The Duke of Bragança, Prince Imperial Bertrand of Brazil, Count Alberto Farini, Prince Luiz Philippe of Orléans and Bragança, and Prince Casimir of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Photograph (c) Pró Monarquia.
On 11 March 2020, before the world was completely changed by the coronavirus pandemic, Prince Casimir of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and his wife Princess Maria Cristina organised a gathering for family members at their home in São Paolo. Prince Casimir is the son of the late Prince Gabriele of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1897-1975) and his second wife Princess Cecilia Lubomirska (1907-2001). In 1967, Casimir married Princess Maria Cristina of Savoy-Aosta, the daughter of Prince Amedeo of Savoy (1898-1942), Duke of Aosta, and Princess Anne d'Orléans (1906-1986).
Princess Maria Cristina of Savoy-Aosta, Luce Frioli, Sophia Frioli, and Princess Maria Isabella of Savoy-Genoa. Photograph (c) Pró Monarquia.
Many cousins of Prince Casimir and Princess Maria Cristina attended the small soirée at their residence. Among those present were Dom Duarte Pio, Duke of Bragança and Head of the Royal House of Portugal, as well his daughter the Infanta Maria Francisca of Portugal, Duchess of Coimbra. Prince Imperial Dom Bertrand of Brazil, who also lives in São Paolo, was at the dinner as well as his nephew Prince Luiz Philippe of Orléans and Bragança, who is a Federal Deputy in the Brazilian Congress. In addition, Bertrand's niece Princess Maria da Glória of Orléans and Bragança was also a guest. Casimir and Maria Cristina have always remained close to their Brazilian cousins.
Three Generations of the Women of the Savoy-Genoa Branch of the Italian Royal Family: Countess Luce Frioli, Countess Sophia Frioli, and Princess Maria Isabella of Savoy-Genoa. Photograph (c) Rinnovamento nella Tradizione - Croce Reale.
Princess Maria Isabella of Savoy-Genoa, her daughter Countess Luce di Savoia Genova Frioli di Rezzano, and her granddaughter Sophia di Savoia Genova Frioli di Rezzano, who all live in the city, joined their cousins at this reunion. Maria Isabella is the only child of the last Duke and Duchess of Genoa: Prince Eugenio of Savoy-Genoa (1906-1996) and Princess Lucia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1908-2001). After the end of the World War II, Eugenio and Lucia moved to Brazil with their daughter to make a new life. In 1971, Maria Isabella of Savoy-Genoa married Alberto Frioli, Count di Rezzano; the couple had four children: Vittorio (b.1972), Maria Cristina (1973-1973), Carlo Alberto (b.1974), and Marie Luce (b.1978). Maria Isabella has maintained close ties with her many royal relations in South America and Europe.
Among others: The Duke of Bragança with his daughter the Duchess of Coimbra, and then, on the far right, Prince Luis Alfonso of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Princess Maria da Gloria of Orléans and Bragança. Photograph (c) Pró Monarquia.
Prince Luis Alfonso of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, the eldest son of Prince Casimir and Princess Maria Cristina, joined in the dinner hosted by his parents. The prince lives in São Paolo together with his second wife and three children.
Duarte and Francisca of Portugal. Photograph (c) Pró Monarquia.
The Duke of Bragança and his daughter had been in Brazil on a trip to celebrate Infanta Maria Francisca's graduation from the Universidade Católica Portuguesa. Father and daughter visited the Amazon rainforest and then were able to spend time with their relatives in São Paolo, before returning to Portugal.
Casimir and Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies had planned on going to Italy to celebrate the ninetieth birthday of Maria Cristina's sister, Archduchess Margherita of Austria-Este. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, the couple were unable to do so and have stayed at their residence in Brazil.
Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia arrive at the wedding of Crown Prince Leka and Crown Princess Elia of Albania at the Royal Palace in Tirana on 8 October 2016. Photograph (c) Seth B. Leonard.
