The 35th Birthday of the Princess Napoléon

 

Today, Princess Olympia Napoléon celebrates her thirty-fifth birthday!

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Born on 4 January 1988 at Munich, Countess Olympia Elene Marie of Arco-Zinneberg was the third daughter of Count Riprand of Arco-Zinneberg (1955-2021) and Archduchess Maria Beatrix of Austria (b.1954). Riprand and Maria Beatrix were married in 1980 and became the parents of six daughters: Anna Theresa (b.1981), Margherita (b.1983), Olympia (b.1988), Maximiliana (b.1990), Marie-Gabrielle (b.1992), and Giorgiana (b.1997). The family lived between Germany and the United States, where Olympia's father Riprand had business interests.

Olympia graduated from Yale University in 2011 with a B.A. in Political Science. The countess went on to Columbia University in the City of New York, where she emerged in 2015 with a M.A. in Art History. Olympia played on the hockey teams of both Yale and Columbia. While at Yale, she was featured in a university publication wherein she elaborated on her educational experiences: "I am from Austria. I’ve also lived in Germany and Connecticut. I went to boarding school in the United Kingdom and took my gap year in Shanghai, China. Since coming to Yale, I did the Yale-Peking University program during my spring semester sophomore year. Next fall I will spend the semester in Paris." It was during this Paris sejourn that the countess and the prince made one another's acquaintance.

Countess Olympia of Arco-Zinneberg with her father Count Riprand

In March 2019, it became publicly known that Prince Jean-Christophe Napoléon, son of Prince Charles Napoléon and Princess Béatrice of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, had become engaged to Countess Olympia of Arco-Zinneberg, daughter of Count Riprand of Arco-Zinneberg and Archduchess Maria Beatrix of Autria. Jean-Christophe and Olympia have been in a relationship for some years. The prince had proposed to the countess in January 2019 in Switzerland. Jean-Christophe's grandmother, the Dowager Princess Napoléon, resides in Switzerland at Prangins. Jean-Christophe and Olympia married on 19 October 2019 at the Cathedrale Saint-Louis des Invalides in Paris.

Princess Béatrice, Prince Jean-Christophe, Princess Alix, and Princess Olympia.

Princess Olympia Napoléon gave birth to a son, Prince Louis Charles Riprand Victor Jérôme Marie Napoleon, on 7 December 2022 at Paris. Prince Louis is the first child for Prince Jean-Christophe Napoléon and Princess Olympia. The arrival of Prince Louis secures the continuity of the Bonaparte dynasty for another generation.

Our best wishes to the Princess Napoléon on her birthday!

Princess Gabrielle d'Arenberg (1920-2022)

Princess Charles de Ligne, Madame Bertrand de la Haye Jousselin and Princess Armand d'Arenberg at a Parisian ball, 1950. Photo (c) Robert Doisneau.

On 1 August, Princess Gabrielle d'Arenbeg died at her home in Paris. She was 101 years-old.

Born on 8 September 1920 at Biarritz, Gabrielle Marie de Lambertye-Gerbéviller was the eldest daughter of Charles de Lambertye-Gerbéviller, marquis de Gerbéviller (1883-1940), and Lorena Sancho-Mata y Contreras (1896-1991), who wed in 1919. Gabrielle was joined by two younger sisters: Maria del Rosario (b.1922; married Prince Jean Charles de Ligne de La Trémoïlle), and Leontine (1925-2016; married Prince Albert-Edouard de Ligne). 

In August 1941 at Paris, Gabrielle de Lambertye-Gerbéviller married Prince Armand-Louis Hélie d'Arenberg (1906-1985). The couple had two children, a daughter and a son: Princess Mirabelle (b.1947; married 1st Louis-Jean Loppin, Comte de Montmort; married 2nd Georges Hervet) and Prince Charle (b.1949; married 1st Philomène Toulouse; married 2nd Diane d'Harcourt). 

The funeral of Princess Gabrielle will take place on 8 August at the parish church in Gerbeviller; she will be buried in the family vault.

Source: Disparition de la princesse Gabrielle d’Arenberg

May the Princess Rest in Peace.

The Funeral of Prince Luiz of Brazil

The coffin of Prince Luiz. Members of the Brazilian Navy surround the coffin. Photo (c) Pró Monarquia.

On Monday, 18 July 2022, the funeral of HIH Prince Luiz  of Brazil took place at the Church of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus in São Paulo. The burial took place following the funeral at the Consolação Cemetery.

Prince Bertrand, the new Head of the Imperial House, Prince Antonio, and Prince Rafael. Photo (c) Pró Monarquia.

The coffin of the prince was carried by members of the Brazilian Navy, who did state honours. The Brazilian Republic officially observed a day of mourning following the death of Dom Luiz. Present at the funeral were Prince Bertrand of Brazil, Prince Imperial Antônio of Brazil, and Prince Rafael, Prince of Grão-Pará. Also in attendance were Prince Casimir of Bourbon-Two-Sicilies and his wife Princess Maria Cristina (née Savoy-Aosta); their children Prince Luís, Princess Elena and Prince Alessandro of Bourbon-Two-Sicilies; Princess Maria Isabella of Savoy-Genoa; and Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein.

For more information:

Death of Prince Luiz (1938-2022), Head of Brazilian Imperial Family

Brazil Government: Official Mourning for Late Head of Imperial House

The Golden Wedding Anniversary of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester

Prince Richard, Birgitte, and Prince William.

On the afternoon of 8 July 1972, Prince Richard of Gloucester and Birgitte van Deurs were married at the thirteenth century St Andrew's Church, Barnwell, Northants. The Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend Launcelot Fleming, conducted the wedding. The couple's ceremony reflected their desire to keep this an intimate family celebration. The groom's mother, the Duchess of Gloucester, supervised the floral decorations. Birgitte's wedding gown was designed by Norman Hartnell, who had created the wedding dress for the bride's mother-in-law in 1935. The groom's older brother, Prince William, was his best man; there were no bridesmaids or pages. The wedding of the future Duke and Duchess of Gloucester was attended by Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester; Prince William of Gloucester; Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother; the Prince of Wales; Princess Margaret; Prince Michael of Kent; Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone; and the Earl and Countess of Dalkeith. Due to his health, the groom's father the Duke of Gloucester was unable to attend the church wedding, but he visited with guests afterwards at the reception at Barnwell Manor, the Gloucester family home. 

The Golden Couple: Birgitte and Richard. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were photographed at Kensington Palace. The Duchess is wearing a brooch with the intertwined letters B&R. Photo (c) AP.