An Upcoming Wedding in the Princely House of Croÿ

Prince Emmanuel de Croÿ-Collalto and Olimpia Franzan are to marry in July 2022.

The Croÿ-Collato family in 2016.

Born in 1990 at Uccle, Belgium, Prince Emanuel Manfredo Juste de Croÿ was the first child and only son of Prince Guillaume de Croÿ (b.1950) and Countess Isabella von Collalto und San Salvatore (b.1960), who married in Venice in 1989. Emanuel's paternal grandparents are Prince Emmanuel de Croÿ (1908-1997) and Countess Nicole de Marnix de Sainte-Aldegonde (1919-2011). His maternal grandparents are Fürst Manfred von Collalto und San Salvatore (b.1932) and Maria de la Trinidad Castillo y Moreno (b.1937). Emanuel was followed by a younger sister Princess Violette (b.1995). He works in investment banking in London.

 

The Franzan family in 2015.
Photo (c) Patrick McMullan.

Olimpia Franzan is the daughter of Jacopo "Jacobo" Franzan (b.1961) and Laura Cristiana dei contei Cibrario (b.1964). Olimpia has an older brother, Roberto, and a younger sister, Malvina. Olimpia's maternal grandparents are Nobile Carlo dei conte Cibrario (b.1932) and Maria Donatella Leonetti dei contei di San Janni (b.1940). Through her mother, Olimpia Franzan is a descendant of numerous Italian noble families. She works in marketing in London.

 

Our best wishes to the happy couple!

The Teenage Californian Countess Swept Out to Sea in 1956

Camilla.

On 29 December 1956, Countess Camilla von Schönborn-Buchheim fell victim to the current of the sea and drowned at Strawberry Beach near Half Moon Bay (San Mateo), California. She was only seventeen years-old. Residents of the locale went on the record to state that many visitors to this beach had suffered the same fate. The countess had been with two friends when the tragedy occurred; one of these friends was also captured by the tide, but was able to be saved by the other friend. It was not until 31 December that Camilla's body was found by rescuers, as their search was hampered by the fog that often descended on that part of the Bay Area coast. 

Camilla and Friedrich Karl.

Born on 30 July 1939 at Graz, Countess Camilla Maria Helene Sofie Carolina von Schönborn-Buchheim was the only child of Count Friedrich Karl von Schönborn-Buchheim (1914-2011) and Countess Camilla Chorinsky, Baroness von Ledske (1918-1961), who married in 1938. Camilla's parents divorced in 1945. In 1951, Camilla's father married Edith Carpenter Macy (b.1927), whose mother Lydia married the Prince di San Faustino. Camilla was a student at Sarah Dix Hamlin School, where she was a senior. She lived with her father and stepmother at 2710 Scott Street in San Francisco. Camilla was slated to graduate from the private girls' school in June 1957, and she planned to attend university. Camilla was said to be a fine student and was popular with her classmates. 

Rüdiger Prinz von Sachsen (1953-2022), Great-Grandson of Last King of Saxony

Rüdiger von Sachsen with his grandson Moritz at the wedding of Rüdiger's son Daniel, 2011.

Photo (c) Zoonar / Türpe Tuerp / AGE Fotostock.

On 29 March 2022, Rüdiger Prinz von Sachsen died at his home near Moritzburg after suffering a heart attack. He was sixty-eight years-old.

Prince Timo of Saxony and Margrit Lucas on their wedding day, 1952.

Born on 23 December 1953 at Mülheim an der Ruhr, Rüdiger Karl Ernst Timo Ali Prinz von Sachsen was the first child and only son of Prince Timo of Saxony (1923-1982) and his first wife Margrit Lucas (1932-1957), who wed in 1952. Rüdiger was followed by younger sister Iris (b.1955). Rüdiger and Iris were raised by their maternal family following the tragically early death of their mother Margrit.

Left to right: Prince Dedo, King Friedrich August III, Princess Sophie with Prince Timo, and Prince Ernst Heinrich in 1925.

Rüdiger's paternal grandparents were Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony (1896-1971) and his first wife Princess Sophie of Luxembourg (1902-1941). His paternal great-grandparents were King Friedrich August III of Saxony and Archduchess Louisa of Austria as well as Grand Duke Guillaume IV of Luxembourg and Infanta Maria Anna of Portugal. Rüdiger was the only male-line great-grandson of King Friedrich August III of Saxony. 

Astrid and Rüdiger with their three sons in 1980.

In 1974, Rüdiger married Astrid Linke (1949-1989). The couple had three sons: Daniel (b.1975; married Sandra Scherer), Arne (b.1977; married Sarah Schneider), and Nils (b.1978; married Jedida Taborek). In 2004, Rüdiger married Diana Dorndorf (b.1958); the couple later separated.

Rüdiger with his uncle Prince Dedo of Saxony in Dresden, 2008.
Photo (c) Imago.

Rüdiger Prinz von Sachsen is survived by his three sons and daughters-in-law and his grandchildren.

May Rüdiger Rest in Peace.