Earlier this month, HRH Crown Prince Alexander II of Serbia agreed to answer some questions for the readers of Eurohistory. I would like to thank Teodora Miljković, the Head of Public Relations and Protocol for the Royal House of Serbia, for contacting me in order to arrange this interview. Naturally, I am also grateful to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who was the first royal to be interviewed by the European Royal History Journal in the late 1990s, for his participation - especially during this difficult time for the world and for Serbia.
SBL: How do you and your family plan to celebrate your seventy-fifth birthday? Your father, King Peter II, only lived to be forty-seven. Your grandfather, King Alexander I, had his life cut short at the age of forty-five. It is an important milestone. What lessons or morals do you feel you can draw from your father and grandfather at this stage of your life?
CPA: I am not sure that the present situation would permit any form of solemn or social celebration of my 75th birthday. Anyway, I can draw much from examples of my ancestors that when the nation is in trouble, one’s own priorities must step back.
SBL: What are some of the most important life lessons that you have learned? What are some of your guiding principles and values?
CPA: I am not quite certain that the process of my experience so far is really to be valued as definitive. Our world is one of quick changes. We try our best to understand those changes and to draw adequate conclusions. Only after a certain lapse of time we can evaluate the consequences. On the other hand, one has one’s own principles and beliefs which are impossible to change. I know mine.
SBL: How has your Orthodox faith sustained you during your life? What is your earliest memory of what it meant to you to be a member of the Serbian Orthodox Church? What does it mean to you to be a member of the Serbian Orthodox Church presently living in Serbia?
CPA: It is really impossible to define something that is part of your personality and spirit since the time when your memories were born. I respect all religions and faiths, and consequently I do expect that everybody respects my right and privilege to be Orthodox Christian. We Serbs are traditionally closely related with the Serbian Orthodox Church. It is a feeling of common destiny, not of enmity. We had, and still have, many Serbs that are not Orthodox Christians, and that is their heritage which they treasure, and we respect that. It is not an impediment, however, to feel and behave as a good Serbian!
SBL: Are there any recollections of your parents, King Peter II and Queen Alexandra, that you could share with us? The King and Queen had a difficult life in exile, and, as their only child, you surely were one of the strongest factors that held them together during all of the challenging experiences that they faced.
CPA: I love and treasure the memory of my parents. Sadly, at times they were not happy people, nor sometimes a happy couple. However, they were my mother and father, and my memory of them shall always be a happy one. They lived in a difficult time, a tragic time, and were the victims of such times. They were betrayed by their allies and their enemies, in a similar way and measure. But I loved them very much, and they were deserving of my love.
SBL: Princess Aspasia of Greece, your maternal grandmother, was a very strong lady. As the widow of King Alexander I of Greece, she brought up your mother as a single parent. What role did Princess Aspasia play in your upbringing? What was she like as a person?
CPA: Princess Aspasia, as you mention, was a very strong person. She was like a mother to me. She was a character and portrayed real authority, and I remember her as such. She was dignified, and yet it was up to her to bring on the most difficult decisions that anyone had to imagine or to live through. A formidable woman who was so good to me.
SBL: Did you ever have occasion to meet your paternal grandmother Queen Marie of Yugoslavia? Your paternal grandmother was the daughter of King Ferdinand of Romania and his wife Queen Marie, who was born a Princess of the United Kingdom. If you were able to meet Queen Marie, what impression did she make upon you?
CPA: Of course, I did meet her on many occasions. She also was a sort of a walking monument. She had both strong supporters and formidable enemies, and she – sometimes – chose a sort of seclusion to defend herself. After the untimely death of her consort, King Alexander I of Yugoslavia, she felt a little lost in the world, but she was a fighter, and she died as one.
SBL: Your godmother is Queen Elizabeth II. You have always had a close relationship with her and the British royal family. What impact has Her Majesty had on you? What is it like to have the Queen as a godmother?
CPA: It is both a privilege and luck! She is a unique person in the world that represents the history of the World, the present times, and a promise for the future. She is a liaison between times, and a pillar of staunch and sturdy commitment that one’s destiny is not only a private relation with the time and nation, but an essential institution that keeps different worlds together. There are many that understand this very well, and also some that never will understand anything. That is the world, and The Queen knows and understands that. I always enjoy very much meeting her.
