Bionic Buzz® covered the Royal Society of St. George Welcomes Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie event. The Royal Society of St. George (RSSG), California held two events this past weekend welcoming His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia, and Trustee with the RSSG, at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
The RSSG Black Tie Gala was held in his honor on Saturday evening, April 22nd, and a luncheon and awards ceremony was held on Sunday, April 23rd, welcoming the new president of RSSG, Marquis John A. Blakemore. On Saturday, April 22nd, 2023, HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie delivered the keynote speech titled, “The Importance of the Preservation of Heritage – Peace and Hope for 2023.”
Prince Ermias was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1960, and following the early passing of his father, HIH Prince Sahle Selassie, was raised by his mother and grandfather, His Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, until he was later sent to the United Kingdom for his education. He was in Great Britain when the coup of 1974 occurred, overthrowing the Emperor. He attended college in the United States at the University of California in Santa Barbara, and then at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He has been widely honored for his contributions to peace and international relations. He is a patron and the chief driving force behind the Water Initiative for Africa (WIA), which has developed unique water purification technologies for African communities. As President of the Crown Council, he is also sovereign of all of the Imperial Ethiopian Orders.
The Crown Council of Ethiopia is the Constitutional Body which advises the reigning Emperors of Ethiopia and, during an interregnum, actually acts as the Crown. The Council’s members are initially appointed by an Emperor, and subsequently sustained in their posts or replaced under the direction of the President of the Council. The Crown Council is currently raising funds to renovate Ethiopia’s Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, now over eighty years old and in serious need of repair and preservation.
The Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA) was a Gold Sponsor of the events which featured the sabering of champagne led by Philippe Milgrom, US Ambassador for Confrérie du Sabre d’Or and Dr. Jeanne Ruderman, Maître du Protocole for Confrérie du Sabre d’Or. The Confrérie is based in France and promotes the wines of Champagne and the “Art of Sabrage”, the act of opening a bottle of Champagne with a sword. HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie successfully sabered a bottle of champagne and was given a certificate of membership into the Confrérie du Sabre d’Or.
The welcome dinner on April 22nd was hosted by Princess Karen Cantrell, Chairman of the RSSG California Branch, and Marquis Peter L. Eckert. In the welcome speech, Marquis Peter L. Eckert stated: “We are all gathered here tonight in support of HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, grandson of the late Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie. His Highness is part of the Solomon dynasty, a descendant of King Solomon. His purpose with us tonight is to share his support for the RSSG and raise funds for the restoration of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the resting place of his ancestors and a center of Christianity. Ethiopia essentially contains the oldest history of Christianity in the world.”
The distinguished guests included Lord and Lady Nicholas Monson, Lij Anania Abebe, GOSE, ADC, a Major of the Imperial Guard Director of the Moa Anbessa Institute, w/t Rahel Molaligne, British philanthropist Francis O’Toole and his wife, Zehra Sun of MDSun, Dr. Vance L. Whippo, Dr. EnRico Melson, LABA founder Joey Zhou, Viscountess Miranda Kramer, and Brenda Yang, Honorary RSSG member and President of the JinGuo Committee.
Marquis John A. Blakemore, newly elected president of the RSSG California branch, gave a background on the life of HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie: “HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie was born in Addis Ababa on June 14, 1960 and is the only son of Prince Selassie of the Sahel and Princess Mahisente Habte Mariam of Ethiopia. He is the grandson of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and Dejazmach Habte Mariam Gebre-Igziabiher, the third and last Moti or ruler of the Kingdom of Welega, also known as the state of Leqa Neqamte.”
After the prayers of Ethiopian nobleman Lij Anania Abebe, GOSE, ADC, the welcome dinner officially began. During the dinner, Lord Nicholas Monson of the British royal family recounted his anecdotes with King Charles III as well as the late Princess Diana and members of the British royal family. Afterwards, the Royal Society RSSG held an award ceremony. Princess Karen Cantrell, Chairman of the RSSG California, and Maryanne Parker, Vice President of the RSSG California, respectively gave HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Sellassie the RSSG Humanitarian Award, and Princess Saba Kebede was presented with the Presidential Lifetime Service Award.
