The Fiftieth Birthday of Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden, Great-Nephew of the Duke of Edinburgh

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Today, Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden marks his fiftieth birthday!

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.

The newlyweds
Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse

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 Mihail I 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.

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We wish His Royal Highness many happy returns!

A Ruby Wedding Anniversary: Count Riprand of Arco-Zinneberg & Archduchess Maria Beatrix of Austria-Este

Archduchess Maria Beatrix of Austria-Este and Count Riprand von und zu Arco-Zinneberg

The year 1980 saw the marriages of three Archduchesses of Austria: Monika (b.1954; daughter of Archduke Otto and Archduchess Regina), Maria Beatrix (b.1954; daughter of Archduke Robert and Archduchess Margherita), and Maria del Pilar (b.1953; daughter of Archduke Felix and Archduchess Anna-Eugénie). In 2020, all three archduchesses, who are also first cousins, celebrate their ruby wedding anniversaries with their respective husbands.

Archduchess Maria Beatrix arriving at her religious wedding on the arm of her father Archduke Robert

On 26 April 1980, Archduchess Maria Beatrix of Austria-Este married Count Riprand von und zu Arco-Zinneberg at Chartres. The couple held their civil wedding on 31 March 1980 at Sankt Martin im Innkreis, Austria. Fifth cousins, the bride and groom are both descendants of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria (1756-1825).

Archduchess Maria Beatrix

Her Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess Maria Beatrix Anna Felicitas Zita Charlotte Adelheid Christina Elisabeth Gennara of Austria-Este was born on 11 December 1954 at Boulogne-sur-Seine. She was the eldest child of Archduke Robert of Austria (1915-1996) and Archduchess Margherita (b.1930; born Princess of Savoy). Maria Beatrix completed her early education with the Ursuline nuns at the Collége Blanche-de-Castille at Versailles; she went on to study economics and political science at the University of Innsbruck. The archduchess then decided to pursue a doctorate wherein she studied the economy of Peru.

Count Riprand

Count Riprand Maria Franz von und zu Arco-Zinneberg was born on 25 July 1955 at Munich. He was the second son and last child of Count Ulrich von und zu Arco-Zinneberg (1917-1980) and Countess Maria Theresia (1922-2003; born Countess von Preysing-Lichtenegg-Moos). Riprand studied architecture at the Technical University in Munich and holds an Engineering and Architectural Master’s Degree. His personal interests are history and politics. He wanted to become a doctor, but left these hopes behind in order to pursue an engineering career. The count has done very well in real estate.

Left to right: Archduke Otto and Archduchess Regina of Austria, Count Rupprecht of Arco-Zinneberg, Countess Maria Theresia and Count Ulrich of Arco-Zinneberg, the groom and bride, Archduke Robert and Archduchess Margherita of Austria-Este, Archduke Lorenz, Archduchess Isabella, Archduke Gerhard, and Archduke Martin.

 

The grandmothers of the bride: Princess Anne, Dowager Duchess of  Aosta, and Empress Zita of Austria-Hungary

 

Left to right: King Umberto II and Queen Marie-José of Italy, Prince Franz Josef of Liechtenstein, Madame the Countess of Paris, Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg, and Princess Georgina of Liechtenstein

 

Archduchess Maria Beatrix and Count Riprand were joined in holy matrimony by the papal nuncio, Mgr. Felici. The archduchess wore a bridal gown designed for her by Pierre Balmain. The wedding was attending by a large gathering of the Gotha: Empress Zita of Austria-Hungary; King Umberto and Queen Marie-José of Italy; Princess Anne, Dowager Duchess of Aosta; Prince Henri and Princess Isabella, the Count and Countess of Paris; Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg; and Prince Franz Josef and Princess Georgina of Liechtenstein were all on hand to witness the union.

 

Princess Isabelle d'Orléans, Princess Murat, greets the bride

 

Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg (born Princess of Belgium) with Riprand and Maria Beatrix

An avid photographer, Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg was to be found capturing snapshots of the celebration with her camera. She was accompanied by her daughter Princess Marie-Astrid, who attended the Austria/Arco nuptials along with her eventual husband, Archduke Carl Christian, a first cousin of the bride, Maria Beatrix. Marie-Astrid and Carl Christian married two years later in 1982.

