Iñaki Urdangarín y Liebaert

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

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Iñaki Urdangarín y Liebaert

Iñaki Urdangarín y Liebaert is the former husband of Infanta Cristina of Spain. He was born on January 15, 1968, in Zumarraga, Spain, one of seven children of Juan Urdangarín Berriochoa and Claire Liebaert Courtain.

photo: Hello

photo: Hello

In 1986, at the age of 18, he became a professional handball player with FC Barcelona, where he remained until his retirement in 2000. During his career, he was a member of the Spanish Olympic Handball Team in the 1992, 1996, and 2000 Olympics, winning bronze in 1996 and 2000, and serving as team captain in 2000. After his retirement, he served on the Spanish Olympic Committee from 2001-2005.

While participating in the 1996 Olympics, he met Infanta Cristina of Spain. The couple was married on October 4, 1997, at St. Eulalia Cathedral in Barcelona, Spain. By courtesy, he took on the male form of his wife’s title and became Duke of Palma de Mallorca. However, In June 2015, King Felipe VI of Spain formally stripped his sister Infanta Cristina of her title of Duchess of Palma de Mallorca. Neither the Infanta nor Urdangarín is permitted to use the title any further because of their legal issues. (See below.)

On January 24, 2022, it was announced that Infanta Cristina and Urdangarín were separating. The announcement came days after a link between Urdangarín and another woman became known.  The couple’s divorce was finalized in early 2024.

The couple had four children:

  • Juan Urdangarín y de Borbón (1999)
  • Pablo Urdangarín y de Borbón (2000)
  • Miguel Urdangarín y de Borbón (2002)
  • Irene Urdangarín y de Borbón (2005)

Iñaki and Christina with their children, June 2014. photo: ABC.es

Having earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Barcelona, and a Masters in Business Administration from ESADE (also in Barcelona), Iñaki worked for several years as Director of Planning and Development at Motorpress Ibérica. In 2003, he was a founding partner of the Nóos Institute and served as President until 2006. At that time, he became a director at Telefónica International in Barcelona. Along with his family, he moved to Washington DC in 2009 where he was appointed director and president of the Public Affairs Committee for Telefónica Latin America and the United States.

In early 2011, allegations were made against him regarding the misappropriation of public funds through his Nóos Institute. He took a leave of absence from his position with Telefónica in Washington, DC, and the family returned to Spain in 2012. After it was discovered that large sums of money were transferred to several foreign accounts, it was announced that he would no longer take part in any official functions of the Spanish royal family. In early 2012, he began testifying before the courts in response to the allegations. He, along with several others, were investigated and were charged with embezzlement, fraud, breach of trust, forgery, and money laundering. His wife Infanta Cristina was also charged with tax fraud and money laundering in mid-2014.

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Infanta Cristian and Iñaki Urdangarín during their trial, 2016

The trial began in January 2016 and on February 17, 2017, Infanta Cristina was acquitted of tax fraud and money laundering, and her husband Iñaki Urdangarín was found guilty of embezzling about 6 million euros in public funds for sporting events through his nonprofit foundation and of political corruption by using his former title of Duke of Palma de Mallorca as the husband of the Infanta Cristina. Urdangarín was sentenced to six years and three months in prison. In 2018, the Supreme Court in appeal reduced Urdangarín’s sentence to a term of five years and ten months.

Urdangarín entered the Brieva Penitentiary in Álava province in Spain on June 18, 2018, to serve his prison sentence.  In September 2019, Urdangarin was granted permission to work as a volunteer by the Castile and León Prison Supervision Court. The decision was made against the advice of prison authorities and the public prosecutor, who consider him to be at “medium-high” risk of re-offending.  On September 19, 2019, Urdangarín began working two days a week helping intellectually disabled adults at the Hogar Don Orione Center in the Madrid municipality of Pozuelo de Alarcón. After spending a period of time in prison, Urdangarín was upgraded to the Grade 3 regime, meaning he regained his freedom of movement and only has to report in once a week.

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Infanta Cristina of Spain

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

Infanta Cristina of Spain (Cristina Federica Victoria Antonia de la Santísima Trinidad de Borbón y Grecia) was born on June 13, 1965, at the Our Lady of Loreto Clinic in Madrid, Spain. She is the second of the three children of King Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark.

