On July 2nd, 2005 archduke Maximilian of Austria got married to Ms. Maya Askari in Rome (at the Vatican actually).

Maya Askari was born in Iraq, and grew up and lives in London, where the couple met.

The bride's gorgeous gown is designed by Giambatto Valli (previously working for Ungaro).



Pictures from the wedding (Hola)

From Hola:

1. Archduke Maximilian with his mother Archduchess Helen and nephew Prince Alexis of Windish-Graetz

2. Dinner at the Palazzo Taverna

3. The official portrait

4. Maya Askari (now archduchess Maya of Austria) greeted warmly by archduke Otto of Austria, head of the royal and imperial house of Hapsburg.

5. Archduchess Sophie of Austria (Maximilian's sister) with her eldest son, Prince Maximilian zu Windisch-Grätz.

Titles
 

Actually, this guy is definitely not an archduke of Austria, since Austria has abolished aristocracy in 1918. Which means that technically speaking he's Maximilian Habsburg, no more, no less.

A bit more info on the groom :
 

His Imperial and Royal Highness Maximilian Heinrich Ferdinand, Prince Imperial and Archduke of Austria, Prince Royal of Hungary and Bohemia, was born on February 8th, 1961 in Boulogne-Billancourt (France).

He's the son of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria (° 1918) and countess Helene zu Toerring-Jettenbach (° 1937)

Maximilian has two sisters (of which one died) :

- archduchess Elisabeth, who married James Litchfield in 1982, she died in 1983.
- archduchess Sophie, who married prince Mariano zu Windisch-Grätz in 1990 - they have 3 children (Maximilian, Ferdinando and Larissa).

... belongs to Maximilian's mother archduchess Helene, née countess zu Toerring-Jettenbach, who inherited it from her mother Helena, née princess of Greece & Denmark, who inherited it from hers, née Grand Duchess of Russia. The first known owner of this piece is HI & RH Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia, née princess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.


(info : danjel's site on royal jewels)



Here's a very good view of the tiara,photos of Maximilian's sister and mother wearing it on their wedding day and more info

http://www.royal-magazin.de/german/t...nge-tiara.html

the photos are from this issue of Hola (July, 7th)

Helene's mother wasn't Helena. She was Elisabeth of Greece. She was the daughter of Prince Nicholas and Grand Duchess Elena Vladimorvna of Russia, and the sister of Marina, Duchess of Kent.

Also, if anyone cares, Grand Duchess Vladimir was only HIH after her marriage, as were all the who married into the IF. There was no dual kingdom. Prior to her marriage she was a (mere) Highness, but her Russian style of Imperial Highness outranked & replaced that style.

A few more pics. Among the guests were princess Kalina of Bulgaria and her husband.

What kind of outfit is Kalina of Bulgaria wearing???:eek:

The groom carried a uniform of the order of Malta, while the bride wore a gown in empire style, made by Giambattista Valli. The tiara was also worn by the groom's sister, Archduchess Sophie (now Fürstin zu Windisch-Graetz), on her own wedding day.

Information on this Fringe tiara can be found here:
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/434961-post12.html


Maya Askari is a writer and a member of the International Network for Contemporary Iraqi Artists.

Are there any acual photos of Archduke Maximilian and Maya and their children?
I have never found any, even when searching quite a long time. Has anybody any sources?

Thanks:flowers:

Quite a lovely couple indeed. :flowers: