Archduke Leopold Franz of Austria (1942-2021), Former Head of the Grand Ducal Tuscan Habsburgs

A portrait of Archduke Leopold Franz.

According to his son Archduke Sigismund, Archduke Leopold Franz of Austria, former titular Grand Duke of Tuscany, died in June 2021. Leopold Franz was seventy-eight years-old. He is survived by his two sons, Sigismund and Guntram, as well as by five grandchildren.

Archduchess Dorothea and Archduke Gottfried of Austria, Titular Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Tuscany.

Archduke Leopold Franz Peter Ferdinand Maria Joseph Gottfried Georg Karl Otto Rudolf Michael of Austria, titular Hereditary Grand Duke of Tuscany was born on 25 October 1942 at Leutstetten, Bavaria. He was the only son of Archduke Gottfried of Austria (1902-1984) and Princess Dorothea of Bavaria (1920-2015), who married in 1938. Leopold Franz had three sisters: Archduchess Elisabeth (b.1939), Archduchess Alice (b.1941), and Archduchess Antoinette (b.1950). The paternal grandparents of Leopold Franz were Archduke Peter Ferdinand of Austria and Princess Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. The maternal grandparents of Leopold Franz were Prince Franz of Bavaria and Princess Isabella of Croÿ.

Archduke Leopold Franz and Archduchess Laetitia of Austria, titular Hereditary Grand Duke and Hereditary Grand Duchess of Tuscany, with their sons Archduke Sigismund and Archduke Guntram.

In 1965, Leopold Franz married Laetitia de Belzunce d'Arenberg (b.1941), eldest child and only daughter of Marquis Henri de Belzunce (1909-1944) and his wife Marie-Thérèse de la Poëze d'Harambure (1911-2005). Through her mother, Archduchess Laetitia was a first cousin of Count Romée de La Poëze d’Harambure, who was the first husband of Princess Anita of Hohenburg, the daughter of Duke Franz Ferdinand of Hohenberg and Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg, who was herself the niece of Crown Princess Antonia of Bavaria. Leopold Franz and Laetitia had two children together: Archduke Sigismund of Austria, Prince of Tuscany (b.1966) and Archduke Guntram of Austria, Prince of Tuscany (b.1967). Leopold Franz and Laetitia divorced in 1981. He married for a second time on 18 June 1993 to Marta Perez Valverde, a Salvadoran-born Viennese psychoanalyst; the couple divorced in 1998. Upon his second marriage, Leopold renounced his rights as titular Grand Ducal throne of Tuscany in favour of his elder son Sigismund, the current head of the House of Tuscany. 

May Leopold Franz Rest in Peace.

The 60th Birthday of Fürstin Nadejda von Starhemberg

Nadejda.

Today, Fürstin Nadejda von Starhemberg celebrates her sixtieth birthday! Born on 29 Jun 1961 at Köln-Lindenthal, Countess Nadejda von Abensperg und Traun was born as the daughter of Count Ernst Ferdinand von Abensperg und Traun and Felicia Guepin. In September 1988, Nadejda married Fürst Georg Adam von Starhemberg (b.1961). The couple have four children, two sons and two daughters.

Our best wishes to Fürstin Nadejda on her birthday!

45 Years of Marriage for Archduke Rudolf and Archduchess Marie Hélène of Austria

Rudolf and Marie Hélène on the day of their religious wedding.

Today, Archduke Rudolf and Archduchess Marie Hélène of Austria celebrate their forty-fifth wedding anniversary. The couple were civilly married on 28 Jun 1976 at Overijse, Belgium. Their religious wedding took place on 3 July 1976 at Brussels. Archduke Rudolf of Austria (b.1950) was the son of Archduke Carl Ludwig of Austria (1918-2007) and Princess Yolande de Ligne (b.1923). Baroness Marie Hélène de Villenfagne de Vogelsanck (b.1954) was the daughter of Baron Guy de Villenfagne de Vogelsanck (1927-2018) and Baroness Marina de Crombrugghe de Looringhe (b.1933). Archduke Rudolf and Archduchess Marie Hélène of Austria have eight children, six sons and two daughters.

