A Bit of A Furore Among the Bagrationi Royal Family of Georgia

 

Last week, several members of different branches of the Georgian royal family issued a letter of protest against their cousin Prince David Bagration-Mukhransky. The letter reads as follows:

 

An Official Letter of Protest

The Bagrationi Family Association is an international organisation uniting the majority of Bagrationi descendants. In 2006, a Memorandum was officially signed by the majority of Bagrationi Family Association members recognising the direct male descendant of the late ruling King of Georgia, Giorgi XII, HRH Crown Prince Nugzar Bagrationi-Gruzinski [as] the Head of the Royal House of Georgia.

We officially declare that neither the Bagrationi Family Association nor the representatives of the Bagrationi-Gruzinski royal line, recognise Tavadi (Prince) David Bagration-Moukhransky as the Head of the Royal House of Georgia or representative of any royal family of Georgia. Consequently, Tavadi (Prince) David Bagration-Moukhransky, as an ordinary member of the Bagrationi Family Association, does not hold any rights to represent Bagrationi family interests officially or unofficially. At any international events, involving royal, business, or political circles, Tavadi (Prince) David represents himself personally and bears full legal and moral responsibility for deliberately misleading the public and the media on his status.

On behalf of the Association:

Crown Prince Nugzar-Bagrationi-Gruzinski

The Head of the Royal House of Georgia,

The leader of the dynastic union "House of Bagrationis"

Prince Giorgi Bagrationi-Japaridze

The Deputy leader of the dynastic union "House of Bagrationi"

Prince Jansug Bagrationi-Davitishvili

The Deputy leader of the dynastic union "House of Bagrationi"

Prince Nodar Bagrationi-Davitishvili

The Deputy leader of the dynastic union "House of Bagrationi"

 

Prince Nugzar Bagrationi-Gruzinski (b.1950) is the son of Prince Peter Bagrationi-Gruzinski. Prince Giorgi Bagrationi-Japaridze (b.1948) is the son of Princess Nino Bagrationi of Imereti, the last member of that branch in the male line, and Prince Avtandil Japaridze. In 2009, Princess Anna Bagrationi-Gruzinski (b.1976), the daughter of Prince Nugzar, and Prince David Bagrationi-Mukhransky (b.1976) married in Tbilisi. The couple welcomed the arrival of their only son Prince Giorgi Bagration in 2011. Anna and David divorced in 2013. 

The 55th Birthday of Landgrave Donatus of Hesse

 

Today, the Landgrave of Hesse marks his fifty-fifth birthday!

 

The wedding of Prince Moritz of Hesse and Princess Tatiana zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, 1966.
Photo (c) Getty Images / Keystone-France.

 

Born on 17 October 1966 at Kiel, Prince Heinrich Donatus Philipp Umberto of Hesse was the second child and first son of Landgrave Moritz of Hesse and his wife Princess Tatiana zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. The paternal grandparents of Donatus were Landgrave Philipp of Hesse and Princess Mafalda of Savoy. The maternal grandparents of Donatus were Fürst Gustav Albrecht zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Marguerite Fouché d'Otrante. 

 

Donatus and Floria on their wedding day.
Photo (c) Eurohistory.com.

In 2003, Hereditary Prince Donatus of Hesse married Countess Floria von Faber-Castell (b.1974), the daughter of Count Hubertus von Faber-Castell and Baroness Adelheid von der Leyen zu Bloemersheim. Donatus and Floria have three children: twins Princess Paulina and Hereditary Prince Moritz (b.2007) as well as Prince August (b.2012). 

 

Landgrave Donatus of Hesse and Queen Elizabeth II.

 

In April 2021, Donatus attended the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The Landgrave of Hesse was present in his role as representative of the House of Hesse, into which Philip's two sisters, Cecile and Sophie, had married.

 

Our best wishes to the Landgrave of Hesse on his birthday!

Countess Beatrice von Hochberg (1929-2021), Granddaughter of Princess Daisy of Pless

Photo (c) Fundacja Księżnej Daisy von Pless.

