Maria Feodorovna of Russia. His other children married into the Luxembourgish and Belgian Royal Families. 

Michael, Duke of Kendal 2026-2121

The youngest child of nine, Michael was his mother’s favorite. With faint memories of his grandfather, Michael was only 3 years old at the death of his grandfather George VII, the abdication of his uncle William V, and the beginning of the reign of his father Henry IX. 

Michael was the only of his siblings to not marry a princess, instead, he married his second cousin Countess Alexandrine de Monpezat. Countess Alexandrine’s father was Prince Nikolai of Denmark and her great-grandmother was Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. As a Danish noble, Alexandrine's life was modest but her mother was a first cousin of Michael’s mother, Queen Isabella. Alexandrine and Michael spent their childhood together in France.

Their marriage occurred in 2049, at which Michael remained in the line of succession. Because his several of his elder brothers became Catholics and two of his sisters also became Catholics after their marriages, Michael was placed behind his siblings Charles, Albert, and Mary-Astrid and their respective children.

Michael and Alexandrine had seven children together including their daughter Isabella becoming Queen of Spain. Through his children’s marriages, Michael is the grandfather of Queen Henrietta of Denmark, Queen Alexandrine of Norway, and King Alfonso XV of Spain. The rest of his children married into the Croatian, Romanian, Danish, and Luxembourgish Royal Families.  

[tiny-librarian]

Royal Birthdays for today, June 4th:

Philippa of England, Queen of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway,1394

Antoine, Duke of Lorraine, 1409

Claudia de’ Medici, Archduchess of Austria, 1604

George III, King of the United Kingdom, 1738

Jetsun Pema, Queen of Bhutan, 1990

[blamebrampton]

Eurovision 2018 final

And now, 12 hours after the rest of the world, and startlingly unspoiled, I hit the finals! I’ve not been recapping the touristy bits in the ‘postcards’, but if you’re thinking about visiting Lisbon, or Portugal in general, get to it; it’s utterly gorgeous. I’m hoping for somewhere in the top 10 for Jess, and I wouldn’t mind seeing Denmark win. They won’t. It’ll be someone awful, I just know it.

We open with fado music and it is pretty bloody splendid: melodic twanging steel strings and a heart-rending woman’s voice singing a song that is almost certainly of woe but resilience (my Portuguese is terrible). There are no unattractive people in this broadcast, it should be mentioned. Yet another reason to visit!

Another hot fado female vocalist, this time with drummers. She sounds more political, but again, I have no idea. I do know that Portugal is a country that has an amazing tradition of vocalists and narrative music, and I think we are seeing it shown well tonight. I like this a lot better than the usual blather from presenters. Though I like the women, they are admirably quick at moving things along.

And now some local DJs. Look, it was never going to stay glorious. Flags go past. There are many. We are welcomed to the grand final and the crowd goes wild. Hello contestants, I’m thrilled you get a moment in the sun before the horror of the contest descends. They are all smiling and lovely and I hope they all go on to have happy lives. Denmark are actually amusing! Bless their hairy hipster hearts!

You know, I can honestly say that everyone I’ve heard in this final can actually sing and on that basis alone, 2018 is already a good year.

The presenters are back. NCIS is dressed like a Goth prom queen, Blondie is wearing a beaded shower curtain, Saintly is cosplaying a tall Kylie Minogue (I loathe the fact I need to specify Kylies these days) and Little One has come dressed as an entrant from Greece. I actually know all their names now, but they’re longer, so it’s nicknames for me, I’m afraid.

I’m not going to repeat performance notes from the semi finals, but if you’ve missed every other piece of Eurovision commentary, a. Well done! b. What the hell are you doing here? c. I’ll let you know if anything new happens.

Ukraine, Melovin, Under the Ladder. Now I’m not focusing on the madness of the staging, I can mention that he and his backing singers are selling the hell out of this one. I like it a lot better the second time around, and the vocals are tight. It’s still a totally nuts Dracula moment, but if it wins I will not be at all upset.

Spain, Amaia y Alfred, Tu Cancion. Arena full of people holding up their lit phones. Young people singing to each other from opposite sides of the stage. It’s all very sweet. Now they are holding hands. Now they are hugging. Keep it nice, kids, you’ve got two minutes to go. They are lovely, but so wholesome that I feel listening to this song represents 100% of my daily intake of Vitamin C and roughage. Nice climbing crescendos and key change towards the end. Big lights, earnest singing into each other’s faces… this is a song that speaks of carefully studied microphone angles and breath mints. Bless.

Slovenia, Lea Sirk, Hvala, ne! This is the one that stuck with me since I last saw it, but more for the snappiness of the staging and performances than for the song itself. They are enormously charismatic and the choreography is very well put out there. She changes it up tonight and tells them to stop the music and has the audience sing the refrain with her, which I really liked and thought much more successful than the fake cut in the semis, even if the chap in the audience the camera cut to was clearly wondering what the hell was happening and whether he had accidentally eaten the wrong brownies before he headed out tonight. I’m keen on these girls and hope they do well!

Lithuania, Ieva Zasimauskaite, When We’re Old. Sweet whispering song girl is back. She remains sweet and whispery. She and Joanna Newsome would make a lovely duet. Her voice is genuinely delightful, though there is a little more assist in the reverb than she needs: makes it all sound a bit more Jared Leto than is optimal. But I quibble, she is a delight. Her husband comes to join her at the end again and she seems deeply moved. Bodes well for their future.  

Austria, Cesar Sampson, Nobody But You. I resent Cesar’s bad T-shirt more than in the semis, because he is a hot young man and we should be allowed to enjoy him in all his loveliness and that plasticky bit is very distracting. The backing vocals in this track are probably the best in the whole contest, and he has a beautiful voice that I hope to hear more of. In a perfect world, John Legend writes a better version of La La Land in which this chap and his best friend come to LA to pursue their dreams and both succeed without hurting each other. It’s actually a decent song, it just sounds like a lot of other decent songs. But his performance is something very special.

Estonia, Elina Necheyava, La forza. She is lovely, her frock is lovely, her voice is lovely, this song is not going to win. Which is a shame, because I would like to see the ECS back in Tallinn. If they had a European Frock Contest, this would be douze points from everyone.

Norway, Alexander Rybak, That’s How You Write A Song. He is a super chap and I hope he does win Eurovision twice, but if he does it with this song, I will be looking at the countries that vote for it with thinly veiled disdain. This is the sort of song that would have had Paula Abdul dancing with an animated cat in the 1980s. But I will say that it is lovely to have him back so that Nigel Kennedy will finally have to give up any idea that he’s the hot young man with the violin. The crown, which was never really Nigel’s, is clearly Alexander’s.

