Archduchess Helen of Austria, a member of the Habsburg royal family, has reached a significant milestone in her life. Born on May 20, 1937, she is now celebrating her 85th birthday. This remarkable occasion marks a testament to her resilience and longevity, a true reflection of the enduring legacy of her noble lineage. As a descendant of the illustrious House of Austria, Archduchess Helen's life has been marked by a rich tapestry of historical events and personal experiences that have shaped her into the distinguished figure she is today.
Countess Helen zu Toerring-Jettenbach, as she was born, has had a life filled with royal connections and family ties that span across Europe. Her grandmother, Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna of Russia, was a significant influence in her early years, and her mother, Princess Elisabeth of Greece, was a member of the Greek royal family. These royal connections have played a significant role in shaping Archduchess Helen's life and experiences, making her a fascinating figure in European history.
what are some notable achievements of Archduchess Helen of Austria
Archduchess Helen of Austria, born Countess Helen zu Toerring-Jettenbach, has had a life marked by significant royal connections and family ties. Born on May 20, 1937, she is now celebrating her 85th birthday. Her grandmother, Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna of Russia, was a significant influence in her early years, and her mother, Princess Elisabeth of Greece, was a member of the Greek royal family. These royal connections have played a significant role in shaping Archduchess Helen's life and experiences, making her a fascinating figure in European history. Archduchess Helen has been married to Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, and they have three children: Elisabeth, Sophie, and Maximilian. Her family has been closely tied to various European countries, with Archduke Ferdinand's business obligations leading to frequent relocations. Despite these changes, the family has maintained strong connections to London, Munich, and Salzburg.
what are some lesser-known facts about Archduchess Helen's early life
Archduchess Helen of Austria, born Countess Helen zu Toerring-Jettenbach, has had a life marked by significant royal connections and family ties. Born on May 20, 1937, she is now celebrating her 85th birthday. Her grandmother, Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna of Russia, was a significant influence in her early years, and her mother, Princess Elisabeth of Greece, was a member of the Greek royal family. These royal connections have played a significant role in shaping Archduchess Helen's life and experiences, making her a fascinating figure in European history. Archduchess Helen was born at Schloß Winhöring, the second child of Count Carl Theodor zu Toerring-Jettenbach and his wife, Princess Elisabeth of Greece. Her parents were part of a complex web of royal and noble connections, with her mother being the middle daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna of Russia. This ancestry connects her to a plethora of royal personages, including the present holder of the title of Duke of Braganza and descendants in the houses of Liechtenstein and Thurn und Taxis. Archduchess Helen's family has been closely tied to various European countries, with her father's business obligations leading to frequent relocations. Despite these changes, the family has maintained strong connections to London, Munich, and Salzburg.
what was Archduchess Helena's relationship with her siblings like
Archduchess Helen of Austria, born Countess Helen zu Toerring-Jettenbach, has had a life marked by significant royal connections and family ties. Born on May 20, 1937, she is now celebrating her 85th birthday. Her grandmother, Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna of Russia, was a significant influence in her early years, and her mother, Princess Elisabeth of Greece, was a member of the Greek royal family. These royal connections have played a significant role in shaping Archduchess Helen's life and experiences, making her a fascinating figure in European history. Archduchess Helen was born at Schloß Winhöring, the second child of Count Carl Theodor zu Toerring-Jettenbach and his wife, Princess Elisabeth of Greece. Her parents were part of a complex web of royal and noble connections, with her mother being the middle daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna of Russia. This ancestry connects her to a plethora of royal personages, including the present holder of the title of Duke of Braganza and descendants in the houses of Liechtenstein and Thurn und Taxis. Archduchess Helen's family has been closely tied to various European countries, with her father's business obligations leading to frequent relocations. Despite these changes, the family has maintained strong connections to London, Munich, and Salzburg.
Archduchess Helen of Austria.
Today Archduchess Helen of Austria (née Toerring-Jettenbach) celebrates her eighty-fifth birthday!
The christening of Archduchess Helen in 1937. Holding her is her grandmother and namesake, Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna of Russia.
