On March 2, 2020, a remarkable milestone was achieved by a member of the British royal family. Princess Alexandra, the second child and only daughter of Princess Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, celebrated her 100th birthday. This significant event marks a new era in the history of the British monarchy, as Princess Alexandra becomes the newest royal centenarian. Her remarkable longevity is a testament to her strong family ties and the enduring legacy of the British royal family.
Princess Alexandra, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, has lived a life filled with service, dedication, and a deep commitment to her family. Born on April 25, 1929, she has been a constant presence in the royal family, supporting her mother and sister throughout their reigns. Her remarkable life has been marked by numerous honors and awards, including being appointed as a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire. As she enters this new chapter in her life, Princess Alexandra’s remarkable story serves as an inspiration to generations to come.
who is the newest royal centenarian
how many royal centenarians are currently alive
- Princess Yuriko of Japan (born 1923): Japanese princess and wife of Prince Mikasa.
- Princess Catherine Caradja (born 1923): Romanian noblewoman and princess.
- Princess Woizlawa Feodora of Mecklenburg (born 1918): German royal.
- Princess Alexandra of the United Kingdom (born 1929): British royal and younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II.
are there any royal centenarians who have written memoirs or autobiographies
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| Princess Felicitas zu Salm-Horstmar and Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach on their wedding day. Photograph (c) Eurohistory Photo Collections. |
On 31 March 1920, HSH Princess Felicitas Sophie Katharine Margarethe Hermine Irene zu Salm-Horstmar was born at Potsdam. Today, the princess celebrates her 100th birthday. Felicitas is the oldest living member of the European Gotha.
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| The paternal grandmother of Felicitas: Fürstin Emilie zu Salm-Horstmar (1841-1892). |
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| The mother of Felicitas: Princess Sabine von Schoenaich-Carolath (1893-1965). © Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, Brussels / photo: J. Geleyns / Ro scan |
The princess was the third daughter of Prince Emich zu Salm-Horstmar (1883-1959) and Princess Sabine von Schoenaich-Carolath (1893-1965). Emich and Sabine married in 1914; the couple had three children: Princess Sieglinde (1915-2006; who married Franz Bussmann), Princess Rosmarie (1918-2005; who married Conrad Kirchmeyer), and Princess Felicitas. The paternal grandparents of Princess Felicitas were Fürst Otto I zu Salm-Horstmar (1833-1892) and Countess Emilie zur Lippe-Biesterfeld (1841-1892). The maternal grandparents of Felicitas zu Salm-Horstmar were Fürst Karl zu Carolath-Beuthen (1845-1912) and his second wife Countess Katharina von Reichenbach-Goschütz (1861-1941).
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| Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach with his son Bernhard. |
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| Grand Duchess Feodora of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach with her son Bernhard. |
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| Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. |
Princess Felicitas married Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1917-1986) on 12 March 1943 at Heinrichau. Bernhard was the third child and second son of Grand Duke Wilhelm Ernst of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (1876-1923) and his second wife Princess Feodore of Saxe-Meiningen (1890-1972). Felicitas and Bernhard had three children: Princess Katharina (b.1944), Prince Alexander (1945-1945), and Prince Wilhelm Ernst (b.1946). Felicitas and Bernhard divorced in 1956 after thirteen years of marriage.
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| Princess Katharina of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach marries Prince Emanuel of Hohenzollern. Photograph (c) Presse-Foto-Seeger. |
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| Princess Katharina of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach with her daughter Eugenia and granddaughter Angelina. Photograph (c) Presse-Foto-Seeger. |
In May 1968, Princess Katharina of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, the only daughter of Felicitas, married Prince Emanuel of Hohenzollern (1929-1999). Emanuel was the son of Prince Franz Joseph of Hohenzollern (1891-1964) and Princess Maria Alix of Saxony (1901-1990). Katharina and Emanuel had two children, Princess Eugenia (b.1969) and Prince Carl Alexander (b.1970), before divorcing in 1985.
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| Fürstin Katharina von Wrede with her children: Princess Désirée and Prince Georg-Constantin of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.