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Cristina was christened on June 20, 1965, at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, Spain. Her godparents were:

Cristina had two siblings:

After completing her secondary education at the Santa María del Camino School, she studied political science at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, graduating in 1989. She was the first woman in the Spanish royal family to receive a university degree. The following year, she earned a Masters degree in International Relations from New York University.

Following an internship with UNESCO in Paris, France, she moved to Barcelona, Spain and began working for La Caixa Foundation in 1993, coordinating exhibitions. In 1997, she was appointed the coordinator of the Program for International Cooperations, and in 2005, became the Director of the Social Area of the foundation. In 2009, when she and her family moved to Washington DC, she was made Director of the International Department, fostering collaborations with various international organizations. The family returned to Spain in 2012, and in mid-2013, she and her children moved to Geneva, where she coordinates programs with agencies of the United Nations.

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Like her father and brother, Infanta Cristina is an avid sailor. She was a member of the Spanish Sailing Team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, where she was also the Spanish flag-bearer in the opening ceremonies, a role her younger brother would take four years later in Barcelona. She has served as President of the International Foundation for Disabled Sailing.

Cristina married Iñaki Urdangarín Liebaert, a former professional and Olympic handball player, on October 4, 1997, at St. Eulalia Cathedral in Barcelona, Spain. At the time, her father gave her the personal title Duchess of Palma de Mallorca. However, in June 2015, King Felipe VI of Spain formally stripped his sister Infanta Cristina of her title of Duchess of Palma de Mallorca. Neither the Infanta nor Urdangarín is permitted to use the title any further because of their legal issues. (See below.)

On January 24, 2022, it was announced that Infanta Cristina and Urdangarín were separating. The announcement came days after a link between Urdangarín and another woman became known.  They couple’s divorce was finalized in early 2024.

Cristina and Urdangarín had four children:

  • Juan Urdangarín y de Borbón (born 1999)
  • Pablo Urdangarín y de Borbón (born 2000)
  • Miguel Urdangarín y de Borbón (born 2002)
  • Irene Urdangarín y de Borbón (born 2005)
Christina with her husband and children, June 2014. photo: ABC.es

Christina with her husband and children, June 2014. photo: ABC.es

In late 2011, Urdangarín was accused of diverting public funds for his own benefit, through a non-profit organization. After it was discovered that large sums of money were being sent to several foreign accounts, it was announced that Iñaki would no longer be participating in any functions of the Royal Family. Iñaki was charged with embezzlement, fraud, breach of trust, forgery, and money laundering. While Cristina moved to Geneva in mid-2013 with her children, her husband remained in Barcelona to address the charges against him. In January 2014, initial charges were placed against Infanta Cristina, accusing her of money laundering and tax fraud. She was called to testify in February 2014, and in June 2014, formal charges were filed.

The trial began in January 2016 and on February 17, 2017, Infanta Cristina was acquitted of tax fraud and money laundering. Her husband Iñaki Urdangarín was found guilty of embezzling about 6 million euros in public funds for sporting events through his nonprofit foundation and of political corruption by using his former title of Duke of Palma de Mallorca as the husband of the Infanta Cristina. Urdangarín was sentenced to six years and three months in prison.  In 2018, the Supreme Court in appeal reduced Urdangarín’s sentence to a term of five years and ten months. After spending a period of time in prison, Urdangarín was upgraded to the Grade 3 regime, meaning he regained his freedom of movement and only has to report in once a week.

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Princess Stephanie of Monaco

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

Princess Stephanie of Monaco (Stephanie Marie Elisabeth) was born on February 1, 1965, at the Prince’s Palace in Monte Carlo. Monaco. She is the youngest child of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco and Academy Award-winning American actress Grace Kelly.

Stephanie was christened on March 13, 1965, at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco. Her godparents were:

Princess Stephanie has two older siblings:

Princess Stephanie on her mother’s lap with her family; Photo source: Daily Mail

Princess Stephanie began her education at Dames de Saint-Maur, a private Catholic school in Monaco. She continued her education at Collège Dupanloup in Paris, France and received her French Baccalaureate in 1982. Princess Stephanie is fluent in French, Monegasque, English, and Italian.

During her school years, Princess Stephanie studied classical dance and piano. While at school in Paris, she developed an interest in gymnastics and participated in the sport from 1974 to 1979. Princess Stephanie also enjoys swimming, water skiing, and downhill skiing.

