Princess Maria da Gloria, Duchess of Segorbe, has shared an insightful interview with the Serbian press, offering a glimpse into her life and family dynamics. The former Crown Princess of Yugoslavia, known for her dedication to her family, recently visited Serbia for the fourth time, with her most recent trip being an unexpected visit to check on her hospitalized son, Hereditary Prince Philip.
In the interview, Princess Maria da Gloria spoke candidly about her family, including her eldest son Prince Peter’s renunciation of his royal titles. She also reflected on her first meeting with her ex-husband, Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia, and the importance of family in her life. The Duchess of Segorbe emphasized that despite her royal titles, family remains the most crucial aspect of her life, stating, “All this hurts me a lot, because family is the most important thing. You can be Karađorđević or whatever, carry important titles, but family is family.”
what were the main topics Princess Maria da Gloria discussed in her interview
- Unexpected Visit to Serbia: She shared her story of flying to Belgrade to visit her hospitalized son, Philip, and her disappointment that her ex-husband, Crown Prince Alexander, did not invite her or her son to the court.
- Family Dynamics: The princess emphasized the importance of family, expressing sadness that her attempt to spend time with her grandson, Stefan, and her ex-husband failed. She also mentioned that her children are very supportive of each other.
- Renunciation of Prince Peter’s Rights: Princess Maria da Gloria discussed her eldest son, Prince Peter’s, decision to renounce his rights to the Serbian throne in favor of his brother, Philip. She stated that this was an act of patriotism and that she supports her son’s happiness.
- Relationship with Crown Prince Alexander: The princess mentioned that her relationship with Crown Prince Alexander is difficult and that he rarely sees his grandson, Stefan.
- Meeting Her First Husband: Princess Maria da Gloria recalled her first meeting with Crown Prince Alexander, describing it as beautiful and a time of friendship before they got engaged.
- Pride in Her Children: She expressed pride in all her children, stating that they help each other and are a very happy family.
what did Princess Maria da Gloria say about her relationship with Crown Prince Alexander
how did Princess Maria da Gloria feel about not being able to spend time with her grandson Stefan
Last week, Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans-Bragança, Duchess of Segorbe and former Crown Princess of Yugoslavia, gave an interview to the Serbian paper Kurir. The princess was wrapping up her fourth visit to Serbia: the first was in 2005 for the sixtieth birthday of her ex-husband Crown Prince Alexander, the second was in 2017 for the wedding of her son and daughter-in-law Hereditary Prince Philip and Hereditary Princess Danica, and the third was in 2018 for the baptism of her grandson Prince Stefan of Serbia.
Maria da Gloria’s fourth visit to Serbia was rather unexpected. The princess had been in Venice with her husband, the Duke of Segorbe. During dinner, Maria learned that her son had been admitted to hospital. She immediately caught the first available flight to Belgrade…and, like any caring mom, she showed up unannounced. As Princess Danica was with her husband, Princess Maria da Gloria went ahead and picked up her grandson Prince Stefan from his kindergarten, where he made sure she was introduced to his teachers and classmates. Maria da Gloria then went to the hospital to check on the condition of her son. Fortunately, he was alright. The Duchess of Segorbe remarked: “I came on the first flight as soon as I heard that my son Filip was in the hospital. Thank God it was nothing serious, everything is fine now. I told my ex-husband, the heir to the throne Crown Prince Aleksandar of Serbia, that I was here, that I wanted to go to the court [Royal Palace], but no – he didn’t invite me, nor Filip, nor Danica. The attempt to be like a family, for Stefan to be with his grandfather, who practically does not know him, failed. All this hurts me a lot, because family is the most important thing. You can be Karađorđević or whatever, carry important titles, but family is family.”
