Princess Irina von Hesse-Cassel & Count Alexander von Schönburg-Glauchau 1999

[Elsa M.]

Princess Irina von Hesse-Cassel (*1971) and Count Alexander von Schönburg-Glauchau (*1969) got married on May 29th 1999, in St Caecilia's (Roman Catholic) Church of Heusenstamm, Hesse (Germany), before 200 guests. The bride’s gown was designed by Thomaz Starzewrewski.

Asked about the wedding menu, Alexander answered: «I was too excited to eat! My wife is a vegetarian and I believe she ate a salad»! About the wedding gifts he said that Queen Sofia's was wrapped in the prettiest paper!

Count Alexander is a brother of Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis and, since September 1998, he is the head of the Schönburg-Glauchau House, due his brother's renunciation, in 1995. He studied Political Science in Oxford and is now the diplomatic correspondent for the Berliner newspaper B-Z.

Irina's father, Prince Karl, is a nephew of the Duke of Edinburgh, although no members of the British royal family attended the ceremony. Before marrying, the 27-year-old-bride had worked in the Bankers Trust of London.

The couple has now three children: Maria-Letitia (*2001), Maximus Carolus (*2003) and Valentin Polykarp (*2005).


St Caecilia's of Heusenstamm, Hesse. By SeegerPress:

[Elsa M.]

From SeegerPress and DPA:

1. Count Alexander and his mother Countess Beatrix, neé Szechenyi von Savar und Felsovidek;
4. Princess Irina escorted by her father Prince Karl of Hesse.

[Elsa M.]

The guests, by SeegerPress and DPA:

1-2. out of the church;
3. guests, including Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis and her son Fürst Albert;
4. Queen Sophia escorted by HRH Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse, Head of All the House of Hesse;
below them are the bride's parents, Prince Karl of Hesse and Princess Yvonne, neé Countess Szapary von Muraszombath;
5-7. Queen Sofia of Spain;
8. Archduchess Regina von Habsburg-Österreich.

[HRH Mims]

Nice pics! Has anyone better picture of that tiara?

[Elsa M.]

More guests, by SeegerPress and DPA:

1. Fürstin Gloria von Thurn und Taxis and children: Fürst Albert, Princess Maria Theresia and Princess Elisabeth;
2. Countess Maja Flick von Schonburg-Glauchau and family (Maja is Princess Gloria's sister; the groom is their brother);
3. Count Rudolf von Schönburg-Glauchau and his wife HRH Princess Marie Louise neé Prussia;
4. Count Constantin von Berckheim and Archduke Maximilian von Habsburg;
5-6. HRH Erbprinz (Hereditary Prince) Heinrich Donatus von Hessen.

[Elsa M.]

More guests, by SeegerPress:

1. Erbprinz (Hereditary Prince) Carl-Eugen zu Oettingen-Oettingen und Oettingen-Wallerstein and wife Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn;
2. Princesses Maria Anna and Elizabeth in Bayern;
3. Princess Marie-Christine von Kent with her daughter, Lady Gabriella Windsor, and son, Lord Frederick Windsor;
4. Alexander, 7th Fürst zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, Fürstin Gabriela, neé Countess von Schönborn-Weisentheid, and son Prince Ludwig;
5. Erbprinz Bernhard von Baden with his sister, Princess Marie Louise;
6. Princes Ludwig von Baden and his wife Princess Marianne, neé Princess von Auersperg-Breunner;
7. Fürst Albert von Thurn und Taxis and Princess Maria Philippa von Bayern.

[Warren]

The tiara: provenance of the House of Hesse, and worn by the bride's mother at her wedding in 1966.
pic from Point de Vue, 9.6.1999.

HH Princess Irina and her father HH Prince Karl of Hesse 1999

[BeatrixFan]

Wow - doesn't Prince Karl look alot like the Duke of Edinburgh? Thanks for the pic Warren.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by BeatrixFan

Wow - doesn't Prince Karl look alot like the Duke of Edinburgh? Thanks for the pic Warren.

Prince Karl's mother, Princess Sophie, was a sister of the Duke of Edinburgh. I would have expected a Windsor presence at this wedding, but there wasn't.

[HRH Mims]

That tiara is very interesting piece! Thank you Warren!

[Lady Jennifer]

Great pictures. The dress is very pretty.

[crisiñaki]

Originally Posted by Warren

Prince Karl's mother, Princess Sophie, was a sister of the Duke of Edinburgh. I would have expected a Windsor presence at this wedding, but there wasn't.

1. Aren't Princess Michael and her children Windsors? or you mean the "greek" side of the Windsors a.k.a the main clan?
2. I was surprised to see Queen Sofia but she must be related to the father of the bride
3. If Sofia was there I wonder where Constantine was, he likes to be in the press as much as he can!

[Warren]

Originally Posted by crisiñaki

1. Aren't Princess Michael and her children Windsors? or you mean the "greek" side of the Windsors a.k.a the main clan?

Princess Michael attended the wedding because her mother (a Szapary von Muraszombath) is related to Princess Irina's mother (also a Szapary von Muraszombath).
Prince Karl of Hesse is Prince Philip's nephew.

[Elsa M.]

I just found a few more photos, by Olycom: