Category: Royal Family

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you’d expect Clarence House to get the new titles correct, would you not?

Michael McFarland Campbell

The other official titles given to the couple by The Queen on their wedding day, are The Earl and Lady of Strathearn and The Baron and Countess of Carrickfergus. from Clarence House website accessed 4 May 2011 at 0030 Oopsadaisy! I think that Clarence House means: The other official titles given to the couple by The Queen on their wedding day are: The Earl and Countess of Strathearn, and the Baron and Lady Carrickfergus. as Buckingham Palace issued a statement regarding the titles of HRH The Duke of Cambridge on Friday past. Simple really: wife of an Earl is a … Continue reading you’d expect Clarence House to get the new titles correct, would you not?

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Belfast, christian, Gaeilge, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, Royal FamilyLeave a comment

it’s not difficult to get the words right

Michael McFarland Campbell
God save the Queen - Dia leis an Bhanríon.

On Accession Day, I thought I’d give a little hand to all the Ulstermen and women who seem to have some confusion about the words of the National Anthem. Continue reading “it’s not difficult to get the words right”

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Vivat Regina, Vivat Regina Elizabetha!

Michael McFarland Campbell

  Today is the fifty-ninth anniversary of the Accession of Our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth II. Today it was that the sad news was published everywhere that   THE KING IS DEAD In the words of Pathé And so it was that on the sixth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifty-two that Our late Most Gracious Sovereign King George the Sixth died and our Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second was proclaimed Queen. Upon the intimation that our late Most Gracious Sovereign King George the Sixth had died in his sleep … Continue reading Vivat Regina, Vivat Regina Elizabetha!

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Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, Royal Family, United KingdomLeave a comment

Remember, Remember, the fifth of November… amazingly not in Northern Ireland

Michael McFarland Campbell

Growing up in Northern Ireland with an English mother (I know, we all have crosses to bear) and an Ulsterman as a father leads to some interesting debates about what we celebrate in the house. Around our family home in Ballymena there was a great sense of community when my brothers and I were under ten and most of the local families had children under 18. We used to have a community bonfire around this time of year. You know the sort of thing, one family brings toffee apples, someone else actual toffee, others fudge, others sandwiches, others cups of … Continue reading Remember, Remember, the fifth of November… amazingly not in Northern Ireland

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news, Northern Ireland life, poverty, Royal FamilyLeave a comment

return the Crown Estate money to the Queen

Michael McFarland Campbell

The furore about the Royal Finances in recent days should be really quite easy to fix. Stop the Civil List system, and return the surplus from the Crown Estates to Her Majesty The Queen. After all, if it is Crown property then Her Majesty should be allowed to benefit from it. There is no prohibition on HRH The Prince of Wales in respect of his rights as Duke of Cornwall, so why does Her Majesty? Do we actually know what HM Treasury has done with this money in recent years? I don’t think so. No transparency there. For reference: The … Continue reading return the Crown Estate money to the Queen

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As a faithful son of Mary he honored his heavenly Mother through imitation

Michael McFarland Campbell

Day Nine:
The Blessed Virgin Mary

On the day of his death the Emperor asked his wife which day it was.

The Mother of God’s day,

answered the Empress.

Saturday, then,

he confirmed delighted. After his death, the body of Emperor Karl was placed in the Marian church of Nossa Senhora do Monte on Madeira, where it still rests today.

Throughout his life the protective mantle of Mary shielded Emperor Karl, which can be seen in the major events of his life: Continue reading “As a faithful son of Mary he honored his heavenly Mother through imitation”

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I am grateful to our loving God for all that He sends.

Michael McFarland Campbell

Day Eight:
Faithful Fulfillment of the Will of God

Emperor Karl sought the Will of God in everything he did. For him it was the most important principle of his life and all of his actions. Eyewitnesses also tell of his love of chastity, and his absolute refusal to tolerate indecent language in his presence.

Empress Zita relates what he said to her on his deathbed:

‘To be angry? To complain? When you know God’s Will, all things are good.’ And after a while: ‘I want to say now very clearly to you, how it is with me: My entire endeavor has always been to clearly recognize the Will of God in all things and to follow it as completely as possible.’ After some time, he repeated: ‘Only let us not complain.’

The phrase

Thy Will be done!

was a guiding tenet in the life of Blessed Karl, and one he repeated shortly before he placed his soul into the hands of his Creator. With Christ, Emperor Karl could say: Continue reading “I am grateful to our loving God for all that He sends.”

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But I will never renounce my coronation oath.

Michael McFarland Campbell

Day Seven:
The Sovereign

Eyewitnesses praise Blessed Karl’s profound sense of duty. He understood the obligation of emperor given to him as a sacred trust, and saw himself as a father to his peoples. In a conversation with Count Polzer-Hoditz on April 28, 1917, the Emperor said:

It comes down, however, to simply help as much as one can help. As emperor I must set a good example. If everyone would only practice his Christian duty, there would not be so much hate and misery in the world.

His love for neighbor was exemplary. To ease the suffering of his war-weary peoples, Emperor Karl ordered that the palace horses and wagons be put into service to deliver coal to the Viennese population, donated much of his private fortune to the poor, and even gave away clothes from his own closet to the needy. Continue reading “But I will never renounce my coronation oath.”

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let them die rather than commit a mortal sin, Amen!

Michael McFarland Campbell

Day Six:
Devoted Father

One of the biggest hardships for Emperor Karl was the separation from his children as he and Empress Zita were sent into exile on Madeira. The children remained in Switzerland until Empress Zita, with many restrictions, could travel there and bring them back with her to Madeira. Continue reading “let them die rather than commit a mortal sin, Amen!”