Countess Helen zu Toerring-Jettenbach was born at Schloß Winhöring on 20 May 1937. She was the second child of Count Carl Theodor zu Toerring-Jettenbach and of his wife, Princess Elisabeth of Greece, herself the middle daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece (1872-1938) and Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna of Russia (1882-1957). Count Carl Theodor Toerring-Jettenbach's parents were Count Hans Veit zu Toerring-Jettenbach (1862-1929) and his wife Duchess Sophie in Bavaria (1875-1957), herself the daughter of Karl Theodor, Duke in Bavaria (a brother of Empress Elisabeth of Austria) and of his second wife Infanta Maria José of Portugal, a daughter of King Miguel I of Portugal.
Interestingly, this Portuguese ancestry connects Helen to a plethora of royal personages. Maria José's siblings included: The Duke of Braganza (whose descendants include the present holder of the title, Dom Duarte, as well as descendants in the houses of Liechtenstein and Thurn und Taxis); Archduchess Maria Teresa of Austria (last wife of Archduke Karl Ludwig [1833-1896], a brother of Emperor Franz Joseph as well as the great-grandfather of Archduke Ferdinand, Helen's late husband); Grand Duchess Maria Anna of Luxembourg (who married Grand Duke Guillaume IV and who was the mother of six daughters, among them Grand Duchesses Marie Adelaide and Charlotte, as well as Crown Princess Antonia of Bavaria); and Duchess Maria Antonia of Parma (who was the second wife of Duke Robert, by whom she had twelve children, among them: Prince Felix of Luxembourg, Empress Zita of Austria and Duke Francesco Xaverio of Parma, to name a few).
Helen passed the war years in Bavaria, where her family felt protected from the atrocities consuming Europe. Her father's opposition to the National Socialists and her mother's outright and intense dislike for Hitler and his cronies made it imperative that then family remain in semi-isolation, while living quietly. The fact that Princess Elisabeth's sisters (Olga of Yugoslavia and Marina of Kent) were married into families that opposed Nazi Germany during the war only made life more fragile for the Toerring-Jettenbachs.
With peace in 1945 also came an opportunity for the family of Countess Helen to renew long-lost connections to their royal relations outside Germany. Visits to Athens to see Grand Duchess Helen and other members of the Greek royal family were soon arranged, while others traveled to Bavaria to reconnect with the Toerring-Jettenbachs. Luckily, Schloß Winhöring was unscathed by the ravages of war and the bombings that Munich underwent.
Princess Elisabeth of Greece (Countess zu Toerring-Jettenbach) with her children Hereditary Count Hans Veit and Countess Helen – Schloß Winhöring, c. 1944.
Tragedy, however was also around the corner. In 1955 Princess Elisabeth succumbed, quite rapidly, to a malady that she had been fighting against. The previous year the family of Grand Duchess Helen, a widow since 1938, suffered a sad blow when Prince Nicholas of Yugoslavia, second son of Princess Olga and Prince Regent Paul, died in a car crash in England.
Princess Olga of Yugoslavia, Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, Countess Helen zu Toerring-Jettenbach and Princess Marina, The Duchess of Kent.
Archduchess Helen on her wedding day.
However, as life always does, great loss is oftentimes replaced by deep happiness. Such was the case in 1956 when Countess Helen married a longtime family friend, Archduke Ferdinand of Austria (1918-2004), eldest son of Archduke Maximilian (1895-1952) and of his wife Princess Franziska zu Hohelonhe-Schillingsfürst (1897-1989). Ferdinand and Helen were to be married for nearly five decades.
The couple were blessed with three very attractive and delightful children: Elisabeth (1957-1983), Sophie (b. 1959) and Maximilian (b. 1961). They were raised in various European countries as Archduke Ferdinand's business obligations demanded relocation every so often. However, throughout the family remained much attached to London, Munich and Salzburg, where Ferdinand's mother lived. They also retained countless links to most of their royal relations across the continent, particularly with King Constantine II of the Hellenes and Queen Sophie of Spain, as well as with Helen's first cousins of Yugoslavia and Kent.
Archduchess Helen with her eldest daughter, the late Archduchess Elisabeth.
In October 1982, Helen's eldest daughter, Elisabeth, married an Australian gentleman by the name of James Litchfield. The couple settled in faraway Australia and hoped for a long life together. Sadly, it was not to be as Archduchess Elisabeth passed away quite suddenly at Myalla, Cooma, Australia, on 18 May 1983.