Over this past weekend, Countess Beatrice von Hochberg died on 10 October at Munich. She was ninety-two years-old. The countess was the eldest sister of the current Prince of Pless.

Count Konrad and Countess Beatrice.

Photo (c) Zamek Książ w Wałbrzychu.

Countess Clotilde von Hochberg (formerly Princess of Pless) with her two eldest children, Count Konrad and Countess Beatrice.

Photo (c) Zamek Książ w Wałbrzychu.

Born on 15 July 1929 at Fürstenstein, Countess Beatrix "Beatrice" Maria Luise Margarethe von Hochberg, Baroness zu Fürstenstein, was the first child and only daughter to arrive during the marriage of Fürst Hans Heinrich XV of Pless, Count von Hochberg, and his second wife doña Clotilde de Silva y González de Candamo, who had married in 1925. Beatrice was followed by a younger brother, Count Konrad (1930-1934), who sadly died at the age of four from meningitis. Hans Heinrich XV and Clotilde of Pless divorced in 1934 after nine years of marriage.

The surviving children of Bolko and Clotilde (l to r): Bolko Jr., Beatrix, and Gioia.
Photo (c) Zamek Książ w Wałbrzychu.

In reality, Beatrice and her brother Konrad were the biological children of Clotilde de Silva y González de Candamo and her stepson Count Bolko von Hochberg. A few months after his father's divorce from his stepmother was finalised, Bolko and Clotilde married in 1934. They welcomed two additional children: Countess Gioia von Hochberg (b.1934; married Count Alfred Schenk von Stauffenberg; married Count Karl Magnus Leutrum von Ertingen) and Count Bolko (b.1936; current Fürst of Pless; married Ruth Marie Therese Reuther; married Elisabeth Malisse). 

Beatrice and her daughter Olivia in the late 1960s.
Photo (c) Zamek Książ w Wałbrzychu.

On 29 December 1951 at Munich, Countess Beatrice von Hochberg married Dr Franz "Frank" Armin Lindemann (b.1920). The couple divorced in 1955; they had no children. On 5 June 1961, Countess Beatrice married András Rudnay de Rudna et Divékujfalu (b.1911). The couple divorced in 1965; they had one daughter, Olivia. 

Countess Beatrice von Hochberg during her last visit to her family's home in 2014.
Photo (c) Zamek Książ w Wałbrzychu.

May the Countess Rest in Peace.

Sister Alix of the Silent Workers of the Cross (Archduchess Marie Adelheid; 1933-2021)

Sister Alix.

Photo (c) Corriere della Sera (Brescia).

At 6:30am on Sunday, 10 October, Sister Alix of the Silent Workers of the Cross died at Poliambulanza after a serious illness. Sister Alix was eighty-eight years old.

Born on 28 July 1933 at Schloß Persenbeug, Archduchess Marie Adelheid Theodora Antonia Bartholomea Leopolda Amalia Mathilde Markus d'Aviano Huberta Josepha Ignatia of Austria was the fourth daughter and fifth child of Archduke Hubert Salvator of Austria (1894-1971) and his wife Princess Rosemary zu Salm-Salm (1904-2001), who married in 1926. Marie Adelheid had twelve siblings: Archduke Friedrich (1927-1999; married Countess Margarete Kálnoky von Köröspatak), Archduchess Agnes (1928-2007; married Prince Karl Alfred of Liechtenstein), Archduchess Maria Margaretha (b.1930), Archduchess Maria Ludovika (1931-1999), Archduchess Elisabeth (1935-1998; married Prince Heinrich von Auersperg), Archduke Andreas Salvator (b.1936; married and divorced Maria Espinosa de los Monteros y Rosillo; married Countess Valerie Podstatzky-Lichtenstein), Archduchess Josepha (b.1937; married Count Clemens von Waldstein), Archduchess Valerie (b.1941; married Margrave Max of Baden), Archduchess Maria Alberta (b.1944; married Baron Alexander von Kottwitz-Erdödy), Archduke Markus (b.1946; married Hildegard Jungmayr), Archduke Johann (b.1947; married Annemarie Stummer), and Archduke Michael (b.1949; married Eva-Antonia von Hofmann). Marie Adelheid had a particular fondness for her three youngest brothers. In 1963, the archduchess became Sister Alix after she joined the Silent Workers of the Cross (Silenziosi Operai della Croce) following a meeting in Rome with its founder, the Blessed Father Luigi Novarese.

