royalty

Qatari Royals' $2 Million Supercar Clamped Outside Harrods

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth, Crimes and Misdemeanors

Back in May we reported that luxe landmark London department store Harrods had been sold to Qatar's royal family for more about $2.2 billion. The other day the super-rich royals arrived to check out their new acquisition in a fleet of exotic supercars, all painted the family's signature shade of turquoise. However, while inside the posh retail palace the London police slapped clamps on the illegally parked rides. Spotted by London's Daily Mail with the unsightly locks on their wheels was a Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce, valued at about $550,000 (above left) and a bespoke specification Koenigsegg CCXR (above right), one of only six in the world, worth about $2 million. To get the vehicles unlocked the scofflaw sheikhs had to pay a release fee of £70 plus a fine of between £40 - £120 and complete a set of paperwork for each car.

[via LuxuryInsider]

Tags: department store, Harrods, Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, London, Qatar, royal family, royalty, supercar, UAE

Prince Charles Presides at Cartier International Polo

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events, Sports

HRH Prince Charles presided over the Royal Box at the 26th annual Cartier International Polo Day at the UK's Guards Polo Club in Great Windsor Park the other day. The celebrated event, previewed in The Classicist's column on the English summer social season, is the sport's most prestigious. The bands of the Welsh and Irish Guards and the Light Cavalry of the Honourable Artillery Company performed prior to the contest. The Prince, who arrived in his vintage Aston Martin, was joined by the likes of Tommy Lee Jones and Sir Ben Kingsley to watch as England triumphed over New Zealand to capture the coveted Coronation Cup. VIP guests were served a luncheon by chef Anton Mosimann of champagne, Scottish lobster and Chateaubriand followed by Grand Marnier parfait with raspberry coulis. James Beim, captain of the New Zealand team, was awarded the trophy for Most Valuable Player.

Gallery: Cartier International Polo 2010

Tags: Aston Martin, Cartier, equestrian, New Zealand, Polo, Prince Charles, royalty, sporting, sports, Tommy Lee Jones, UK

Kanon Organic Vodka from the King of Sweden's Distillery

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Green

New to these shores, Kanon Organic Vodka is a Swedish spirit from Gripsholm Distillery, founded by King Karl IX of Sweden, which has been producing organic vodka for over 400 years. Forsaking charcoal filtering and multiple distillation, the distillery uses local organic wheat and untouched spring water for a subtle, natural flavor without the usual vodka burn.

Gripsholm is the only EU and US certified organic distillery in Sweden. Once the king's cannon maker in the late 16th century (hence the vodka's name), Gripsholm started supplying vodka to the foundry workers and people in the surrounding area. With its 29 pot-still pans, 280 workers and a production of over a million liters of vodka annually, Gripsholm was once the largest distillery in Sweden.

Kanon is distilled from locally grown organic wheat in a continuous process without the use of environmentally harmful or genetically modified additives. The whole setup is eco-friendly; the distillery is run on wind and water power and all by-products are renewed. Even the attractive bottle is made from 60% recycled glass. Now available in New York at Morgan's hotels, Kanon will be launching in Los Angeles in January 2011.

Gallery: Kanon Organic Vodka

Tags: distillery, eco-friendly, organic, organic spirits, organic vodka, royalty, spirits, Sweden, vodka

Design Genius Dyson Restores Classic Steam Yacht

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Yachts & Sailing, Wealth

The name James Dyson, the British industrial designer who re-invented the vacuum cleaner, is synonymous with cutting-edge technology. When it comes to yachts, however, the brilliant billionaire apparently prefers the classics. Dyson has just spent millions refurbishing a stunning 1930 steam yacht with an impressive pedigree, which has just been relaunched. The 300 ft. long Nahlin (above) designed by G.L. Watson was originally built for a British heiress and was later owned by the Romanian Royal Family. She was also chartered in the 1930s by England's King Edward VIII and was for a time the setting of his controversial romance with Wallis Simpson which led to his abdication and the couple's becoming the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Discovered some years back operating as a dilapidated floating restaurant on the Danube, she caught Dyson's eye via yacht broker Nicholas Edmiston who brought the ship back to the UK. With help from the G.L. Watson archives, the yacht was completely restored and refitted at Blohm + Voss in Germany (builders of Roman Abramovich's Eclipse) with new diesel engines and period-correct paneling and moldings.