The Duchess of Segorbe commented on the renunciation of her eldest son Prince Peter: “Peter left his rights to the Serbian throne to Filip, and that is an act of patriotism. He himself said that he is not ready to take on that duty. His abdication is perfectly fine with me. First of all, because of Peter’s happiness, and then – here, in Serbia, Filip has married a beautiful Serbian woman, who understands all of that. See, Dana even looks like me, like she is my daughter! And my son Alexander also supported this, and he and Peter told me: ‘Mom, whatever Filip needs, we will fight for him.’” The princess then added: “The relationship with Crown Prince Alexander is a difficult story.” When asked if Crown Princess Katherine was a factor in the schism within the Serbian royal family, Princess Maria da Gloria noted: “You should ask Crown Prince Alexander, not me. He almost never sees his grandson, and Stefan has been in Spain many times, for Christmas and so on… It’s very sad. The attempt to be like a family, for Stefan to be with his grandfather, has not worked.“
Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans-Bragança recalled when she met her first husband, Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia: “Oh, my goodness, it was beautiful. I met Alexander at a dinner at my aunt and uncle’s house, the Count and Countess of Paris, in Estoril. He came with the King of Italy, Umberto II, whom we called Uncle Beppo. It was a time of exile, there were many kings and princes were around. Alexander and I became very good friends from the start, and as he was in the British Army, I went to Ireland, where he was stationed, to see him. Then we got engaged and I went back to Brazil to tell my parents. My mother was a strong Catholic, and the first thing she asked me was not what his religion was, but: ‘Is he taller than you?’“
The Duchess of Sergorbe noted how proud she was of all of her children. “All my children help each other, they would do anything to save each other. They are brothers and sisters. Basically we are a very happy family. Thank God for that.“
A thank you to Lucas Szkopinski for finding the full interview in English! In order to read everything that Princess Maria da Gloria, Duchess of Segorbe, had to say, please visit this link:
what are the main themes discussed in Princess Maria da Gloria’s interview
- Unexpected Visit to Serbia: She shared her story of flying to Belgrade to visit her hospitalized son, Philip, and her disappointment that her ex-husband, Crown Prince Alexander, did not invite her or her son to the court.
- Family Dynamics: The princess emphasized the importance of family, expressing sadness that her attempt to spend time with her grandson, Stefan, and her ex-husband failed. She also mentioned that her children are very supportive of each other.
- Renunciation of Prince Peter’s Rights: Princess Maria da Gloria discussed her eldest son, Prince Peter’s, decision to renounce his rights to the Serbian throne in favor of his brother, Philip. She stated that this was an act of patriotism and that she supports her son’s happiness.
- Relationship with Crown Prince Alexander: The princess mentioned that her relationship with Crown Prince Alexander is difficult and that he rarely sees his grandson, Stefan.
- Meeting Her First Husband: Princess Maria da Gloria recalled her first meeting with Crown Prince Alexander, describing it as beautiful and a time of friendship before they got engaged.
- Pride in Her Children: She expressed pride in all her children, stating that they help each other and are a very happy family.
As we conclude this article about Princess Maria da Gloria, Duchess of Segorbe, we are reminded of the complexities and challenges that often come with royal family dynamics. Despite the difficulties, Princess Maria da Gloria remains committed to her family and their well-being, emphasizing the importance of family bonds. Her dedication to her children and grandchildren is evident in her actions, such as her unexpected visit to Serbia to check on her hospitalized son, Philip. This selfless act demonstrates her unwavering support for her family, even in the face of adversity.
Princess Maria da Gloria’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate web of relationships within royal families. Her experiences, from her marriage to Crown Prince Alexander to her subsequent divorce and remarriage, highlight the complexities of navigating these relationships. Through her journey, we see the importance of family and the challenges that come with maintaining relationships within the royal sphere. As we reflect on Princess Maria da Gloria’s story, we are reminded that family is the most important thing, regardless of titles or positions. Her commitment to her family and their happiness is a testament to the enduring power of family bonds, a theme that resonates deeply across cultures and generations.
what are some of the key highlights from Princess Maria da Gloria’s interview
- Unexpected Visit to Serbia: Princess Maria da Gloria flew to Serbia to visit her hospitalized son, Philip, and was disappointed that her ex-husband, Crown Prince Alexander, did not invite her or her son to the court.
- Family Dynamics: The princess emphasized the importance of family, expressing sadness that her attempt to spend time with her grandson, Stefan, and her ex-husband failed. She also mentioned that her children are very supportive of each other.
- Renunciation of Prince Peter’s Rights: Princess Maria da Gloria discussed her eldest son, Prince Peter’s, decision to renounce his rights to the Serbian throne in favor of his brother, Philip. She stated that this was an act of patriotism and that she supports her son’s happiness.
- Relationship with Crown Prince Alexander: The princess mentioned that her relationship with Crown Prince Alexander is difficult and that he rarely sees their grandson, Stefan. She also expressed sadness that the attempt to be like a family and have Stefan spend time with his grandfather failed.
- Meeting Her First Husband: Princess Maria da Gloria recalled her first meeting with Crown Prince Alexander, describing it as beautiful and a time of friendship before they got engaged.
- Pride in Her Children: She expressed pride in all her children, stating that they help each other and are a very happy family.
These highlights provide insight into Princess Maria da Gloria’s personal life, family dynamics, and relationships within the royal family.
