Henri, Count of Paris, Head of the Royal House of France (1908-1999)

[Marengo]

To my surprise there was no thread for the late count around so I posted a new one.

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The inheritance of the late count has been an ongoing issue the last 12 years. Much has been written about it at the time of his death and afterwards. According to this article in the Telegraph:

Prince Henri of Orléans's children close in on reclaiming family fortune - Telegraph

the count is supposed to have whispered to one of his daughters: 'I will leave you nothing but hatred'.

The family is still fighting the will as the count sold most things or put them in a foundation.

[Marengo]

And an article from 1999 from the LA Times:

Monique Friesz | France Baffled by Case of Missing Fortune - Los Angeles Times

France Baffled by Case of Missing Fortune

Mystery: At death of pretender to throne, his vast estate has vanished.


August 02, 1999|JOHN-THOR DAHLBURG | TIMES STAFF WRITER
PARIS — When Henri d'Orleans, count of Paris and pretender to the French throne, died this summer at the ripe old age of 90, the blue-blooded playboy who had been one of France's wealthiest men left behind a puzzling, bizarre legacy.
In the bungalow where the Bourbon aristocrat had lived with his mistress, bailiffs found a pair of bedroom slippers and six handkerchiefs embroidered with the royal crest. And nothing else belonging to him.

Read more here.

[Kasumi]

90th birthday - Henry Count of Paris

[jonc93]

Everytime I watch that video I feel sorry for the late Countess. Her husband and her had been estranged for many years, he had a very public mistress, sold her jewelry, their home in Portugal (without telling her) and done many other horrible things, yet she's holding on to him and kissing him as if they were happily married, but it was just a show royals put up just for appearances!

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by jonc93

yet she's holding on to him and kissing him as if they were happily married, but it was just a show royals put up just for appearances!

I don't think it was a show as far as Madame was concerned. True, they did live apart for many years, but I honestly don't believe that the Countess ever fell out of love with her husband.

[expat]

Originally Posted by jonc93

Everytime I watch that video I feel sorry for the late Countess. Her husband and her had been estranged for many years, he had a very public mistress, sold her jewelry, their home in Portugal (without telling her) and done many other horrible things, yet she's holding on to him and kissing him as if they were happily married, but it was just a show royals put up just for appearances!

The only comment I can make is that the Countess was a Lady in all the meanings of the word. Noblesse oblige.

[cmbruno]

He not only disappeared with historical French objects but also with Brazilian ones he had no right to because they belonged to Madame.
Why did he change so much? Or had he always been so mean and selfish?

[fearghas]

Originally Posted by cmbruno

He not only disappeared with historical French objects but also with Brazilian ones he had no right to because they belonged to Madame.
Why did he change so much? Or had he always been so mean and selfish?

It has been my experience, after working with elderly people for two decades, that many becomeincredibly selfish as they get older and sicker. Not all of course. But I have seen many cases where people in their 80s have demanded that their children (or usually one, the one who has been looking after their parents the most) give up their jobs, spouses, own children, and in effect their whole lives, to care for the elderly parent. And then treat that child with the most disgusting diplays of humiliation, verbal and even physical violence and a total disregard of the younger persons wellbeing. From what I have seen or read about the Count of Paris, he was inately a selfish and arrogent person to start with and only got worse as he grew older. Perhaps he became very bitter when the French throne didn't eventuate for him.

[jonc93]

Well according to an article one of his kids said that he became extremely bitter when De Gaulle ran for a second term because De Gaulle told him that he wouldn't run for a second term because the monarchy would be restored. As his children said " he wasn't succeeding so he didn't want to see any of his kids succeed"

[maria-olivia]

Jonc93, Exactly, He really thought a moment he would be King of France.
Therefore at Clair Volant they were every year pictures of the whole family de France.
The Glittering Wedding of the Dauphin Henri with Duchess Marie Thérèse of Wurtenberg was this most glorious day . General de Gaulle did not assist but said : it is an important Event for France.

[maria-olivia]

Another Story about him I read in the book of HRH Prince Michel de Grèce.
As Orphan he lived at the Count de Paris , his Uncle's home.
He wrote in his book that the Count de Paris coming late at home kissed every Child before they were sleeping. Not the Comtesse !

[fandesacs2003]

Originally Posted by expat

The only comment I can make is that the Countess was a Lady in all the meanings of the word. Noblesse oblige.

I have exactly the same opinion. She was a real LADY. She suffered all her life from this marriage with dignity. The late count de paris was marcyless and egoist. He arranged the best of Gotha weddings for quite all his childred without really asing them. When his first son wanted to divorce he rejected him and he transmitted the title to his grandson. He made disappear quite all his enormous and historical fortune . Very difficult and bitter person.

[Sancia]

The countess was not an easy person to live with, according to some of her relatives. She could be lovely, or stiff. And she wanted to behave and act as if her husband and her were not separated, while everyone knew their common life was over. It seems rather hypocritical.

About the story told by prince Michel of Greece, the count took care of the boys, the countess of the girls, so their sons and their daughters don't have the same opinion about both their parents.

[Lenora]

A new book about the friendship between Count of Paris and the French president Francois Mitterand has appeared recently in France,its title is "La Rose & Le Lys"(Francois Mitterand and Count of Paris 1986-1996).More information here:
Noblesse & Royautés » «*La rose et le lys*»

[cmbruno]

Originally Posted by Sancia

... And she wanted to behave and act as if her husband and her were not separated, while everyone knew their common life was over. It seems rather hypocritical...

Madame was catholic and royal. It was, for her, inadmissible to accept failure in her marriage. And I guess the Count felt the same way as he never divorced her. He acted the way he wanted, why couldn't she do the same?

[Sancia]

Originally Posted by cmbruno

Madame was catholic and royal. It was, for her, inadmissible to accept failure in her marriage. And I guess the Count felt the same way as he never divorced her. He acted the way he wanted, why couldn't she do the same?

As a catholic, I understand her principles. Still, I find rather hypocritical to lead separate lives and though to celebrate with a big party their 60th wedding anniversary.

[cmbruno]

Originally Posted by Sancia

As a catholic, I understand her principles. Still, I find rather hypocritical to lead separate lives and though to celebrate with a big party their 60th wedding anniversary.

It was just the way things were done till their generation.
And I guess Madame was the great Dame she was because she washed her dirty laundry at home, never showing the world her sorrow. I am sure she died thinking she honoured her duties and her family, which is the biggest goal a royal woman born at her time could dream of achieving. And yes, it may look hypcritical nowadays. Would I act like she did if I were in her shoes? No way! But again, I would not be considered a Dame and a perfect would be Queen. In the end, I think everybody considers her much more Royal than the Count. She was the real deal.