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During their forty years together, Riprand and Maria Beatrix have lived in Europe and North America. The couple have six daughters: Countess Anna Theresa (b.1981; married since 2018 to Collin McKenzie), Countess Margherita (b.1983), Countess Olympia (b.1988; married since 2019 to Prince Jean-Christophe Napoléon), Countess Maximiliana (b.1990), Countess Marie-Gabrielle (b.1992), and Countess Giorgiana (b.1997). Count Riprand von und zu Arco-Zinneberg is President and founder of the American Asset Corporation (AAC), a real estate investment and development company in the USA headquartered in New York City.

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The Immortal Helen Lewis: American Beauty, Duchess of Croÿ, & Daughter-In-Law of Admiral Miklós Horthy

The Immortal Helen Lewis: 

The American Beauty Who Became The Duchess of Croÿ And Then The Daugher-In-Law of Admiral Miklós Horthy

Helen, Duchess of Croÿ (née Lewis)

Helen's mother Jane "Jennie" Bromley Lindsay Lewis in 1941.

On 22 October 1924, Helen Lindsay Lewis (b.Albany, New York 14 February 1898) became the second wife of Duke Karl Rudolf of Croÿ (1889-1974). Helen was the daughter of Thompson Howard Lewis (1869-1947), who worked for the Mutual Life Insurance Company in New York, and his wife Jane "Jennie" Bromley Lindsay (1871 - ?), the daughter of David Lindsay and Ella Augusta Bromley (1847-1910). The couple were married in a ceremony at Munich. This was the first marriage for Helen; for Karl Rudolf, it was his second. From 1913 until 1922 he had been married to Nancy Leishman (1894-1983). From his first marriage, the Duke of Croÿ had three children: Carl (1914-2011), Antoinette (1915-2011), and Marie-Luise (b.1919).

Elizabeth, Baroness du Moray (née Lewis)

Duchess Helen of Croÿ had a younger sister, Elizabeth Willoughby Lewis (b.Albany, NY 9 July 1901). In 1928, Elizabeth had become engaged to Baron Jean Le Couteulx du Moray (1886-1946), the son of Baron Jacques Le Couteulx du Moray. Although Elizabeth was not in love with Jean, and their engagement was broken off at least once, both Elizabeth's sister Helen and her brother-in-law Karl Rudolf were keen for the union to take place. The Duke and Duchess of Croÿ convinced Elizabeth to go through with the wedding, and the younger Miss Lewis was duly united with Baron Jean Le Couteulx du Molay (1886-1946) on 21 March 1929 at Paris. As it so happened, the Baron du Moray was a drug addict, and he and Elizabeth were divorced on 16 April 1935.

Helen, Duchess of Croÿ

Karl Rudolf, Duke of Croÿ

In 1930, a divorce action was initiated by Duchess Helen of Croÿ to terminate her marriage with Duke Karl Rudolf. According to press reports at the time, one of the reasons that Helen cited for ending the union was that an Austrian Archduchess (who was never named) had been soliciting the attentions of the Duke of Croÿ. Interestingly, even though the contents of the case were sealed, it was alleged that one of the reasons that the marriage of Duke Karl Rudolf and his first wife Nancy ended in 1922 was due to the interference of the very same archduchess. Karl Rudolf and Helen, the Duke and Duchess of Croÿ, were divorced in 1931; they had no children.

Helen, Duchess of Croÿ

Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya II

On 22 December 1956, Helen Lewis, former Duchess of Croÿ, married Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya II (1907-1993) in Edinburgh, Scotland. By this time, Helen had reinvented herself as Helen Margot Lindsay-Lewis (b.Puerto Madryn, Argentina 14 February 1916); the new bride thus made herself almost twenty years younger. Helen's second husband was the youngest child of Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya (1868-1957), the Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary, and Magdolna Vilma Benedikta Purgly de Jószáshely (1881-1959).