SBL: This year, you and Crown Princess Katherine will celebrate your thirty-fifth wedding anniversary. What are some of the fondest memories that you have shared during your long marriage?
CPA: Yes! We are together 35 years. A long time, and a short time! A time of love, and a time of temptations. Our fondest memories keep us together, and they are our private treasure. I am very grateful for the care and love my wife has given me, and for her great patience.
SBL: How are your sons doing during this time? Hereditary Prince Peter as well as Prince Philip and your daughter-in-law Princess Danica live in the United Kingdom. Prince Alexander lives in the United States. How do you all keep in touch? What are you proudest about when you think about each of your sons?
CPA: Keeping in touch, not only communications-wise, but also in sense of keeping the sense of family unity, filial piety and fatherly love, is easy in form and difficult in essence today. The fact that our lives are organized in different places and that my sons are now independent men, with their own destinies, professions and temptations, is a very complicated issue. However, many families experienced such situations. I can only say this: I love my sons and my grandson very much, and their family happiness and security in life and in pursuit of the way they chose and within families they have, or will have, is my greatest hope and trust.
SBL: In February of this year, your grandson Prince Stefan turned two years old. What are your dreams and hopes for your grandson? How does it feel being in the role of grandfather?
CPA: He is a beautiful child, Stefan is also very sweet and full of humour. He has the good looks of his mother, and the shining spirit of his father, and I am sure that God will bless him with all the good fortune and goodness of character that he possesses and deserves. I pray for that.
SBL: As the Head of the Serbian Royal Family, you possess close genealogical ties to all of the crowned heads of Europe. Naturally, you are also the cousin of the heads of currently non-reigning families. How do you all stay in contact with each other?
CPA: Well, we are all one family, and we share our good and bad times. Each of us is a different story and each of us has a different destiny, but we are branches of the same tree, and fortunes, positive or adversary, of each one touches everybody else.
The Royal Palace in Belgrade.
SBL: Due to this worldwide public health emergency, you and the Crown Princess have had to shelter-in-place at your residence, the Royal Palace in Belgrade. What does a “typical” day look like now for both of you? Are there things that you both have discovered a newfound appreciation for while you stay at home?
CPA: This is an incredible experience we lacked so far. We are learning new information on a daily basis to see what is coming and rousing up the force to fight this evil virus. My wife and I praise our government, doctors, nurses and medical staff for putting their lives in danger to save lives. I am proud of my wife and her hard work and devotion in helping and providing our healthcare system with urgently needed equipment and contacts. She is very dedicated working with her foundations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Greece and Serbia.
SBL: The novel coronavirus has led to millions of people around the world having their existences upended and changed drastically. Among other cousins of Your Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales contracted the virus, from which he has recovered. As of 14 April, there have been 4,465 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Serbia, and ninety-four Serbians have lost their lives due to this virus. In the face of this pandemic, what is your message to the people of your country?
CPA: Keep one’s head up and endure! Be strong and look forward to a bright future. Above all follow carefully the government directives and keep safe.
SBL: When COVID-19 is contained, and less of a public health threat, what are some aspects of life that you believe many of us will not take for granted? Things we might have not valued before all of this, but which self-isolation may have caused us to value much more than we had previously?
CPA: Let us not surmise, let us have patience to see what is coming and the strength to fight the adverse situation. We will rebuild the economy and we will win and survive.
+++++++
May God Bless Serbia, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and all members of the Royal House of Serbia!
+++++++
To learn more about Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine, please visit their website: Royal Family of Serbia
Prince Johannes Heinrich of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Princess Mathilde of Saxony.