Portugal, Claudia Pasqoal, O Jardim. Pink hair gets an extra 10 points from me to start with. Sounds like London Grammar, in both tune and delivery, but since I love them, that’s fine. Her frock is a nice wrap-around black number with thigh split. She’s joined on stage by a woman who looks a bit like Kirsten Stewart, and the two of them are in fact much cooler than practically everyone else in the stadium. That was a nice soft song that you would wrap up a big night or start a romance with and I liked it a lot. I want to see it in the top five, but not winning, because it’s too expensive to do this two years in a row!

The presenters make a knowing reference to the queerness of Eurovision and it comes off as an inside joke not an arch piece of commentary, and this is the point at which I accept that I have fallen for their charms and will never be free of this annual horror.

United Kingdom, SuRie, Storm. We’ve done something unusual this year and sent someone good. It won’t help, but it’s a pleasant change. More pink hair, with a sort of Annie Lennox hair and jumpsuit arrangement. I hate to say this, but this song is actually pretty damned good. What the hell? We’re usually awful. The staging is admirably simple and the performance is a cracker, and there is some fuckwit invading the stage to shout something and WELL DONE YOU, YOUNG WOMAN, you held that together amazingly! She is in fact bringing it even more strongly, even though the incident clearly affected her. How amazing is she! ‘Some absolute cockhead’ is the Australian boy commentator’s description of the stage invader and he is 100% on the money.

They skip to the green room with Little One while they deal with the stage invader situation and she is talking to vampire boy from the Ukraine who offers to bite her neck and talks about his personal brand. If he doesn’t have 100,000 followers on Instagram and a YouTube ‘presence’, I will be very surprised.

Back to the show!

Serbia, Sanja Ilic & Balkanika, Nova Deca. This song remains as OTT and epic as in the semis with costumes and wailing mysticism that puts me in mind of nothing so much as one of those epic episodes of Xena that your girlfriends used to trot out in the 90s to talk about when lesbian subtext becomes text. It’s classic Eurovision and if it wins I will be thrilled.

Germany, Michael Schulte, You Let Me Walk Alone. It’s apparently a song to his father, who died when he was young, and it’s got a hell of a dose of the Ed Sheerans, from the hair to the singing style. It’s saved from the annoying side of the Sheerans by the personal message, which comes through strongly. Though it’s a little unfair in the ‘you will never know, because you let me walk this road alone’, unless his father took his own life. Just saying. Exactly the right mix of sentiment and ten-year-old newness that could win, thanks to a very strong performance.

Albania, Eugent Bushpepa, Mall. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this song in the semis and I am still surprised about it now. It’s everything I would usually mock, including a safe 80s chord sequence and handclapping, but it somehow works superbly and he looks a little nervous, yet has an actually superior classic rock voice, instead of the standard ‘thinks is great, is OK’ frontman. I think the dungaree drummer, who has done both of his straps up tonight, has won me over.

France, Madame Monsieur, Mercy. It’s political! And about refugees. And my French isn’t good enough to follow it entirely, but she is all the children, her name is Mercy and she is fleeing war and is alive and she needs our help. It’s actually a cracker of a tune, and the Jean-Paul Gaultier outfits are the classiest of the evening. Far too attractive for this shindig.

Czech Republic, Mikolas Josef, Lie to Me. I think what troubles me most about this song is that I keep expecting Will Smith to appear. Much as in the semis. They are perfectly good, it is just not my cup of tea. Nice little flip at the end, and the dancing is excellent. Bless em.

Denmark, Rasmussen, Higher Ground. I’m putting this out there: I think I want these guys to win. But it’s entirely based on the fact they are singing about pacifist vikings and I have mentally built them up into a rejection of toxic masculinity in favour of human decency and manliness meaning things like facing your fears and having integrity, which I can get behind. If there is a MeToo/Weinstein moment for any of these chaps, I’m coming after them with an axe. I do like a Wailing Medjeval Epic though.

Australia, Jessica Mauboy, We Got Love. Jess is gorgeous and she loves a crowd, which is good because the crowd loves her. Every lovely thing I said about her in the semis remains true. Alas, it also remains true that this song could be better. But it’s grown on me. We may be powerless to bring down the US government, and its lesser evils the UK and Australian governments, but we’ve got love and regular elections, and New Zealand, and it will be OK in the end. She’s a champion and I hope she makes the top five!

Saintly and Blondie are back mocking social media and rightly so.

Now NCIS is eulogising the first winner of the Eurovision Song Contest, Lys Assia, who died at the age of 94 in March. For five seconds. There’s efficient and there’s cold, ladies.

Finland, Saara Aalto, Monsters. This is the other song I want to win, though I have to confess I wouldn’t mind if the UK won, after SuRie’s amazing turn. But Saara’s voice fills the stadium and sails up and down the scale. Still with the Annie Lennox Bondage Backup Dancers, which makes two tributes to Scotland’s finest Oscar winner in the one show. I’m slightly less convinced by the song the second time round, but the performance is great. Her backwards death dive at the end is a cracker!

Bulgaria, Equinox, Bones. This song remains all about the girl’s Heey-yays for me and nothing has changed. It’s another one that is very good, just not for me. Cup of tea time! Good lighting at the end. T2’s Turkish Apple is definitely the right tea for tonight!

Moldova, DoReDoS, My Lucky Day. Kids, I am all for polyamory, but it should be based on mutual communication, not sneaking about. It turns out well for them, though, and it’s a fun song.

Little One is here with the audience and everyone is Very Drunk. I think she is trying to pick up a tall British girl, and I like her even more.

Sweden, Benjamin Ingrosso, Dance You Off. This is a favourite with the punters but not with me. Soz, Ben.

Hungary, AWS, Viszlát Nyár. It’s the lovely Lordi Lite lads and while I respect his vocal cords for surviving the sustained abuse, I am skipping through this one as it’s getting late here and there are hours of judging to go.

Israel, Netta, Toy. The Aussie commentators have mentioned that she would have broken a stage invader and I think this true. She looks as though she would have enjoyed it, too. I feel you, Netta. The chicken bits are a bit distracting, but she sells the hell out of this and it’s bright and bouncy. Another one I won’t mind winning. Also, more pink hair. I was clearly two years ahead of the curve on that one.

The Netherlands, Waylon, Outlaw in ’Em. Apparently, Waylon is cool with people who don’t really like country. Which is good news. I do like country if it’s Johnny Cash or Dolly Parton, but yeah, on this one we’re just going to have to quietly share a beer and talk about something else, Waylon. You’re a good chap and your band is excellent, so if you win I won’t be upset, even if I still don’t like this song. It’s just my taste rather than there being anything objectively bad about it. Hang on: turns out the band are the dancers. They are going off and taking the piss in epic quantities and I like it quite a bit more after that.

Ireland, Ryan O’Shaugnessey, Together. Apparently China cut the broadcast of this one due to the gay backup dancers and Eurovision cut their contract in response. Well done, Eurovision! This song remains sweet and beautifully performed, with the backup dancers really carrying the whole show. But there’s not a lot to it aside from the lovely staging.

