Queen Margrethe of Denmark- Surgery Reply (2023)

I had written to Queen Margrethe of Denmark following her extensive surgery in February. And I received this lovely handwritten note in reply. 

This reply is extra special as it is the first time I have received a handwritten card from Queen Margrethe. The card is written by one of Queen Margrethe's Aide-de-camps. It is unclear with Aide-de-camp signed this, but the signature looks similar to the reply I received from Margrethe for Christmas 2021.

The card says: 

Christian IX's Palace 

Amalienborg

1257 Copenhagen K

Dear Gertrude Daly

Thank you for your kind wishes which are highly appreciated. 

Sincerely, 

[Signature] 

Aide-de-camp

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Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg - Birthday Reply (2023)

I had written to Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg in April for his birthday. I received two replies from them a few days apart. The two replies are identical. 

Both Envelopes were the standard from Luxembourg. 

Inside is a photo of Grand Duke Henri. The photo was released in April 2022, to coincide with Grand Duke Henri's birthday. I received this photo before as part of the Grand Duke & Grand Duchess's 2022 Christmas Reply. 

The back of the card has terms of use for the photo. 

Translated the message on the back of the photo says: 

Terms of use of this photo:

• This photo is the exclusive property of the Maison du Grand-Duc.
• Any modification, transformation or adaptation is prohibited'
• Any provision to one or more third parties is prohibited.
• Any commercial transaction of this photo or resale is prohibited.   
• The user undertakes to use this photo which does not contract with the principles of human dignity and respect for the person. and to notify us, for agreement, of each use that will be made of it.

© Collection of the TRH the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg/ Emanuele Scorcelletti. 

 

Inside is a flat card, similar to Grand Duke Henri's past birthday replies. 

The Card is in Luxembourgish and says: 

Luxembourg, March 2023

The Grand Duke was deeply moved by your kind wishes for his birthday. His Royal Highness thanks you from the bottom of his heart.

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Grand Duchess Maria Teresa - Birthday Reply (2023)

This reply arrived earlier this year. I had written to Grand Duchess Maria Teresa to wish her a happy birthday. 

The envelope was the standard from Luxembourg. 

Inside is a flat card along with a photo of Maria Teresa. The photo was taken by Emanuele Scorelletti. It was first released for the Grand Duchess's birthday in 2021. 

 

The back of the card has conditions of use. This is similar to what we have seen in the past, except this time it is printed on the back of the photo, instead of being pasted on. 

Translated the message on the back of the photo says: 

Terms of use of this photo:

• This photo is the exclusive property of the Maison du Grand-Duc.
• Any modification, transformation or adaptation is prohibited'
• Any provision to one or more third parties is prohibited.
• Any commercial transaction of this photo or resale is prohibited.   
• The user undertakes to use this photo which does not contract with the principles of human dignity and respect for the person. and to notify us, for agreement, of each use that will be made of it.

© Collection of the TRH the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg/ Emanuele Scorcelletti. 

The flat card features a typed message, similar to her past replies.

The card says: 

Luxembourg, March 2023 

Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg thanks you for the kind birthday wishes. 

Your attention was much appreciated. 

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Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg - Birthday Reply (2023)

I received this reply earlier this year from Luxembourg. I had written to Princess Stephanie to wish her a Happy Birthday. 

The envelope is the standard envelope from the Luxembourg Royals. 

Inside is a flat card that is pretty identical to her past Birthday Replies with the same message. 

The cards says: 

Her Royal Highness, The Hereditary Grand-Duchess, greatly appreciates your kind wishes on her birthday and sincerely thanks you. 

Luxembourg, February 2023

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Prince Charles of Luxembourg's 1st Birthday Reply (2021)

 I received this reply back in 2021 for Prince Charles's 1st Birthday. 

This was one of the last replies I received from Luxembourg with an real stamp. shortly after this they switched to pre-paid postage.  The stamp is part of a set released in 2019 called "Rural Tourism." The stamp is created by Eugène Kalmus. The postmark says "Ech loosse mech impfen covidvaccination.lu" (I get vaccinated).

Inside if a folded card, similar to Prince Charles's Birth Reply. The front of the card features the Greater Coat of Arms of Prince Guillaume. This look to be hand drawn/painted and is the same one used on Prince Charles's birth reply. 

The inside of the card features a photo of Prince Charles taken by Sophie Margue. The inside has a typed message in Luxembourgish. The text is in a pale blue color. It is easier to read in person. 

The card says:

Thank you very much for your kind birthday wishes for our son, Prince Charles.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the well-wishes you have shown on the occasion of the first birthday of our son, Prince Charles.

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Luxembourg Standard Envelopes (2016-Present)

This post covers the standard envelopes regularly used by the Luxembourg Royals. Any special envelope is covered in the blog post for the reply.  The years listed are based on when I received the envelope.

Dark Crown

2021-Present

The big reason for the change is the switch to a pre-printed postage box that is printed on the envelope. PC1005130 is the Luxembourg Palace's account number with Post Luxembourg. The "Service du Grand-Duc" (Service of the Grand Duke) is added to the normal Postage Paid box just for the Palace's use. 