Here we catch glimpses of the family life of Prince Johannes Heinrich of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Innsbruck 28 March 1931 - 14 April 2010), Princess Dr. Mathilde of Saxony (Bamberg 17 January 1936 - Sistrans, Austria 18 March 2018), and their only child Prince Johannes Albert (Innsbruck 17 November 1969 - Ortler 21 August 1987). The family were photographed in 1972 by Georg Fruhstorfer at their home in Innsbruck, Austria. The blonde-haired Prince Johannes Albert, the short-lived heir to the Royal Saxon House, was three years-old at the time.
Johannes Heinrich, Johannes Albert, and Mathilde.
Mathilde and Johannes Albert.
The princess and her little prince.
Johannes Heinrich and Mathilde were married civilly at Munich on 15 October 1968 and religiously at Kloster Andechs on 12 November 1968. This was the second marriage of the prince and the first marriage of the princess.
Prince Rainer of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Prince Johannes Heinrich of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Prince Johannes Heinrich was the son of Prince Rainer of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and his first wife Johanna Károlyi de Károly-Patty. Johannes Heinrich became a successful businessman. In 1957, Johannes Heinrich married Baroness Marie-Gabrielle von Fürstenberg (1921-2007), who was a talented artist. The couple had one child, Princess Felicitas of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (b.1958). Johannes Heinrich and Marie-Gabrielle divorced in 1968.
Prince Friedrich Christian of Saxony and Princess Elisabeth-Therese of Thurn and Taxis
The Royal Family of Saxony in the 1940s. Left to right: Margrave Friedrich Christian, Prince Maria Emanuel, Margravine Elisabeth-Therese, Princess Mathilde, and Prince Albert.
Princess Mathilde was the daughter of Prince Friedrich Christian of Saxony, eventual Margrave of Meißen, and Princess Elisabeth-Therese of Thurn and Taxis. Princess Mathilde finished her primary studies in Bregenz, Austria, and then went on to receive her doctorate in medicine while studying at university in Munich. Mathilde had four older siblings: Prince Maria Emanuel (1926-2012), Princess Maria Josepha (1928-2018), Princess Maria Anna (1929-2012), and Prince Albert (1934-2012).
Mathilde of Saxony and her son Johannes Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
The tragic death of their son Johannes Albert in a mountaineering accident at the age of seventeen threw his parents into deep despair. The strain on their relationship as a result of their only child's passing was too much to bear. Prince Johannes Heinrich and Princess Mathilde divorced in 1993, but the couple remained close towards the end of their lives.
Prince Johannes Heinrich of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha died in April 2010. He was survived by his partner Rosemarie Steinhauser and his daughter Princess Felicitas. Princess Mathilde of Saxony passed away in March 2018.
More can be read about their fascinating family and extended relations in The Coburgs of Europe (2013) by Arturo E. Beéche.
+++++++
Ancestry of Prince Johannes Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
1. Prince Johannes Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1969-1987)
Parents
2. Prince Johannes Heinrich of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1931-2010)
m. 1968 (div. 1993)
3. Princess Mathilde of Saxony (1936-2018)
Grandparents
4. Prince Rainer of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1900-~1945)
m. 1930 (div. 1935)
5. Johanna Károlyi de Károly-Patty (1906-1992)
6. Prince Friedrich Christian of Saxony, Margrave of Meißen (1893-1968)
m. 1923
7. Princess Elisabeth-Therese von Thurn und Taxis (1903-1976)
Great-Grandparents
8. Prince August Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1867-1922)
m. 1894
9. Archduchess Carolina of Austria-Tuscany (1869-1945)
10. Heinrich Károlyi de Károly-Patty (b.1868)
m.
11. Paula Gamon
12. King Friedrich August III of Saxony (1865-1932)
m. 1891 (div. 1903)
13. Archduchess Luisa of Austria-Tuscany (1870-1947)
14. Fürst Albrecht von Thurn und Taxis (1867-1952)
Recently, HSH Fürstin Hildegard zu Stolberg-Roßla passed away at the age of ninety-seven in the MathildenHospital at Büdingen. The princess had been admitted to hospital due to a broken bone. Due to her fragile state of health, the Fürstin zu Stolberg-Roßla was not able to recover. Mayor Ulrike Pfeiffer-Pantring of Ortenberg once said of the late princess: "Fürstin Hildegard, you are the perfect mix of nobility and democracy for us."
