In Austria, where the constitution forbids noble titles, he is Karl Habsburg-Lothringen. Elsewhere he is His Imperial and Royal Highness, Archduke Karl Thomas Robert Maria Franziskus Georg Bahnam von Habsburg-Lothringen, Prince Imperial of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia.
HI&RH was born January 11, 1961, the sixth child and eldest son of Crown Prince Otto von Hapsburg. Otto is the eldest son of Charles, the last Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, and the current head of the Hapsburg family.
Karl Habsburg is the founder and president of the organization Paneurope-Austria (1987). On October 13, 1996 he was elected to the European Parliament (Austrian People's Party). Since January 19, 2002 he has been the Direcor General of UNPO (Unrepresented Nations and People Organisation).
Archduke Karl has lived in Salzburg, Austria, since 1981. On 31 January 1993, he married Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza, the only daughter of Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza, a European industrialist known for his art collecting and multiple marriages, and his second wife, Fiona Campbell Walter, a leading British fashion model of the 1950s and 1960s.
The Archduke and Archduchess have three children.
HI&RH Archduchess Eleonore Jelena Maria del Pilar Iona of Austria (born February 28, 1994)
HI&RH Archduke Ferdinand Zvonimir Maria Balthus Keith Michal Otto Antal Bahnam Leonhard of Austria (born June 21, 1997), who is heir after his father of the House of Habsburg-Lothringen.
HI&RH Archduchess Gloria Maria Bogdana Paloma Regina Fiona Gabriela of Austria (born October 15, 1999), whose godmother is Gloria, Princess of Thurn and Taxis.
I rather think that just as some royals are happy exhibitionists who complain about paparazzi but but nonetheless frequent public places, others are either quite reclusive or sufficiently dull that no one takes photo. I had a difficult time coming up with these photos. I found a very few more that were of poorer quality than these and didn't seem worth the bother to post.
If you like a bit of royal gossip, here is a link on the wild child who became a great art curator and ultimately heiress to a no-longer-extant empire. She is now settled down and, based on earlier days, I should not blame her if she stays out of the limelight now and enjoys family life and art instead.Sorry, no videos this week. If you check YouTube under his name you get the funeral of his uncle instead.
--the BB
13 comments:
Oh those Hapsburgs- they were quite the thing back in the day. I learned a lot about them when I was studying some Spanish history.
Francesca's father's astounding art is in an eponymously (one so rarely gets to use that term!) named museum in Madrid; not far from the Prado.
The Thyssen-Bournemisza is one of my favorite museums in the world - of course, the Prado stands in its own light.
I did like reading about her party days more than I care to admit.
And is Thurn and Taxis not the best surname ever? Well I am always amused by it.
Fran, I too enjoyed reading about the Archduchess' earlier days perhaps a wee bit too much.
Some years ago I saw a traveling exhibition of art from the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection, so I had heard of her father. When reading about HI&RH Karl yesterday I thought of huge art collections and vast wealth the moment I came across her name.
The prince does not have the Hapsburg chin, does he? It may be so weakened in the gene pool that it doesn't show up any longer. Then, too, the royals don't marry cousins as much as in the past. I love that the princess was a wild child.
What's a "thurn"? I know what "taxis" are.
Do you know the name of the church they were married in?
Silly, silly, silly me.
The wedding seems to have taken place in the Mariazell Basilica. The bride's gown was by Versace and I believe her veil was a Hapsburg family heirloom.
There is a board game: "In Thurn & Taxis , players build post office routes across Bavaria and the regions around, collecting bonus points in various ways."
Because you stimulated my curiosity: "The Princely House of Thurn and Taxis is a German family whose fortune derives from their position as hereditary general postmasters of the Holy Roman Empire. As such, the family was a key player in the postal (mail) services in Europe in the 16th century. The Thurn and Taxis family remains well known as owners of breweries and builders of countless castles."
Your humorous definitional request leads me to posit that, however it is defined, a roll in the hay with with a virtuous postmaster might be considered "doing a good Thurn."
And you a grandmother and me a priest!
Paul, I did not tempt you to naughtiness. It was either the devil or your own inner fallen state that led you there.
Now I'm going to check out the basilica.
It's so much more fun blaming you, Mimi, than simply admitting that I am intrinsically naughty. And it had definitely not occurred to me on my own to wonder about "Thurn."
Teehee.
The basilica is a mish-mash of architectural styles. The outside is ruined IMHO, by the later additions, and the interior is too much. BAROQUE in capitals.
That's an interesting statue, the Magna Mater of Austria, dressed in clothing. Very strange looking now. I'd like to see it without the dress. I'm presuming that the statue was carved wearing clothing. OCICBW.
Central European Baroque does absolutely nothing for me (except make me want to run toward something austerely Romanesque). [Now why did I just ask and answer: Can there be too much whipped cream? Yes!]
I leave speculating about what lies under a lady's outer clothing to others, as I have so many friends for whom that might be a question of interest.
I am laughing so very hard - Taxi, please thurn right here!
You two and your naughty, naughty games!
That poor Hapsburg chin business is so correct Mimi. Have you all seen Las Meninas? It is Hapsburg gene-poolery in full display!
Although all joking aside, to see it in person is a moment of awe. And bad gene poolery!
Fran, you're not bad yourself for bringing on a laugh. "Taxi, please thurn right here." LOL
Whoa! The chin of the woman in the painting is more striking than those of the King Philips, or should that be Kings Philip?
Otto von Hapsburg (or more commonly, Dr. Hapsburg) always had a good sense of perspective.
At a reception once, he was asked if he was following the World Cup soccer tournament then underway. Specifically, he was asked, "Did you see the Austria - Hungary game?"
The man who would be Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary replied, "No. Who were they playing?"
Ya gotta be able to laugh about it.
LMAO.
Malcolm, that is just a scream. Thanks for sharing it here.
Oh Malcolm!!!!!!
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