Luxarazzi 101: Prince Consort Felix - Later Years

For the first three parts of our biography series about Prince Felix, 

please have a look here, here and here.

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It was clear to Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix the minute they returned to Luxembourg after the end of World War II that much work needed to be done to heal the Grand Duchy and its people following the war. The first few years meant nearly endless touring of the country, meeting with inhabitants who needed help, and commemorating those who had lost their lands, loved ones, and lives in the devastation.

Felix (far left) at the 1945 Metz liberation vigil

Felix and his family had experienced some of that pain in that they temporarily lost their home. Château de Berg was commandeered by the Nazi occupiers who refurbished it into a girls' school. The home was not suited to house the Grand Ducal Family until extensive renovations had been completed, so for several years Felix, Charlotte and the children lived at Château de Fischbach. While that property had also been used (and looted) by the Germans, its floor plan had not been altered significantly and was thus inhabitable.


Charlotte and Felix concentrated their activities on ceremonies honoring the war experience in Luxembourg, as well as repairing the resulting war damage. One of his chief duties during this time was to assist in the repatriation of deportees, survivors of concentration camps, and other Luxembourg citizens displaced by the war. In late 1945, Felix attended a vigil marking the liberation of Metz as well as the funeral of American General George S. Patton in Luxembourg City. Felix was also a regular attendee at the annual Memorial Day service in Hamm, Luxembourg, honoring American servicemen who lost their lives during the war.

The Prince Consort also received several honors for his own service during the war and its aftermath.  Felix was granted the French Croix de Guerre by General Marie-Pierre Koenig and the Silver Star Medal and Legion of Merit Award from the US Armed forces in 1945. The following year Felix was created a Knight of the British Empire by King George VI of the United Kingdom. He later received the Luxembourg War Memorial Cross in 1949. In 1950, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Avis in Portugal, and became a Knight of the Order of Seraphim in Sweden in 1951. Felix was granted the American Legion Gold Medal in 1957 and the Badge of Honor from the National Society of Belgian War Crosses a year later.

During these years Prince Felix also began to resume some of his pre-war service within the Grand Duchy. He served as Commander-in-Chief and Inspector General of the Luxembourg Army from 1945 to 1967. Felix also resumed his position as head of the Luxembourg Red Cross in 1947, a position he held until 1969.

In the last years of the 1940s and into the 1950s, Felix and his family settled into a more peaceful life. Felix and Prince Jean participated in a hunt in the Netherlands hosted by Prince Bernhard in December 1948. In January 1949, Felix helped to organize a series of celebrations honoring the thirtieth anniversary of Charlotte's reign. Felix also received much of the art stolen from Villa Pianore during the war this year after it was recovered from Dornsberg Castle.

Felix and his grandchildren, circa 1962

Meanwhile, Felix's children were growing up - and falling in love. Youngest child Alix was the first to marry in 1950, followed by Marie-Gabrielle (1951), Hereditary Grand Duke Jean (1953), Elisabeth (1956), and Marie-Adelaide (1958). (Prince Charles married a few years later, in 1967.) By 1968, Felix's children had made him a grandfather 27 times over.

As Felix's children were now adults, he began the process of taking a less active role in the direct management within the Grand Duchy. Felix resigned his seat on the Council of State to be filled by Hereditary Grand Duke Jean in 1951. However, the Prince Consort still kept up a very busy calendar of official and personal events. Felix dined with General Dwight D. Eisenhower during a visit to Luxembourg in January 1951. Felix and Charlotte attended the funeral of King George VI in London in 1952, as well as that of George's mother Queen Mary the following year. The couple also paid a state visit to the Netherlands in 1956. The Prince Consort was present with Charlotte at the dedication of the American Military Cemetery at Luxembourg on July 4, 1960, and the two visited France and dined with President Charles de Gaulle in February 1961.

But this relatively busy and peaceful time was marked with personal tragedy for the Prince Consort. Felix's disabled elder brother Giuseppe died in 1950, with Felix at his side. His youngest brother Gaetano died in 1958. The year 1959 was a particularly difficult one for Felix, as four members of his family died within the first six months. His elder sister Maria Teresa died in January, followed by sister Marie Adelaide the following month. Felix's mother died at Château de Berg in May of 1959 at the age of 96. Maria Antonia had lived in Luxembourg with her son's family since the end of World War II. Felix's brother Elias died just over a month later in June. Elias had long served first as head of the Bourbon-Parma family on behalf of two disabled brothers (Enrico and Giuseppe) and in his own right from 1950-59.

Felix with Charlotte, c. 1963

Charlotte abdicated the grand ducal throne on November 12, 1964, in favor of Hereditary Grand Duke Jean. She had ruled Luxembourg for over 45 years, with Felix serving as her consort for all but a few months of that reign. The couple continued to live at Château de Fischbach, which had been their home since 1945. They were joined there by Princess Elisabeth and her daughters Anita and Sophie, and later by Prince Charles, Princess Joan, and their children Charlotte and Robert. Charlotte and Felix celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1969 among their many children and grandchildren. The two received the Cross of the Order of Resistance to commemorate the event.

Felix died on April 8, 1970, at Château de Fischbach after several months of increasingly ill health. His remains lay in state for three days at the Grand Ducal Palace. Felix's military funeral on April 11 was attended by several members of European royalty and heads of state.

Fourteen years after the Prince Consort's death, his great-grandson, the second child of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, was named Félix in his honor. The following year, in 1985, Grand Duchess Charlotte died of cancer at the age of 89. She is buried beside her husband in the crypt at Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Luxarazzi 101: Hereditary Princess Sophie's Diamond and Sapphire Demi-Parure

Luxarazzi turns ten this year, Luxarazzi 101 has been around for about seven years - see all our plentiful posts here - and so there aren't very many jewels left for us to have a closer look at. While we admit that all of Team Luxarazzi gets distracted by sparkling objects rather easily, there is also a deeper reason we like royal jewels so much: These tiaras, necklaces, earrings and brooches oftentimes tell fascinating stories, help you to trace history and show the connection of royal families. Just think of this diamond and pearl brooch that has been owned by at least three reigning European families, Queen Victoria Eugenia's Aquamarine Tiara or the Habsburg Fringe Tiara.

Back in the day, when royal ladies married into other houses, they brought along some of their family's sparkling jewellery. While we don't see that as often anymore these days, there are still a few examples. Cases in point: Both Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg, who are both of royal/noble descent. While yours truly hopes that Sophie is one day in the hopefully distant future set to inherit her mother's Douglas Floral Tiara, we are going to have a closer look at a sapphire and diamond demi-parure already owned by the Hereditary Princess, who was born a Duchess in Bavaria, today.