Our congratulations to Archduke Rudolf and Archduchess Marie Hélène on their anniversary!

Wedding Date Fixed for the Duke of Noto and Lady Charlotte Lindesay-Bethune!

The engaged couple.

Prince Jaime of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Noto, and Lady Charlotte Diana Lindesay-Bethune will marry in Palermo on 25 September 2021. Their union will take place ninety years after the 1931 nuptials of the Count and Countess of Paris, the groom's great-grandparents, and in the same location. Jaime and Charlotte's engagement was announced in May 2020. 

 

Embed from Getty Images

 

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Don Jaime de Borbón y Landaluce was born at Madrid on 26 June 1992 as the first child of Prince Pedro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (b.1968) and Doña Sofía Landaluce y Melgarejo (b.1973). Jaime's parents married on 30 March 2001 at the Club de Hierro, Madrid, in an intimate ceremony attended by their family and close friends. In due time, Jaime was joined by six younger siblings: Juan (b.2003), Pablo (b.2004), Pedro (b.2007), Sofía (b.2008), Blanca (b.2011), and Maria (b.2015).

 

Anne and Carlos

 

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The paternal grandparents of Prince Jaime, Duke of Noto, are the Infante Don Carlos of Spain, Prince of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria (1938-2015), and Princess Anne d'Orléans (b.1938). The maternal grandparents of Prince Jaime are Don José Manuel Landaluce y Dominguez (b.1944) and Doña Blanca Melgarejo y Gonzales (1946-2009). Jaime is a great-grandson of the late Count and Countess of Paris.

 

Anne and Carlos

 

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The paternal grandparents of Prince Jaime, Duke of Noto, are the Infante Don Carlos of Spain, Prince of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria (1938-2015), and Princess Anne d'Orléans (b.1938). The maternal grandparents of Prince Jaime are Don José Manuel Landaluce y Dominguez (b.1944) and Doña Blanca Melgarejo y Gonzales (1946-2009). Jaime is a great-grandson of the late Count and Countess of Paris. Jaime's grandfather the Infante Don Carlos, Duke of Calabria, did not recognise the marriage of Pedro and Sofía as equal. In May 2002, a delegate of the Spanish branch of the Constantinian Order of Saint George wrote the following regarding the couple's union: "The marriage of the Duke of Noto was not authorised in accordance with the requirements of the Law on marriages of the Two Sicilies of 1829. No formal authorisation was given, the marriage did not conform to past precedents in the House, and the invitations were issued in the name of the bride and groom rather than jointly with the groom's parents. The descendants of this marriage will not therefore be Two Sicilies dynasts." Two years later, on June 2004, the same representative of the order, who was also a friend of the late Infante D. Carlos, stated: "D. Sofia is accorded the title of 'Duchess of Noto', but the children are not T-S dynasts; they are however Spanish dynasts. In the view of the Infante D. Carlos, they are Excelentisimo Senores." However, at some unknown date, presumably in or after 2004, the Infante D. Carlos decided to recognise the marriage of his son and daughter-in-law as dynastic. This change of heart was influenced by the Infante's first cousin and dear friend King Juan Carlos of Spain granting approval for the 2004 marriage of the Prince of Asturias, now King Felipe VI of Spain, to Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, now Queen Letizia of Spain. Since this retroactive demorganatisation, the children of the Duke and Duchess of Noto (titled Duke and Duchess of Calabria since 2015) bear the style of Royal Highness and the title of Prince(ss) of Bourbon-Two Sicilies.

