The 50th Birthday of the Duke de Chartres

Today, Prince Charles-Louis d'Orléans, Duke de Chartres, celebrates his fiftieth birthday.

Jacques and Gersende with their three children, 1979.

Born on 11 July 1972 at Neuilly-sur-Seine, Prince Charles-Louis Henri Foulques Benoït Elzéar Jean Marie d'Orléans was the second child and first son of Prince Jacques d'Orléans, Duke d'Orléans, and Princess Gersende (née de Sabran-Pontevès), who wed in 1969. Charles-Louis has two siblings: Princess Diane (b.1970; married Vicomte Alexis de Noailles) and Prince Foulques, Duc d'Aumale, Comte d'Eu (b.1974).

Charles-Louis and Illéana, 1997.

In 1997, Prince Charles-Louis d'Orléans married Ileana Manos (b.1970).  The Duke and Duchess de Chartres have five children: Prince Philippe (b.1998), Princess Louise (b.1999), Princess Hélène (b.2001), Prince Constantin (b.2003), and Princess Isabelle (b.2005). The Duke de Chartres is a Private Wealth Advisor at Goldman Sachs. He is also a talented artist. 

The Duke and Duchess de Chartres with the Duke d'Orléans during the "Princes et Princesses d'Orléans - Une Famille d'Artistes" exhibition in Paris, 2020. Photo (c) Getty Images / Luc Castel.

Many happy returns to the Duke de Chartres on his birthday!

Princess Elisabeth of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1933-2022)

Princess Elisabeth of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke Carl of Württemberg, and Princess Marie-Thérèse d'Orléans, Duchess of Montpensier in 2000.
Photo (c) Seeger-Press.

According to the Annuario della Nobiltà Italiana, Princess Elisabeth of Bourbon-Two Sicilies died on Saturday, 29 January, at the age of eighty-eight.

The Royal Family of Württemberg gather in 1973 to celebrate the 80th birthday of Duke Philipp.
Photo (c) William Mead Lalor Collection.

The Württemberg siblings in 2006: (left to right) Margravine Helene Pallavicini, Princess Marie Christine of Liechtenstein, Duke Carl of Württemberg, Princess Elisabeth of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, and Duke Ludwig of Württemberg.

Duchess Elisabeth Maria Margarethe Alix Helene Rosa Philippine Christine Josepha Therese vom Kinde Jesu of Württemberg was born at Stuttgart on 2 February 1933 as the second daughter and third child of Duke Philipp of Württemberg (1893-1975) and his second wife Archduchess Rosa of Austria-Tuscany (1906-1983), who wed in 1928. Elisabeth had an older half-sister, Duchess Marie Christine (b.1924; married Prince Georg of Liechtenstein) from her father's first marriage to Archduchess Helena of Austria-Tuscany (1903-1924), the sister of Elisabeth's mother. Elisabeth had five full siblings: Duchess Helene (1929-2021; married Markgraf Federico Pallavicini), Duke Philipp (1930-2019; married twice), Duchess Marie-Thérèse (b.1934; married Prince Henri d'Orléans, Count of Clermont), Duke Carl (b.1936; married Princess Diane d'Orléans), and Duchess Marie Antoinette (1937-2004). 

 

A young Prince Antonio.

The wedding of Prince Antonio of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg.

Prince Antonio of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg on the cover of Bunte

Princess Elisabeth and Prince Antonio with their son Prince Francesco, 1960.

In July 1958, Duchess Elisabeth married Prince Antoine (Antonio) of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1929-2019), the only child of Prince Gabriele of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1897-1975) and his first wife Princess Malgorzata Czartoryski (1902-1929). Elisabeth and Antonio had four children: Prince Francesco (b.1960; married Countess Alexandra von Schönborn-Wiesentheid), Princess Maria Carolina (b.1962; married Andreas Baumbach), Prince Gennaro (b.1966), and Princess Annunziata (b.1973; married Count Carl Fredrik Creutz).

 

Prince Antonio and Princess Elisabeth at the wedding of their niece Duchess Fleur.
Schloß Altshausen, 2003.

Prince Jean d'Orléans with his aunts Princess Elisabeth and Princess Marie-Christine at the wedding of Duchess Fleur.
Schloß Altshausen, 2003.

Prince Antonio and Princess Elisabeth with Margravine Helene at the wedding of Duchess Fleur.
Schloß Altshausen, 2003.

Princess Elisabeth is survived by her four children and by seven grandchildren.

May the Princess Rest In Peace.