Embed from Getty Images

Truth be told though, we don't actually know for a fact that the necklace and earrings, which can be worn in at least two different settings, has been in the Wittelsbach family before Sophie married Hereditary Prince Alois. However, with the depth of their jewellery collection, it is not hard to imagine. The Hereditary Princess first wore the demi-parure for her pre-wedding ball at Schloss Nymphenburg in 1993 together with the Bavarian Pearl and Diamond Floral Tiara. Since then, she has oftentimes worn the pieces consisting of a single sapphires each surrounded by diamonds for events that required some major bling yet no tiara. And who knows, maybe we will see the pieces again later this week as there is a very rare royal event coming up: A Liechtenstein state visit... So keep your fingers crossed for these (or any, really) major jewels!

And if you would like to keep yourself busy with some more jewellery while we wait for the state visit to Switzerland, check out this documentary on the jewels of the Wittelsbach family, which includes interviews with Sophie's father, Duke Max in Bavaria, and also her uncle Duke Franz of Bavaria.

Luxarazzi 101: A Short History of the Principality of Liechtenstein

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Hands up, who among you could place Liechtenstein on a map? Nestled away in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland, the Principality is the sixth smallest country in the world (behind Vatican City, Monaco, Nauru, Tuvalu and San Marino) and one of only two double landlocked countries (Uzbekistan being the other). So you may be forgiven for taking a second or five to locate it on a map - but now it is time to learn a bit more about this tiny nation. While we have previously written plenty about the history of the Princely Family of Liechtenstein, such as here and here, we have yet to really cover the country's history apart from the odd tidbit here and there. With Liechtenstein's 300th anniversary celebrations kicking off this week, we thought it would be really interesting to bring you a bit of the country's history.

Here's the next fun fact for you (and probably not the last in today's post): Liechtenstein takes its name from a castle located about 500 kilometres beeline - that's about 310 miles - to its east. Say whaaat? Well, there's one intermediate step: Burg Liechtenstein in Maria Enzersdorf south of Vienna first gave its name to a noble family in the 12th century and a few centuries down the road that noble family gave their name to the country that became Liechtenstein - which just goes to show how intertwined the histories of the family and the country are. 

It was likely a cold winter day when on January 23, 1719, almost 300 years ago, Holy Roman Emperor Karl VI issued a decree saying that the county of Vaduz and the lordship of Schellenberg were to be united and elevated to the dignity of a principality with the name of "Liechtenstein" in honour of "[his] true servant, Anton Florian of Liechtenstein". The Liechtensteins had been long-time advisors to the Habsburg rulers but they lacked one thing: Reichsunmittelbarkeit meaning all their vast properties were held in fief under other more senior feudal lords and thus they did not qualify for a seat in the Imperial Diet. 

Photo: Castleholic

It was in 1699, that the chance for the Liechtenstein's to elevate their rank finally arose: That year, Prince Hans-Adam I bought the lordship of Schellenberg including a pre-emption for the county of Vaduz, which he purchased thirteen years later from the Count of Hohenems. Both areas were small and poor, inhabited by a few mountain farmers. Only recently, the country had been ravaged by the plague and excessive witch hunt by none other than its ruler at the time, Ferdinand Karl von Hohenems (1650–1686), who was actually deprived of his dominions by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1684 for his witch hunts. While the Emperor did give the lands to other members of the Hohenems family first, they were ultimately forced to sell the areas to pay off debts, first Schellenberg and later Vaduz. 

But why did the Liechtensteins want these backwaters so badly? The County of Vaduz carried one great advantage: While being created in 1342, after the subdivision of the County of Werdenberg, it had been declared reichsunmittelbar in 1396 meaning that it would grant the owner a seat in the Imperial Diet. The same day Liechtenstein was created in 1719, the country became a sovereign member state of the Holy Roman Empire and the Liechtensteins thus Princes of the Holy Roman Empire. (Fun fact #4: This also makes the Principality of Liechtenstein the last relic of the Holy Roman Empire surviving to this day.) While the country's creation did elevate the family's status, they did not take a major interest into the country bearing their name for much of the next two centuries. After their experiences with their witch-hunting former ruler, this was probably something very much welcomed by the regular people of the country. 

Prince Johann and Emperor Napoleon

Stormy times, however, came to Liechtenstein (and Europe) about 100 years later. In 1806, there were plans to incorporate the Principality into Bavaria as part of the mediatisation, a process that saw the number of German states drop from almost 300 to just 39. Liechtenstein survived, was declared a sovereign state by Napoleon and joined the Confederation of the Rhine later that year. Fun fact: All of this was actually Napoleon's doing as he hoped to find a Vienna-based ally in Prince Johann I by his actions. But even though Liechtenstein's prince did not oppose Napoleon's decision, he neither signed the Act of Confederation nor ever formally quit the Holy Roman Empire. The Liechtensteins managed to retain their Principality's independence during the Congress of Vienna in 1815 due to their powerful position as important advisors to the Habsburg rulers. Later that same year, Liechtenstein joined the German Confederation.

Prince Johann I also was the first Fürst of Liechtenstein to be actively involved in the politics of the day, though he never visited the Principality. Despite being a profoundly absolutistic ruler, he did make some forward-thinking reforms. Already in 1805, he mandated a legislated compulsory education. He also introduced the land register as well as the freedom of establishment, abolished the serfdom, organised the medical corps and created Liechtenstein's parliament, the Landtag, by absolutist constitution in 1818, the country's first. However, the parliament was only convened to a meeting once a year by the sovereign prince and it did not possess any real rights as its sole function was to assent "with gratitude" to the annual demand for taxes. In order to carry through his ideas, Prince Johann I employed a Landvogt who was apparently largely detested by the population.

Fürst Alois II of Liechtenstein

1818 also saw the first visit by a member of the Princely Family to the Principality when Prince Alois spent some time in Liechtenstein. Though it took another 24 years for the first visit by a sovereign prince when Alois returned after he succeeded to the throne a couple of years earlier. While much of Europe was swept by the industrialisation during the course of the 19th century, economically and geographically isolated Liechtenstein remained a backwater. After a customs treaty with Austria-Hungary in 1852, some textile industry came to the country and somewhat improved the situation. In 1861, the first bank opened in Liechtenstein and a year later, in 1862, Prince Johann II gave Liechtenstein its second constitution creating a parliament representative of the people. While the Fürst continued to rule the country, he needed the consent of the parliament to introduce new laws. The same year, Liechtenstein's first newspaper was published.