 

The 16th Earl of Lindsay

 

Lady Charlotte Diana Lindesay-Bethune was born on 12 May 1993 as the youngest child of the 16th Earl of Lindsay (James Randolph Lindesay-Bethune; b.1955) and the Countess of Lindsay (née Diana Mary Chamberlayne-Macdonald; b.1961). Lady Charlotte's parents' married on 2 March 1982. The couple have four other children: Lady Frances Lindesay-Bethune(b.1986); Lady Alexandra Lindesay-Bethune (b.1988); the Honourable William Lindesay-Bethune, Viscount Garnock (b.1990); and the Honourable David Lindesay-Bethune (b.1993; twin brother of Lady Charlotte).

 

David, 15th Earl of Lindsay

The Douglas-Scott-Montagu family by Bassano Ltd in 1934.
Photograph (c) National Portrait Gallery.

The paternal grandparents of Lady Charlotte Lindesay-Bethune are David Lindesay-Bethune, 15th Earl of Lindsay (1926-1989) and the Honourable Mary-Clare Douglas-Scott-Montagu (1928-2016). The maternal grandparents of Lady Charlotte are Major Nigel Chamberlayne-Macdonald (1927-2013) and Penelope Chamberlayne (b.1932).

Religious Wedding Today for Princess Flaminia of Hohenzollern & Baron Károly von Stipsicz de Ternova

Károly and Flaminia on the day of their civil marriage, June 2020. Photograph (c) Atelier Sophia Galen.

Princess Flaminia of Hohenzollern and Baron Károly von Stipsicz de Ternova are to be religiously married today, 26 June 2021. The couple had originally scheduled their wedding for 4 July 2020 at St. Johann Church in Sigmaringen Castle; however, due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, their nuptials had to be delayed. Károly and Flaminia were civilly married in July 2020 at St. Anton am Arlberg.

Countess Alexandra Schenk von Stauffenberg weds Hereditary Prince Karl Friedrich of Hohenzollern.

Princess Flaminia of Hohenzollern was born at Munich on 9 January 1992 as the third child and second daughter of the then-Hereditary Prince Karl Friedrich of Hohenzollern (b.1952) and his first wife Countess Alexandra Schenk von Stauffenberg (b.1960). Karl Friedrich and Alexandra had married in 1985; the couple had four children: current Hereditary Prince Alexander (b.1987), Princess Philippa (b.1988), Princess Flaminia (b.1992), and Princess Antonia (b.1995). Flaminia's parents divorced in 2010.

Princess Flaminia of Hohenzollern.

Baron Károly von Stipsicz de Ternova was born in 1990 as the second son of Baron Károly von Stipsicz de Ternova (b.1959) and his wife Elisabeth Lohne (b.1960). Princess Flaminia and Baron Károly are very distant cousins as both are descendants of Ferenc Thurzó (d.1576). Károly and Flaminia's engagement was announced in December 2018. 

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The 80th Birthdays of Michel & Jacques d'Orléans, the French Royal Twins

The twin French princelings.

Today, Prince Michel d'Orléans, Count of Évreux, and Prince Jacques d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, celebrate their eightieth birthdays!

On 25 June 1941, Prince Michel Joseph Benoît Marie d'Orléans and Prince Jacques Jean Jaroslav Marie d'Orléans were born at Rabat, Morocco. The twin boys were the seventh and eighth children of Prince Henri and Princess Isabelle d'Orléans, Count and Countess of Paris. 

Prince Jacques, the Countess of Paris, and Prince Michel at the 90th birthday celebrations for their mother. Photograph (c) Getty Images / David Lefranc.

Princess Maria Anunciata of Liechtenstein To Marry This Weekend

Princess Maria Anunciata of Liechtenstein and Emanuele Musini attend the wedding of Prince Jean-Christophe Napoléon and Countess Olympia of Arco-Zinneberg, 2019.

Photograph (c) Schneider-Press/​SIPA/​Shutterstock.

It has been announced that Princess Maria Anunciata of Liechtenstein will marry her fiancé Emanuele Musini in a civil ceremony on this Saturday, 26 June, at the Villa della Tenuta di Fassia. The couple will celebrate their religious wedding at a later date in Vienna. Princess Maria Anunciata of Liechtenstein (b.1985) is the daughter of Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein (b.1947) and Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg (b.1957). Carlo Emanuele Guido Musini (b.1979) is the son of Monica Traglio and the late Nicolò Giovanni Maria Musini.

