Supported by the Kaiser Karl Gebetsliga for International Peace, the Order of St. George, a European Order of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, the Union of the European Historical Military Groups and the Technical National Museum, the town of Brandýs nad Labem – Stará Boleslav invited to an Audience at Emperor Karl I. on 17 May 2025.
The event was organised under the patronage of HIRH Charles of Habsburg, Archduke of Austria, and was also held to mark the 450th anniversary of the coronation of Rudolf II, the later Holy Roman Emperor, and the 110th anniversary of the death of the sailor, explorer and writer HIRH Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Tuscany.
The event was organised with the utmost gratitude by Colonel iTR Dr. Milan Novak and was attended by HIRH Archduke Georg von Habsburg-Tuscany and Prince Franz Ferdinand von Hohenberg and his wife. The festivities were accompanied by the music band of the castle guard and police TR.
The historic steam train from Prague arrived at 9.30 am and the guests were welcomed with music. The guests were then taken to the garden of Brandýs Castle, where the historical military troop units paraded. The speeches and honours were held by Colonel iTR Dr. Novak, Archduke George of Habsburg-Tuscany and Prince Franz Ferdinand of Hohenberg.
After the marching in, the speeches and the honours, we continued to the pilgrimage church of the Assumption of Mary. The Holy Audience Mass was celebrated by ThLic. PhDr. Daniel Janácek, Ph.D. O.Praem., Abbot of the Royal Premontrateneser in Prague Strahov, and was musically accompanied by the church choir and the Václav Orchestra (Jiri Streic: Missa Lux et Origo).
A presentation of the noble art of falconry took place in the castle gardens. And in the afternoon there was the imperial manoeuvre ‘Remembrance of Pula’ with the participation of the Imperial and Royal Navy, which gave an insight into the life of soldiers in those days.
Finally, there was a promenade with dancing in the castle garden, while at the same time the historic steam train departed with the guests back to Prague Central Station.
Last but not least, there was a chamber concert in the castle chapel with the Far Musica chamber orchestra conducted by Michael Housa. The piano concerto by Johann Sebastian Bach in D minor, performed by pianist Jan Lukas, was remarkable.
The event ended on Sunday, 18 May 2025, with a Holy Mass in the castle chapel with the relic of Blessed Karl I of Austria. The mass was celebrated by Fr. Stanislav Zlnay, the leader of the Kaiser Karl Gebetsliga in Slovakia.
The UEHMG would like to thank the initiator, Colonel iTR Dr. Milan Novak and his colleagues for this extremely successful audience in the holy year 2025 and we hope that this “spirit” will be continued in the coming years in the sense of our k.u.k. tradition and in memory of Blessed Emperor Karl I of Austria.
