An Imperial Union That Was Not To Be: Archduke Karl of Austria and (now) Archduchess Camilla of Austria

Archduke Karl and Archduchess Camilla of Austria, 2019.

Photo (c) IMAGO / Viennareport.

In the late 1980s or early 1990s, Archduke Karl of Austria (b.1961) was in a relationship with his distant cousin Camilla Habsburg-Lothringen (b.1962). Karl was the eldest son and heir of Archduke Otto of Austria, Crown Prince of Hungary, and his wife Archduchess Regina (née Princess of Saxe-Meiningen). Camilla was the only child of Maximilian Habsburg-Lothringen, called Prince of Florence, and his wife Doris Williams. According to reports, Archduke Karl wished to marry Camilla. However, she was not of equal rank and possessed no noble title, despite her illustrious Habsburg ancestry. Although the timeline of subsequent events is not definitely established, Archduke Otto of Austria upgraded Habsburg morganauts to the rank of Count and Countess of Habsburg around 1990. It is believed that Otto took this step so that Karl could wed Camilla, who would now qualify as a noble spouse (if not totally "equal"). Alas, Karl and Camilla did not become engaged and they ended their relationship. In 1993, Archduke Karl married Baroness Francesca von Thyssen-Bornemisza; the couple are now divorced. Countess Camilla never married. In 2013, Archduke Karl of Austria sent a letter to members of the Habsburg family notifying them that they were now Archdukes and Archduchesses of Austria. This upgrade likely only applied to those members of the family who had already been upgraded to become Counts and Countesses of Habsburg in 1990. As a result of this letter, Countess Camilla of Habsburg (née Habsburg-Lothringen), Archduke Karl's onetime love, became Archduchess Camilla of Austria. Although there are no photographs of Karl and Camilla during their long-ago courtship, the couple did meet in February 2019 at Vienna for the International Conference on The Future of Europe hosted by the Pan-European Movement.

Archduke Karl of Austria and Archduchess Camilla of Austria. Photo (c) IMAGO / Viennareport.

To learn more about Archduke Karl of Austria, one may visit his website: Karl von Habsburg.

To learn more about Archduchess Camilla of Austria, one may read this article: Interview with Camilla Habsburg-Lothringen: Culture as a binding factor in our society

A Right Royal Riddle: Who Am I?

 

A Gotha Quiz: Who Am I? By Darren Shelton for the European Royal History Journal.

Upon my birth, I was the product of an interesting and varied family tree. My bloodline teamed with the bluest of blood from the best of reigning families, to a sprinkling of a more "wild and romantic variety" from the steppes of Europe, to the more solid aristocracy of my native land. My father, a quiet man, led the life of a country gentleman, while my mother, born to a poor family of ancient lineage, was more adventurous in spirit. An only child, I led a very quiet life on the edges of royalty. Great-granddaughter to one of the wealthiest men of the land, and great niece to a queen, I ultimately married a man who bore no rank. My wedding caused a mild furore in my family due to my future husband's parent's martial status, and as a result, more exalted personages stayed away. In the end I had the last laugh as my marriage, so disappointing to many, turned out to be a success. With my death came the end of my line. 

The answer will be revealed on Friday.

Prince Oskar Arnold zu Bentheim und Steinfurt (1946-2021)

Prince Oskar Arnold in 2013.

Photo (c) Detlev Blohm.

Prince Oskar Arnold zu Bentheim und Steinfurt died on 3 August 2021 at Burgsteinfurt.

Fürst Viktor Adolf.

Born on 8 March 1946 at Burgsteinfurt, Prince Oskar Arnold zu Bentheim und Steinfurt was the seventh and last child of Fürst Viktor Adolf zu Bentheim und Steinfurt (1883-1961) and his second wife Princess Rosa Helene zu Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1901-1963). Oskar Arnold had six full siblings: Princess Juliane (1932-2013), Prince Reinhard (1934-2021), Princess Marie-Adelheid (b.1935), Princess Charlotte (b.1936), Prince Ferdinand (1938-2010), Prince Otto Viktor (1940-2016). From his father's first marriage to Princess Stephanie of Schaumburg-Lippe (1899-1925), Oskar Arnold had two half-brothers: Hereditary Prince Alexis (1922-1943), and Fürst Christian (b.1923). 

Death notice of Prince Oskar Arnold. Source: Trauer.ms

In 1980, Prince Oskar Arnold zu Bentheim und Steinfurt married Margot Lücke (b.1938). The couple did not have children. The funeral of the prince will take place at Schloß Burgsteinfurt on 14 August.

May Prince Oskar Arnold Rest In Peace.

Prince Oskar Arnold zu Bentheim und Steinfurt (1946-2021)

Prince Oskar Arnold in 2013.