[via JamesList]

Tags: billionaire, Blohm + Voss, designer, Duchess of Windsor, Duke of Windsor, industrial design, inventor, King Edward VIII, royalty, UK, vacuum cleaner

Dubai Ruler's Fortune Plummets $7.5 Billion, Named Forbes' Biggest Royal Loser

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth

Shed a tear for Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, who has been named Forbes' biggest royal loser after his fortune plummeted by $7.5 billion this year – a drop of over 60% in net worth and even worse than the $6 billion he lost last year in the wake of the emirate's financial implosion. Al-Maktoum now has only $4.5 billion in the bank, down from $18 billion two years ago – a loss of $13.5 billion in total. Others on the magazine's list of the world's richest royals fared better – top of the heap is King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand whose $30 billion fortune remains unchanged, followed by the Sultan of Brunei at $20 billion (also unchanged), and King Abdullah bin Abul Aziz of Saudi Arabia whose net worth rose to $18 billion thanks to shrewd financial planning. In case you're wondering about the Queen of England, she's way down on the list with a paltry $450 million. Collectively the group's fortune is down 9%, or $10 billion this year, to $99 billion – a whopping $32 billion below their 2008 total. Time to tax those subjects.

Tags: billionaire, Dubai, Forbes, Queen of England, royal family, royalty, Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Sultan of Brunei, Thailand, UAE, wealth

Tsar Nicholas II's Custom 1914 Rolls-Royce for Sale at $7 Million

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wealth

A royal purple 1914 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost that's said to have belonged to Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia, is being offered for sale in Germany via global online luxury marketplace JamesList for about $7 million. In the 1920s the custom-made car, which features nickel plated fittings, a speaking tube for communicating with the chauffeur and coachwork by Barker, found its way into the collection of circus impresario John Ringling of Ringling Bros. at Ca d'Zan, his famous 30 room Venetian mansion in Sarasota, Florida. After being displayed in a classic car museum next to Adolph Hitler's Mercedes for a spell, at some point it was acquired by a German collector who kept it in an underground bunker from which it was recently unearthed. The nearly century-old Rolls, made just 10 years after Henry Royce built his very first car, offers not only a royal pedigree but is an important piece of automotive history it its own right.

Tags: classic cars, Czar, Florida, JamesList, John Ringling, Nicholas II, Rolls-Royce, royalty, Russia, Tsars

Goyard Limited Edition Book in a Bespoke Trunk

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Books

Goyard, the luxurious Parisian luggage maker founded in 1853, is coming out with a limited edition book about the history of the illustrious firm fitted in a bespoke trunk (above). Goyard, whose cases feature a pattern of interlaced chevrons, has long had a devoted clientele of celebrities and royalty. Aristocrats such as the Grand Duke of Russia, the Maharajah of Kapurthala and the Duke of Windsor all traveled with Goyard luggage; as we reported in April, Chanel kingpin Karl Lagerfeld now brings dozens of Goyard trunks and suitcases with him on his journeys. The book is limited to just 233 numbered copies available by special order only complete with custom trunks priced at about $7,250.

Purchasers may choose from 12 different colors for the trunk, with monograms, stripes and other embellishments available at an additional cost. The number of the edition is painted on every trunk. Continuing the heritage of Goyard's prestigious collections from the 1920s, the book "resonates with and celebrates the golden age of luxury travel, from horse-drawn carriages to the great transatlantic ocean liners." Traditional letterpress techniques were used for the book, produced in collaboration with famed French art publisher Devambez and printed upon custom made vellum paper featuring its own watermarks.

