† Duchess Ilona zu Mecklenburg

HI & RH Duchess Ilona zu Mecklenburg, née Archduchess of Austria passed away in the morning of 12. Janaury 2010 at Bad Krouingen. She was born on 20.04.1927 as second daughter of Archduke Joseph Franz of Austria (from the hungarian line) and his wife Anna, née Princess of Saxony.  In 1045 she married at Sigmaringen Duke Georg Alexander of Mecklenburg, from the Strelitz line, who was the only son of Duke Georg. The marriage ended in divorce in 1974. The couplehad foour children: Duchess Elisabeth Crhstine (*1947), Duchess Maria katharine (*1949), Duchess Irene (*1054) and Duke Borwin (* 1956).

http://www.mecklenburg-strelitz.org/news.html

† Princess Irmingard of Bavaria

Princess  Irmingard of Bavaria passed away on Saturday 23.10.2010 at Leutstetten. The Princess was born on 29.05.1923 at Berchtsgaden as oldest daughter and second child of the last bavarian Crown Prince Rupprecht and his second wife Antonia, née Princess of Luxemburg. After her the couple got four more daughters. She spend her childhood in Berchtesgaden, Hohehenschwangau Castle and the Leuchtenberg Palais in Munich which where the homes of her parents. In 1940 she and her Family had to flly because of the National Sozialists. The princess lived the next 5 years near Florence. In 1944 first her mother and her sisters where arrested by the Gestapo and the Princess 2 months later.  There the Princess fell ill of Typhus. Only in February 1945 she was reunited with her Family when she was able to be transported to the KZ Flössenbürg. In 1950 Princess Irmingard married her first cousin Princess Ludwig of Bavria in a ceremony which took place at Nymphenburg Castle on 20.07.1950. They had one son prince Luitpold who runs one Bavaria's most successfull breweries Kaltenberg.

The Princess and her husband lived together at Leutstetten Castle outside of Munich. There Prince Ludwig passed away in October 2008 at the age of 95 and his widow followed him in death almost exactly 2 years later. The funeral will take place in private and a official Requiem is planned for 04. November at the Theatiner Church in Munich.

http://www.ovb-online.de/nachrichten/stars/irmingard-prinzessin-bayern-gestorben-zr-977627.html

Another Wedding in the House of Oldenburg

Only six Weeks after the Wedding of Duchess Tatiana of Oldenburg another Wedding took place id the Grand Ducal Family. Her cousin duchess Beatrix, older daughter of Duke Huno and his wife Fenita, married Sven von Storch. The civil marriage took place on the Castle of Eutin on 22. October. On the next day 23. October the oecumenuic religious Ceremony took palce at the Castle church of Eutin. Among the guest wher duke Friedrich August and Duchess Donata of Oldenburg
http://www.shz.de/nachrichten/lokales/ostholsteiner-anzeiger/artikeldetails/article/111/die-herzogin-heisst-jetzt-von-storch.html
http://www.ln-online.de/artikel/2871916

Wedding in the House of Ysenburg

The Wedding of Prince Ludwig zu Ysenburg and Büdingen and Chantal Toelle took place on 02.10.2010 at the Chapel of Glücksburg Castle. The groom is the younger son of the late Prince Ferdinand-Heinrich zu Ysenburg and Büdingen in Wächtersbach and his wiffe Elisabeth, née Princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. The 35 yeatrs old bride comes from Hamburg but she works for a Bank at Frankfurt where the couple now lives. The oecumenical Wedding took place only 3 months after the Wedding of Ludwigs older brother Johann-Georg who married on 05.06. Dr. Stefanie Bittner. The reason that the Couple choose the chapel of Glücksburg Castleis that the grooms mother since the death of her husband lives and works at Glücksburg where she was born.

http://www.shz.de/nachrichten/lokales/flensburger-tageblatt/artikeldetails/browse/1/article/218/prinzenhochzeit-im-wasserschloss.html

religious Wedding of the Hereditary Prince zu Fürstenberg

The religious Wedding of Herediatrys Prince Christian zu Fürstenberg and Jeanette Griesel took place on Saturday 25.09.2010 at the San _Saklavatore Church at Lauro opposide of the Engelsburg at Rome. The couple had alread married in civil Ceremony on 16.09.