Admiral Miklós Horthy de Nagybány, Regent of the Kingdom of Hungary

Magdolna Purgly de Jószáshely

Countess Maria Consuelo Károlyi de Nagykároly

In 1927, Miklós II married Countess Maria Consuelo Károlyi de Nagykároly (1905-1976); the couple had two children: Zsófia Horthy de Nagybanya (1928-2004) and Nicolette Horthy de Nagybanya (1929-1990). Miklós and Maria Consuelo eventually divorced; it was after this marital rupture that Miklós married Helen Lewis.

Helen Lewis, Duchess of Croÿ, Mrs Miklós Horthy de Nagybanya II

Helen and Miklós Horthy did not have any children. On 23 March 1993, Miklós passed away in Portugal at the age of eighty-five. For decades, genealogists had an impossible time attempting to find when Helen Lewis had died. Due to her seemingly "immortal" status, the former Duchess of Croÿ was deemed to be a "Vampire of the Gotha."

Helen's Hungarian sister-in-law: Countesss Ilona Edelsheim-Gyulai de Marosnémethi et Nádaska

In 2016, Dutch royal historian and genealogist Netty Leistra discovered that Helen had passed away in December 1976 at Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Helen would have been seventy-eight years-old. Countess Ilona Edelsheim-Gyulai de Marosnémethi et Nádaska, the sister-in-law of Miklós and wife of his brother István, recalled in her memoirs: "They did not always live in complete harmony, but when Helen got sick, Nicky [Miklós] nurtured her devotedly, and when she died, he became completely shattered."

The resting place of Miklós Horthy II

After his death, Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya II was buried at the Horthy family crypt at Kenderes, Hungary. The final resting place of Helen Lewis is not known.

Source:

HORTHY-KRIPTA

Queen Victoria's Imperious Great-Granddaughter: Valerie Marie zu Schleswig-Holstein (1900-1953)

Princess Valerie Marie of Arenberg, Duchess of Arenberg (née Schleswig-Holstein) in 1945

On 3 April 1900, Valerie Marie zu Schleswig-Holstein was born at Liptovský Mikuláš, Hungary, Austria-Hungary. She was the only child of Duke Albert of Schleswig-Holstein (1869-1931), and the only grandchild of Princess Helena of the United Kingdom (1846-1923), the third daughter and fifth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Valerie's father never disclosed the name of her mother; he only indicated to his sisters that she was a "lady of high birth."

 

Valerie's grandmother Princess Helena of the United Kingdom

 

Valerie's father Duke Albert of Schleswig-Holstein

 

After her arrival, Valerie Marie was placed with Rubin Schwalb (1856-ca.1934) and Anna Rosenthal (ca.1878-?), who raised the baby as their own daughter. On 15 April 1931, before his death, Duke Albert wrote to Valerie admitting to her that he was her father. After she received her father's letter, Valerie changed her surname from Schwalb, the name of her adopted parents, to zu Schleswig-Holstein on 12 May 1931. 

 

A young Valerie Marie zu Schleswig-Holstein

 

On 28 June 1925, Valerie Marie married the lawyer Ernst Johann Wagner (1896-?) at Vienna. Ernst was the son of Johann Wagner and Josephine Nimecsek. Alas, the marriage ended in divorce on14 February 1938. Valerie and Ernst did not have children. Their union was annulled at Salzburg on 4 October 1940.

 

Prince Engelbert-Charles of Arenberg, 10th Duke of Arenberg

 

A little a year after her divorce was finalised, Valerie married again. This time, she took a fellow noble for a husband. On 15 June 1939 at Berlin, Valerie Marie zu Schleswig-Holstein wed Prince Engelbert-Charles of Arenberg (1899-1974), 10th Duke von Arenberg, 16th Duc d’Aerschot. The couple celebrated their religious marriage at Münster on 9 October 1940. Due to her Jewish upbringing, Valerie was required to obtain a legal statement clarifying that she was of pure Aryan descent. 