On September 13, 1982, while returning home from their home in Rocagel, France, Stephanie and her mother had a car accident. Princess Grace died the next day and Stephanie was hospitalized with a hairline fracture of a neck vertebra. The official version was that Princess Grace suffered a stroke while driving, however, there were rumors that Stephanie had been the one driving. Stephanie was unable to attend her mother’s funeral because of her injury and for years refused to speak about the accident. In 1989, she gave an interview in which she denied that she had been driving the car.

Princess Stephanie and Prince Albert Grieving

Princess Stephanie of Monaco, wearing a neck-brace, leaves St. Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco with her brother Prince Albert, after attending a memorial mass for their mother on October 14, 1982.  photo: Corbis

After she had recovered from her injuries, Princess Stephanie interned at the fashion house of Christian Dior with designer Marc Bohan from 1983 – 1984.  In 1985 – 1987 Stephanie designed a collection of swimsuits and swimwear under the name ‘Pool Position”.

Princess Stephanie also had a singing career. In 1986, she released a single “Ouragan”  in French and in English under the title “Irresistible.” The record sold more than 2 million copies and “Ouragan” is one of the best-selling singles in France of all time.

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Princess Stephanie and Daniel Ducruet; Photo source: Hello

In 1992, Stephanie began a relationship with her bodyguard Daniel Ducruet.

The couple had two children:

Both children were included in the line of succession to the throne of Monaco after their parents married on July 1, 1995. The couple subsequently divorced on October 4, 1996.

On July 15, 1998, Princess Stephanie gave birth to her third child:

Stephanie did not identify Camille’s father on the birth certificate but it is assumed that Jean Raymond Gottlieb, her former head of security, is the father. Camille is not in the line of succession because her parents never married.

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Princess Stephanie with her three children at the wedding of her brother Prince Albert in 2011; Photo: Zimbio

In 2001, Stephanie began a relationship with Franco Knie, (link in German) a married elephant trainer. Stephanie and her three children moved into Knie’s circus caravan and traveled with the Circus Knie.  The relationship lasted only until 2002. On September 10, 2003, Stephanie married acrobat Adans Lopez Peres, a member of the Circus Knie but the marriage ended in divorce in November 2004.

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Princess Stephanie and her second husband, Adans Lopez Peres; Photo source: usa.publiboda.com

Princess Stephanie is active in several organizations including:

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Princess Stephanie (in the middle) with her sister and brother; Photo source: svenskdam.se

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Infanta Elena of Spain, Duchess of Lugo

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014

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Infanta Elena María Isabel Dominica de Silos of Spain, Duchess of Lugo, is the eldest child of King Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark, She was born on December 20, 1963, at Our Lady of Loreto Clinic in Madrid, Spain.

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Elena with her parents at her christening

Elena was christened on December 27, 1963, at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, Spain. Her godparents were:

Elena has two younger siblings:

Elena completed her basic education at the College of Santa Maria del Camino. She then studied teaching at ESCUNI University School in Madrid, graduating in 1986 as a teacher of general basic education, specializing in English literature. After working for a few years as an English teacher at the College of Santa Maria del Camino, she studied sociology and education at the University of Exeter.  She then enrolled at the Comillas Pontifical University, in Madrid, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Education in 1993.

photo: Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor

Elena and Jaime de Marichalar y Sáenz de Tejada on their wedding day; photo: Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor

On March 18, 1995, Infanta Elena married Jaime de Marichalar y Sáenz de Tejada, at the Cathedral of Seville. At the time of her marriage, she was given the personal title Duchess of Lugo. The couple had two children:

Elena and her husband separated in 2007 and were formally divorced in January 2010.

During her father’s reign, Infanta Elena often represented the monarchy at functions within Spain and abroad. However, since the abdication of her father and the accession of her brother King Felipe VI, she and her sister no longer take on any official duties. She serves as Director of Social and Cultural Projects for the MAPFRE Foundation, based in Madrid.

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Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands is the wife of Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, the youngest son of former Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and the younger brother of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. Born Petra Laurentien Brinkhorst on May 25, 1966, in Leiden, the Netherlandsmshe is the daughter of Dutch politician and diplomat Laurens Jan Brinkhorst and Jantien Brinkhorst-Heringa.

Following primary school, Laurentian attended the Christelijk Gymnasium Sorghvliet, and the Eerste Vrijzinnige Christelijk Lyceum, both in The Hague. The family moved to Japan where her father was serving as Permanent Envoy to the European Union, so she finished her secondary education at the Lycée français in Tokyo, graduating in 1984. She then studied history for a year at the University of Groningen, before moving on to Queen Mary College, at the University of London, where she graduated in 1989 with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science. In 1991, she earned her Masters Degree in Journalism, at the University of California, Berkeley.