Cyprus, Eleni Fouriera, Fuego. Another one I will not be surprised if it wins. Spectacular combination of song and performance, with fabulous backing dancers/singers (again, the best combo set). If Beyonce came to Eurovision in disguise, this would be her performance, and I am reading the whole thing as a tribute to Queen Bey, which is pretty easy given that practically every aspect of it references her. She is nervous as hell at the end, but the performance was stonkingly good.

Italy, Ermal Meta and Fabrizio Moro, Non me avete fatto niente. Written in response to the bombing in Manchester, this is a strongly serious track from a country that can often be flippant at Eurovision and in the first thirty seconds we see the passionate political engagement that explains the entirety of Italian politics. It’s a strong piece and well performed, including wailing hero notes  towards the end and overlays in the various languages of Europe declaring defiance to terrorism. I think it might be in with a shot.

Presenters have had a costume change. NCIS is Morticia Addams, Blondie is Meryl Streep circa 1988, Saintly is Sophia Loren circa 1968 and Little One has come as a Glomesh handbag. Oh, holy moly, it’s recap time before the votes. We learn that SuRie was invited to perform again and has decided not to. Bless her toughness! I am fast forwarding through this as life is too short.

Blondie’s cleavage is plunging to her belly button and I am just impressed by the amount of double-sided tape holding that outfit together. The interval act is local musicians, who are splendid, but I need to get a few things done while I listen, so you go and download it from the official site. Worth your time!

Another recap, more fast forwarding. Australia’s commentary team are doubling as the royal wedding commentators and I think I might actually catch that on SBS as it would be a bit of a giggle. It’s Australia’s multicultural channel and I love it because it’s full of international films and news, but I have an American friend who refers to it as ‘That channel where your government gives you free soft porn.’ Mate, it’s Swedish film and you just need to expand your horizons!

Blondie is with the audience and she has found some Irish people who are delightful. And now they are doing Portuguese pop culture things that go over my head, and recapping Junior Eurovsion, which is like Senior Eurovision, but with more sedate images and sober contestants. The Junior winner sings a little of last year’s Senior winner, which is apparently a new condition for entry into Lisbon as every man and his dog as been trotting it out. Saintly presenter might be a little drunk, you know.

NCIS and Little One are in the Green Room, introducing Salvador Sobral, last year’s winner, and he’s looking a bit healthier, which is good! Still as fey as ever, but find your schtick and stick with it, I say. Lovely new song, you should download it, too, as I need to put a load of dishes on, so won’t be describing it. Ah, he’s had a heart transplant. Excellent! That is good news!

He’s joined by the legendary Caetano Veloso and they (Caetano for the most part) sing last year’s winning song and it’s quite lovely. Salvador is visibly moved by the whole thing. Where is his sister? Apparently he’s been slagging off some of the other songs and it’s caused an upset, but seriously, Sir Terry Wogan made a career out of that and there are thousands if not millions of us who do it on an amateur basis, so why should he miss out?

Little One has some fans pretending to do some last-minute voting, and she has been the hardest working presenter. I hope that tall British girl she was chatting up earlier has a cold bottle of gin and a big cake for the two of them later tonight, she’s earned it!

Jon Ola Sand says votes are ready to go! Jury votes first.

Ukraine first: 8 The Netherlands, 10 Israel, 12 France.

Azerbaijan, 8 Hungary, 10 Serbia, 12 to Albania.

They are FLYING through this.

Belarus, 8 Norway, 10 Austria, Australia is nowhere at the moment, 12 to Cyprus!

San Marino, 8 Sweden, 10 Germany, 12 to Israel. He’s chattier than the others.

The Netherlands, 8 Sweden, 10 Austria, 12 Germany.

FYR Macedonia, 8 Serbia, 10 Cyprus, 12 ESTONIA! YAY

Malta, 8 France, 10 Italy, 12 Cyprus, which is starting to pull ahead. Australia still nowhere.

Georgia, 8 Austria, 10 Estonia, 12 Sweden, who take the lead. Meh.

Spain 8 Austria, 10, Israel, 12 Cyprus. UK still on 0, which is for once entirely unfair.

Austria, 8 Sweden, 10 Germany, 12 Israel, who pop in front. It’s a big battle tonight!

Denmark, 8 Austria, 10 Australia, THANK YOU! 12 to Germany.

UK, 8 Bulgaria, 10 Israel, She cracks onto Jon Ola and I respect that, 12 Austria. Not a sausage to Oz, you bastards.

Sweden, 8 Australia, 10 Austria, 12 Cyprus.

Latvia, 8 Estonia, 10 France, 12 Sweden.

Albania, 8 Bulgaria, 10 Cyprus, 12 Italy!

Croatia, 8 Moldova, 10 Israel, 12 Lithuania. The UK has 4, which is not enough, but there we go.

Ireland, 8 Germany, 10 Bulgaria, 12 Cyprus. Nothing for Oz. I’m reading this as a protest against Peter Dutton’s appalling treatment of refugees.

Romania, 8 The Netherlands, 10 Spain, 12 Austria.

Czech Republic, 8 Sweden, 10 Ireland (nice!), 12 Israel.

Iceland 8 Israel, 10 Albania, 12 Austria. Denmark is down on 7, alas.

Moldova 8 Bulgaria, 10 Israel, 12 Estonia!

Belgium, 8 Sweden, 10 The Netherlands, 12 Austria, which is terrific given how good his voice is!

Norway, 8 Austria, 10 Sweden, 12 Germany.

France, 8 Germany, 10 Australia, Merci!, 12 Israel. They and Austria are creeping ahead.

Italy, 8 Denmark, 10 Germany, 12 Norway.

Australia, 8 Estonia, 10 Germany, and Ricardo Gonzales’s Aussie Portuguese accent is a cracker. 12 to Sweden and FUCK YOU ALL the Australian jury. This is how we get Turnbull and Dutton.

Estonia, 8 Cyprus, 10 Lithuania, 12 Austria.

Serbia, 8 Italy, 10 Germany, 12 Sweden.

Cyprus, 8 Italy, 10 Moldova, 12 Sweden and you are all clearly drunk. The jury votes are all over the shop.

Armenia, 8 Israel, 10 Moldova, 12 Sweden.

Bulgaria, 8 Czech Republic, 10 Lithuania, 12 Austria.

Greece, 8 Sweden, 10 Moldova, 12 Cyprus. I typed that 30 seconds before she said it. No need for correction.

Hungary, 8 Austria, 10 Albania, 12 Denmark! YAY! The Vikings go off! They are chuffed.

Montenegro, 8 Moldova, 10 Albania, 12 Serbia. Big surprise!

Germany, 8 Ireland, 10 Austria, 12 Sweden because they are all drunk. But Austria is still ahead!

Finland, 8 Sweden, 1o Bulgaria, 12 Israel.

Russia, 8 Israel, 10 Sweden, 12 Moldova; look, they were fun.

Switzerland, 8 Lithuania, 10 Estonia, 12 Germany.

Israel, 8 UK THANKS, 10 Sweden, 12 Austria.