The Austro-Prussian War of 1866 brought about the last time Liechtenstein entered into an armed conflict. This was controversial both within the country and with the Prince and so he placed his soldiers at the disposal of the Confederation but they could only fight against non-Germans speakers as the Prince considered the conflict to be a needless war of brothers. In the end, the Liechtenstein soldiers were deployed to defend the Liechtenstein/Austrian borders against the Italians. When the war ended, the soldiers returned home to Vaduz to a ceremonial welcome. Legend has it that while 80 men went away, 81 came back. Apparently an Austrian liaison officer joined up with the contingent because the Liechtensteiners were such nice people. Two years later, in 1868, Liechtenstein's army was disbanded. 

Having no army, the Principality managed to stay neutral during World War I. However, the strict sanctions towards Austria hit Liechtenstein hard because both countries were closely tied together: The monetary, postal and customs unions with Austria were dissolved leading to a collapse of the textile industry. The people were impoverished and a hunger crisis within the country ensued as there was no other industry to speak of. Liechtenstein realigned itself with its other neighbour, Switzerland, forming a customs and monetary union in 1923. Two years earlier, Prince Johann II had signed a new Liechtenstein constitution, the one remaining until today, into law.

The Rhine Floods of 1927

The inter-war years brought calm and some prosperity to the country. However in 1927, Liechtenstein was devastated by floods. On a Sunday in September, heavy warm rains in the Swiss Alps melted ice and snow, raising the level of Lake Constance by 15 feet and turning the Rhine River into a raging torrent. A dam on the border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein broke and essentially all of low level Liechtenstein filled up with water submerging all of the country's farmlands. The international media wrote: "Nearly the whole of Liechtenstein is reported as presenting the appearance of a huge bog, with only the bolder housetops and church spires protruding from the mud." The floods of 1927 saw the future Fürst Franz-Josef II visit Liechtenstein in his first official capacity. In an unprecedented show of support, 710 volunteers from 25 countries went to Liechtenstein to help dig it out of the mud. Austria and Switzerland sent soldiers to assist in relief efforts.

While there were plans to annex Liechtenstein by Nazi-Germany, the Principality managed to stay neutral throughout the Second World War as well. In 1938, Prince Franz Josef II had moved his main residence from Austria to Liechtenstein. The move to the Principality changed the relationship between the people of Liechtenstein and their ruler: All of a sudden, the Princely Family wasn't a distant symbol anymore but very real and palpable. After the Anschluss of Austria into Germany, a contingent of Swiss border guards was stationed in the Principality to reinforce the frontier. However, some fascist ideas had found their way into Liechtenstein: In 1939, the German National Movement in Liechtenstein staged a coup attempt, first trying to provoke a German intervention by burning swastikas, followed by declaring an Anschluss with Germany. The leaders were almost immediately arrested. 

After the end of World War II, Liechtenstein granted asylum to some five hundred soldiers of the First Russian National Army, a collaborationist Russian force within the German Wehrmacht, who otherwise would have likely faced execution. 500 additional mouthes to feed was quite a feat for such a small and poor country shortly after a war that had devastated much of Europe. The refugees were ultimately resettled to Argentina.

Princess Gina with a French soldier
at the refugee kitchen in 1945

The post-war period saw the slow economic rise of Liechtenstein that later accelarated and let the country reach one of the highest gross domestic products per person in the world. Fun fact #[I lost count]: Back in the 1950's, stamp sales allegedly still contributed up to a third of the state budget. In the following decades, the modernisation of the economy and low corporate tax rates attracted the establishment of companies. Did you know that the Principality is the largest producer of false teeth in the world? (Fun fact #[I lost count+1]) About 40 percent of all false teeth in Europe and about 20 percent worldwide come from Liechtenstein. However, the country's and the Liechtenstein family's greatest riches came by the establishment of the banking sector and some - shall we say - interesting constructions around the avoidance of taxes. While still big in banking, Liechtenstein is no longer considered a tax haven and has been scratched off all blacklists after reforms over recent years.

Something that only came to Liechtenstein rather recently is actually the women's right to vote - one of it's most vocal campaigners: Princess Gina herself. It happened in 1984 with the [sarcasm on] overwhelming [sarcasm off] majority of 51 percent (voted on exclusively by men) after a process taking almost two decades that had seen previous failed referendums in 1968, 1971 and 1973. Though, another fun fact, Liechtenstein was only the second European country, after Switzerland, where men actually gave women the right to vote in a popular vote. In 1990, Liechtenstein became the 160th member state of the United Nations fostering its independence. During the course of the Nineties, they also joined the European Free Trade Association, the European Economic Area and the World Trade Organization. More recently, the country also became a member of the Schengen area in 2012.

The beginning of the 21st century saw a constitutional referendum in Liechtenstein. It was a controversial one, both in the country and abroad, as it gave the Fürst the rights to dismiss the government, nominate judges and veto legislation in addition to the previously held rights to dissolve parliament and call new elections. In turn, the population was given the right to get rid of their sovereign prince or the monarchy all together in simple referendums. In the end, two thirds of the people voted in favour of the revised constitution. In 2004, Prince Hans-Adam II handed over his powers to his oldest son, Hereditary Prince Alois, who acts as his regent. 

Luxarazzi 101: Prince Consort Felix - War and Exile

Let's keep above the fray for a moment and head into the second half of January with a look back into history to learn more about Prince Felix. For the first two parts of our biography series about he husband of Grand Duchess Charlotte can be found here and here.

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Felix was in New York City visiting the World's Fair with his son Jean and nephew, Archduke Felix of Austria, when the Second World War broke out in September 1939. Before visiting the Fair, the elder Felix and Jean had stayed at the White House for several days as the guest of President and Mrs. Roosevelt. An outbreak of war in Europe had been expected for several weeks. It is possible (even likely) that Felix planned the trip with Jean to try and garner support for the Grand Duchy in the face of war. While the two considered cutting their visit short, Felix and Jean completed their itinerary as planned, returning to Luxembourg on September 18.

The Grand Ducal Family faced little immediate danger in the first eight months of the war, a period now known as the Phoney War. During this time the Prince Consort posed the idea of quickly building the Luxembourg Army up to 7,000 to 8,000 men. The enhanced forces would not be trained specifically to fight, but rather to block roads and destroy bridges in hopes of deterring - or at least slowing - invasion of the country by the Germans. Felix's plan was not widely supported by the people of the country who still hoped to maintain their unarmed neutrality.

Felix and his family in 1940 at Château de Bostz

The invasion of Luxembourg on May 10, 1940, forced the family to flee the country. For the next two months Felix, Charlotte, his sister Zita, and all of their children raced westward across Europe in an effort to escape advancing German forces. The family stayed in various private homes and hideouts in France and Spain before arriving in Portugal at the end of June. Not confident of their safety in Europe, Felix reached out to his American contacts for help, which was granted.