Laurentien married Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands in a civil ceremony on May 17, 2001, in The Hague, followed by a religious ceremony on May 19, at the Grote of St Jacobskerk, in The Hague, the Netherlands. The couple had three children:

Laurentian is very involved in the fight against illiteracy in the Netherlands. In 2004, she founded the Stichting Lezen & Schrijven (Reading & Writing Foundation), to prevent and reduce functional illiteracy in the Netherlands and worldwide. She serves as the honorary chairman of the organization. In 2009, she was appointed UNESCO Special Envoy on Literacy for Development, and in 2001, she was appointed Chair of the European Commission’s High Level Group of Experts on Literacy.

Laurentian serves as a Fellow of the European Climate Foundation and President of the European Cultural Foundation. She has also published a series of children’s books dealing with i sustainability and climate change. In addition, she serves as President of Fauna & Flora International, an organization she has been involved with since 2003. In addition, she is the patron of several organizations.

Princess Laurentien and Prince Constantijn at King’s Day, 2014. photo: Zimbio

Princess Laurentien and Prince Constantijn at King’s Day, 2014. photo: Zimbio

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Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

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Prince Constantijn Christof Frederik Aschwin of the Netherlands was born on October 11, 1969, in Utrecht, the Netherlands, the youngest son of the future Queen Beatrix and Claus von Amsberg.  He was christened on February 21, 1970, at  St. Martin’s Cathedral in Utrecht, the Netherlands. His godparents were:

Constantijn has two older brothers:

Prince Constantijn grew up at Castle Drakesteijn in Baarn, the Netherlands until his mother’s accession as Queen in 1980. At that point, the family moved to Huis ten Bosch, in The Hague. He received his primary education at the Nieuwe Baarnse School in Baarn and his secondary education at the Eerste Vrijzinnig Christelijk Lyceum in The Hague. Following a year spent studying languages in France and Italy, he began studying law at Leiden University in the Netherlands, earning his degree in 1995.

After earning his degree, Constantijn took an internship in the office of the European Commissioner Hans van den Broek. He remained with the EU, in various roles, until late 1999. In 2000, he earned his MBA from INSEAD in France and spent a summer working at the International Finance Corporation, part of the Work Bank, in Washington DC. He then moved to London where he worked as a strategic policy consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton until late 2002. He then worked for RAND Corporation Europe, eventually becoming the head of the corporation’s Brussels office. He also served as an advisor to the Dutch Ministry for Foreign Affairs. He returned to the European Commission where he served as Chief of Staff to Commissioner Neelie Kroes from 2013 – 2014.  Since  July 1, 2016, Constantijn has been the Special Envoy for TechLeap.NL, formerly Startup Delta. He is also an independent consultant in business innovation and is also Director of Digital Technology and Macro Strategy at MAP in London and Edge Fellow at Deloitte Center for the Edge.

Constantijn married Petra Laurentien Brinkhorst in a civil ceremony on May 17, 2001, in The Hague. A religious ceremony followed on May 19,  2001, at the Grote of St Jacobskerk in The Hague, the Netherlands.

The couple had three children:

Prince Constantijn does not undertake many official duties for the Dutch monarchy. However, as a member of the Dutch Royal House, he and his wife are typically in attendance at major events, such as King’s Day and the annual Opening of Parliament.

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Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

photo: © RVD

Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau; photo: © RVD

Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau

Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau is the widow of the late Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau, son of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. She was born Mabel Martine Los on August 11, 1968, in Pijnacker, the Netherlands, the daughter of Hendrik Los and Florence Kooman. Her father passed away in 1978 and when her mother remarried in 1984, Mabel took her stepfather’s surname – Wisse Smit.

Mabel graduated from the Gemeentelijk Gymnasium in Hilversum in 1986 and enrolled in the University of Amsterdam, studying economics and political science. She graduated with honors in 1993. During her education, she became very interested in human rights issues and specialized in Balkan diplomacy and international relations.

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In June 2003, Mabel’s engagement to Prince Friso was announced. It soon came to light that the couple had been vague in responding to some questions from the government, regarding Mabel’s’ previous interactions, and a reported relationship with a known drug lord. Due to this, the government announced that they would not seek parliamentary consent for the marriage. Therefore, Friso lost his title as Prince of the Netherlands and his place in the line of succession. He retained his personal title of Prince of Orange-Nassau and was given the hereditary title Count of Orange-Nassau, with the surname Orange-Nassau van Amsberg.