Note of 15 July 2021: In a recent interview with Point de Vue, Princess Maria Anunciata of Liechtenstein stated that she and Emanuele Musini actually had an engagement party on the date above. Their civil wedding will take place in August at Vaduz. Their religious wedding will occur in September in Vienna.

Princess Isabelle d'Orléans Receives First Communion

Prince Charles-Philippe and Princess Diana of Orléans, Duke of Anjou and Duchess of Cadaval, with their daughter Princess Isabelle.
Photograph (c) David Nivière.

Princess Isabelle.
Photograph (c) David Nivière.

 

On Saturday, 19 June, Princess Isabelle d'Orléans received her first communion in Cascais, Portugal. Princess Isabelle is the only child of Prince Charles-Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Anjou, and Princess Diana d'Orléans, Duchess of Cadaval. Isabelle's grandmother, Princess Béatrice d'Orléans, and her aunts Princess Clotilde d'Orléans and Dona Alexandra Alvares Pereira de Melo, were present for this special event in the life of the young princess.

Princess Isabelle takes her first communion.

Photograph (c) Alexandra Alvares Pereira de Melo.

Princess Béatrice d'Orléans and her granddaughter Princess Isabelle.
Photograph (c) David Nivière.

The Twentieth Anniversary of Bernhard and Stephanie of Baden!

The newlyweds Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse

Today, Hereditary Prince Bernhard and Hereditary Princess Stephanie of Baden celebrate twenty years of marriage!

Margravine Valerie of Baden with her son Hereditary Prince Bernhard at his christening on 6 July 1970 Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse

On 27 May 1970, Prince Bernhard Max Friedrich August Gustav Ludwig Kraft of Baden was born at Schloss Salem, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He was christened on 6 July 1970. Bernhard was the first son and second child of Margrave Max of Baden (b.1933) and Archduchess Valerie of Austria-Tuscany (b.1941), who married in 1966. Bernhard joined an older sister, Princess Marie Louise (b.1969), and he was followed by two younger brothers, Prince Leopold (b.1971) and Prince Michael (b.1976). Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden is a great-nephew of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as Bernhard's paternal grandmother is Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark (1906-1969). In 1931, Princess Theodora married Margrave Berthold of Baden (1906-1963). Bernhard's maternal grandparents are Archduke Hubert Salvator of Austria-Tuscany (1894-1971) and Princess Rosemary of Salm-Salm (1904-2001).

Dowager Fürstin Gloria of Thurn and Taxis with Prince Bernhard in 1993 Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse

Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden in 1998 Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse 

Duchess Maria Anna in Bavaria, Duchess Fleur of Württemberg, and Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden in 1998 Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse

Bernhard of Baden studied business administration and law in Hamburg and Switzerland. Since completing his education, the hereditary prince has worked as a commercial lawyer. Prince Bernhard is involved in the management of his family's real estate and business holdings.

Princess Caroline of Monaco, with her husband Prince Ernst August of Hannover in the foreground, greets the groom Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse 

King Constantine II of the Hellenes greeting the bride and groom Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse

Queen Anne-Marie of Greece speaks with the Hereditary Prince and Princess Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse

Bernhard and Stephanie of Baden with their parents on their wedding day Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse

On 22 June 2001, Prince Bernhard married Stephanie Anne Kaul (b.1966), the daughter of Christian Kaul and Hannelore Scheel, in a civil ceremony. The couple were joined in a religious ceremony on 23 June at Schloß Salem. Among the 200 guests were Queen Sofia of Spain, King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, King Michael and Queen Anne of Romania, Prince Ernst August of Hannover and Princess Caroline of Monaco, Landgrave Moritz of Hesse, Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg, Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg, Duke Max Emanuel in Bavaria, Duke Carl of Württemberg, as well as Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan with their daughter Princess Sumeya.