The Ceremony was officiated by the former Priest of Donaueschingen Hans-Peter Fischer. The guestes included the entire Families of the bridal Couple and also Fürst Albert of thurn and Taxis, Polf and Maryam Sachs, prince and Prince Erich Lobkowicz, Prince Albrecht of Hohenzollern and the Prince and Princess Ruffo di Calabria.

http://www.suedkurier.de/region/schwarzwald-baar-heuberg/donaueschingen/Fuerstliche-Traumhochzeit-am-Tiber-Ufer;art372512,4498361

http://www.suedkurier.de/storage/pic/region/schwarzwald-baar-heuberg/donaueschingen/2010/fuerstenberghochzeit160910/4949018_1_6A3FJ4C0.jpg

funeral of Fürst Friedrich Wilhelm of Hohenzollern

On Thursday 23.09.2010 the Requiem for the late Fürst Friedrich Wilhelm of Hohenzollern took place at the Hedinger Church at Sigmaringen. After the Service the coffin of the Fürst was brought in the cloister of the Church where he was later buried. The Service started at 11h00 CEST at lasted for about 2 hours. The first guests arrvied at the Church at around 10h00 CESt. Only the siblings and children of the late Fürst and their Families arrvied out of the public at the back of the Church. The Service was broadcasted outside on a big screen where the had build up benches for the population of Sigmaringen to folloew the Serive. After the Service all people could go inside the Church to play their last Respect to the Fürst.

Among the noble Guest who whre present where:

Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia,

Duke Carl, Duke Friedrich and Duke Ferdinand of Württemberg

Margrave Max, Margravine Valerie, Hereditary Prince Bernhard, Hereditary Princess Stephanie, Prince Leopold and Prince Michael of Baden

Landgrave Moritz of Hesse

Fürst Alexander zu Schaumbrug-Lippe

Archduke Joseph, Archduchess Maria and Archduke Michael of Austria

Duke Max and Duchess Elizabeth in Bavaria, Prince Leopold, Princess Ursula, Prince Manuel, Prince Adalbert and Princess Sandra of Bavaria

Prince Constantin of Liechtenstein

Prince Michael and Princess Dagmar of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

Fürt Kraft and Hereditary Prince Kraft zu Hohenlohe-Oehringen

Hereditary Count Karl-Eugen and Hereditary Coutness Andrea of Neipperg

Hereditary Count Erich and Hereditary Countess Mathilde of Waldburg zu Zeil and Trauchburg

Fürst Albrt of Thurn and Taxis

Fürstin Heinrich and Fürstin Paula zu Fürstenberg

Prince Andreas and Princess Luise zu Hohenlohe-Langenbrug

Count Hans-Veit zu Toerring-Jettenbach

Fürst Mariano Hugo zu Windisch-Graetz

Fürst Johann Friedrich zu Castell-Rüdenhausen and at last one of his brothers

Count Gustav zu Solms-Laubach

Count Alexander of Schönburg-Glauchau

Fürst Philipp zu Stolberg-Wernigerode

Prince Maximilian zu Ysenburg and Büdingen

Count Hans Veit zu Toerring-Jettenbach

Fürst Andreas and Fürstin Alexandra zu Leiningen

Prince Karl-Emich and Prince Isabelle zu Leiningen

Duke Borwin zu Mecklenburg

http://www.suedkurier.de/region/linzgau-zollern-alb/sigmaringen/-bdquo-Wegen-der-Menschen-tat-er-es-ldquo-;art372574,4494384
http://www.suedkurier.de/region/linzgau-zollern-alb/sigmaringen/Friedrich-Wilhelm-beerdigt;art372574,4494631
http://www.schwaebische.de/lokales/sigmaringen/sigmaringen_artikel,-Sechs-Foerster-tragen-den-Fuersten-zur-letzten-Ruhestaette-_arid,4163644.html
Gallery of my Pics

civil Wedding of the Hereditary Prince zu Fürstenberg

The civil Weddin of Hereditary Prince Christian zu Fürstenberg and Jeannette Griesel took place today at noon in the Park of Donaueschingen Castle. The marriage was conducted by the mayor of Donauschingen Thorsten Frei. The religious Wedding will take place on 25.09. in Rome.

