Moniek Bloks, Author at History of Royal Women

Bad Homburg Palace – Home of the amiable Princess

Tuesday, 6 November 2018, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 1

Bad Homburg Palace was first built in the 12th century but most of it was demolished in 1660 by Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg. A new palace was built between 1680 and 1685. In 1818, Princess Elizabeth of Great Britain, daughter of King George III and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, married the future Frederick VI, Landgrave [read more]

Grace O’Malley – The Sea Queen

Monday, 5 November 2018, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 0

This was a notorious woman in all the coasts of Ireland. Grace O’Malley was born into the Uí Mháille, seafaring people on the west coast of Ireland. Their clan motto was terra marique potens (powerful by land and sea). Grace’s mother was Margaret, daughter of Conchobhar Og Mac Conchobhair, mic Maoilseachlain O’Malley, of the sept of [read more]

The Romanoffs Episode 1 & 2 Review

Saturday, 3 November 2018, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 0

The Romanoffs is described as “A contemporary anthology series set around the globe featuring eight separate stories about people who believe themselves to be descendants of the Russian royal family.” I recently watched the first and second episode of this new series. The first episode focusses on an elderly racist woman who is confronted with [read more]

Carlota Joaquina of Spain – The unhappy Queen of Portugal

Friday, 2 November 2018, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 1

Carlota Joaquina of Spain was born on 25 April 1775 as the daughter of Charles IV of Spain and Maria Luisa of Parma. She was hardly out of the cradle when her marriage to the future King John VI of Portugal, though at the time he was not expected to succeed, was arranged. She was then sent to [read more]

Sophia Duleep Singh – A Suffragette Princess (Part 2)

Wednesday, 31 October 2018, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 1

Read part one here. The Suffragette Cause Sophia joined Emmeline Pankhurst and other suffragettes as they descended on the House of Commons, hoping to meet the Prime Minister that year. The police used such excessive force on the women that even Winston Churchill, who was no admirer of the suffragettes, was appalled. Sophia interrupted one particular [read more]

Weilburg Palace – The Princes’ Residence

Tuesday, 30 October 2018, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Weilburg Palace was constructed by Philip III, Count of Nassau-Weilburg from circa 1530. The Orangerie was added 200 years later. The Princes of Nassau-Weilburg used it as their main residence until Charles August, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg moved to Kirchheimbolanden, while the seat of government remained in Weilburg. Princess Therese of Nassau-Weilburg, daughter of William, Duke [read more]