Charlotte remained in Lisbon on July 15, 1940, while Felix and the children departed for the United States. Eight days later the family arrived in Annapolis, Maryland, via the USS Trenton, a US cruiser. The family was welcomed at the White House where they were guests at a lunch hosted by President Franklin Roosevelt. Felix thanked the American people for their hospitality, and sadly reported that he had no idea when they would be reunited with Charlotte. Felix and his children later traveled to New York where they stayed on Long Island as the guests of Joseph E. Davies, a former diplomat to Luxembourg. Felix's mother, Princess Antonia, arrived with her daughter Isabella in New York in early October of 1940. Felix was there to welcome the two along with his sister Zita and some of her children.

Charlotte and Felix in 1940

The Grand Ducal Family received constant news of the events in Europe. Reports of the Germans mistreating the Luxembourgish people in particular shocked and saddened the family. Between late 1940 and 1942, Felix divided his time mostly between the government-in-exile in Montreal and the United States, attending various dinners, rallies, and presentations as a means of gathering support in North America for Luxembourg. During this time Felix and his family were frequent guests of the Roosevelts. At the suggestion of President Roosevelt, Charlotte and Felix conducted a tour of the United States in 1940 and 1941 to keep the plight of Luxembourg present among the American people. Felix concentrated on visiting the midwestern states where there was a larger population of Luxembourgish-Americans.

In the fall of 1942, Felix and Jean joined the British Army. While Jean joined the Irish Guards, Felix served in a variety of capacities, including heading a group of volunteer Luxembourgish soldiers who had fled to Britain at the start of the war as well as acting as a liaison officer with the French Army.  Following D-Day at the beginning of June 1944, Prince Felix began serving with the 12th US Army Group, where he worked at the headquarters of Patton's Third Army in the far western section of European Allied land forces. This was the start of Patton's Lorraine Campaign, although Felix was reassigned at the very beginning of the campaign. Instead, Felix began his service at the headquarters of the Fifth Armored Division of the Fifth American Corps tasked with a specific duty - the liberation of Luxembourg.

American troops first entered the Grand Duchy on September 9, 1944. Felix and Jean rode in with the Fifth Armored Division troops to a now-liberated Luxembourg City the following day, on September 10, 1944. The public was ecstatic to see both the Prince Consort and Hereditary Grand Duke participating in the country's liberation. The two were hoisted on the shoulders of the countrymen and carried around the streets of the city in celebration.

Felix with Sir Winston Churchill and then Hereditary Grand Duke Jean
shortly after the liberation of Luxembourg

Felix was set to serve as head of the temporary government in Charlotte's absence following the liberation. However, he was not entitled to serve in this capacity per the constitution of Luxembourg, and the position instead was filled by Hereditary Grand Duke Jean. In the meantime, the German army was able to re-establish the front in the northeast section of the Grand Duchy in December 1944. This offensive, now known as the Battle of the Bulge, was set to cause heavy damage to that part of the country. Fortunately the majority of the Grand Duchy remained in Allied hands and Grand Duchess Charlotte and all six of the couple's children were able to return to the country in April 1945.

During the spring of 1945, Felix set out on a more personal mission - finding his sister-in-law Antonia. The Bavarian crown princess and her family had lived the majority of the war in exile in northern Italy as Antonia's husband Rupprecht was an open and firm critic of the Nazi regime.  Antonia and a few of her children were shuffled from one hiding place to another, before Antonia contracted typhus in Austria and was then interred for a time in a series of concentration camps.  Using his contacts with the Allies, Felix was finally able to locate his wife's sister at a hospital in Jena, Germany. Felix took an ailing Antonia back to Luxembourg to continue her recuperation, inviting her children to join her.

Sadly, Antonia was not the only member of Felix's family to suffer from the Nazi regime. His brother Xavier had participated in some Resistance activities during the war and also hid labor camp escapees at his estate in Austria. When his actions were discovered, he was arrested by the Gestapo and eventually sent to the Dachau concentration camp, where he was forced to endure bouts of enforced starvation. Felix helped to liberate Dachau at the end of April 1945 in hopes of finding Xavier, speaking with Luxembourgish survivors of the camp during his time there. Although Xavier had been moved shortly before the liberation, he was freed shortly afterward and fully recovered from his experience. 

Gianni Battista Cima's Madonna and Child, one of the recovered
Villa Pianore paintings.  (Photo: Caribinieri)

Felix was also to discover that his Villa Pianore in northwest Italy had been looted by the Nazis during the war. While the majority of the items stolen from the villa were returned, three 15th century paintings used to decorate the SS regional offices in Bolzano could not be located at the close of the war, prompting the Italian government to issue Felix a compensation payment at the end of 1945. Nearly seventy years later, the Italian government located the paintings in the holdings of a private collector in Italy in 2014. The paintings were not returned to the Grand Ducal Family due to the earlier payment compensating for their loss.

Luxarazzi 101: Royal Recycling and Clothes Sharing Vol. 13

Oops, they did it again... Welcome to Luxarazzi 101: Royal Recycling and Clothes Sharing Vol. 13! Previously on how the lovely ladies of Luxembourg and Liechtenstein basically share one walk-in closet...

Firstly and frankly, I know it's a sign that I have been following the Grand Ducal Family for far too long and far too closely that my first thought when I saw Princess Astrid at last weekend's noble wedding in Germany was "I know that dress!" And sure enough, it's the same dress/tunic worn by Astrid's mother Princess Margaretha 15 years ago for the wedding of Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium. 

Her mother isn't the only family member Princess Astrid shares clothes with though. This Valentino gown has been worn publicly on more occasions than I can count on one hand and maybe a few fingers more by both Princess Astrid and older sister Princess Anunciata.

And now from Liechtenstein onto Luxembourg: The return dinner of this year's Dutch state visit to Luxembourg saw Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie giving one of her mother-in-law's old Elie Saab gowns another spin. I know opinions are divided but I preferred Stéphanie's take on it. You can't ever go wrong with a rivière of honking diamonds.

On the first day of the state visit we also saw another clothes sharing moment though with much less success with an awkward-looking alteration attempt in the midsection to make up for the height difference of the Grand Duchess and Hereditary Grand Duchess. Usually I'm a fan of making use of expensive gowns by sharing the love but this attempt shall better not see a repeat.

Luxarazzi 101: Prince Consort Felix - Family and Interwar Years

For the first part of our biography series on Prince Felix, have a look here.

