Moniek Bloks, Author at History of Royal Women

Sita Devi of Baroda – An extravagant Maharani

Sunday, 10 October 2021, 0:00 Moniek Bloks 0

This article was written by Shivangi. Sita Devi Sahib was born on 12 May 1917 in Madras, India as the daughter of Maharaja of Pithapuram Sri Raja Rao Venkata Kumara Mahipati Surya Rao Bahadur Garu and his wife Shri Rani Chennamma Devi of Mirzapuram. She has gone down in history as the Indian Wallis Simpson. [read more]

Review: Diana: The Musical

Saturday, 9 October 2021, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

The Broadway musical Diana: The Musical had a very special premiere on 1 October 2021. It was first released on the streaming service Netflix before going to Broadway in early November. The musical was in previews when the Coronavirus pandemic shut down Broadway in 2020. Diana: The Musical follows the story of Diana from her [read more]

An Imperial visit for the Duke and Duchess of Windsor

Monday, 4 October 2021, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

In 1921, before the Prince of Wales became King Edward VIII and before Crown Prince Hirohito became Emperor Hirohito, the two heirs met when Hirohito came to England for a visit. They met again in 1922 when the Prince of Wales made an official visit to Japan in 1922. By then, Hirohito had also assumed [read more]

The wedding of Grand Duke George of Russia and Victoria Romanovna Bettarini

Sunday, 3 October 2021, 16:59 Moniek Bloks 0

Russia got a taste of its former Imperial splendour this week as the only son of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, head of the House of Romanov (disputed), Grand Duke George Mikhailovich married his long-time girlfriend, Rebecca Bettarini. She took the name Victoria Romanovna upon her conversion to Russian Orthodoxy. George is the great-great-great-grandson [read more]

Review: Icons – Masterpieces from the National Portrait Gallery

Saturday, 2 October 2021, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Many of you will not know the city of Leeuwarden in the north of the Netherlands, but its Fries Museum is currently home to the exhibition Icons: topstukken uit de National Portrait Gallery (or translated: Icons – Masterpieces from the National Portrait Gallery). They were able to borrow many masterpieces from the National Portrait Gallery [read more]

The Duchess of Windsor’s first wedding anniversary present to be auctioned

Friday, 1 October 2021, 12:46 Moniek Bloks 0

A ruby and diamond bangle, which was a first-anniversary wedding present to the Duchess of Windsor from her husband, is set to be auctioned on 9 November in Geneva. The order for the bangle was probably placed with Cartier Paris earlier in the year 1938 and was delivered to the Duke of Windsor shortly before [read more]