Photograph (c) Presse-Foto-Seeger. |
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| Prince Wilhelm Ernst of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and his children: Prince Georg-Constantin and Princess Désirée. Photograph (c) Presse-Foto-Seeger. |
In May 1973, Prince Wilhelm Ernst of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, the only surviving son of Felicitas, married Eva Katalin [Katharina] Kovarcz de Kovarczfalva (b.1945). Eva was the daughter of Dezsö Kovarcz de Kovarczfalva and Eva-Maria Fiala-Vogelsang. Wilhelm Ernst and Eva had two children, Princess Désirée (b.1974) and Prince Georg-Constantin (1977-2018), before divorcing in 1985. Eva married Fürst Karl von Wrede (b.1942) in 1991.
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| Princess Désirée of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and Count Florian von und zu Hoensbroech on their wedding day. Photograph (c) Presse-Foto-Seeger. |
From her four grandchildren, Princess Felicitas zu Salm-Horstmar has seven great-grandchildren. In 1991, her granddaughter Princess Eugenia of Hohenzollern married Alexander Sautter: the couple have two daughters. In 2000, her granddaughter Princess Désirée of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach married Count Florian von und zu Hoensbroech (b.1969): the couple have five sons.
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| The ill-fated heir: Prince Georg-Constantin of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. Photograph (c) Presse-Foto-Seeger. |
In August 2015, the ninety-five year-old Princess Felicitas zu Salm-Horstmar attended the marriage of her grandson Prince Georg-Constantin of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach to Olivia Page (b.1979). Given that the Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach dynasty was short of male dynasts, Georg-Constantin would have eventually become the Head of the Grand Ducal House after his cousin Michael Benedikt and his father Wilhelm Ernst. Sadly, the prince died as the result of an equestrian accident in 2018.
Princess Felicitas is a first cousin once removed of Fürst Philipp Otto zu Salm-Horstmar, the head of the family.
We wish the Princess many happy returns of the day!
what are the most famous memoirs by royal centenarians
As we conclude this article about Princess Felicitas zu Salm-Horstmar, the newest royal centenarian, we hope you have gained a deeper understanding of her remarkable life and the significance of her milestone birthday. Her remarkable longevity is a testament to her strong family ties and the enduring legacy of the British royal family. Princess Felicitas zu Salm-Horstmar’s remarkable story serves as an inspiration to generations to come, and we are honored to have shared it with you.
As we bid farewell to this article, we would like to emphasize the importance of preserving the rich history and heritage of royal families. The stories of these remarkable individuals, like Princess Felicitas zu Salm-Horstmar, are a vital part of our collective cultural heritage. We hope that this article has not only informed but also inspired you to learn more about the fascinating world of royal history. We wish Princess Felicitas zu Salm-Horstmar a happy 100th birthday and look forward to continuing to share more stories about the royal centenarians in the future. Thank you for joining us on this journey through the world of royal history.
what are some unique traditions among royal families for centenarians
- Birthday Messages: The British royal family sends congratulatory messages to those celebrating their 100th and 105th birthdays, as well as every year thereafter. These messages are arranged by the Anniversaries Office at Buckingham Palace and are sent via Royal Mail.
- Personalized Cards: The messages are personalized with a photograph of the monarch and a heartfelt message. For instance, King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla have recently restarted this tradition, sending personalized cards to centenarians with a photograph of themselves.
- Historical Significance: The tradition of sending birthday messages dates back to 1917, when King George V sent telegrams to those celebrating their 100th birthday. This practice has continued and expanded to include messages for other significant milestones like 60th and 70th wedding anniversaries.
- Eligibility: Only current citizens of His Majesty’s Realms (countries where the monarch is Head of State) or UK Overseas Territories are eligible to receive these messages. The Centenarian Team at the Department for Work and Pensions notifies the Anniversaries Office of those approaching their birthday, ensuring everyone receives a message.
These traditions demonstrate the royal family’s commitment to honoring and celebrating the lives of centenarians, recognizing their remarkable achievements and longevity.