Present at the Ceremony where Fürstin Heinrich, Fürstin Maximiliane, Fürstin Paula, Count Hubertus of Hardenberg and Atnoinette Bagusat, née Princess zu Fürtenberg. The witnesses where the grooms brother, Prince Antonius and a good friend of the bride. After the ceremony there was a dinner at Donaueschingen Castle. 

Later the new married Couple drove in the historc "Kaiserwagen" at the top of the Reitturnir-Festzug

http://www.suedkurier.de/region/schwarzwald-baar-heuberg/donaueschingen/Fuerstenberg-Prinz-gab-im-Schlossgarten-sein-Ja-Wort;art372512,4482738

Pcs from the civil Wedding
Pics from the Carriage Tour


 

† Fürst Friedrich Wilhelm of Hohenzollern

Fürst Friedrich Wilhelm of Hohenzollern died in the in the morning of 16.09.2010 at the age of 86 at Umkirch. He had already since a few years health-problems.

He was borin on 03.02.1924 as oldest son and 4th child of Fürst Friedrich of Hohenzollern and his wife Margarethe, née Princess of Saxony. After his studies in Freiburg and Genf he took over the adiminstration of the Family posessions.
In 1951 he married Princess Margarita zu Leiningen wo died in 1996. They had 3 sons together and the oldest Karl Friedrisch succeeds now als new Fürst.
http://www.schwaebische.de/lokales/sigmaringen/sigmaringen_artikel,-Friedrich-Wilhelm-Fuerst-von-Hohenzollern-ist-tot-_arid,4159670.html

Ducal Wedding at Eutin

On Saturday 11.09.2010 the citiy of Eutin saw a noble Wedding. Duchess Tatiana of Oldenburg married her french finacee, Comte Axel de Chavagnac at the Castlechurch. The bride is the younger daughter of Duke Johann and Duchess Ilka of Oldenburg and a great-granddaughter of the Oldenbrugs last ereigning Grand Duke Friedrich August. She was previously engaged in 2001 to prince Jean of France, duke of Vendôme but the engemengemnt wasd broken some time before the planned Wedding.  Her engagement to Comte Axel de Chavagnac was announced in Janaury 2010. 

The oecumenical Wedding took place at the Castlechurch of Wutin. As the bridal Couple had wished for a private Wedding the Area of the Castle was closed to the Public and only invited guests where led in. The SErvioce was lead by the former Propst of Eutin Dr. Horst Dreyer and Kaplan Oliver Maik who took over the catholic part of the Serice (the religion of the groom).

Among the guests where the brides sister Ardchduchess Eilika and her husband Archduke Georg of Austria wither her 3 children, Zsofia, Ildiko and Karl-Konstantin, who ehere flower-children, Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia, Duke Friedrich August and Duchess Donata of Oldenburg, Count Konstantin of Schönborn and many more,

Article with photo: http://www.ln-online.de/artikel/2849512

Golden Wedding at Altshausen

On Saturday 24.07.2010 Duke Carl and Duchess celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary with an special Service in the Castle Church St. Michael at Altshausen. After the Service a reception for all people of Altshausen took place at the recently opend Gallery in the Alte Remise of the Castle.
Present where all 5 children of the Couple with their spouses and children. They only who was not present was Duchess Fleur who is expecting her third these days. There where all some other Guests present but they walked direct from the Castle to the Church and also back after the Service so they could not seen from the public. I could recognize Duke Max and Duchess Elizabeth in Bavaria and 2 sisters of Duke Carl (but not sure whioch ones).

The children and grandchildren leaving the Castle

in front: Duke Carl Theodor with his sister Duchess Anna
and Duchess Sophie-Dorothée


after them: Duchess Marie, Duke Friedrich
and Duke Wilhelm

Duchess Julia, Duke Michael, Hereditary Countess
Mathilde and Hereditary Count Erich

Duke Eberhard with Duchess Sophie

The last where the Jubilee Couple
Duke Carl and Duchess Diane


At the sideentrance they where greeted by the Priest
and had to wait a little bit until the Procession in the Church was formed

The Mass lasted for 1 1/2 hours. In the meatime it had started to rain again but luckily when the Mass had ended it was only a little bit rain.