The back of the envelope features a dark blue crown, the Grand-Ducal crown of Luxembourg. The crown is the same as the previous envelope used, except it is embossed and raised more than the previous one. This made the details less visible. 

Black Edge - Mourning

2023-Present

The envelope is used for Mourning. 

Light Blue Crown/Stamp 

?-2016-2022

The front of the envelope is originally blank. The palace usually used real stamps on the envelope. The words "Service du Grand-Duc" (Service of the Grand Duke) is stamped on.  The address was usually printed onto the envelope, but sometimes they would use an address sticker. 

Stamp

As the palace was transitioning to the new stationary, the palace started using a pre-paid postage sticker. 

Sticker Pre-Paid Postage

The back of the envelope features a light blue crown that is very so slightly embossed. The Crown is the Grand-Ducal crown of Luxembourg.

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The Waleses Condolences Reply following Queen Elizabeth II's Death (2022)

This reply arrived last week. I had written to Prince William & Princess Kate last September following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. This is the 2nd reply I have received for the death of Queen Elizabeth. 

The envelope was the standard from the couple. I've recently decided to repeat myself one hundred times about standard envelopes. We explain details on their envelope here. And you can find information on the standard postmark here. 

Inside is a folded card. This is not the couple's usually reply. But we have seen this before for their reply for Prince Philip's Death. (The one big difference was the reply for Prince Philip was printed on a more expensive glossy paper.)

The front of the card features the couple's monograms. The couple are still using the coronets of the "Children of the Heir". We have yet to see the couple switch over to the Crown of the Heir on any of their stationary or other things. 

The back of the card features a credit to the photographer, "Paul Hackett/PA Images". 

The black border is for mourning. And is an old Victorian-era tradition, that I find especially lovely. While some royals use this black mourning edging, it's not required that royals use it. 

Inside the card is a photo of Queen Elizabeth II taken on November 22, 2011 at the official welcoming ceremony for the President of Turkey Abdullah Gul's State Visit to the UK. The Waleses did not participate in the State Visit. So, the photo was likely chosen for it's look and had no personal significance to the couple. 

The message is similar to the one for Prince Philip's passing, but is worded differently. 

The card says: 

The Prince and Princess of Wales would like to thank you for the kind words you sent following the death of Her Majesty The Queen.  

Their Royal Highnesses have been extremely touched by the very thoughtful messages of condolence that they have received during this time.  

They will deeply miss Her Majesty, who played such an important part of both of their lives, but so appreciate your message which has provided them with a great deal of comfort. 

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Evolution of the Waleses' Envelopes (2014-Present)

This covers the evolution of the Wales (formerly the Cambridges)'s envelopes from 2014 when I started writing to them to the present. This post will just focus on the big changes. 

The front of the envelopes are originally blank with the address printed on, and the usually Postmark from the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace. You can read more about the Postmarks here. 

This reply just covers the envelopes used by the Correspondence Section to reply to well-wishers. Prince William & Princess Kate have other stationery that they use for things from their office and for personal use. 

Solo Monogram (? - 2016)  

William's envelope - Postcard Size

Kate's Envelope - Letter Size

Prince William & Princess Kate had their own solo stationary. This is still used by the couple, 

The stopped using this for well-wishers in 2016, but continue to use it for official and personal use. 

When sending out joint replies, or for things related to their children they usually used Prince William's Monogram as tradition is to use the stationary of the more senior royal. 

Each envelope features the royal's solo monogram. The monogram was designed by the College of Arms and features the same coronet used on their coat of arms. A coronet is a small crown. And the British Royals & nobility use different coronets to denote a person's rank or status. This coronet is for "The Children of the Heir Apparent." This is why we see this same crown used by William, Kate, Harry  & Meghan on their monograms during Queen Elizabeth's Reign. 

Prince William's Monogram is in Wren Press Red, the same color used by Queen Elizabeth & King Charles on their stationery. Duchess Kate's is in a yellow gold.

Sizes: 

• Letter
• Postcard size

Black Crown/Kensington Palace 

(2016-Present)  

In 2016, William, Kate & Harry's replies switched from each having their own solo monogrammed stationery to this shared stationery. This change was partly to help cut costs and made it easier for the correspondence section. When Meghan joined the Royal Family, she became the 4th royal to use this stationery. William & Kate continued to use this stationary when the Sussexes stepped down as working royals. 

The envelope features the coronet of "The Children of the Heir Apparent," which was used on the coat of arms for William, Kate, Harry & Meghan at the time. Underneath is "Kensington Palace," the colloquial name & location of William & Kate household. ("Kensington Palace" on the envelope reflects the main location of their office, not where the envelope was actually sent from.)

The switch to Black was, in part, a cost-cutting measure, but also reflects that the stationary is used by multiple Royals. When William & Harry's monograms were first announced to the public, Clarence House noted that while the solo monograms were in different colors, when the Princes' monograms appeared together they should be printed in black.

Used by:

• Prince William & Duchess Kate
• Replies to Well-Wishers (2016-Present)

Sizes: 

• Letter
• Postcard