Family Gather in Madeira to Commemorate the Blessed Emperor Karl of Austria

The descendants of Blessed Karl of Austria, April 2022.

Last weekend, at least one hundred descendants of Emperor Karl I of Austria-Hungary gathered on the island of Madeira. The emperor died on Madeira on 1 April 1922. He was only thirty-four years-old. In 2004, Emperor Karl was beautified by Pope John Paul II.

The imperial family in the Cathedral of Funchal. Front row: Archduke Karl, Archduchess Anna Gabriele, Archduke Georg, and Archduchess Maria Beatrix. Photo (c) Duarte Gomes.

Archduke Karl and Archduke Georg with their aunt Archduchess Anna Gabriele. Photo (c) Duarte Gomes.

Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, wearing the Order of the Golden Fleece. Photo (c) Duarte Gomes.

On 1 April 2022, a Mass was held at the Church of Our Lady of the Mount in Funchal. The church was packed with a large number of descendants of Emperor Karl and Empress Zita. Among those present were Archduke Karl, Head of the Imperial House and a grandson of the emperor, as well as Archduchess Anna Gabriele, a daughter-in-law of the late emperor, and Dom Duarte, Duke of Braganza and Head of the Royal House of Portugal. 

Father László Erffa, the Bishop of Funchal, Father Paul Habsburg, and Father Johannes Habsburg. Photo (c) Duarte Gomes.

In the homily for the Eucharist, the Bishop of Funchal, Dom Nuno Brás, stated: "Faithfulness to God and to the commitments that God had entrusted to him at the time of his coronation as Apostolic King of Hungary, always led and enlightened him [Karl] in the understanding of reality and in the search for paths that would lead to a happy life for all. As ruler of the Empire, looking for new ways to respond to new needs; he did so as a believer, living on the basis of faith” And that's what the Servant of God Zita recognised, when questioned by a journalist about how she and Karl found the strength to overcome the persecution and betrayal they were subjected to, she replied: 'Without faith, it would have been impossible.' In these days, once again marked by a war that invades our Europe, we must look to the example of this Holy Emperor. [An emperor who] sought to make peace; but also an Emperor who ‘breathed’ an inner peace that could only come from God."

On 15 March, Dom Nuno Brás reflected on the life and example of the Blessed Emperor Karl of Austria. In his writing, the Bishop of Funchal recalled to readers the three core tenants of the beliefs and faith of the emperor:

First, the primacy of God. In personal life, be it interior, in the secret of conscience, or public, in the attitudes and words that someone addresses to everyone; and, above all, the primacy of God in political life, in the organization of society and in the laws that regulate its way of life. Throughout his life, this was Karl's secret: God and his will, sought after, known and lived as far as our strength and abilities allow. Then the primacy of the person. The person is seen not as a means to an end, not as another insignificant number, but as someone dear and loved by God for himself, with a unique dignity that cannot be compared to the mere consideration of one in the midst of an anonymous mass. Finally, the primacy of peace. It may seem strange, but the fact is that at the beginning of the 20th century (and even today), many defended war as a means of human progress: from the partisans of the class struggle to the defenders of savage individualism that does not look at nothing or anyone to achieve your purposes. In front of these and against them, Karl, since he arrived at the head of the Empire, always tried seriously and with all his strength to find ways to peace in Europe and in the world.

Sources:

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Us and Blessed Karl of Austria

Princess Monica of Liechtenstein, Who Eloped In Brazil, Is 80!

Princess Monica.

Today, Princess Monica von und zu Liechtenstein celebrates her eightieth birthday!

Born on 8 April 1942 at Vienna, Princess Monica Maria Theresia Elisabeth of Liechtenstein was the only child of Prince Constantin of Liechtenstein (1911-2001) and his first wife Maria Elisabeth von Leutzendorff (1921-1944), who married in 1941. Princess Maria Elisabeth was killed during a bombing raid in Vienna. In the late 1970s, Prince Constantin remarried to Countess Ilona Esterházy von Galántha (1921-2019; widow of Count Miklós Cziráky von Czirák und Dénesfalva).

Prince Constantin and Princess Monica were guests at a party given in St. Moritz by Joan Crawford in 1955, which is noted in the pages of Joan's not-so-happy daughter Christina's book, Mommie Dearest. The following year, in 1956, when she was fourteen, Monica and Prince Francesco Borghese began a relationship. Her father was so disturbed by the romantic attachment of his daughter, owing to her youth, that he had Monica stay in a convent in Vienna for a year to "think it over." Needless to say, Monica and Francesco did not marry.

In 1959, Princess Monica represented her family at the inauguration of the new Brazilian capital, Brasília. During the festivities, she met her future husband, Andrzej Franciszek Spitzman Jordan (b.1933; also known as André Franz Jordan), a Polish expat who had become a businessman in Latin America. The couple swiftly fell in love. When Monica returned to Vaduz, she told her family of her feelings for André. Her father Constantin was not wholly opposed to his only child's desire to marry Mr. Jordan. However, her cousin Prince Franz Joseph II and his wife Princess Georgina did not think the union wise or "suitable," given Monica's status. In an attempt to win over her family, Monica cabled André and asked him to come to Liechtenstein, which he did in short order. His reception by the princely family was reportedly courteous but not terribly warm. Franz Joseph told Monica: "The young man is cultured and pleasant and I wish him well. But I'm dead set against your marrying a commoner as I've been before." Faced with the opposition of the sovereign prince, Monica decided to do a rather daring deed. The eighteen year-old decided to run away from home and elope. She and André agreed that he would return to Rio de Janeiro and prepare for their marriage. Several weeks later, Monica pretended that she was going to visit relatives in Paris. When she arrived in the French capital, she boarded a plane for Brazil that ended up being grounded in London due to poor weather conditions. It took her father Constantin almost two days to find out that his daughter was staying at a hotel in the British capital. He was able to reach Monica by phone, but she refused to return to Vaduz. The next day she flew to Brazil. 