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After returning from their honeymoon that took them to Egypt, among others, Grand Duchess Charlotte, grandmother of the current Grand Duke, and her husband Prince Felix faced a difficult time back in Luxembourg. Although the monarchy had been preserved following the outcome of the 1919 Referendum, both Charlotte and Felix knew that the events of the First World War had considerably soured the public's perception of the institution. They knew that meddling in politics had led to the downfall of Charlotte's sister Marie-Adélaïde, so therefore any further interference should be avoided at all costs. As a result, the couple wished to prove themselves to the Luxembourgish people as a dedicated team devoted to improving life within the Grand Duchy.

Charlotte (far left) and Felix (far right) with Albert I and Elisabeth of the Belgians
in 1930 during a Belgian state visit to Luxembourg

Male consorts were still a rarity among European royalty during the early years of Felix's marriage. The only other male consort at the time was Hendrik of Mecklenberg-Schwerin, the husband of Dutch Queen Wilhelmina; the fact that he was given insufficient income and few duties had caused significant trouble within the marriage. Though his life as a consort and second fiddle was not without struggle, Felix was determined to serve his new country to the best of his abilities, despite the fact that the role was not as well-defined for a man as all of his predecessors within the family and Luxembourg in general had been women.  He is often considered the most important and trusted advisor of his wife who was the one guiding family life and decisions.

Felix and Charlotte visiting the Aero-Club in 1922

Fitting of his military past, Felix became colonel at the head of the Luxembourg Volunteer Army, one of two branches of the armed forces (the other one being the police), starting in 1920. Their first engagement after returning from honeymoon had actually led Charlotte and Felix to visit the volunteer troops on December 19, 1919. The command was largely ceremonial, as the day-to-day operations were under the control of Captain Emile Speller. Felix also divided his time among various charitable pursuits, such as serving the first of two terms as the president of the Luxembourg Red Cross from 1923 to 1932.

The year 1920 was a crucial one for Luxembourg: On January 15, the first British ambassador after the war was sent to the Grand Duchy to present his credentials to the Grand Duchess with French and Belgian ambassadors to follow soon thus strengthening the country and Charlotte's rule. Charlotte and Felix also met with French President Raymond Poincaré in Thionville in February. In December, Luxembourg became part of the League of Nations though it meant that Charlotte and Felix had to somewhat distance themselves from the German or married-to-Germans parts of their family.

In 1922 Felix served as the official "guardian" of five members of the former Emperor Karl of Austria's suite who settled temporarily in the Grand Duchy on their way to Spain from exile in Madeira. The presence of the contingency in Luxembourg was deeply unpopular with the people as it was feared that it would incite violence in the country. 

Charlotte and Felix with their children in the early 1930s 

In the meantime, the Grand Ducal Family was growing rapidly, ensuring the succession and continuation of the dynasty. In the morning hours of January 6, 100 canon shots announced the birth of the first first child of the couple, the future Grand Duke Jean, at around 11pm the night before. The birth of an heir to the throne evoked a new patriotic pride in the Grand Duchy that had been missing for almost a decade or so. Four daughters and another son were born between 1922 and 1929:

- Princess Elisabeth (1922-2011)

- Princess Marie-Adélaïde (1924-2007)

- Princess Marie-Gabrielle (1925-)

- Prince Charles (1927-1977)

- Princess Alix (1929-)

Prince Felix in 1937 during a hunt in Grünewald Forest

A long-standing urban legend exists stating that Felix lost ownership of a large portion of the central Luxembourg’s Grünewald Forest in 1934 through a poorly-placed casino bet. The story is certainly apocryphal as the forest was actually sold by Grand Duchess Charlotte to the government to help pay family expenses, which were severely strained due to the ongoing Great Depression. Château de Berg, which the Grand Ducal Family had personally owned up until this point, was also part of this transaction. The castle remains the official residence of the Grand Duke (or Grand Duchess) to this day.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Felix served as the official representative of the Grand Duchy at a number of royal events in Europe. Along with Charlotte, Felix attended the wedding of the future Leopold III of Belgium and Astrid of Sweden in 1926. (Leopold and Astrid's daughter Josephine Charlotte would marry Felix and Charlotte's son Jean in 1953.) Felix served as an official representative of Luxembourg at the funeral of British King George V in 1936, as well as an attendee at the coronation of George VI later that same year. 

Felix gradually became more involved in the government as a member of the Council of State at the beginning of 1937. The following year, a conference on military medicine and pharmacy was held in Luxembourg City. The conference was formed as a means of exploring the growing threat of conflict in Europe and treatment of resulted wounded. One idea discussed was that of turning the Grand Duchy into a neutral area devoted strictly to the treatment of all wounded and ill military personnel. Prince Felix became the head of a committee dedicated to determining the feasibility of this proposal. Felix saw this idea as a possible means of maintaining Luxembourg's neutrality should war begin in Europe. As history tells us, however, the idea never came into fruition - we will delve deeper into how Luxembourg and especially Prince Felix fared during the Second World War in the next part of this series.

Luxarazzi 101: Prince Consort Felix - Early Years

He was the longest serving consort of Luxembourg, as well as the first and only person who has married a reigning monarch of the Grand Duchy. Today we begin the first in a four-part series about the Luxembourg's first - and to this date only - male consort, Felix of Bourbon-Parma.

Bourbon-Parma family c. 1894
Felix is the baby in the center of the photo

Felix was born on September 28, 1893, in Schwarzau am Steinfeld, Austria, near the border of what is today the Czech Republic. He was the sixth child of Robert, the deposed Duke of Parma, by his second wife Infanta Maria Antonia of Portugal. Robert claimed descent from both the French and Italian royal families. The couple had a total of twelve children in addition to the twelve Robert had with his first wife Maria Pia, an Italian princess. The large family made their home at a string of various properties in Austria, France, and Italy. Though his father considered the family first and foremost French, Felix and his siblings grew up speaking Italian, French, Portuguese, English, German, and Spanish, a reflection of their mixed lineage and cosmopolitan upbringing. 

Felix as a soldier during

the First World War

Felix was born into a family notable not only for its size, but also its wealth – Robert was able to retain a great deal of his capital and properties despite the loss of his ducal throne. The family moved among the various homes via a personal train with sixteen coaches carrying their belongings. Several of Felix’s half-siblings were born with mental disabilities, which later caused legal battles among his siblings over the control of power and money within the family. 

The sibling closest in age to Felix was Zita, who later became the last Austrian Empress. Among his other siblings and half-siblings were Maria Luisa, princess consort of Bulgaria; Xavier, Carlist pretender to the Spanish throne; and Sixtus, the engineer of a failed attempt at peace negotiations during World War I. Felix also descended from the Portuguese royal family through his mother. Maria Antonia was the sister of Maria Ana, the consort of Grand Duke Wilhelm IV of Luxembourg. This gave Felix and his siblings many cousins, including Wilhelm’s six daughters. Duke Robert died in November 1907, shortly after Felix’s fourteenth birthday.