On 5 October 1922, Hildegard Anna Sauerbier was born at Hanau as the daughter of Oskar Sauerbier and Sofie Klaus. Hildegard's father Oskar was a dentist. Perhaps due to this early exposure to medicine, Hildegard went on to become an obstetrician herself. Her practice was centred in Ortenberg. The "Frau Doktor" was popular amongst the inhabitants of her city: she would often made house calls, her professional knowledge was highly valued, and she was viewed as a trailblazer for women seeking to enter the medical field. In addition to her medical career, Fürstin Hildegard was a talented gymnast and diver in her youth.
Dr. Hildegard Sauerbier married Fürst Johann Martin zu Stolberg-Roßla (b.Roßla 6 October 1917) on 27 January 1967 in a civil ceremony at Ortenberg; the following day, on 28 January, the couple wed in a religious ceremony at the Kloster Engeltal near Altenstadt, Hesse. The bride was forty-four and the groom was forty-nine. Johann Martin was a son of Fürst Christoph Martin zu Stolberg-Roßla (1888-1949) and Princess Ida Reuß (1891-1977). Through his father, Johann Martin was a nephew of Princess Elisabeth zu Stolberg-Roßla (1885-1969), who married Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerin as his second wife. More notably, through his mother Ida, Johann Martin was a nephew of Princess Hermine Reuß (1887-1947), who married as her second husband German Emperor Wilhelm II. In 1945, Empress Hermine briefly resided with her sister Ida, brother-in-law Christoph Martin, and nieces and nephews at Schloß Roßla.
Hildegard and Johann Martin did not have children. Hildegard's husband, the 4th Fürst zu Stolberg-Roßla, was killed in an automobile accident on 10 December 1982 at Frankfurt.
According to his wishes, Johann Martin was eventually succeeded as Fürst zu Stolberg-Roßla by his distant cousin Prince Alexander zu Stolberg-Wernigerode (b.1967), the son of Prince Elger zu Stolberg-Wernigerode (b.1935) and Baroness Maria Karin von Düring (1934-2018). In 2001, Fürst Alexander zu Stolberg-Roßla married Caroline Jansen. The new princely couple always maintained a close relationship with Hildegard.
Owing to the current pandemic, the funeral of the Dowager Fürstin zu Stolberg-Roßla will take place in the strictest family intimacy. In time, it is hoped that a larger celebration of Hildegard's life will be possible.
This Sunday, 19 April, royal families who are members of the Eastern Orthodox faith celebrated Pascha. The hope held by Christian believers derived from the Resurrection of the Lord is extremely important and a source of solace and comfort, especially during a time such as this. A number of royals shared their wishes for a Blessed Easter on social media.
Georgia
Prince Davit and Prince Giorgi of Georgia. Photograph (c) Royal House of Georgia
On Facebook, Prince Davit of Georgia shared an image together with his son Prince Giorgi, the eventual heir of both the Bagration-Gruzinsky and Bagration-Mukhransky royal branches. In the background, one can see a picture of Davit's great-grandfather Prince George, his grandfather Prince Irakli, and his father Prince Jorge. Davit is a first cousin once removed of Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, through her mother Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna, who was the aunt of Davit's father.
Greece
Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece were joined by their children for Easter this year. His Royal Highness shared an image of the family together on Instagram.
From their home in Bucharest, Prince Nicholas and Princess Alina-Maria of Romania shared an Easter message with fellow Romanians via YouTube. Out of respect for the guidelines of public health officials, the couple have self-quarantined since early March.