Poland, 8 The Netherlands, 10 Germany, 12 Austria.

Lithuania, 8 Sweden, 10 France, 12 Austria.

Slovenia, 8 Cyprus, 10 Austria, 12 Sweden.

Portugal, 8 Austria, 10 Albania, 12 ESTONIA! Oh, Portugal, you are so delightfully odd. I love you guys.

That’s it for juries, but we have the popular votes to go. Australia currently in 12th, Denmark and UK nowhere, which is cruel on both counts. Austria in first place, which I think is down to a great performance. Sweden second, probs down to the drink. The Israel song is third, which I think will go up with the popular vote.

Jon Ola Sand is back. He says the public votes are exciting. Here we go! They are reading them out from lowest to highest.

9 to Australia. Fuck the lot of you. Unless that’s a protest against Australian refugee policy and black deaths in custody, in which case, fair enough. 18 to Portugal and Spain 21 Sweden YES! Good! Sorry, I mean, Oh well. 23 Slovenia 23 Finland Rude. Should have been more. 25 UK Very rude! Should have been lots more! 32 The Netherlands 58 Albania A joke. The people are morons. 59 France Ripped off. 62 Ireland 65 Hungary 66 Bulgaria 71 Austria NO!!!! WOE!! Sorry, mate. You were triff. 75 Serbia Should have been more. 84 Norway 91 Lithuania 102 Estonia 115 Moldova 119 Ukraine Fair, they deserved some points for that show. 136 Germany Surprised it wasn’t more, he’s rather good. 180 Denmark I’m good with that one. They are stoked. 215 Czech Republic 249 Italy and they are also thrilled. 253 Cyprus I think she is both heartbroken at not winning and thrilled at not bankrupting a Cypriot TV station with the cost. ISRAEL HAS WON! (though I missed how many popular points they got. More than 253)

(This will be a tiny bit awkward if the whole Iran war thing kicks off. Maybe this will be the kick up the bum that Netanyahu needs to pull his head in. I would very much like my friends in Israel to have fewer things to worry about, so not starting wars seems like an excellent idea.)

Netta is thrilled, the ladies are a little drunk, Jessica Mauboy has snuck off to party with the Irish mob and fingers crossed Mr Austria’s phone is already running hot with people who want to put that glorious voice with better songs. But keep the backing singers. They were ace. Netta sings us out and we are DONE for another year. Goodnight, Eurovision. Why can’t I quit you?

[marsilainen]

so i used to do this thing were i listed all the esc songs and wrote down my opinion on them, and (mainly bc i’m bored) i thought i’d do it again this year. here ya go, (if anyone cares):

Albania: Lindita - World | i never remember what this song sounds like when i see the name :D but yeah i think it’s ok, not great not bad Armenia: Artsvik - Fly With Me | eh just not my cup of tea Australia: Isaiah - Don't Come Easy | at first didn’t like it but after listening to it more my opinion changed. also the chorus gets stuck in my head SO easily Azerbaijan: DiHaj - Skeletons | this is one of those songs i skip whenever i’m listening to the playlist of all esc songs.. i just got no patience for listening to this one idk :D Belgium: Blanche - City Lights | i know this song is one of the general favorites but i just don’t see it.. idk if it’s the voice of the singer or what Cyprus: Hovig - Gravity | this song reminds me of something i’ve heard before but idk what.. anyways it’s an ok song, annoyingly catchy :D Czech Republic: Martina Bárta - My Turn | nahh dunno really, kinda like something about this but idk Finland: Norma John - Blackbird | don’t like it :c i just feel the whole song sounds the same and there’s nothing.. like there’s no climax or something like that Georgia: Tamara Gachechiladze - Keep The Faith | one of those songs i tend to skip.. just not my style Greece: Demy - This is Love | i feel like they aimed to make the typical esc song :D a bit cliché but ok. Iceland: Svala - Paper | the chorus is ok but otherwise eh Latvia: Triana Park - Line | kinda same with this one. liking how the chorus sounds, not too sure about the rest of the song Moldova: Sunstroke Project - Hey Mamma | first things first: EPIC SAX GUY IS BACK :D:D anyways, i like the melody and it stands out bc there are so many ballads this year Montenegro: Slavko Kalezić - Space | not really feeling this, especially the parts that are not the chorus (what are those called :D:D) so yeah not my thing Poland: Kasia Moś - Flashlight | this song’s just not for me, sorry Portugal: Salvador Sobral - Amar Pelos Dois | i like his voice but the song is just a tiny bit too weird for me :c he should sing disney songs with that voice tho :D Slovenia: Omar Naber - On My Way | usually i like songs like this but even for me this song is too cliché Sweden: Robin Bengtsson - I Can't Go On | honestly i don’t like the singer’s voice that much.. and the song is a basic esc song, one of those that annoyingly get stuck in your head Austria: Nathan Trent - Running On Air | what a happy feel good song, liking it! Belarus: Naviband - Story of My Life | this is also a happy song (or idk what they’re singing about but it sounds happy) but it’s just.. not for me :D Bulgaria: Kristian Kostov - Beautiful Mess | love this, one of my faves definitely! beautiful song c: Croatia: Jacques Houdek - My Friend | honestly my first thought was “this sounds good” UNTIL the opera singing started sorryy :c Denmark: Anja - Where I Am | another kinda generic esc song imo.. Estonia: Koit Toome and Laura - Verona | this is kinda growing on me, i gotta say i like it F.Y.R. Macedonia: Jana Burčeska - Dance Alone | it’s ok, i just generally don’t care for this kind of “party songs” that much Hungary: Joci Pápai - Origo | well this one IS different, props to hungary for that! the chorus is catchy but other than that it’s maybe too different for my taste :c Ireland: Brendan Murray - Dying to Try | LOVELOVELOVE this, it’s my fave this year! especially loving the singer’s high voice c: Israel: IMRI - I Feel Alive | it’s ok, idk what else to say :D one of those try to get this song outta ya head once you hear it Lithuania: Fusedmarc - Rain Of Revolution | lemme just say this straight: not on the list of songs that i like Malta: Claudia Faniello - Breathlessly | i guess i like it, idk it’s ok Norway: JOWST - Grab The Moment | also one of my faves, just gets me so motivated to do things :D Romania: Ilinca ft. Alex Florea - Yodel It! | can i like it ironically? i’m not sure if this song is supposed to be serious or :D well at least it’s definitely different Russia: Julia Samoylova - Flame is Burning | sounds like a generic “inspirational esc love pop ballad song” but i actually like it, quite catchy San Marino: Valentina Monetta and Jimmie Wilson - Spirit of the Night | VALENTINAA ESC QUEEN!! so happy she’s back but unfortunately i just don’t think the song is that special, can’t help it :c Serbia: Tijana Bogićević - In Too Deep | at first i thought “another one of these... i’ve heard this so many times” but i catch myself listening to this and hitting repeat.. so yeah it gets a like :D (might i even dare say it’s one of my faves this year) Switzerland: Timebelle - Apollo | honestly idk, sounds like a pretty common esc song.. not bad not great The Netherlands: OG3NE - Lights and Shadows | ok so at first i liked it more but i guess it’s still ok, quite inspirational :D France: Alma - Requiem | bless u france for always singing in ur mother tongue, also nice song Germany: Levina - Perfect Life | at first i was like NO NO germany can’t u have a good song FOR ONCE but after a few listens this song has started to grow on me. i actually really like some of the lyrics. (also once u get past the fact the beginning sounds a lot like the song Titanium...) Italy: Francesco Gabbani - Occidentali's Karma | this is what esc needs and i’m talking about that guy in the gorilla suit :D but yea it’s a fun catchy song Spain: Manel Navarro - Do It For Your Lover | liking this one, so catchy!! nice melody, the whole song sounds so positive Ukraine: O.Torvald - Time | so i’m not really sure about this one.. like i kinda like it but i’m not sure?? idk honestly :D United Kingdom: Lucie Jones - Never Give Up On You | another one of my faves, such a beautiful song :3