Sister Nora, the Head of the Silent Workers of the Cross, remembered Sister Alix: "Always smiling, active, energetic, in all circumstances of life. Her attention to the sick consisted above all in being close to them to instill serenity. Lover of nature and gardening. Many of us remember the works in the park of the Montichiari Castle."

May Sister Alix Rest in Peace.

Source:

Addio a sorella Alix, pronipote dell’imperatore Francesco Giuseppe

Prince Luiz of Brazil Hospitalised Since Last Week

Prince Luiz of Brazil was hospitalised last week in São Paolo after a period of ill health. The prince initially began to feel unwell on 29 September. This information was released on Monday by the Secretariat of the Brazilian Imperial House. The prince, who is eighty-three years-old, has remained under observation by doctors. More information is to be released in due course.

 

The prince spent a period in hospital last November: Prince Luiz, Head of the Brazilian Imperial Family, Released From Hospital Yesterday

A Bracelet at Auction Hints to Romance between Lady Iris Mountbatten and the Last Maharaja of Bundi

Gardener Galleries, an auction house in London, Ontario, currently has on offer a bracelet given to Lady Iris Mountbatten by His Highness Bahadur Singh, Maharaja of Bundi. The bracelet is made of silver and adorned with turquoises, garnets, and pearls. In addition to this jewellery, there are two letters from the Maharaja to Lady Iris, both written in 1950.

Maharao Bahadur Singh of Bundi entertaining a guest in the 1950s.

This is the description of the lot: Exquisite handcrafted antique solid silver hinged bangle bracelet designed in Mughal style of a double elephant head set with turquoise, pearl and garnets - gift to Lady Iris Mountbatten (moved to Toronto in 1960's) from the Maharaja of Bundi Rajputan (Col. HH Maharao Raja Shri Bahadur Singhji Bahadur) - in Birks box with her calling card, portrait photo and also accompanied by letters (some a little salacious) from the Maharaja to her. Following is an extract from one of the letters:

My very own Fatty,

Darling I wanted to write to you so badly for all these months, but as I didn't know your address in the States I couldn't. At last one day I was so worried & upset about you that I couldn't sleep the whole night...

Both letters from the Maharaja are written on his personal stationary, and they bear the arms of the Princely family of Bundi.

Lady Iris Mountbatten at Kensington Palace.

A great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, Lady Iris Mountbatten (1920-1982) was the only child of the Marquess and Marchioness of Carisbrooke.

To see the bracelet, you can visit the website of Gardener Galleries.

To learn more about the last Maharaja of Bundi's service during World War II, you can read this article: Military Digest - The Prince who was a War Hero

Fürst Andreas and Fürstin Alexandra of Leiningen Mark Ruby Wedding Anniversary

Left to right: Princess Monika of Hannover, Fürst Emich of Leiningen, Princess Alexandra of Hannover, Prince Andreas of Leiningen, Fürstin Eilika of Leiningen, and Prince Ernst August of Hannover.

Today, the Fürst and Fürstin of Leiningen celebrate their fortieth wedding anniversary. On 11 October 1981, Prince Andreas of Leiningen married Princess Alexandra of Hannover in a religious ceremony in Austria. The couple had been civilly married the previous day at Amorbach. Andreas (b.1955) was the second son of Fürst Emich of Leiningen and Fürstin Eilika (née Duchess of Oldenburg). Alexandra (b.1959) was the fifth child and third daughter of Prince Ernst August of Hannover and Princess Ortrud (née Princess of Schleswig-Holstein). Andreas and Alexandra have three children: Hereditary Prince Ferdinand (b.1982; married Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia), Princess Olga (b.1984), and Prince Hermann (b.1987; married Isabelle Heubach). The Fürst and Fürstin of Leiningen live at Amorbach. 

Our congratulations to Andreas and Alexandra on the occasion of their Ruby Wedding Anniversary!