Gallery: The Goyard Book

Tags: book, Duke of Windsor, France, Goyard, Karl Lagerfeld, luggage, luxury travel, Paris, royalty, trunk

Harrods Sold To Qatar Royals' Holding Company

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Wealth

Just last month we noted that Harrods owner Mohamed Al-Fayed had denied reports that the luxe landmark London department store was for sale. Now however in a stunning reversal Al-Fayed has sold the business to Qatar's royal family for more than £1.5 billion, or about $2.2 billion, and announced his retirement, the London Times reports. Harrods, the largest and one of the most luxurious stores in the world, holds royal warrants from the likes of the Queen, the Queen Mother and the Prince of Wales.

The bid from the Qatar Holding company was accepted because they would "maintain the traditions of Harrods", Ken Costa, chairman of Lazard International, the investment bank advising the family trust on the deal, told the paper. "After 25 years as chairman of Harrods, Mohamed al-Fayed has decided to retire and to spend more time with his children and grandchildren," Costa notes, adding, Fayed "wished to ensure that the legacy and traditions that he has built up in Harrods would be continued". Last year Harrods won a Readers' Choice Luxist award for Best Department Store.

[Thanks, Lana]

Tags: department store, Harrods, London, Mohamed Al-Fayed, Qatar, royalty, UAE, UK

Queen of England's Bespoke Jaguar Daimler for Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

A luxurious bespoke Daimler Majestic V8 (above) built by Jaguar and used by the Queen of England as her personal motor is being offered for sale in the UK. The British racing green vehicle, used as the Queen's daily driver between 2001 and 2004, includes several bespoke royal touches, such as a special holder for her favorite handbag, a console of switches to control flashing strobe lamps and blue emergency convoy lights, a secure telephone once linked to Downing Street and the Home Office, and special rear seat protectors for transporting the royal dogs. No price is being advertised but the car cost about $100,000 when new. The Queen's motor pool still includes two Bentleys, three Rolls-Royces and three Daimlers, among sundry other vehicles.

[The Independent via LuxuryInsider]

Tags: British royals, custom cars, Daimler, Jaguar, Queen of England, royalty, UK

$700,000 Austrian Emperor's Chimney Piece Heads Sotheby's Sale

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Auctions, Art

Looking for a unique item to add a regal flourish to your interior decor? An extremely rare, important and well-preserved neo-Gothic terracotta chimney piece commissioned for Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia and King of Hungary, in the late 19th century, is being offered for sale during Sotheby's' Origines, Architecture & Heritage, Decoration and Garden Statuary auction in Paris on March 31. The incredible 8.5-ft. tall piece, built to surround a kingly fireplace at one of the imperial Hapsburg family palaces and bearing the emperor's coat of arms, is expected to fetch up to $700,000. Two knights standing on Corinthian columns flank the mantelpiece, which also bears the Emperor's motto Viribus Unitis, "With united forces."

Tags: antiques, antiquities, architecture, Austria, bohemia, chimney piece, emperor, fireplace, franz Joseph I, Hapsburg, hungary, palace, royalty, Sothebys, sothebys auction paris, terracotta

Kaiser Wilhelm II's Silver Cigar Set for $85,000

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars, Men's Style

A stunning bespoke sterling silver traveling cigar set in a leather carrying case made in 1885 for Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia, if being offered for sale by London's Pullman Gallery for $85,000. The leather case contains four matching sterling silver cigar boxes, a giant matchbox holder and a set of 10 monogrammed cigar holders. Each piece features an applied gold and red-enameled 'W' with the Royal Prussian crown on the lid, and the cover of each box is also engraved inside with the signature "Victoria", for Wilhelm's mother Princess Victoria (1840-1901), wife of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm, later Emperor Friedrich III. The fitted purple grained leather felt-lined traveling case features an applied gilded bronze Royal Prussian crown and is marked J. Wagner und Sohn, Berlin.