Before the end of the dinner, the RSSG thanked the institutions and individuals who sponsored this event and gave donations to Ethiopia’s Holy Trinity Cathedral. The event raised $10,000 towards the restoration of the Holy Trinity Cathedral, with the RSSG California donating $2,000, and the members donating $8,000 as of this date. An additional $1,000.00 was also donated to the Ukraine by the RSSG California. Those that donated included Raja Muda Dr. Enrico Melson, HRH Don Leopold Isu Nisnoni, Raja of Kupang and Liural of Sonbai-Kecil, LABA International Art Festival, Laura Angelini, Ratu Muda Princess Karen Cantrell, Brenda Yang, Sandro Monetti, Christopher Alan Chambers, Ratu Muda Princess Malka Bas Rueven, Viscountess Miranda Kramer, Marquis Peter Eckert, and Chevalier Pedro Casillas-Capettillo.
The luncheon on Sunday, April 23rd, began with a champagne sabering ceremony. Philippe Milgrom, US Ambassador for Confrérie du Sabre d’Or and Dr. Jeanne Ruderman, Maître du Protocole for Confrérie du Sabre d’Or led the sabering ceremony. Following the successful sabering by HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, Jonathan Boulangeat, Joey Zhou, and Dr. Vance L. Whippo also received their certificates from the Confrérie du Sabre d’Or.
Princess Karen Cantrell, Chairman of the RSSG, California Branch, and Ike M.I. Khamisani, President of the United Nations Association of the USA, Inland Empire Chapter, welcomed the guests and award recipients. The guests included Sandro Monetti, Vice-Chairman and Trustee of the RSSG, Philippe Milgrom, US Ambassador for Confrérie du Sabre d’Or, Dr. Jeanne Ruderman, Maître du Protocole for Confrérie du Sabre d’Or, Laura Angelini, Honorary RSSG member and music artist, Sons Excellence EnRico Viconte Melson de St. Luke, Joey Zhou, Honorary RSSG member and Founder of LABA, Marquis Peter L. Eckert, and others.
Joey Zhou read a congratulatory letter from LABA Blue-chip artist Jiannan Huang and gave a presentation about the royal family and nobility in China, Xiaoping Deng’s visit to the United States in January 1979, and the common people’s perception of the royal family and nobles today. Zhou said, “In today’s China, we can talk freely about the nobles and the royal family, but no matter in the past or now, no matter whether you are a nobleman, a king, or even an emperor, during the festival, everyone will send blessings to each other.”
The calligraphic work titled, “Blessing” by LABA Blue-chip artist Jiannan Huang, was presented to His Imperial Highness Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie. Huang is one of the world’s finest artists, specializing in Western oil painting and Chinese ink. He is ranked third on the 2020 Hurun China Art List and 19th on the Hurun Global List. He is a decedent of the Qing Dynasty in China, and an honorary member of the Royal Society of St. George, California Branch. He was awarded the title of “Earl” by the Indonesian Royal Family. In 2021, he received the RSSG “Master of Arts” Award and the LABA Most Influential and Most Valuable Artist Award in 2022.
Sandro Monetti, Vice Chairman and Trustee for the RSSG California Branch, introduced Leathem Stearn and did the presentation of his RSSG Medal of Valor award. Princess Karen Cantrell and Maryanne Parker awarded the RSSG Medal of Valor to Dr. EnRrico Melson. The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Service Awards were presented by Ike M.I. Khamisani, President of the United Nations Association of the USA, Inland Empire Chapter. They were awarded to Leathem Stearn and Dr.EnRico Melson respectively, in addition to receiving the United Nations Associations Humanitarian Awards.
The new members of the RSSG California Branch were presented certificates and membership medals by Princess Karen Cantrell and Maryanne Parker: HRH Dr. Vance L. Whippo, H.H. Marquis of Sicily GC, Sir Laurent Khaiat, Marquise of Yamashiro GC, Lady Kayo Ishikawa, Elise Papazian, Oliver Scott Pritikin, William Martin, PhD, James Lewis L.P. Jackson II, Dr. Spencer Dayton, Maria Rossing, and Christopher Hulbert. Finally, Princess Karen Cantrell presented the official title of Raja Muda of Kupang to Dr. EnRico Melson that was awarded by HRH Don Leopold Isu Nisnoni of the Indonesian Royal Family of West Timor, Indonesia.
The Royal Society of Saint George is broadly recognized worldwide as the leading English patriotic society. It was established in 1894 to encourage interest in English customs, traditions and the English way of life.
Bionic Buzz own Jackie Lewis got to interview all the distinguished guests.
Francis O’Toole, Gaelane O’Toole, Lord and Lady Nicholas Monson, Ratu Muda Princess Karen Cantrell, HIH Princess Saba Kebede with HIH Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie Haile-Selassie, Lij Anania Abebe, GOSE, ADC Major, Imperial Guard Regiment – President of Moa Anbessa Institute and W/t Rahel Molaligne