Russia
Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia Photograph (c) Russian Imperial House
From her home in Madrid, the Head of the Russian Imperial House send Paschal greetings to Russians at home and abroad. Grand Duchess Maria recently recovered from a mild case of the coronavirus. The statement from Her Imperial Highness was as follows:
The Head of the Imperial House of Russia, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, and her son and heir, H.I.H. The Tsesarevich and Grand Duke George of Russia, extend their warmest greetings to their countrymen on the Bright Feast of the Resurrection of Christ, and thank all those who have sent them Paschal greetings. Their Imperial Highnesses are saddened deeply that the spread of the coronavirus has required government authorities to impose restrictions on laity attending the Divine Services, especially during Holy Week and Pascha. They urge all of the faithful flock of the Russian Orthodox Church to accept and understand the reasons for these measures, and, most importantly, to have confidence in the instructions issued by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia and the entire Hierarchy of the Church, who are guided in these decisions solely by concern for the flock entrusted to them by God. In former times, our ancestors had to live through even more deadly epidemics and resort to similarly harsh and difficult restrictions on their lives. But the holy ascetics of the Russian Land, its pious rulers, and other prominent leaders of our homeland taught us through word and example to avoid despair and fear, to remain calm and rational, to be mindful of our own needs and of those around us, and above all not to tempt the Lord, but to try in all things to fulfill His commandments, even in the circumstances we find ourselves in today, for all things happen according to His will. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia and the Tsesarevich and Grand Duke George of Russia fervently pray that the Risen Lord, the Saviour Jesus Christ, will grant us strength of body and spirit, and will enable us to pass through these trials, preserving and multiplying our Faith, Hope, and Love. TRULY CHRIST IS RISEN!!
Serbia
Prince Philip and Princess Danica of Serbia with their son Prince Stefan Photograph (c) Princ Filip i Princeza Danica Karađorđević
From their residence in London, Prince Philip and Princess Danica celebrated the Resurrection of Our Lord along with their son Prince Stefan. Prince Philip released this message to Serbians via Facebook:
Although this year the greatest Christian holiday, the Resurrection of Christ, we celebrate in unnatural and difficult circumstances caused by the coronavirus pandemic, I wish all Orthodox Christians to be filled with joy, love and hope, which paint this holiday over the holidays.
Regardless of the circumstances, we will always celebrate the Resurrection of Christ as a holiday of hope, faith, love and joy.
God's grace and love are continually with us, and Christ's Resurrection will always be that light towards which we will walk in gloomy times, faced with the greatest trials and tribulations, because He is our hope and our Savior.
In these Easter days, more than ever we pray for the strength of our country and all its citizens, begging the Lord to protect and preserve all of us.
Yesterday, 18 April 2020, the Chancellery of the Russian Imperial House released a communiqué which informed the public that HIH Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia has recovered from a mild case of COVID-19.
The grand duchess, who is sixty-six years-old, tested positive for the novel coronavirus at the end of March. She was able to recover at her residence in Madrid, where she had been following the quarantine measures enacted by Spanish authorities since the coronavirus outbreak. On Friday, 17 April, Her Imperial Highness took a follow-up test which showed that she no longer had COVID-19.
Grand Duke George of Russia, the only child and heir of Grand Duchess Maria, has been in Moscow since the beginning of the pandemic. He is in good health and is observing the stay-at-home orders issued by the Russian government.
Today, Grand Duchess Maria of Russia took the opportunity to wish all Russians around the world a Blessed Easter. She had a scheduled visit to her homeland in May 2020, but this has been indefinitely postponed, out of necessity.
Here is the full statement from the Russian Imperial House:
The Head of the Imperial House of Russia, H.I.H. The Grand Duchess Maria of Russia, has recovered from coronavirus.
From the very beginning of this pandemic, the Grand Duchess has strictly complied with all quarantine measures mandated by governmental authorities and public health officials in the Kingdom of Spain. Toward the end of March, however, Her Imperial Highness began experiencing several mild flu-like symptoms that persisted for several days, and so was tested for COVID-19. The test returned positive. By God’s mercy, the Grand Duchess has fully recovered and has now developed a full immunity to this virus. The Grand Duchess received the results of her follow-up tests on Great and Holy Friday, April 17.
At present, the Head of the Imperial House of Russia is out of danger, but she continues to observe the quarantine regime in accordance with the procedure established by governmental and public health authorities in Spain. The Grand Duchess’s visit to Russia, which was originally planned for May 2020, has been postponed indefinitely.