Felix was educated together with his siblings at home by various private tutors. At the age of ten, he was sent to Stella Matutina, a Jesuit school in Feldkirch. He continued his education in Brixen (Tyrol) where he lived with the Countess Kinsky, at a Jesuit school in Vienna before receiving his Matura certificate at a school in Mödling, Lower Austria. Afterwards, Felix was sent to England where he attended Stonyhurst College to prepare for his future university studies. Felix intended to attend Oxford University but during his summer holidays in Austria, World War I broke out.

Prince Felix in 1917

Felix then attended the Viennese Military Academy before enlisting in the Austrian Army as "Felix Bourbon" with his brother René at the outbreak of the war. He served as an officer in the Austrian 15th Dragoons, seeing combat mostly in Italy. The war divided the family, as at least two of Felix’s brothers served in the Belgian Army. From the outset of the war, Felix stated that while he had no fears of combat he would not fight against the French, whom he considered his countrymen. 

Felix was noted by his fellow soldiers for his competent command and brave service, earning both the Medal for Bravery and the Iron Cross. In 1918, he saved the Austrian Emperor (Karl, his brother-in-law) from drowning after Karl's boat capsized in the fast-moving Isonzo river. While several man drowned, Felix held the Emperor's head above the water so both could be pulled back to safety. While receiving a medal for his bravery, he did not like discussing the incident for the rest of life considering it his natural duty. Felix officially left the Austrian Army on November 5, 1918, shortly before the signing of the Armistice ending the war.

Despite the great wealth of the Bourbon-Parma family, Felix’s personal holdings were quite modest. This was due to the fact that Robert’s fortune went mostly to his disabled eldest son Enrico, but was controlled by Felix’s half-brother Elias. As a younger son, Felix had little inheritance or political power, forcing him to make his way through life by his own means. 

Felix and Charlotte
at the time of their engagement

Felix had long been close to his cousin Charlotte, of whom he was two years older. The exact circumstances of courtship and date of the actual engagement between Charlotte and Felix are unclear. The union may have been at least partially engineered by the bride's mother Maria Ana; the engagement of Charlotte's sister Antonia to the much older Rupprecht of Bavaria was deeply unpopular with the French due to the war. Although Felix fought with the Axis powers during the war, he had significant and direct ties to French royalty as well. His refusal to fight against French troops may also have helped appease Luxembourgish and French anger toward the marriage. During the war, Prince Felix had made headlines in Luxembourg after a leaked telegram mentioned him as one of the first Austrian to enter the city during the Siege of Przemyśl, the longest siege of World War I. Prince Felix, however, was nowhere near Przemyśl during the time.

There is plenty of indication that Charlotte and Felix also married for love. The two were rumored to have become much closer following the wedding of Felix’s sister Zita and future Emperor Karl of Austria in 1911. The couple may have become engaged during the war, but kept this news quiet due to Felix’s position in the Austrian Army and the German occupation of Luxembourg. Multiple news sources of the time note the engagement as early as 1915. The couple got officially engaged on October 6, 1918, though only their families knew at the time. Pope Benedict XV provided a dispensation in December 1918 allowing the couple to marry. This was necessary as Felix and Charlotte were first cousins.

Following the engagement announcement, Charlotte issued a statement insisting that the marriage was indeed a love match. She made it clear that she was not forced into the engagement by anyone, and that she was interested in marrying only Felix. Felix is noted as requesting permission from the Allied occupiers to visit Charlotte in Luxembourg as early as January 1919. He again requested permission in August 1919, yet he was not allowed to travel to the Grand Duchy until mid October. 

The wedding was formally announced on October 30, 1919, and set to take place at Château de Berg out of concern for possible protests of the marriage based on Felix's war service. However, the couple was persuaded to marry in Luxembourg City instead in hopes of raising the spirits of the people with a grand celebration. The wedding ceremonies marked the first time a reigning sovereign had married within the Grand Duchy and the first large celebration held in the country since the end of the war.

Felix officially became a Prince of Luxembourg on November 5, 1919, as a result of a grand ducal decree secured by a vote within the Chamber of Deputies after some debate. The next morning the civil ceremony was held at the Grand Ducal Palace with Luxembourg City Mayor Jean-Pierre Lucas (Luc) Housse presiding. As was typical for a civil ceremony, the gathering was small, simple, and attended only by a limited group of the couple's immediate family and a few government officials.

The religious wedding was conducted later that day at Notre Dame Cathedral by Monsignor Sebastiano Nicotra, the Papal Nuncio to Luxembourg. Felix's brothers Sixtus and Xavier stood as witnesses to the wedding. While a large crowd of spectators was present outside the cathedral, there were reportedly few cheers when the couple emerged from the cathedral. The occupation of the Grand Duchy by Axis powers during the war clearly still stung in the hearts and minds of the people. Thankfully however, the day did not end on a sour note: during the reception at the Grand Ducal Palace, Felix and Charlotte were called to the balcony several times that evening to greet well-wishers.

Luxarazzi 101: Schloss Hohenburg

One of the homes historically most closely linked with the Grand Ducal Family is actually located nowhere near Luxembourg. This large baroque house situated in Lenggries, Bavaria, belonged to Grand Duke Adolph and his descendants for over 80 years, in which time it was host to countless births, weddings, and celebrations. Today we’ll explore the history of Schloss Hohenburg and its importance as one of main homes of past Luxembourg royalty.

Count Ferdinand Joseph von Herwarth

The current Schloss was built on the grounds of a 12th century castle that was largely destroyed in a fire set by Austrian troops in 1707, although some of the ruins of this original castle still stand on the property. Count Ferdinand Joseph von Herwarth, whose family had owned the land since the mid-16th century, ordered the construction of the present Schloss between 1712 and 1718 using some of the stones from the old castle. The Count also provided the village with a new parish church built with additional stones from the previous castle located on the site. 

Count Ferdinand believed that the design of the Schloss should echo the sturdy beauty of the surrounding mountains, so the home features a rather wide and strong base of three wings drawing three stories up to peaked rooftops and a clocktower, mimicking slopes. Decorative touches on and inside the Schloss included waterspouts shaped as dragons, numerous paintings, sculptures, and ornate light fixtures, many originals of which still adorn the home. The property also features extensive formal gardens that were initially modeled on those of the Palace of Versailles.

The location of the Schloss in Lenggries, a picturesque mountain area just north of the Austrian border, provides a gorgeous backdrop for the property as well as multiple opportunities for outdoor recreation. The dense beech and oak forest surrounding the entrance of estate originally made the home somewhat difficult to find without assistance, therefore lending some privacy to its occupants.  