 

Prince Engelbert Marie of Arenberg, 9th Duke of Arenberg

 

Princess Hedwige de Ligne

 

Princess Lydia of Arenberg, Duchess of Genoa

 

Through her second marriage, Valerie zu Schleswig-Holstein became allied with a prestigious European noble family. Her parents-in-law were Prince Engelbert of Arenberg (1872-1949) and Princess Hedwige de Ligne (1877-1939). Valerie's brother-in-law Princess Erik Engelbert (1901-1992) became the 11th Duke of Arenberg after the death of Valerie's husband. Valerie's sister-in-law was Princess Lydia (1905-1977), who married Prince Filiberto of Savoy (1895-1990), Duke of Genoa. 

 

Schloß Nordkirchen

 

In April 1945, American troops took over the Arenberg's residence at Schloss Nordkirchen, known as the Westphalian Versailles. Valerie was not amused by the intrusion of the Allied troops. The titian-haired princess freely let her thoughts be known about the American forces' request that she and her husband (and their cousin the Duke of Croÿ) move out of their castle into a more modest fourteen room apartment. "I am astonished. I thought that England would protect me. Now you ask me to live in a place without even a kitchen to prepare food. I am astonished." Valerie had more to say. "I cannot stand this. I have had to live in a cellar all winter while you Americans bombed Germany. It has been simply terrible."

 

Valerie's great-grandmother Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom painted in 1899, the year before Valerie's birth

 

If one reviews the few details truly known about her, it is fair to surmise that Valerie did not have an easy life. She had no relationship with her father and seemingly never knew her mother. Once she finally learned of her roots, she was already an adult, and this kind of information might have made life even more difficult for her to navigate. Although born an illegitimate child, she was undoubtedly a great-granddaughter of the great Queen Victoria. 

 

Princess Valerie, Duchess of Arenberg

 

Due to reasons that only she could know, Valerie took her own life on 14 August 1953 at Nice. She had turned fifty-three years-old earlier that year. The Duchess of Arenberg was survived by her husband. 

Prince Josef Wenzel of Liechtenstein Turns Twenty-Five!

Prince Josef Wenzel

Today, His Serene Highness Prince Josef Wenzel of Liechtenstein celebrates his twenty-fifth birthday.

Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and Duchess Sophie in Bavaria

 

The princely wedding in 1993.

 

The arrival of Prince Josef Wenzel in 1995.

On Wednesday, 24 May 1995, Josef Wenzel Maximilian Maria was born at London, where his parents were living at the time. Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and Duchess Sophie in Bavaria had married in 1993; they were in the British capital for Alois to continue his work in finance and for Sophie to complete her master's in history and English literature. Josef Wenzel was the couple's first child. He was followed by a sister and two brothers: Princess Marie-Caroline (b.1996), Prince Georg (b.1999), and Prince Nikolaus (b.2000).

Princess Marie Caroline and Prince Josef Wenzel of Liechtenstein on their country's National Day in 2007.
Photograph (c) Seeger-Press/Minka Reddig

 

Prince Nikolaus, Prince Josef Wenzel, and Princess Marie Caroline on their country's National Day in 2019.

As part of his education, in 2011 Prince Josef Wenzel began attending Malvern College, an independent coeducational day and boarding school in Malvern, Worcestershire, England. During that time, he completed an internship in the United States Senate. After finishing his course of studies at Malvern in 2014, Josef Wenzel decided that he would likely pursue legal studies and then obtain an MBA.

Prince Josef Wenzel, future Fürst of Liechtenstein

When asked how to describe Liechtenstein to someone else in as few words as possible, the second in line to the Liechtensteiner throne summed up his country best: "A small jewel in the Alps." Josef Wenzel is the eldest grandson of Fürst Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein (b.1945) and Fürstin Marie (b.1940; née Gräfin Kinsky von Wchnitz und Tettau) and of Duke Max Emanuel in Bavaria (b.1937) and Duchess Elizabeth (b.1940; née Gräfin Douglas). Through his mother Sophie, Josef Wenzel is the eventual successor to the Jacobite claim to the British throne.

We wish the Prince many happy returns of the day!

Sources:
Luxarazzi - Interview with Prince Joseph Wenzel of Liechtenstein
Luxarazzi - Three Generations: Interview with Prince Wenzel
The Heirs of Europe - Liechtenstein