Tags: Germany, Kaiser Wilhelm II, KaiserWilhelmIi, luggage, Prussia, royalty, smoking, sterling silver, SterlingSilver

Live Like King Edward VII at Rangemore Hall

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

The luxe Edward VII Wing at Rangemore Hall (above) in Burton-upon-Trent, England, has been listed for sale at £2.5 million or about $3.8 million, the London Daily Mail reports. Built for the Bass family of brewing fame, Rangemore Hall's owner Lord Burton constructed the wing for a visit from King Edward VII, known as "Dirty Bertie", and his bride Queen Alexandra in 1907. At 12,000-sq.-ft. it is far larger than the Hall itself, and includes a one-bedroom flat attached to the wing by a hidden staircase used to accommodate Edward's mistress Lillie Langtry. The wing features its own ballroom, seven bedrooms, six bathrooms, three reception rooms, a study and a strong room used to house the royals' family's crown jewels. Successive owners have renovated it to include a leisure complex completed in a Romanesque style and a heated swimming pool and jacuzzi. The wing overlooks 10 acres of parkland including two private lakes, a topiary garden with an in-set water feature, four-car garage and electronic gated private driveway.

Tags: British royals, BritishRoyals, Edwardian, English country house, EnglishCountryHouse, king edward VII, KingEdwardVii, royalty, UK

Saudi Prince Strangles Servant in London Luxury Hotel

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wealth, Crimes and Misdemeanors

It's hard to get good help these days - especially if you keep killing them. A man claiming to be a member of the Saudi royal family has been arrested on suspicion of murder after one of his servants was found strangled at a palatial London luxury hotel, the London Daily Mail reports. Police were called to the five-star Landmark Hotel in Marylebone (above) after a maid found the body of a 32-year-old Saudi Arabian man in one of the poshest suites. The victim, believed to be part of the as-yet-unnamed royal's entourage, had been strangled and suffered severe head injuries in the attack. The 33-year-old prime suspect informed authorities that he is a prince of the Saudi royal family who had apparently been living the high life at the hotel for the past month. Rooms at the Landmark, built in 1899, cost up to £2,400 per night for the presidential suite. Rocker Liam Gallagher, Justin Timberlake and Formula One champ Lewis Hamilton are among its celebrity clientele. Michelle Obama also held a fundraising event for her husband there in 2007. Officials have said the prince does not have diplomatic immunity; the Saudi embassy has refused to comment.

Source

Tags: Landmark Hotel, LandmarkHotel, London, royalty, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, SaudiArabia, servants

Creed Windsor, a Kingly Cologne

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Men's Style

Creed of Paris, supplier of bespoke fragrances to royalty and aristocracy since 1760, has released a limited edition bottling of a cologne originally created for the Duke of Windsor in 1936 during his brief reign as King Edward VIII before he abdicated the throne to marry Wallis Simpson.

Only 320 bottles of the kingly cologne, presented in a shatterproof 1.7 oz. leather-wrapped flask numbered and signed by sixth-generation master perfumer Olivier Creed, will be available in the U.S. for $400 apiece. It's made exclusively from ingredients grown in what was once the British Empire.

The subtle, elegant top notes of Creed Windsor are British gin, Jamaican lime and a touch of Scottish highland pine; the middle note the variety of roses now known as the "Duke of Windsor"; and the bottom notes Bahamian orange, Canadian cedar and a dab of Australian eucalyptus.

[via Duncan Quinn]

Tags: British royalty, BritishRoyalty, cologne, Creed, Duke of Windsor, DukeOfWindsor, fragrance, Paris, perfume, royalty

The Splendor of India's Royal Courts

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Books, Wealth

Newly published to accompany a major exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Maharaja: The Splendour of India's Royal Courts examines the rich world of the famed Indian princes from the early 18th century to 1947, when they formally ceded their territories to the modern states of India and Pakistan. Everything from incredible jewels to custom made Rolls-Royce motorcars, paintings, textiles, metalwork, and furniture is examined in the lavishly-illustrated book, showcasing the rich and varied objects that reflect different aspects of royal life. The aim is to "give readers an understanding of royal status and identity, court culture, and patronage." Particular maharajas are highlighted alongside essays by international scholars exploring "Indian concepts of kingship, the public aspects of princely life, architecture of the princely court, palace life and recreation, and the important role of the princes as patrons of traditional arts."

Tags: India, London, Maharaja, royalty, Victoria and Albert Museum, VictoriaAndAlbertMuseum

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