overall i think this year we got so many good songs, but also a lot of them are really similar.. i feel it’s almost ironic the slogan is “celebrate diversity” when all the songs are the same :D and the fact that almost everyone is singing in english just adds to that.. so big props to those countries singing in their mother tongue! anyways i’m really looking forward to this years esc, can it just be May already??

[hipsterbrutus]

Changed Pronouns Hamlet

So I wanted to see what a classic story like Hamlet would be like if all the male characters were female and vice versa. So I just took the Wikipedia summary, and changed only the names and pronouns. The results really interested me, and I think this would be a very epic play...  Disclaimers: 1. I changed some of the names more than others, mainly because some of them were so ingrained in my head as one gender or another that I needed to distance myself further from that association. 2. I chose to go with the name ‘Amla’ as a feminized tribute to the original historical Prince Amleth, on whom Hamlet is based. 3. I chose to use binary male/female genders for this experiment because I wanted to explore the contrasts and stereotypes of the roles that we expect binary male and female characters in literature to fulfill. (The only gender neutral change I made was to change ‘What a piece of work is a man’ to ‘humanity’ instead, since it is used in a gender neutral way in the play. I am aware that this would necessitate further challenges with the wordplay on ‘man’ that follows in the actual script, but this change suffices for now.) All that to say, non-binary version of this story or of some of the characters therein would also be epic as well, and if you write that one I would love to read it. 

Act I

The protagonist of Amla is Princess Amla of Denmark, daughter of the recently deceased Queen Amla, and niece of Queen Claudia, her mother's sister and successor. Claudia hastily married Queen Amla's widower, Gerald, Amla's father, and took the throne for herself. Denmark has a long-standing feud with neighbouring Norway, in which Queen Amla slew Queen Floria of Norway in a battle some years ago. Although Denmark defeated Norway and the Norwegian throne fell to Queen Floria's infirm sister, Denmark fears that an invasion led by the dead Norwegian queen's daughter, Princess Floria, is imminent.

On a cold night on the ramparts of Elsinore, the Danish royal castle, the sentries Bernadette and Marcella discuss a ghost resembling the late Queen Amla which they have recently seen, and bring Princess Amla's friend Hanna as a witness. After the ghost appears again, the three vow to tell Princess Amla what they have witnessed.

As the court gathers the next day, while Queen Claudia and King Gerald discuss affairs of state with their elderly adviser Polina, Amla looks on glumly. During the court, Claudia grants permission for Polina's daughter Laetitia to return to school in France and sends envoys to inform the Queen of Norway about Floria. Claudia also scolds Amla for continuing to grieve over her mother and forbids her to return to her schooling in Wittenberg. After the court exits, Amla despairs of her mother's death and her father's hasty remarriage. Learning of the ghost from Hanna, Amla resolves to see it herself.

As Polina's daughter Laetitia prepares to depart for a visit to France, Polina offers her advice that culminates in the maxim "to thine own self be true.” Polina's son, Orpheus, admits his interest in Amla, but Laetitia warns him against seeking the princess' attention, and Polina orders him to reject her advances. That night on the rampart, the ghost appears to Amla, telling the princess that she was murdered by Claudia and demanding that Amla avenge her. Amla agrees, and the ghost vanishes. The princess confides to Hanna and the sentries that from now on she plans to "put an antic disposition on", or act as though she has gone mad, and forces them to swear to keep her plans for revenge secret; however, she remains uncertain of the ghost's reliability.

Act II

Soon thereafter, Orpheus rushes to his mother, telling her that Amla arrived at his door the prior night half-undressed and behaving erratically. Polina blames love for Amla's madness and resolves to inform Claudia and Gerald. As she enters to do so, the Queen and King finish welcoming Rosaline and Genevieve, two student acquaintances of Amla, to Elsinore. The royal couple has requested that the students investigate the cause of Amla's mood and behaviour. Additional news requires that Polina wait to be heard: messengers from Norway inform Claudia that the Queen of Norway has rebuked Princess Floria for attempting to re-fight her mother's battles. The forces that Floria had conscripted to march against Denmark will instead be sent against Poland, though they will pass through Danish territory to get there.

Polina tells Claudia and Gerald her theory regarding Amla's behaviour and speaks to Amla in a hall of the castle to try to uncover more information. Amla feigns madness and subtly insults Polina all the while. When Roseline and Genevieve arrive, Amla greets her "friends" warmly but quickly discerns that they are spies. Amla admits that she is upset at her situation but refuses to give the true reason, instead commenting on "What a piece of work is humanity". Roseline and Genevieve tell Amla that they have brought along a troupe of actors that they met while traveling to Elsinore. Amla, after welcoming the actors and dismissing her friends-turned-spies, asks them to deliver a soliloquy about the death of the Queen and King at the climax of the Trojan War. Impressed by their delivery of the speech, she plots to stage The Murder of Gonzaga, a play featuring a death in the style of her mother's murder and to determine the truth of the ghost's story, as well as Claudia’s guilt or innocence, by studying Claudia's reaction.

Act III

Polina forces Orpheus to return Amla's love letters and tokens of affection to the princess while she and Claudia watch from afar to evaluate Amla's reaction. Amla is walking alone in the hall as the Queen and Polina await Orpheus's entrance, musing whether "to be or not to be". When Orpheus enters and tries to return Amla's things, Amla accuses him of immodesty and cries "get thee to a monastery", though it is unclear whether this, too, is a show of madness or genuine distress. Her reaction convinces Claudia that Amla is not mad for love. Shortly thereafter, the court assembles to watch the play Amla has commissioned. After seeing the Player Queen murdered by her rival pouring poison in her ear, Claudia abruptly rises and runs from the room; for Amla, this is proof positive of her aunt's guilt.