Prince Leopold of Baden's christening at Salem in July 2002 Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse / Minka Reddig

Prince Leopold with his parents at the christening of his little brother Prince Friedrich in June 2004 Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse / Sandra Zellner

The christening of Prince Karl-Wilhelm of Baden in May 2006 Left to right: Marie Louise Baker, Princess Stephanie holding son Friedrich, Prince Bernhard standing in front of son Leopold, Mathias Schilling and Prince Ernst August Jr of Hannover holding their godson Karl-Wilhelm, Archduke Alexander of Austria-Tuscany, Princess Agläe of Baden Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse / Sandra Zellner

Bernhard and Stephanie have three sons: Prince Leopold (b.2002), Prince Friedrich (b.2004), and Prince Karl-Wilhelm (b.2006). The family of five lives at Linzgau near Schloss Salem.

Our congratulations to Prince Bernhard and Princess Stephanie on their anniversary!

Romanov Items On Auction Next Month in Paris!

A portrait of Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna of Russia by Julie Grandhomme-Nozal, 1936.

Offered by Coutau-Bégarie. 

On 9 July, the Etude Coutau-Bégarie auction house in Paris is offering a number of royal works as part of its Modern Art/Russian Art sale. Among the pieces to be found are many Romanov items. This writer was particularly attracted to the two 1934 silhouette profiles of Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich and Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia, which are signed by the sitters. There is also a beautiful portrait done at Saint-Briac in 1936 by Julie Grandhomme-Nozal of Grand Duchess Kira Kirillovna, who went on to marry Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia. The auction house includes a true feast of images and works of art relating to the Russian imperial family, and there are additionally items pertaining to the British royal family and the Monegasque princely house.

A silhouette profile of Grand Duke Kirill of Russia, 1934. Offered by Coutau-Bégarie. 

A silhouette profile of Grand Duchess Victoria of Russia, 1934. Offered by Coutau-Bégarie.

The Wedding of Prince Heinrich of Croÿ and Joana de Sotto-Mayor

Princess Joana and Prince Heinrich of Croÿ.
Photograph (c) Jornal de Mafra.

The couple during the religious ceremony at the Palácio de Mafra.
Photograph (c) Jornal de Mafra.

On Saturday, 19 June 2021, Prince Heinrich of Croÿ and Maria Joana de Spínola Moreira de Sotto-Mayor were married at Basilica at the Palace of Mafra in Portugal. The groom is the son of Duke Rudolf of Croÿ and the late Duchess Alexandra of Croÿ (née Miloradovich). The bride is the daughter of José Alberto da Fonseca de Sotto-Mayor and Dalila Alexandra de Spínola Moreira.

Front row (left to right): Prince Marc-Emanuel and Princess Delia of Croy, Guy delle Piane and Princess Xenia of Croÿ, Hereditary Prince Carl Philipp of Croÿ, and the Duke of Croÿ.
Second row (left to right): Princess Beatrix and Prince Luitpold of Bavaria, Princess Anastasia of Croÿ, and Prince Alexander of Croÿ.
Photograph (c) Jornal de Mafra.

The Prince of Beira and the Duchess and Duke of Braganza.
Photograph (c) Journal de Mafra.

Aside from the families of the happy couple, the following were among the guests: Prince Luitpold and Princess Beatrix of Bavaria, the Duke and Duchess of Braganza and their eldest son Afonso, Prince Gundakar and Princess Marie of Liechtenstein (née Orléans), Fürst Heinrich XIV Reuß, and Fürst Alexander of Schaumburg-Lippe and his son Hereditary Prince Donatus of Schaumburg-Lippe. 

The engagement photo of Prince Heinrich and Princess Joana.

Prince Heinrich and Princess Joana of Croÿ got engaged on 10 September 2019, while they were on holiday in Norway. Joana's engagement ring was a beautiful creation consisting of a vibrant ruby in the centre surrounded by diamonds on all sides.