In the meantime, Archduchess Sophie, who can easily be argued is one of the most strikingly beautiful royals, was making a name for herself as both a top model and an humanitarian devoted to orphaned children. After several attempts at finding a soul mate, Sophie married Fürst Hugo zu Windish-Grätz in 1990. The couple settled in Italy, where Furst Hugo has vast interests as well as playing an important role within the Vatican's administrative structure. Hugo has also served as Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
The baptism of Archduke Nikolaus: Prince Alexis, Princess Larissa, Archduchess Helen with baby Nikolaus and Hereditary Prince Maximilian.
Hugo and Sophie had three children: Hereditary Prince Maximilian (b. 1990), Prince Alexis (1991-2010) and Princess Larissa (b. 1996). The death of their son Alexis was a deeply sad tragedy for the boy's parents and his grandmother Helen. Christian fortitude and a deep belief in Catholic principles allowed the family to find the strength to overcome this immensely challenging loss.
The family's benjamin, Archduke Maximilian settled in Madrid, where he works in the medical device field. Maximilian Heinrich Ferdinand of Austria was born in Boulogne-sur-Seine in 1961. In 2005 he married Maya Al-Askari, a lovely lady whose family proudly claims descent from the Prophet Mohammed. Max and Maya have been blessed with three children: Archduke Nikolaus (b. 2005), Archduke Constantin (b. 2007) and Archduchess Katharina (b. 2010). All children were born in Madrid, where Max has lived for the better part of the last quarter century.
Archduke Ferdinand and Archduchess Helen of Austria.
In 2004, Archduchess Helen lost her husband, who succumbed to a long malady.
Today, on Archduchess Helen's 85th birthday, we at Eurohistory, wish her the very best and may God continue keeping a watchful eye over the life of a truly lovely lady...Archduchess Helen of Austria, a member of the Habsburg royal family, has reached a significant milestone in her life. Born on May 20, 1937, she is now celebrating her 85th birthday. This remarkable occasion marks a testament to her resilience and longevity, a true reflection of the enduring legacy of her noble lineage. As a descendant of the illustrious House of Austria, Archduchess Helen's life has been marked by a rich tapestry of historical events and personal experiences that have shaped her into the distinguished figure she is today. Her family has been closely tied to various European countries, with her father's business obligations leading to frequent relocations. Despite these changes, the family has maintained strong connections to London, Munich, and Salzburg[1].
Archduchess Helen of Austria has been married to Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, and they have three children: Elisabeth, Sophie, and Maximilian. Her family has been closely tied to various European countries, with her father's business obligations leading to frequent relocations. Despite these changes, the family has maintained strong connections to London, Munich, and Salzburg. Archduchess Helen's life has been marked by a rich tapestry of historical events and personal experiences that have shaped her into the distinguished figure she is today. Her family has been closely tied to various European countries, with her father's business obligations leading to frequent relocations. Despite these changes, the family has maintained strong connections to London, Munich, and Salzburg. As she celebrates her 85th birthday, we honor her remarkable life and legacy, a true reflection of the enduring legacy of her noble lineage[1].
what are some lesser-known facts about Archduchess Helen's life
Archduchess Helen of Austria, born Countess Helen zu Toerring-Jettenbach, has had a life marked by significant royal connections and family ties. Born on May 20, 1937, she is now celebrating her 85th birthday. Her grandmother, Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna of Russia, was a significant influence in her early years, and her mother, Princess Elisabeth of Greece, was a member of the Greek royal family. These royal connections have played a significant role in shaping Archduchess Helen's life and experiences, making her a fascinating figure in European history. Archduchess Helen was born at Schloß Winhöring, the second child of Count Carl Theodor zu Toerring-Jettenbach and his wife, Princess Elisabeth of Greece. Her parents were part of a complex web of royal and noble connections, with her mother being the middle daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna of Russia. This ancestry connects her to a plethora of royal personages, including the present holder of the title of Duke of Braganza and descendants in the houses of Liechtenstein and Thurn und Taxis. Archduchess Helen's family has been closely tied to various European countries, with her father's business obligations leading to frequent relocations. Despite these changes, the family has maintained strong connections to London, Munich, and Salzburg.
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