The Schloss and grounds in about 1750

The Herwarth family owned the estate until the early 19th century, when the last of Ferdinand's heirs died and Schloss Hohenburg and estate were put up for sale. The property had a few short-lived owners before Prince Carl of Leiningen, the older half-brother of Britain's Queen Victoria, bought it in 1836. Carl used the estate as a private hunting retreat and also converted the baroque gardens into the more modern (for the time) English-style gardens.

At the time of Carl's death in 1857, the Schloss and its grounds were in rough condition. Wealthy Munich banker Baron Carl von Eikthal bought the estate for 32,000 guilders - a steal for such an impressive property, but the low price likely reflected its distressed physical condition. The Baron had turned around at least one other property before - a former abbey in the Black Forest that was converted for textile and munitions production. His plans for Schloss Hohenburg were not quite as drastic. Instead, von Eikthal turned the property into a truly working estate with a dairy, brewery, livestock, and an inn.

Adolph of Nassau, who would later go on to become Grand Duke of Luxembourg, was expelled from his Duchy by the Prussians in 1866 as a consequence of siding with Austria in the Austro-Prussia War. Although he was left without a throne, the circumstances of his abdication and exile did provide Adolph with a large cash settlement. Eager to indulge in his favorite pastime of hunting, he bought the Hohenburg estate in 1870 with the intent of using it as a hunting lodge and summer home. Adolph added two large stone statues of deer in the grounds, fitting of the estate serving as his main hunting lodge. The interiors of the Schloss also features the antlers of deer and taxidermied remains of other animals which had been hunted there.

The Schloss in about 1900.
Photo credit: Schlossarchiv Hohenburg

Grand Duke Adolph and Grand Duchess Adelheid-Marie raised their families partly at Schloss Hohenburg, as did Grand Duke Wilhelm IV and his wife Maria Ana. Following her abdication in 1919, their daughter Grand Duchess Marie-Adelaide lived at the Schloss with her mother and some of her sisters. Dowager Grand Duchess Maria Ana spent much of her time there after her widowhood until she fled the property for Luxembourg and eventually the United States at the beginning of World War II.

Although the castle and grounds were returned to the Grand Ducal Family at the end of the war, Charlotte decided to sell off all her residences in Germany. In 1953, German electronics businessman Max Grundig bought the Schloss and grounds. He promptly donated the property to the Sisters of the Ursuline Convent of St. Joseph of Landshut, who converted the property from a residence into a Catholic girls' school. The school took in its first pupils in September 1953. Among its students was Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein.

The Schloss today. Photo credit: merkur.de

In addition to the school, the property also houses a trout farm which produces the prized Hohenburger trout. The estate grounds are also popular with cross country skiers and snowshoers.

Births at Schloss Hohenburg:

Princess Antonia (October 7, 1899)

Prince Heinrich of Bavaria (son of Princess Antonia) (March 28, 1922)

Princess Editha of Bavaria (daughter of Princess Antonia) (September 16, 1924)

Weddings at Schloss Hohenburg:

Princess Hilda and Grand Duke Friedrich of Baden (September 20, 1885)

Princess Antonia and Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria (April 7, 1921)

Princess Sophie and Prince Ernst Heinrich of Saxony (April 12, 1921)

Princess Elisabeth and Prince Ludwig Philipp of Thurn and Taxis (November 14, 1922)

Deaths at Schloss Hohenburg:

Princess Marie Luise of Hesse-Kassel (mother of Grand Duchess Adelheid-Marie) (July 28, 1895)

Grand Duke Adolph (November 17, 1905)

Grand Duchess Marie-Adelaide (January 24, 1924)

Princess Elisabeth (August 2, 1950)

Luxarazzi 101: Princess Antonia of Luxembourg, Crown Princess of Bavaria

After a long absence, we complete our series on the sisters of the only ruling Grand Duchesses of Luxembourg, Marie-Adélaïde and Charlotte. Today we'll get to know a little more about the fourth of the six sisters, Princess Antonia. Antonia's life alternated from prominence to controversy to tragedy, from her marriage to a member of the Bavarian royal family to her extraordinarily difficult experience during World War II.

Antonia was born at Schloss Hohenburg in Bavaria on October 7, 1899, during the reign of her grandfather, Grand Duke Adolph, who - before ascending to Luxembourg's throne - had also ruled as the Duke of Nassau. She was the fourth daughter of the future Wilhelm IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and his wife Maria Ana, a Portuguese infanta by birth. She was named in honor of her maternal aunt, Antonia of Portugal, and was also christened with the names Roberte, Sophie and Wilhelmine. Antonia followed her sisters Marie-Adélaïde, Charlotte, and Hilda, with younger sisters Elisabeth and Sophie joining the family in the following years. Her nickname within the family was “Toni”. 

Antonia grew up in the family homes at Château de Berg and Schloss Hohenburg. The family was a loving one, although Grand Duke Wilhelm’s stroke in 1908 interrupted their quiet life. While Maria-Ana served as regent and tended to her husband’s failing health, Antonia and her sisters spent much of their time with their paternal grandmother, the Dowager Grand Duchess Adelheid-Marie. Among her sisters, Antonia stood out as a gifted pianist.

Antonia's teen years were difficult due the outbreak of World War I, the death of her grandmother Adelheid-Marie, and Germany's occupation of Luxembourg. Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde'S troubled reign ended with her being viewed as pro-German, leading to her eventual abdication. However, it was the German occupation of the country that brought Antonia closer to her future husband, Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria. 

Rupprecht was the son of King Ludwig III of Bavaria and Maria Theresia of Modena. He had held several prominent commands and earned numerous accolades in the German Army during World War I. He initially commanded the German 6th Army in Lorraine and eventually rose to the rank of Field Marshall. Rupprecht had been married previously to Marie-Gabrielle of Bavaria (a first cousin to Antonia through their respective mothers, Duchess Maria Josepha of Bavaria and Grand Duchess Maria Ana), who had died in 1912. The couple had had five children, but only Albrecht (the third child and the paternal grandfather of Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein) survived to adulthood. One daughter had been stillborn, while the other children died separately of polio, diabetes, and diphtheria.

The Bavarian and Luxembourg royal families had been friends for years, as their summer homes in Bavaria were located in the same area. It is likely Antonia and Rupprecht met long before the war given that he was married to her first cousin, although Antonia was probably just a little girl at the time. 

