Monday, 30 April 2018

The royal birthdays that rule April


Three kings, two queens and one Grand Duke all celebrated their special days this month.  Yep, the chances of a head of a European ruling house being born in the sunny month of April are pretty high - six out of ten isn't a bad batting average. As the month comes to an end with yet another monarchical milestone, let's enjoy the six royal birthdays that rule in April.


April 30th


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Birthday royal King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, born Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus on April 30th 1946 at the Haga Palace, Stockholm.

Candles on the cake this year King Carl XVI Gustaf is 72 this year

Royal story in a sentence Carl XVI Gustaf has just become the longest ruling monarch in Swedish history with a reign that has been largely successful and consolidated his dynasty's position.

The Royal Birthday....will be a busy one as Carl Gustaf and his wife, Silvia, have three children and have just welcomed their seventh grandchild.



April 27th


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Birthday royal King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, born Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand on April 27th 1967 in Utrecht.

Candles on the cake this year King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands is 51 this year

Royal story in a sentence Willem-Alexander became his country's first king in over 100 years when he succeeded his mother, Beatrix, on her abdication on April 30th 2013.

The Royal Birthday....is always spent in public with the traditional King's Day celebrations taking place this year in Groeningen.




April 21st



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Birthday royal Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, born Elizabeth Alexandra Mary on April 21st 1926 in London

Candles on the cake this year The Queen is 92 this year

Royal story in a sentence The longest reigning monarch in British history, Elizabeth II has gone from unexpected queen to beloved sovereign in a reign that has been successful beyond anyone's imaginations.

The Royal Birthday....involved a special concert this year at the Royal Albert Hall, London where her eldest son (and heir) the Prince of Wales paid tribute to her. Just days later she welcomed her sixth great grandchild with the arrival of Prince Louis of Cambridge.


April 16th

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Birthday royal Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, born Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid on April 16th 1940 in Copenhage

Candles on the cake this year Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is 78 this year

Royal story in a sentence Born with no succession rights, Margrethe became heir to the throne with a change in the law and has been a popular and modernising monrach since taking the throne i January 1972.

The Royal Birthday....this year was rather quiet as Margrethe is mourning the loss of her beloved husband of 50 years, Henrik, who died in February 2018.



April 16th

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Birthday royal Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, born Henri Albert Gabriel Felix Marie Guillaume  on April 16th 1955 at Betzdorf Castle, Luxembourg

Candles on the cake this year Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg is 63 this year

Royal story in a sentence Grand Duke since the abdication of his father, Jean, in 2000, he is largely popular although has endured some controversy in his reign.

The Royal Birthday....this year was rather low key with the Grand Duke and Duchess having just returned from a State Visit to France.



April 15th

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Birthday royal King Philippe of the Belgians, born Philippe Leopold Louis Marie  on April 15th 1960 in Laeken

Candles on the cake this year King Philippe of the Belgians is 58 this year

Royal story in a sentence An unexpected king, Philippe took the throne in 2013 on the abdication of his father, King Albert II, and has proved to be a very successful and popular sovereign.

The Royal Birthday...saw the Belgian royals share a photo of Philippe painting a portrait of his uncle, King Baudouin, with the present monarch spending his day with his wife, Mathilde, and their four children.



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