Our congratulations to Prince Heinrich and Princess Joana!

The 85th Birthday of Fürst Wolfgang-Ernst zu Ysenburg und Büdingen

The Fürst zu Ysenburg u.Büdingen, 1999.
Photo (c) Seeger-Presse.

 Today Fürst Wolfgang-Ernst zu Ysenburg und Büdingen celebrates his eighty-fifth birthday!

 

Fürst Otto-Friedrich zu Ysenburg und Büdingen and Princess Felizitas Reuß on their wedding day, 1935. 

 

Fürst Otto Friedrich zu Ysenburg und Büdingen with his wife Fürstin Felizitas, 1971.

Photo (c) United Archives GmbH / Alamy Stock Photo.

Born on 20 June 1936 at Frankfurt, Prince Wolfgang-Ernst Ferdinand Heinrich Franz Karl Georg Wilhelm zu Ysenburg und Büdingen was the eldest child and first son of Fürst Otto Friedrich zu Ysenburg und Büdingen (1904-1990) and Princess Felizitas Reuss (1914-1989), who wed in 1935. Wolfgang-Ernst was joined by four younger siblings: Princess Alexandra (1937-2015; married Prince Welf Heinrich of Hannover), Prince Ferdinand (1940-1989; married Princess Elisabeth of Schleswig-Holstein), Prince Christian (1943-2003; married Baroness Monika von Plessen), and Prince Johann (b.1949; married Countess Hemma-Christiane von Goëß).

Fürst Wolfgang-Ernst and Fürstin Leonille zu Isenburg und Büdingen.
Photo (c) Seeger-Presse.

Fürst Wolfgang-Ernst and Fürstin Leonille zu Ysenburg und Büdingen with their three children: Hereditary Prince Casimir-Alexander, Prince Maximilian, and Princess Felizitas.
Photo (c) Seeger-Presse.

Fürst Wolfgang-Ernst and Fürstin Leonille zu Isenburg und Büdingen.
Photo (c) Seeger-Presse.

In January 1967, Wolfgang-Ernst zu Ysenburg und Büdingen married Princess Leonille zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (b.Hamburg 6 Jul 1941). Leonille was the only daughter of Prince Casimir-Johannes zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1917-2010) and his first wife Ingrid Alsen (1915-1966), who wed in 1939 and divorced in 1949. Wolfgang-Ernst and Leonille have three children: Hereditary Prince Casimir-Alexander (b.1967), Prince Maximilian (b.1969), and Princess Felizitas (b.1980).  In 2003, Prince Maximilian zu Ysenburg und Büdingen married Sophie De Bois (b.1970), the daughter of Francis De Bois (1926-2014) and Diane de Woot de Trixhe de Jannée (b.1943; later married Jacques Boël); the couple have two children: Princess Madeleine (b.2004) and Prince Tassilo-Alexander (b.2006). In 2010, Hereditary Prince Casimir-Alexander zu Ysenburg und Büdingen married Countess Alexandra von Bernstorff (b.1977), the daughter of Count Nikolas von Bernstorff (b.1940) and his former wife Barbara Kückens (b.1944); Casimir-Alexander and Alexandra have one son, Prince Tristan Alexander (b.2014). In 2014, Princess Felizitas zu Ysenburg und Büdingen married Michael Max Senfft von Pilsach.

Archduke Rudolph of Austria and Fürst Wolfgang-Ernst zu Ysenburg und Büdingen.
Photo (c) Seeger-Presse.

Count Hans Veit zu Törring-Jettenbach and Fürst Wolfgang-Ernst zu Ysenburg und Büdingen.
Photo (c) Seeger-Presse.

Fürstin Leonille, Princess Felizitas, and Fürst Wolfgang-Ernst zu Ysenburg und Büdingen attending the 2006 wedding of Hereditary Prince Hubertus of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Photo (c) Seeger-Presse/Albert Nieboer.

 

Many happy returns of the day to Fürst Wolfgang-Ernst!