Rumors of an engagement between Antonia and Rupprecht had surfaced during the last year of the war. Prince Rupprecht spent time in occupied Luxembourg during the war, given the position of his troops in neighboring Lorraine. It is believed he and Antonia met again during one of these trips. Word also spread that Antonia was being forced into the marriage because her three elder sisters all refused Rupprecht. The couple may have become engaged as early as February 1918, but the official engagement was announced on August 26, 1918, in a statement made by King Ludwig III from Munich.

The engagement came with an enormous amount of controversy in Luxembourg and France. Rupprecht was not held in high regard within the grand duchy, to say the least - his nickname among the people was "the Luxembourg hangman." The public was critical not only of the considerable difference in age between Antonia and Rupprecht, but also because of the latter’s prominent positions in the German Army and Bavarian royalty and the concern that Antonia had no choice in the engagement just as the people of Luxembourg had been forced into German occupation during the war.

But political pressures made Rupprecht rethink the engagement, which jeopardized both his family as the rulers of Bavaria and Antonia's sister Marie-Adélaïde as the increasingly unpopular monarch of Luxembourg. With a heavy heart, Rupprecht called off the union. Antonia retreated to Hohenburg, where she further pursued her musical studies at an academy in Munich, while Rupprecht tended to his wounded heart in Berchtesgaden.

But the abdication of both Rupprecht's father and Marie-Adélaïde following the end of the war meant that at least the political resistance to the marriage was gone. Dowager Grand Duchess Maria Ana and her sister (and Rupprecht's mother-in-law) Maria Josepha intervened and arranged the couple to meet again during the summer of 1920, allowing the two to rekindle their romance. 

The match was on for good as of February 1921, with Antonia at the age of majority and insistent on proceeding with the marriage. In defense of Rupprecht and her marriage, Antonia said, "I love him more than my life," while Rupprecht stated that his love for Antonia made him feel like a young man again. The Parliamentary vote on Antonia's engagement passed barely in the couple's favor - 26 to 24 votes.

Antonia married Rupprecht civilly on April 6, 1921, with a religious ceremony following the next day. Antonia was 21 years old at the time, while Rupprecht was 53. Both events were held at the family home of Schloss Hohenburg, with the religious wedding conducted by Bavarian papal nuncio Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII. The Bavarian public was more receptive to the union, and hundreds of locals flocked to the streets to wish the couple well. Antonia wore the magnificent Bavarian Ruby and Spinel Tiara in some of her official wedding pictures, which you may remember from our previous Luxarazzi 101s. Antonia’s youngest sister Sophie married Ernst Heinrich of Saxony at Schloss Hohenburg just a few days later on April 12.

The new couple made their home at Schloss Leuchtenberg in central Munich, while summers were spent at Schloss Berchtesgaden and at Château de Berg. The family also spent time at palaces in Leutstetten, Wildenwart and Hohenschwangau. 

Antonia and Rupprecht had six children:

- Heinrich (1922-1958)

- Irmingard (1923-2010)

- Editha (1924-2013)

- Hilda (1926-2002)

- Gabriele (1927-)

- Sophie (1935-)

Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Germany in the 1920s and 30s was to have an enormous affect on Antonia, Rupprecht, and their children. Hitler respected Rupprecht for his military accomplishments and noticed how the Bavarian people still had great affection for the former royal family. Hitler tried to enlist Rupprecht for an endorsement of his planned regime, believing that Rupprecht's support would provide additional legitimacy for Hitler's rule. But Rupprecht flatly refused, and his dislike of Hitler and the Nazi Party never wavered. 

During the 1930s, Rupprecht and Antonia sent their children to the United Kingdom for their education. This was done so the children could avoid being forced to join any Nazi youth groups as was required in many German schools. The couple’s daughters attended Sacred Heart Convent in Roehampton, which was later attended by their cousins, the daughters of Grand Duchess Charlotte.

Antonia and her children were in Brussels when war was declared in September 1939, while Rupprecht was visiting family in Hungary. Rupprecht’s vocal opposition to the Nazi regime caused the family to essentially go on the run. Strained finances were also a worry, as Antonia and her family were cut off from much of their income. Grand Duchess Charlotte was able to provide support until her own departure from Europe in May 1940.

Antonia and her family moved multiple times before finally settling in Florence, Italy, where they lived a fairly peaceful life until early 1944. But with German and German-sympathetic Italian forces in control of much of northern Italy, the family was in danger. Although Rupprecht tried to hide Antonia and their three youngest daughters in a convent, the women were discovered and arrested in April. They were later joined by Editha and Irmingard, both of whom were arrested elsewhere in Italy.

Antonia and her daughters were moved to various locations in Italy before finally ending up in Innsbruck, Austria. Antonia and Irmingard became ill with typhus and were hospitalized there. The remaining children were sent on to a series of concentration camps in Sachsenhausen, Flossenburg, and Dachau. Antonia and Irmingard later joined the family, which by then included Antonia’s stepson Albrecht and his family. During her time at Flossenburg, Antonia underwent torture at the hands of her captors. Antonia was repeatedly pressed to reveal the location of her husband; each time she refused.

But Antonia’s health, aggravated by malnutrition, effects from the torture, and insufficient medical care, had not fully recovered from her bout with typhus. By the time Antonia was found to be recuperating in a hospital in Jena, she weighed less than 80 lbs. Her brother-in-law Prince Felix took her back to Luxembourg to continue her rehabilitation. Her daughters were able to join her in May 1945, not long after the end of the war in Europe.

Rupprecht had fortunately evaded capture throughout the war, despite being ill for some time in the fall of 1944. He moved frequently to avoid capture, living in Padua, Brixen, Rome, and Florence. Heinrich, Rupprecht and Antonia's only son, was also able to escape arrest by the Nazis and jointed his father in Florence in the last months of 1944. The two returned to Schloss Leutstetten in September 1945.

Antonia rarely spoke of the treatment she'd suffered during the final year of the war. She declared that she would never return to Germany again, a promise she kept. Instead, she divided her time between Italy and Switzerland.

Antonia was helping her youngest daughter Sophie prepare for her wedding when on July 13, 1954, the family received terrible news. Second daughter Editha and her husband, Italian engineer Tito Brunetti, were involved in a serious car accident. Editha survived, but was seriously injured while Tito was killed almost instantly. Antonia's delicate health could not hold up to the shock, and it was soon clear that she would not survive.

Antonia died on July 31, 1954, in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. Sophie's wedding was postponed, and the family gathered instead for Antonia's funeral. Her body was buried in Rome, while her heart was interred in Bavaria. Rupprecht followed her just barely a year later, dying on August 2, 1955. The couple's only son Heinrich died in a car accident only three years after Rupprecht's death. Among Antonia's descendants are members of the Bavarian royal family, the House of Croÿ and the House of Arenberg.