The Prince-Abbot has received several Polish awards recently.

He has been awarded the Cross of Merit of the Polish Society of War Veterans and Former Political Prisoners (Związek Kombatantów RP i Byłych Więźniów Politycznych). The ZKRPiBWP is an official Polish Veterans association and the largest such, with 43 regional chapters across Poland as well as 2364 clubs. Membership may be granted to any Polish citizen who was an active duty member of the Polish military (including partisan, self-defence units, and Polish Underground State) in or during the war, campaign, or conflict, as well as to all survivors of German concentration camps and pro-Soviet political imprisonment in the communist era. The constitution also requires members to have not been discharged under any conditions other than honourable.

In addition he has received two awards of the Union of the Polish Monarchists Association (Unia Polskich Ugrupowań Monarchistycznych):

Firstly, the Jerusalem Cross of the UPUM. This award was established by resolution of the Council of Regency UPUM No. 4/08 of 5 June 2008 to honour charitable work. This is one of the highest honours of the Union of the Polish Monarchists Association. It is a distinction for UPUM members, for members of the Collegium Heraldicum Concordiae, and for other people from friendly organizations who have promoted the common good in an extraordinary way. The Jerusalem Cross of the UPUM is in one class with a neck decoration and a certificate accompanies the award.

Secondly, the Medal of the Regent of the UPUM. This medal was established by resolution of the Council of Regency UPUM No. 15/010 November 11, 2010. The medal is awarded to long-serving members of UPUM for their great loyalty to the Union and to other persons who are active in fostering awareness of monarchist ideas in society.

The Marchese Adriano Colucci-Vespucci, member of the Order of the Crown of Thorns and President of the Italian Collegio Araldico (Heraldic College). A Doctor of Jurisprudence and an authority on chivalric and heraldic matters, he was a member of Parliament and adviser on heraldry to to H.M. the King of Italy. Editor of “La Nobilta della Stirpe”, he included the history of the Order of the Crown of Thorns in that journal.

From the archive of the Abbey-Principality comes this signed photograph of our former Vice-Chancellor and the first Prince of Vilna, Archbishop Frederick C. King (1917-85). Archbishop King’s cassock and several other items owned by him are also preserved in the Archive.

The Prince-Abbot has been honoured by our Royal Patron, Prince Kermit Poling de Gniezno, with the Order of Merit of Leszek II. This award was initiated by the Dynastic House Polanie-Patrikios  as a reward for merit. Leszek II (Leszko II) was Duke of the Polanes between 804 and 810 and is an ancestor of Prince Kermit, who is 37th in descent from him. Leszek II is mentioned in the Chronica Polonorum by Wincenty Kadłubek (1190-1208).

Dr Frank Harrison Cunningham (1911-72) was a good friend of Prince-Abbot Edmond II of San Luigi and Vice-Chancellor Archbishop Frederick C. King. He was a Knight Commander of the Order of the Crown of Thorns, being appointed in 1958, and in 1956 had received the Freedom Award of the Order of Antioch. His biography and obituary card are reproduced below:

The Abbey-Principality has commissioned neckties bearing the San Luigi arms. The ties are in a heavyweight non-crease pure silk, hand-made and self-tipped, with a self-keeper. They are available to purchase by members of the San Luigi Orders and the Institute of Arts and Letters, London, only, priced at UK£20 each, plus postage dependent on location.

The Prince-Abbot has been honoured by the Royal Order of St Stanislaus in Poland. The Order continues the chivalric work established by the Most Revd. Prince Juliusz Nowina-Sokolnicki, formerly its Grand Master. Prince Juliusz was a bishop of the Apostolic Episcopal Church in which the Prince-Abbot also serves.

The Order has conferred upon the Prince-Abbot one of its highest awards, the Gold Cross of Merit.

In addition, the Prince-Abbot has received the Medal of the Commandery of Wrocław of the Order.

The Prince-Abbot has been honoured with the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, issued by President Barack Obama “for lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service.” The Prince-Abbot, who is an Honorary Texan as well as having received honours from the Governors of Kentucky, Nebraska and Georgia, was delighted to receive this honour, which came as a complete surprise to him, and has expressed the hope that it may serve to encourage other Americans to donate their time and effort to worthwhile causes.