Photo (c) Detlev Blohm.

Prince Oskar Arnold zu Bentheim und Steinfurt died on 3 August 2021 at Burgsteinfurt.

Fürst Viktor Adolf.

Born on 8 March 1946 at Burgsteinfurt, Prince Oskar Arnold zu Bentheim und Steinfurt was the seventh and last child of Fürst Viktor Adolf zu Bentheim und Steinfurt (1883-1961) and his second wife Princess Rosa Helene zu Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1901-1963). Oskar Arnold had six full siblings: Princess Juliane (1932-2013), Prince Reinhard (1934-2021), Princess Marie-Adelheid (b.1935), Princess Charlotte (b.1936), Prince Ferdinand (1938-2010), Prince Otto Viktor (1940-2016). From his father's first marriage to Princess Stephanie of Schaumburg-Lippe (1899-1925), Oskar Arnold had two half-brothers: Hereditary Prince Alexis (1922-1943), and Fürst Christian (b.1923). 

Death notice of Prince Oskar Arnold. Source: Trauer.ms

In 1980, Prince Oskar Arnold zu Bentheim und Steinfurt married Margot Lücke (b.1938). The couple did not have children. The funeral of the prince will take place at Schloß Burgsteinfurt on 14 August.

May Prince Oskar Arnold Rest In Peace.

Princess Marie Christine of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (1933-2021)

The death notice of Princess Marie Christine. Notice (c) ABC.

On 29 July 2021, Princess Marie Christine of Bourbon-Two Sicilies died at Boucq, France. The princess was eighty-seven years-old. A private burial will take place at Boucq, and a memorial service will occur at Madrid in September. Born on 15 March 1933 at Paris, Marie Christine Amélie Janvière Léopoldine Louise Jeanne Thérèse Caroline Henriette Françoise Isabelle Gabrielle Victoire de Bourbon was the only child of Luigi di Borbone, Count of Roccaguglielma (1898-1967) and his wife Marie Louise de Clermont-Tonnerre (1894-1941), who wed in 1925. Marie Christine's paternal grandparents were Luigi di Borbone, Count of Roccaguglielma (1873-1940) and his first wife Enrica Weiss (1880-1947). Her maternal grandparents were André de Clermont-Tonnerre (1857-1927) and his wife Henriette Louise de Piat de Braux (1862-1896).

The Count and Countess of Aquila at the left and the Emperor and the Empress of Brazil on the right. The Countess of Aquila was the sister of the Emperor of Brazil. The Count of Aquila was the brother of the Empress of Brazil.

The paternal great-great-grandparents of Princess Marie Christine of Bourbon-Two Sicilies were Prince Luigi of the Two Sicilies, Count of Aquila, and Princess Januaria of Brazil. Luigi's sister Princess Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies married Januaria's brother Emperor Pedro II of Brazil. 

The late Michel Denizot.

In 1957, Marie Christine de Boubon married Michel Denizot (1923-2011). The couple had four children: Jean François Denizot (b.1958; married doña Maria Begoña de Elzaburu Pérez de Guzmán, 6th Marquesa de Las Claras), Marie Caroline Denizot (b.1960; married Comte Thibaut de Heere), Isabelle Denizot (b.1962), and Frédéric Denizot (b.1967; married Ariane de Chambrun).

Marie Christine was upgraded to the rank of Princess and style of HRH by Infante Don Carlos, Duke of Calabria. 

May Princess Marie Christine Rest in Peace.

Marriage Banns Signed Ahead of Russian Imperial Wedding

All pictures (c) Russian Imperial Chancellery.

On Thursday, 5 August, Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia and Victoria Romanovna Bettarini signed their marriage banns. The couple's engagement was announced in January of this year. George and Victoria will celebrate their religious wedding at Saint Petersburg on 1 October. As reported exclusively by Histories Royales today, the imperial couple will be civilly married at Moscow on 24 September. 

Serbian Royals Visit Wedding Exhibit on Queen Marie of Yugoslavia

Princess Natalija of Serbia in front of the wedding dress of her ancestress, Queen Maria. Photo (c) Luka Sarac Photography for Hello Magazine Serbia.

Prince Mihailo and Princess Ljubica of Serbia recently visited an exhibit displaying the wedding dress and attire of Mihailo's grandmother, Queen Maria of Yugoslavia. Maria was the mother of Mihailo's father Prince Tomislav of Yugoslavia. The couple were accompanied by their young daughter Princess Natalija. Princess Marie of Romania married King Alexander I of Yugoslavia in 1922. 

Prince Mihailo, Princess Ljubica, and Princess Natalija at the exhibit. Photo (c) Luka Sarac Photography for Hello Magazine Serbia.