The couple was married in Delft, the Netherlands on April 24, 2004. Following a civil ceremony, a religious ceremony was held in the Oude Kerk. Mabel became HRH Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau. Friso and Mabel had two daughters:

  • Countess Luana of Orange-Nassau van Amsberg (born 2005)
  • Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau van Amsberg (born 2006)

In February 2012, Prince Friso was critically injured in a skiing accident in Lech, Austria. Having been buried by an avalanche, he suffered significant oxygen deprivation and cardiac arrest and was in a coma. He was transferred to a hospital in London, closer to the family’s home a few weeks later. In July 2013, it was determined that he no longer needed hospital-based medical care, and he was brought to Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, the Netherlands, his mother’s official residence. The next month, on August 12, 2013, Prince Friso passed away. He was buried in Lage Vuursche, near Castle Drakensteijn where he grew up.

Princess Mabel continues her work as a prominent human rights activist. She was the co-founder of the European Action Council for Peace in the Balkans in 1994 and served as Director until 1997. From 1997 to 2008, she worked for the Open Society Foundations, first in Brussels, as Director of EU Affairs, and then from 2002 in London, as International Advocacy Director. In 2008, she became the first CEO of The Elders, overseeing the day-to-day operation of the organization. She stepped down in 2012 after Prince Friso’s accident but remains a member of the advisory council in her capacity as Advisory Committee Chair of Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage. She also serves as Chair of the European Council on Foreign Relations which she co-founded in 2007, and an Advisory Board member of the Open Society Foundations, since 2012.

 Princess Mabel with her mother-in-law Princess Beatrix, 2017

 

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Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau; Credit – By H G Cladder – File:Friso 2.jpg (cropped), CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18563030

Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau was the second son of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Claus von Amsberg, and a younger brother of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. He was born Prince Johan Friso Bernhard Christiaan David of the Netherlands on September 25, 1968, at the University Medical Center in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

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Prince Friso with his parents on his christening day

Prince Friso was christened on December 28, 1968, at the Domkerk in Utrecht, the Netherlands. His godparents were:

Prince Friso had two brothers:

A young Prince Friso (left) with his family. photo: The Guardian/Rex Features

A young Prince Friso (left) with his family. photo source: The Guardian/Rex Features

Following his primary education at the Nieuwe Baarnse School in Baarn and secondary education at the Eerste Vrijzinnig Christelijk Lyceum in The Hague, he enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, studying mechanical engineering. He then attended Delft University of Technology, graduating in 1994 with a degree in aeronautical engineering. From 1990-1995, Friso studied economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam, earning a master’s degree in 1995. In 1997, he earned his MBA from INSEAD in France.

Prince Friso worked at several companies, both in London and the Netherlands.

Prince Friso was the co-founder of the MRI Centre in Amsterdam, and the founding shareholder of Wizz Air, a low-cost airline based in Hungary. He was also, along with his younger brother Prince Constantijn, honorary chairman of the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development.

In June 2003, Prince Friso’s engagement to Mabel Wisse Smit was announced. There was public controversy regarding Mabel’s past and her reported relationship with a known drug lord. Having been somewhat vague in their responses to questions about the issue, and Friso’s insistence that he would marry Mabel with or without formal approval from the government, the decision was made not to request formal consent from the Dutch parliament for the marriage. In doing so, Prince Friso relinquished his rights to the Dutch throne and his title of Prince of the Netherlands. However, he retained his personal title of Prince of Orange-Nassau and was granted the hereditary title Count of Orange-Nassau, with the surname Orange-Nassau van Amsberg.

 

Friso and Mabel were married on April 24, 2004, in Delft, the Netherlands. Following a civil ceremony, a religious ceremony was held in the Oude Kerk in Delft, the Netherlands. The couple had two daughters:

  • Countess Luana of Orange-Nassau van Amsberg (born 2005)
  • Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau van Amsberg (born 2006)

Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau and his family, Credit – www.holland.com

On February 17, 2012, while on the royal family’s annual skiing holiday in Lech, Austria, Prince Friso was buried under an avalanche and was in a coma. According to medical reports, he had been buried for 25 minutes and suffered neurological injuries due to the lack of oxygen. On March 1, 2012, he was moved to Wellington Hospital in London, England, closer to his family’s home. In the summer of 2013, he was declared to be in a minimally conscious state and no longer in need of hospital care. He was moved again on July 9, 2013, to Huis ten Bosch Palace, his mother’s residence in The Hague in the Netherlands. It was there, on August 12, 2013, that Prince Friso passed away at the age of 44.