Gerald summons Amla to his chamber to demand an explanation. Meanwhile, Claudia talks to herself about the impossibility of repenting, since she still has possession of her ill-gotten goods: her sister's crown and husband. She sinks to her knees. Amla, on her way to visit her father, sneaks up behind her but does not kill her, reasoning that killing Claudia while she is praying will send her straight to heaven while her mother's ghost is stuck in purgatory. In the King's bedchamber, Amla and Gerald fight bitterly. Polina, spying on the conversation from behind a tapestry, calls for help as Gerald, believing Amla wants to kill him, calls out for help himself.

Amla, believing it is Claudia, stabs wildly, killing Polina, but she pulls aside the curtain and sees her mistake. In a rage, Amla brutally insults her father for his apparent ignorance of Claudia's villainy, but the ghost of her mother re-enters and reprimands Amla for her inaction and harsh words. Unable to see or hear the ghost himself, Gerald takes Amla's conversation with it as further evidence of madness. After begging the King to stop sleeping with Claudia, Amla leaves, dragging Polina's corpse away.

Act IV

Amla jokes with Claudia about where she has hidden Polina's body, and the Queen, fearing for her life, sends Roseline and Genevieve to accompany Amla to England with a sealed letter to the English Queen requesting that Amla be executed immediately.

Unhinged by grief at Polina's death, Orpheus wanders Elsinore. Laetitia arrives back from France, enraged by her mother's death and her brother's madness. Claudia convinces Laetitia that Amla is solely responsible, but a letter soon arrives indicating that Amla has returned to Denmark, foiling Claudia's plan. Claudia switches tactics, proposing a fencing match between Laetitia and Amla to settle their differences. Laetitia will be given a poison-tipped foil, and, if that fails, Claudia will offer Amla poisoned wine as a congratulation. Gerald interrupts to report that Orpheus has drowned, though it is unclear whether it was suicide or an accident caused by his madness.

Act V

Hanna has received a letter from Amla, explaining that the princess escaped by negotiating with pirates who attempted to attack her England-bound ship, and the friends reunite offstage. Two gravediggers discuss Orpheus’s apparent suicide while digging his grave. Amla arrives with Hanna and banters with one of the gravediggers, who unearths the skull of a jester from Amla's childhood, Yora. Amla picks up the skull, saying "alas, poor Yora" as she contemplates mortality. Orpheus's funeral procession approaches, led by Laetitia. Amla and Hanna initially hide, but when Amla realizes that Orpheus is the one being buried, she reveals herself, proclaiming her love for him. Laetitia and Amla fight by Orpheus's graveside, but the brawl is broken up.

Back at Elsinore, Amla explains to Hanna that she had discovered Claudia's letter with Roseline and Genevieve's belongings and replaced it with a forged copy indicating that her former friends should be killed instead. A foppish courtier, Osra, interrupts the conversation to deliver the fencing challenge to Amla. Amla, despite Hanna's pleas, accepts it. Amla does well at first, leading the match by two hits to none, and Gerald raises a toast to her using the poisoned glass of wine Claudia had set aside for Amla. Claudia tries to stop him but is too late: he drinks, and Laetitia realizes the plot will be revealed. Laetitia slashes Amla with her poisoned blade. In the ensuing scuffle, they switch weapons, and Amla wounds Laetitia with her own poisoned sword. Gerald collapses and, claiming he has been poisoned, dies. In her dying moments, Laetitia reconciles with Amla and reveals Claudia's plan. Amla rushes at Claudia and kills her. As the poison takes effect, Amla, hearing that Floria is marching through the area, names the Norwegian princess as her successor. Hanna, distraught at the thought of being the last survivor and living whilst Amla does not, says she will commit suicide by drinking the dregs of Gerald's poisoned wine, but Amla begs her to live on and tell her story. Amla dies in Hanna's arms, proclaiming "the rest is silence". Floria, who was ostensibly marching towards Poland with her army, arrives at the palace, along with an English ambassador bringing news of Roseline and Genevieve's deaths. Hanna promises to recount the full story of what happened, and Floria, seeing the entire Danish royal family dead, takes the crown for herself and orders a military funeral to honour Amla.

[micaramel]

Artist: Florian Meisenberg, Anna K.E

Venue: Simone Subal, New York

Exhibition Title: Electric Forest (Bowery)

Date: March 3 – April 19, 2020

Click here to view slideshow

Full gallery of images, press release and link available after the jump.

Images:

Images courtesy of Simone Subal, New York

Press Release:

While driving at night down the long, unbroken roads of West Texas, flickers of eerie, amber light punctuate the darkness. A congregation of hares stand sentinel at the edges of the dusty road, their glassy eyes reflecting headlights like so many illuminated screens. At other times, they are transformed. Eyes no longer effulgent. Once-lithe bodies reduced to flattened panes by contact with a passing car.

Arranged here as a living, multi-dimensional tableau, the shapeshifting hares have joined an arsenal of iterated shapes and characters. They conjure a series of ideas and images in flux, hovering between lens and light, watcher and watched, in which information proliferates endlessly without seeking finality or resolution.

In order to exist simultaneously in these parallel states, the hares have been treated in a variety of ways. Revivified, transposed onto animated fans affixed at either end of large aluminum tubes. Simulated, to trace their arc from watchful creatures into slack, formless puddles. Finally, in their flattened form, materially rendered in the form of layered Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) carved Baltic birch. Their continual, oscillating presence forms a life cycle outside the bounds of natural selection, by which death is not the end of action but a portal into a new, abstracted geometry.

Merging the linear construct of road and roadside with the ordered variation of Judd’s cubic sculptures, the artists have built a simulated version of the Texan road as it unfurled before them, bordered by mathematically accurate iterations of every single cube in Judd’s famed series. The monochromatic simulation, entitled https://www.100untitledworksinmillaluminum.org/, makes continuous, steady progress through a pitch-black landscape, accompanied occasionally by bursts of sound as the ‘driver’ encounters a series of future-themed podcasts, broadcast from particular points along the road. Through a hole in the projection, a single crumpled beer can, almost fully cleansed of identifying marks by the elements, infinitely reflects in the mirrored box that encloses it.

Elsewhere, a slanted wooden trapdoor featuring the collapsed hare in CNC-carved form, opens to reveal footage filmed after the completion of 2017’s Late Checkout, echoing the empty feedback loop of compulsive technological connection. The camera’s gaze flits between the artists as they idly consume one another, building up a gradual, dual self-portrait that moves continuously without ever arriving. Also present is Countdown Belladonna (2016), for which the artists projected a barrage of video material directly onto their own retinas, creating yet another feedback loop that marries mind, body and screen in an endless, boundless chain.

In this flattened landscape, everything is mutable. Multiple iterations of every image and idea burgeon like seeds scattered on the wind. Finally, it is only via the act of being seen–whether happened upon whilst driving or peeked at through a chink in a temporary screen–that this potentiality becomes concretized, so that though these manifold portals and doorways, we come to a gradual understanding of the transformative potency of vision upon reality.