The Teenage Californian Countess Swept Out to Sea in 1956

Camilla.

On 29 December 1956, Countess Camilla von Schönborn-Buchheim fell victim to the current of the sea and drowned at Strawberry Beach near Half Moon Bay (San Mateo), California. She was only seventeen years-old. Residents of the locale went on the record to state that many visitors to this beach had suffered the same fate. The countess had been with two friends when the tragedy occurred; one of these friends was also captured by the tide, but was able to be saved by the other friend. It was not until 31 December that Camilla's body was found by rescuers, as their search was hampered by the fog that often descended on that part of the Bay Area coast. 

Camilla and Friedrich Karl.

Born on 30 July 1939 at Graz, Countess Camilla Maria Helene Sofie Carolina von Schönborn-Buchheim was the only child of Count Friedrich Karl von Schönborn-Buchheim (1914-2011) and Countess Camilla Chorinsky, Baroness von Ledske (1918-1961), who married in 1938. Camilla's parents divorced in 1945. In 1951, Camilla's father married Edith Carpenter Macy (b.1927), whose mother Lydia married the Prince di San Faustino. Camilla was a student at Sarah Dix Hamlin School, where she was a senior. She lived with her father and stepmother at 2710 Scott Street in San Francisco. Camilla was slated to graduate from the private girls' school in June 1957, and she planned to attend university. Camilla was said to be a fine student and was popular with her classmates. 

The 7th Duke of Montebello (1939-2022)

Obituary from Sud Ouest.

Maurice Lannes, 7. duc de Montebello, died on 26 March 2022 at Mareuil, France. He was eighty-two years-old.

Born on 2 July 1939 at Biarritz, Maurice Georges Antoine Marie Lannes, Marquis de Montebello ,was the son of Napoléon Lannes, 6. duc de Montebello (1903-1988), and his second wife Princess Diane de Broglie (1903-1987), who married in 1930. Maurice Lannes de Montebello was the great-great-great-grandson of Marechal Jean Lannes (1769-1809), who in 1808 was created 1. duc de Montebello by Emperor Napoléon I.

In 1971, Maurice Lannes de Montebello married Johanna Christina Meyer-Ratken (b.1939). The couple had four children: Jean-Michel Lannes, Marquis de Montebello (1972-2004); Benoît Lannes, Marquis de Montebello (b.1973; now 8th duc de Montebello); Emmanuella Lannes de Montebello (b.1975; married Laurent Colnat), and Désirée Lannes (b.1976; married Michael Drihen).

The funeral of the late duke will take place today, 31 March, at the Église Saint-Laurent de Mareuil with the burial to follow in the church's cemetery. 

For more on the genealogy of the ancestry of the Lannes de Montebello family, you may visit this website:

Lannes de Montebello

The Funeral of Madame the Dowager Countess of Paris

Photo (c) Ancien Ordre de L'Etoile et de Notre-Dame du Mont Carmel.

 

The funeral of Princess Micaëla d'Orléans, Dowager Countess of Paris, took place at the Église Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois on Tuesday, 22 March. The princess was the widow of Prince Henri d'Orléans, Count of Paris, who was Head of the Royal House of France from 1999 until his death in 2019. The couple civilly married in 1984 and religiously married in 2009. Princess Micaëla passed away on 13 March. 

Busts of the late Count and Countess of Paris in the church.
Photo (c) Ancien Ordre de L'Etoile et de Notre-Dame du Mont Carmel.

The funeral mass was attended by the son of the late princess, Monsieur Alexis Francis-Boeuf, as well as by Prince Michel and Princess Barbara d'Orléans, Count and Countess d'Évreux, Prince Charles-Louis and Princess Illéana d'Orléans, Duke and Duchess of Chartres, and by Princess Chantal d'Orléans and her husband François Xavier de Sambucy de Sorgue.

Photo (c) Ancien Ordre de L'Etoile et de Notre-Dame du Mont Carmel.

Archpriest Patrick Chauvet officiated over the funeral mass. 

 

Photo (c) Ancien Ordre de L'Etoile et de Notre-Dame du Mont Carmel.

May the Dowager Countess of Paris Rest in Peace.  

Superb Objets d'Art to be Auctioned from the Estate of Duke Ferdinand of Württemberg

On 30 March, the auction house Neumeister will be hosting a magnificent sale: Hidden Treasures - Treasures from the House of Württemberg. The historically significant items contained in the auction come from the estate of Duke Ferdinand Eugen of Württemberg (1925-2020). Neumeister received sixty wooden boxes in 2021; these boxes and the treasures therein were from the the Württemberg royal family's former castle in Carlsruhe, which was destroyed in 1945 by the Red Army - but not before the Württembergs were able to move their heritage from the castle. Among the collection are beautiful and poignant portraits of members of the royal families of Württemberg, France, Austria, and Bulgaria. Duke Ferdinand Eugen was the eldest child of Duke Albrecht Eugen of Württemberg (1895-1954) and Princess Nadejda of Bulgaria (1899-1958). He was a grandson of King Ferdinand of Bulgaria. 

Source: Neumeister