Monica and André on their wedding day.

On 25 November 1960 at Rio de Janeiro, Princess Monica of Liechtenstein and André Jordan were married. The couple had two sons, Gilberto Frederic Jordan (b.1961) and Constantino Pedro Jordan (b.1964), before divorcing in 1969. Prince Constantin flew to Rio for his first grandson Gilberto's christening. In February 1979, Princess Monica joined her father Prince Constantin and their cousin Princess Barbara with her husband Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia for a holiday in St. Moritz. 

Prince Constantin and his daughter Princess Monica, 1958.

Our best wishes to the Princess on her birthday!

The 90th Birthday of Princess Isabelle d'Orléans, Countess of Schönborn-Buchheim

Count Friedrich Karl von Schönborn and Princess Isabelle d'Orléans at the funeral of Madame the Countess of Paris, 2003.

Today, Princess Isabelle d'Orléans celebrates her ninetieth birthday!

Isabelle with her grandparents/godparents: Princess Elizabeth of Orléans-Branganza and the Duke of Guise, 1932.

The baptism of Princess Isabelle. From left to right: Princess Isabelle, Countess d'Harcourt; the Count of Paris, Prince Pedro of Orléans-Braganza, the Duchess of Guise, Queen Marie-Amélie of Portugal, the Duke of Guise, and Princess Elizabeth of Orléans-Braganza. In front is the Countess of Paris with little Princess Isabelle. Photo (c) Getty Images / Keystone-France.

Born on 8 April 1932 at Woluwé-Saint-Pierre in Belgium, Princess Isabelle "Isa" Marie Laura Victoire d'Orléans was the first child of Prince Henri and Princess Isabelle, the Count and Countess of Paris. 

Prince Henri, future Count of Paris, with his sister Princess Isabelle. Photo (c) Getty Images / Keystone-France.

The Count and  Countess of Paris with their eleven children. Photo (c) Getty Images / STF.

Isabelle had ten younger siblings. She was followed by Prince Henri (1933-2019), Princess Hélène (b.1934), Prince François (1935-1960), Princess Anne (b.1938), Princess Diane (b.1940), the twins Prince Michel and Prince Jacques (b.1941), Princess Claude (b.1943), Princess Chantal (b.1946), and Prince Thibaut (1948-1983). Princess Isabelle obtained an education in social work and nursing. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Isabelle worked as a volunteer nurse in Paris in addition to working in a psychiatric facility in Brooklyn. 

Princess Isabelle on the cover of Paris Match.

Princess Isabelle and Count Friedrich Karl at home. Photo (c) Getty Images / Jack Garofalo.

In September 1964, Princess Isabelle d'Orléans married Count Friedrich Karl von Schönborn-Buchheim (b.Schönborn 30 March 1938), the second son of Count Georg von Schönborn-Buchheim (1906-1989) and Countess Elisabeth Orssich de Slavetich (1902-1967). The couple had first met in 1954 at a ball. Isabelle's religious wedding was held discretely at Dreux. 

Friedrich Karl and Isabelle with their children. Photo (c) Getty Images / Slim Aarons. 

Count Karl Friedrich and Princess Isabelle have five children: Hereditary Count Damian (b.1965; married Deirdre Mary Ascough), Count Vinzenz (b.1966; married Katharina Maria Christiane Martina Graf (b.1975), Countess Lorraine Marie (b.1968; married Count Wilhelm von Spee), Countess Claire Marie (b.1969; married Wolfgang Liechtenfeld), and Count Melchior Raphael (b.1977; married Bernadette von Mentzingen). 

Princess Isabelle in 2000. Photo (c) Seeger-Presse.

Our best wishes to the Princess on her birthday!

The 60th Birthday of Prince Carl Christian of Hohenzollern

Prince Carl Christian in the arms of his great-grandfather King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden while his mother Princess Birgitta looks on, 1962.

Today, Prince Carl Christian of Hohenzollern celebrates his sixtieth birthday!

Prince Johann Georg and Princess Birgitta with their three children: Prince Carl Christian, Princess Désirée, and baby Prince Hubertus, 1966.
Photo (c) Getty Images / Keystone-France.

Born on 5 April 1962 at Munich, Prince Carl Christian Friedrich Johannes Meinrad Maria Hubertus Edmund of Hohenzollern was the first child of Prince Johann Georg of Hohenzollern (1932-2016) and Princess Birgitta of Sweden (b.1937), who wed in 1961. Carl Christian was followed by a younger sister and a brother: Princess Désirée (b.1963) and Prince Hubertus (b.1966).

 

Prince Carl Christian and Princess Nicole on their wedding day, 1999.
Photo (c) Seeger-Presse.

Princess Nicole with Prince Nicolas, and Prince Carl Christian at the wedding of Prince Hubertus in 2000.

 

In July 1999, Prince Carl Christian married Nicole Neschitsch (b.1968). Later that year, the couple welcomed the birth of their son and only child, Prince Nicolas.

 

Our best wishes to Carl Christian on his birthday!

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.