Text by Claudia Paterson

Anna K.E. and Florian Meisenberg’s selected collaborative solo shows include: Simone Subal Gallery, New York (2020); Kunstpalais Erlangen, curated by Milena Mercer, (Cat.), Erlangen (2019); WNTRP, Berlin (2017); Salon Kennedy, Frankfurt (2016); Signal, Brooklyn (2016); Art Basel Miami Beach with Simone Subal Gallery, Miami (2016); LISTE 20, with Simone Subal Gallery, Basel (2015); EY artforum, Düsseldorf (2008); Schaufenster des Kunstvereins für die Rheinlande und Westphalen, Düsseldorf (2007). Select group exhibitions include: Signal, Brooklyn (2016); Galerie Hasen at MMOGG Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf (2007); Villa De Bank, Enschede, Netherlands (2006).

Anna K.E. was born in 1986 in Tbilisi, Georgia. Selected solo shows include: REARMIRRORVIEW, Simulation is Simulation, is Simulation, is Simulation…, curated by Margot Norton, Georgian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale (2019); Queens Museum, New York, USA (2017-2018); Simone Subal Gallery, New York, USA (2018, 2015, 2013); Primary, Nottingham, UK (2017); Sommer Gallery, Tel Aviv (2016); Galerie Barbara Thumm, Berlin, Germany (2015, 2013); Mannheimer Kunstverein, Mannheim, Germany (2012); Kunstverein Leverkusen, Germany (2011). Selected group shows: Zentrum für Kunst und Medien, Karlsruhe, Germany (2017); G2 Kunsthalle, Leipzig, Germany (2016); The Kitchen, New York, NY (2015); Museum of Contemporary Art, Santa Barbara, CA (2015); Kunstverein Wiesen e.V. Wiesen, Germany (2015); Kunst Raum Riehen, Switzerland (2015); KAI10, Quadriennale Düsseldorf, Germany (2014); Petach Tikva Museum of Art, Israel (2014); The Renaissance Society, Chicago (2014); The III Moscow International Biennale for Young Art, Moscow, Russia (2012); Kunsthalle Recklinghausen, Germany (2011); Museum K21, Düsseldorf (2010); Young Biennale Köln 2010, Cologne (2010). Meisenberg was born in 1980 in Berlin, Germany. Selected solo shows: Kunstparterre, Munich (2020); Zabludowicz Collection, London 2019); Simone Subal Gallery, New York (2013, 2015, 2018); Avlskarl Projects, Copenhagen, Denmark (2017, 2020); Kölnischer Kunstverein, Cologne, Germany (2014); Kasseler Kunstverein, Kassel, Germany (2014); Kunst aus NRW / Förderpreis für Bildende Kunst, Ehemalige Reichsabtei, Aachen, Germany (2012); Wentrup Gallery, Berlin, Germany (2012, 2014, 2016, 2017); Kate McGarry, London, UK (2011, 2013, 2020); Wilhelm-Hack-Museum, Ludwigshafen, Germany (2011); Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst, Aachen, Germany (2009). Recent selected group exhibitions: Museum der Bildenden Kuenste Leipzig, Germany (Cat.) 2019; Kunstsammlung Chemnitz, Chemnitz (2019); Museum Wiesbaden, Germany (2019); neue Gesellschaft für Bildende Kunst, Berlin, Germany (2018); Zeppelin Museum, Friedrichshafen, Germany (2017); Broehan Museum, Berlin, Germany (2017); Broehan Museum, Berlin, Germany (2017); Kiasma Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki, Finland (2017); ICA, Philadelphia (Cat.) (2017); Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt, Germany (Cat.) (2016); Kunsthalle Recklinghausen, Recklinghausen, Germany (Cat.) (2016); Bundeskunsthalle Bonn, Bonn, Germany (2015); Kunstpalais Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany (2015); Goethe Institute, Hong Kong (2015); Ausstellung in der Sammlung Kunst aus NRW in der ehemaligen Reichsabtei Aachen-Kornelimünster, Aachen, Germany (2014); Museum Kunsten, Aalborg, Denmark (2014); Queens Museum of Art, New York, USA (2014).

Link: Florian Meisenberg, Anna K.E at Simone Subal at Simone Subal

from Contemporary Art Daily https://bit.ly/3cQUsld

[netunleashed-blog]

Italian model Claudia Romani in sexy bikini shoot

http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=35852 Italian model Claudia Romani in sexy bikini shoot - http://www.internetunleashed.co.uk/?p=35852 Claudia Romani was voted one of the 100 sexiest women by FHM Denmark and you can see why when you look at her Instagram page full of booty-flashing pics.The 36-year-old has been snapped up by the likes of GQ, Maxim and Playboy Italy for her flesh-flashing skills in front of the camera.Fans have flocked to see her work providing her with a whopping 600k following on Instagram.Not letting down her mass of devotees, Claudia posed up storm for her latest hot bikini shoot. Related Articles Miss Romani turned sexy lifeguard for the sizzling South beach display.Turning heads on the Florida beach, Claudia flaunted her toned figure in the tiniest of thongs.The brunette opted for a white, micro bikini top that flashed underboob aplenty and a red thong which could have been mistaken for dental floss.Finalising the glam look, she wore a matching pair of striking sunglasses, pearl style earrings and chose sleek straightened locks. SPLASH NEWS BEACH BABE: Claudia Romani laid out in the scorching sun SPLASH NEWS POSING UP A STORM: Claudia knew how to spice up the shoot The reality TV star stretched out on the sand to soak up the scorching sun, ramping up the sex appeal with a series of pulse racing poses.Claudia then proceeded to climb the lifeguard tower, shaking her booty for the camera in the standout thong.Turning to pose with her hip off to one side, the sun kissed babe showed off her toned abs and flashed a smile.Getting playful for the photographer, she proved strong is the new sexy as she tried to climb the brightly painted tower. SPLASH NEWS FLAUNTING IT: Claudia exposed her toned bum in a standout red thong Taking a look out over the beach from the Balcony, Claudia crouched down to peer between the rails.Showing off her cheeky side, the vegetarian looked into the lens with a sultry stare. She wrapped up the shoot with a final wiggle of her derrière. SPLASH NEWS TREND ALERT: Claudia rocked the micro-bikini trend on the beach SPLASH NEWS THAT THONG TH THONG THONG THONG SPLASH NEWS BIKINI CLAD: Claudia took the lifeguard uniform to new heights SPLASH NEWS TEASING: Claudia knows how to set pulses racing SPLASH NEWS WARDROBE MALFUNCTION: Claudia flashed underboob aplenty as she danced around for the shoot SPLASH NEWS GYMNASTIC FANTASTIC: Claudia tried to show off some skills climbing the tower SPLASH NEWS CHEEKY: Claudia showed off her tans lines in a daring booty flash SPLASH NEWS PHOTOSHOOT QUEEN: Claudia played up to the photographer SLASH NEWS GREAT RISK: Claudia risked some embarrassment in her choice of tiny bikini Related articles Source link

[thepageantry-blog1]

A new environmental queen will be crowned from the more than 90 Miss Earth 2017 contestants on November 4. This will be the culmination of a month of exciting preliminary activities, environmental talks, and school tours.