Her Imperial Highness congratulates all her countrymen the world over on the Bright Feast of the Resurrection of Christ. She wishes good health for everyone and prays for a quick and complete end to this global disaster.
The Grand Duchess’s son and heir, H.I.H. The Tsesarevich and Grand Duke George of Russia, is in Moscow and continues to follow carefully the stay-at-home orders issued by authorities in Russia. He remains in good health.
Their Imperial Highnesses continue working and advising in the many social and cultural activities of the institutions and organizations associated with the Imperial House of Russia, using the various means of remote telecommunications at their disposal.
On Thursday, 16 April 2020, Prince Georg-Friedrich zu Waldeck und Pyrmont passed away at the age of eighty-three. The prince was a first cousin of the head of the princely family, Fürst Wittekind zu Waldeck und Pyrmont (b.1936).
The death notice of Prince Georg-Friedrich zu Waldeck und Pyrmont
His Serene Highness Prince Georg-Friedrich Nikolaus zu Waldeck und Pyrmont was born on 22 November 1936 at Hannover as the second child of Prince Georg zu Waldeck und Pyrmont (1902-1971) and Countess Ingeborg von Platen Hallermund (1902-1991). Georg-Friedrich had one older brother and three younger siblings: Prince Josias (b.1935), Princess Rixa (b.1939), Prince Volkwin (b.1940), Prince Christian-Peter (b.1945).
Fürst Georg II zu Waldeck und Pyrmont (1789-1845)
Fürstin Emma zu Waldeck und Pyrmont (1802-1858; née Princess of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym)
Georg-Friedrich's parents-in-law: Fürst Wolff-Heinrich and Fürstin Irma zu Stolberg-Stolberg
The commemorative coin celebrating the marriage of Fürst Wolff Heinrich and Irma zu Stolberg-Stolberg.
On August 1961, Prince Georg-Friedrich married Princess Irmgard Sixtina Juliana zu Stolberg-Stolberg (b.4 November 1933). Sixtina was the daughter of Fürst Wolff-Heinrich zu Stolberg-Stolberg (1903-1972) and Irma Erfert (1910-1994). Georg-Friedrich and Sixtina were third cousins; they both were great-great-grandchildren of Fürst Georg II zu Waldeck und Pyrmont (1789-1845) and Princess Emma of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym (1802-1858).
Georg-Friedrich and Sixtina had three children: Princess Henriette (b.1963), Princess Isabelle (b.1965), and Prince Philipp (b.1967).
Princess Henriette zu Waldeck und Pyrmont with her husband Count Hermann zu Castell-Rüdenhausen as well as Princess Elisabeth von Thurn und Taxis. Photograph (c) Presse-Foto-Seeger.
In August 1989, Princess Christine Henriette Bathildis zu Waldeck und Pyrmont married Count Hermann zu Castell-Rüdenhausen (b.1963). The couple have three children: Countess Annabell (b.1991), Countess Cecily (b.1992), and Count Casimir (b.1994). Hermann is a younger brother of the late Countess Donata zu Castell-Rüdenhausen (1950-2015), wife of Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia (1944-1977) and Duke Friedrich August of Oldenburg (1936-2017). Henriette, who studied geography at university, is thus an aunt-by-marriage of Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia, the Head of House Prussia.
Georg-Friedrich and Sixtina's second daughter Princess Marie Isabelle zu Waldeck und Pyrmont has made her career as an employment and occupational therapist. In December 1989, Isabelle changed her surname to be simply "Waldeck." She has one son, Constantin.
Philipp-Heinrich, the only son of Georg-Friedrich and Sixtina, has never married and has no children. He is currently fourteenth in the line of succession to the Head of the Princely House of Waldeck and Pyrmont.
Georg-Friedrich's widow Princess Sixtina zu Waldeck und Pyrmont, Princess zu Stolberg-Stolberg, lives in Bad Arolsen.
