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!