After the Couple came the grandchildren.
Here Duke Carl Thedor and Duke Wihelm


followed by their sisters and cousins


Duke Friedrich and Duchess Marie followed by
Hereditary Count Erich and Hereditary Countess Mathilde


Hereditary Countess Mathilde and Hereditary Count Erich behind
them Duchess Julia, Duchess Marie Caroline and Duke Eberhard

The children and grandchildren went back into the Castle but Duke Carl and Duchess Diane went to the Gallery in the Alte Remise where a reception took place. Some of the local organisations made dances and music there.

70th birthday Duchess Diane of Württemberg

On 24. Aopril 2010 the 70th birthday of HRH Duchess Diane of Württemberg was celebrated at Altshausen Castle. On of the Events was a reception at the former Alte Remise of the Castle which was renovated in the past months and now reopened as Gallery where the Artworks of the Duchess are on display. Among the guests where are a lot of local politicans and people from the foundations which the Duchess helps with the sale of her artworks but also the Prime Minister of Baden-Württemberg Stefan Mappus with his wife, as the former Prime Minister Lothar Späth with his wife Ursula (who happen to be good friends of the Royal Family). Other guests included Prince Radu of Romania who walked together with the Royal family, the First Lady of Paraguay and the mayor of Stuttgart with his wife.

Duchess Marie, Duchess Diane and Duke Carl

Count Moritz of Goess, Duchess Marie Caroline and Duke Philipp,
behind them Duke Michael and Duchess Julia, Hereditary Countess Mathilde and
Hereditary Count Erich of Waldburg zu Zeil and Trauchburg

Duchess Helene, Margravine Pallavicini and her
husband Margrave Friedrich Pallavicini


Duke Friedrich and Mercedes Lugo de
Maidana, First Lady of Paraguay

Duke Friedrich came out to welcome
the highest guests

Duke Friedrich welcomes Prime Minister Stefan Mappus
and his wife Susanne Verweyen-Mappus

Arrival of former Prime Minster Lothar Späth
and his wife Ursula

Gebhard Fürst, Bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart

The major of Stuttgart Wolfgang Schuster
and his wife Stefanie

St. Augustiner Church at Coburg

The St. Augstiner Church in Coburg was build from 1855-1860 according Plans of Vicenz Fischer-Birnbaun. In honor of Prince August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha wo had helped the project financiell it was inaugurated on the death anniversary of Augustinus von Hipp on 28.08.1860. Under the Church is a Crypt where the member of the catholic branch of the Ducal Family of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha the so called Kohary branch are buried.

The Entrance in the Vault

When one comes into the Crypt under the Church there is first a little Chapel and then there are 2 Crypts. On the right is the so called Tsars Cryptand then there is another Crypt on the left side.

The Chapel

The Tsars Crypt

In the Tsars Crypt are the builder of the Crypt Prince August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1818-1881) and his wife Princess Clementine, née Princess of Orléans (1818-1907) buried. Also their youngest son King Ferdinand I. of the Bulgarians (1861-1948)is buried in this Crypt.

The double Sarcophagus of Princess August and Princess Clementine






The Sarcophagus of King Ferdinand of the Bulgarians




The left Crypt








Plaque in honor of the 120th anniversary of the
birth of Prince Leopold (1878-1916)

Plaque in honor of Princess Maria (1899-1941)
who died in the KZ at Pola



Plaque in honor of Prince Rainer (b 1900)
who is missed since Spring 1945



Sarcophags of Princess Leopoldine, née Princess of Brazil
(1847-1871) and Prince August (1845-1907)



Sarcophagus of Prince Philipp (1844-1921)



Sarcophagus of Prince Peter August (1866-1934)



Sarcophagus of Prince Leopold (1878-1916)



Sarcophagus of Prince Franz Joseph (1869-1916)

Plaque in memory of Duchess Dorothea of Schleswig-Holstein-
Sonderburg-Augustenburg, née Princess of Saxe-Coburg
and Gotha (1891-1967)

Grave Plaques for Prince Ludwig Gaston (1870-1942),
Princess Maria Anna, née Countes of Trauttmannsdorff-Weinsberg
(1873-1948) and Princess Josefine (1911-1997)