Prince Friso’s funeral

A private funeral was held at the Stulpkerk Church in Lage Vurrsche, the Netherlands near Castle Drakensteijn where he had grown up. He was buried at the Dutch Reformed Cemetery in Lage Vuursche, Utrecht,  the Netherlands. A memorial service was held on November 2, 2013, at the Oude Kerk in Delft.

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Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg; Credit – Wikipedia By Sultan Edijingo – Own work

Prince Guillaume Marie Louis Christian of Luxembourg was born May 1, 1963, at Betzdorf Castle in Luxembourg. He is the youngest of the five children of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium.

Guillaume has four older siblings:

Following his primary and secondary schooling in Luxembourg, Switzerland, and France, Prince Guillaume attended the University of Oxford in England, and Georgetown University in the United States, graduating from Georgetown in 1987. He worked for six months in the office of the Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC, and then for two years for the Commission of the European Communities in Brussels, Belgium. In 1982, he became President of Lux-Development, the company that runs the bilateral and intergovernmental program of development assistance to the government of Luxembourg. In addition, he serves as a director of Arcelor-Mittal and Banque Générale du Luxembourg. He serves as patron of the Luxembourg Basketball Federation and the youth section of the Prince Guillaume Municipal Band of the city of Differdange.

photo: Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor

Guillaume and Sibilla on their wedding day  – photo: Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor

Prince Guillaume is married to Sibilla Weiller, a distant cousin. Sibilla is a descendant of Queen Victoria via her youngest child, Princess Beatrice. She is a granddaughter of Infanta Beatriz of Spain and a second cousin of King Felipe VI of Spain. Guillaume and Sibilla were married first in a civil ceremony held on September 8, 1994, in Sélestat, France, followed by a religious ceremony on September 24, 1994, at the Versailles Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Louis de Versailles). The couple had four children:

  • Prince Paul Louis of Nassau (born 1998)
  • Prince Léopold of Nassau (born 2000, twin of Charlotte)
  • Princess Charlotte of Nassau (born 2000, twin of Léopold)
  • Prince Jean of Nassau (born 2004)

In September 2000, Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla were injured in a serious car accident in France. For a period of time, Guillaume was in a coma. Due to the accident and the prince’s condition, his father’s planned abdication as Grand Duke of Luxembourg, scheduled for September 28, 2000, was postponed until the first week of October.

Prince Guillaume and his family live in Luxembourg and are often in attendance at major events in the Grand Duchy, as well as most family functions.

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Prince Guillaume, Princess Sibilla, and their children, at the wedding of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg, 2012

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Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince Nikolaus Ferdinand Maria Josef Raphael of Liechtenstein was born October 24, 1947, in Zurich, Switzerland, the third son of the four sons and the third of the five children of Prince Franz Josef II of Liechtenstein and Countess Georgina von Wilczek.

Prince Nikolaus has four siblings:

Nikolaus was raised at Vaduz Castle and began his primary education nearby. He then attended the Schottengymnasium (Scots College) in Vienna. Following high school in Zuoz, Switzerland, he studied law at the University of Vienna, graduating in 1972.

The Prince worked for the International Red Cross in Geneva, and later as a consultant in Liechtenstein’s Office of International Relations. From 1979-1989, he served as Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe. In 1986, he was appointed the first non-resident Ambassador to the Holy See, a position he held until July 2017. In addition, he served as Ambassador to Switzerland from 1989-1996, and Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union from 1996-2010.

On March 20, 1982, Prince Nikolaus married Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg, at the Notre Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. She is the daughter of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium, as well as the younger sister of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg. So far, their marriage is the last between two reigning royal houses in Europe. They had four children:

  • Prince Leopold (born and died 1984)
  • Princess Maria-Anunciata (born 1985), married Emanuele Musini
  • Princess Marie-Astrid (born 1987), married Raphael Worthington
  • Prince Josef-Emanuel (born 1989), married María Claudia Echavarría Suárez

 

Princess Margaretha and Prince Nikolaus with their children, 2010. photo: www.royaltyonline.blogspot.com

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