Moniek Bloks, Author at History of Royal Women

Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon – From Lady to Duchess (Part 1)

Saturday, 4 August 2018, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 2

Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was born on 4 August 1900 as the 9th of 10 children born to Claude Bowes-Lyon, then Lord Glamis and later 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne and his wife, Cecilia Cavendish-Bentinck. From birth until 1904, she was known as The Honourable Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, and after her father became Earl, she was known [read more]

The Bonaparte Women – Marie Louise of Austria

Friday, 3 August 2018, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 5

Marie Louise of Austria was born on 12 December 1791 as the daughter of Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily at the Hofburg in Vienna. As she grew up, she was taught to resent all things French. Her grandmother Maria Carolina was the sister of Marie Antoinette, the French Queen who was guillotined. [read more]

Madame de Maintenon – Louis XIV’s secret wife

Thursday, 2 August 2018, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 0

This article was written by Holly Sennett. Early Life Françoise d’Aubigné was born on the 27th of November 1635 in France. The daughter of an incarcerated Huguenot, Françoise had a relatively modest upbringing. Young Françoise was educated as a Protestant, despite being baptised in her mother’s Catholic faith. Throughout her childhood and formative years, Françoise’s [read more]

Swedish royal regalia stolen from Strängnäs Cathedral

Wednesday, 1 August 2018, 2:30 Moniek Bloks 0

Two royal crowns belonging to King Charles IX of Sweden and his wife Christina of Holstein-Gottorp, as well as a royal orb, have been from Strängnäs Cathedral yesterday afternoon. The two crowns were actually burial crowns and were interred with the King and Queen until they were exhumed and put on display. King Charles IX reigned [read more]

Poppelsdorf Palace and the expulsion of Maria Christina of Austria

Tuesday, 31 July 2018, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 0

On 13 May 1742, Maria Christina of Austria was born as the daughter of Empress Maria Theresa and Francis of Lorraine. In 1766, Maria Christina, known as Mimi in her family, was allowed to marry for love and she chose her second cousin Albert of Saxony and he was given the title of Duke of Teschen upon [read more]

Clémentine of Belgium – Fighting for independence

Monday, 30 July 2018, 7:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Clémentine of Belgium was born on 30 July 1872 as the daughter of King Leopold II of Belgium and Marie Henriette of Austria. Her gender was a great disappointment to her parents, who had lost their only son in 1869. She was baptised on 3 September in the chapel of the Palace of Laeken. Her godmother Princess Clémentine of Orléans [read more]