The Miss Earth pageant is back in the Philippines after a successful edition last year. Miss Earth 2016 Katherine Espin of Ecuador will crown her successor at the very same stage where she won the title last year. Katherine will end her very successful reign after crisscrossing the globe attending national finals for Miss Earth and other environmental events.

With the possibility of having the biggest number, the Miss Earth 2017 contestants are poised to be the very first batch to breach the 90 mark. It is the testament of the tremendous growth of Miss Earth, which now boasts the third largest network of national franchises among international beauty pageants.

There are also reported changes to be introduced this year to the pageant’s format after significant changes were seen at the Miss Philippines Earth 2017 pageant. One that has left fans most excited about is the superheroine costumes to be donned by the Miss Earth 2017 contestants as they fight the ill effects of climate change.

Miss Earth 2017 Contestants

#gallery-0-3 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-3 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-0-3 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-3 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Angola Ermelinda Martins

Argentina Fiorela Hengemühler

Aruba TBA

Australia Nina Robertson

Austria Bianca Kronsteiner

Bahamas Brittania Alexa Mitchell

Belarus Polli Cannabis

Belgium Lauralyn Vermeersch

Belize Iris Salguero

Bolivia Giancarla Fernández

Bosnia and Herzegovina Lela Karagic

Brazil Bruna Vizintin

Cambodia Em Kunthong

Cameroon Angele Kossinda

Canada Jacqueline Marsh

Chile Sofia Manzur

China TBA

Chinese Taipei Amelie Zhao

Colombia Juliana Franco

Cook Islands Mona Taio

Costa Rica Fernanda Rodríguez

Crimea Elena Trifonova

Croatia Bonita Kristic

Cyprus Artemis Charalambous

Czech Republic Iva Uchytilová

Denmark Sabrina Jovanović

Dominican Republic Ingrid Franco

Ecuador Lessie Giler

England Charlotte Brooke

Ethiopia TBA

France Mélissa Strugen

Germany Victoria Selivanov

Ghana Paula Ethel Masopeh

Guadeloupe Morgane Nestar

Guatemala Maria José Castañeda

Haiti Anaika Vanessa Gaspard

Hungary Viktoria Viczian

India Shaan Suhas Kumar

Indonesia Michelle Alriani

Israel Elian Qupty

Italy Fabiana Enrica Barra

Japan Yasuyo Saito

Korea Hanna Lee

Kosovo Andina Pura

Kyrgyzstan Begimai Nazarova

Lebanon Elsa Antoun

Liberia Wokie Dolo

Malaysia Cherish Ng

Malta Christie Refalo

Mauritius Yanishta Gopaul

Mexico Karen Bustos

Moldova Veronica Buzovoi

Mongolia Tugs-Amgalan Batjargal

Myanmar Tin Sandar Myo

Namibia TBA

Nepal Rojina Shrestha

Netherlands Faith Landman

New Zealand Abby Sturgin

Nigeria Eucharia Akani

Northern Ireland Maire Lynch

Pakistan Ramina Ashfaque

Panama Erika Parker

Paraguay Valeria Ivasiuten

Peru Karen Rojas

Philippines Karen Ibasco

Poland Dominika Szymanska

Portugal Gloria Silva

Puerto Rico Karla Victoria Aponte

Reunion Island Emma Lauret

Romania TBA

Russia Lada Akimova

Rwanda Uwase Hirma Honorine

Samoa Olivia Howman

Serbia Marija Nikic

Sierra Leone Claudia Josephine Suma

Sinagpore Elizabeth Lee

Slovak Republic TBA

Slovenia Sara Gavranić

South Africa Irini Moutzouris

Spain Ainara Santamaria

Sri Lanka Shyama Dahayanaka

Sweden Camilla Fogestedt

Switzerland Sarah Laura Peyrel

Thailand Paweensuda Drouin

Tonga Diamond Langi

Uganda Nabirye Josephine Mutesi

Ukraine Diana Mironenko

US Virgin Islands Kaylee Carlberg

USA Andreia Gibau

Venezuela Ninoska Vasquez

Vietnam Le Thi Ha Thu

Wales Sophie Bettridge

Zambia Abigail Chama

Meet the Miss Earth 2017 Contestants A new environmental queen will be crowned from the more than 90 Miss Earth 2017 contestants on November 4.

[harryandmeghan0-blog]

Royal wedding: Who will walk Lady Gabriella Windsor down the aisle? Who are her parents? - Express

New Post has been published on https://harryandmeghan.xyz/royal-wedding-who-will-walk-lady-gabriella-windsor-down-the-aisle-who-are-her-parents-express/

Royal wedding: Who will walk Lady Gabriella Windsor down the aisle? Who are her parents? - Express

Lady Gabriella Windsor, known as Ella, will marry fiancé Thomas Kingston this spring, in a ceremony at St George’s Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The wedding will take place almost exactly a year after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wed at the same venue, in a lavish, star-studded ceremony. Lady Gabriella is 51st in line to the throne, and her husband-to-be is a businessman.

Who will walk Lady Gabriella Windsor down the aisle? Who are her parents?

Lady Gabriella’s parents are Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, who have two children, Lord Frederick Windsor, 39, and Gabriella, 37. 

Prince Michael of Kent is Queen Elizabeth II’s first cousin, the son of Prince George the Duke of Kent and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. 

Princess Michael of Kent’s full name is Marie Christine von Reibnitz – taking on her husband’s title after their marriage. 

Read More: Royal Wedding 2019: Lady Gabriella Windsor family tree

The couple wed in Vienna in 1978. 

Their son Frederick Windsor is married to sister of TV host Claudia Winkleman, actress Sophie Winkleman.

No doubt Prince Michael of Kent will walk his daughter down the aisle on her big day.

Lady Gabriella and Lord Fredrick are not working royals, so they are free to pursue their own careers away from royal duties. 

According to Buckingham Palace, Gabriella currently works as “a Senior Director at Branding Latin America, a brand-positioning platform that specialises in the region..” She is also a writer. 

Her fiancé Thomas “works in frontier market investment and is a Director of Devonport Capital”.

However, Gabriella, Franklin, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent do sometimes join the Royal Family at important events.

In 2018 they joined the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for Trooping The Colour.

In the third royal wedding at St George’s Chapel in recent months, some members of the Royal Family are expected to attend Lady Gabriella’s wedding. 

There is not much known about Gabriella’s wedding – however, it is thought to be a “scaled down version“ of Princess Eugenie’s wedding. 

In May 2018, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex wed at St George’s Chapel. 

Just five months later in October 2018, Princess Eugenie married wine merchant Jack Brooksbank at the same venue.

Source: https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/1081345/royal-wedding-2019-lady-gabriella-windsor-walk-down-the-aisle-parents-prince-michael-kent