Henri, Comte de Paris (1933-2019), Head of the Royal House of France, wives & family

[Idriel]

The count of Paris exposes water-colors:

In French

Two water-colors
« L’arbre en feu » The tree set in fire
« paysage côtier » Coast landscape

[Warren]

There was a rare interview with the Duchesse de Montpensier in Point de Vue, August 2004. She talked about raising the two handicapped children, Francois and Blanche, and how the divorce was "forced" on her by her husband, the current Comte de Paris. She did not state where she lives, but I would assume in Paris.

Off this topic, but interesting: the Duchesse related how during WWII the SS stationed a surveillance squad in Schloss Altshausen to keep a close watch on the Duke and Duchess of Württemberg.

[Marengo]

OT- The SS really disliked royalty, didn't they? Of course some were involved (most notably the Waldeck Pyrmonts, Oldenburgs and Mecklenburgs) but most of them kept a distance. I remember Louis-Ferdinands story on his interigation by SS officers & how he gave them so much drinks that they became drunk and left him alone. A tricky thing as LF was, I believe slightly involved on the attack on Hitlers life in 1944. They also put Mafalda of Hesse-Kassel, nee Italy and Antonia of Bavaria, nee Luxembourg in concentrationcamps I believe. Mafalda died there and Antonia died in the 50-ties as a result of this. (I believe she was escorted to the concentrationcamp by the Prince of Waldeck-Pyrmont).

Back to french royalty: Very rare indeed that she says those things, she is usually so very discrete. Wasn t one of the reasons that Henri divorced her that she was such a prude, I believe I read somewhere that Henri had to cover/ take away an old painting from his office as a bare breast was to be seen on it (quite normal on old paintings).

[branchg]

Legally, he is HRH Henri d'Orleans, Duc de France et Comte de Paris. The French Republic formally recognizes the royal and noble titles of the three families who are descendants of French Sovereigns.

[Sancia]

Originally Posted by branchg

Legally, he is HRH Henri d'Orleans, Duc de France et Comte de Paris. The French Republic formally recognizes the royal and noble titles of the three families who are descendants of French Sovereigns.

Yes, I just meant his legal family name was Orléans.

[tanya]

can anyone tell me anything about the count of paris? thank you! Tanya and his oldest son?

[Benjamin]

YouTube - Comte de Paris.

[Stefanie]

I´ve seen photos of two of the groom´s siblings born in 1961 and 1962, a sister and a brother
Is that right that both are (mentally) handicapped? And if yes might this be a problem for the young married couples` future parenthood?
If this question is already discussed somewhere else please inform me - thank you!

[rominet09]

Their problems are due to toxicoplasmosis of their mother...

[maria-olivia]

Stefanie,
Princess Marie von und zu Liechtenstein has 5 children , Prince Eudes 2, and all are normal. Having myself an handicapped son , I was afraid when my daughter in law was pregnant and I have a lovely granddaughter. I think that the day the new Duchesse de Vendôme will be pregnant , Jean and his mother the Duchesse of Montpensier will de afraid as my son and myself were.

[MAfan]

There's something I can't understand: I guess the Duchess of Montpenser had recovered, since she is still alive; but had she been ill of toxoplasmosis for more then 19 months (the time between Francois and Blanche's birhs)? It would be a very long time to be ill and after recover...

[maria-olivia]

MAfan, it is only now that we know about the then Comtesse de Clermont's toxoplasmosis.
She visited her husband who was in Algerie, A few months later she had her first son François and one year later Blanche, both trisomics.
Afterwards she had 2 normal children Jean and Eudes.
A pregnant lady don't have to go to Algerie for having toxoplasmosis, she can get it here with bad-cooked meat..Blanche came to early and I think she did not realised or knew about it.. but later she knew quite well and had her 2 sons..

[rominet09]

I think it takes years to get rid of toxoplasmosis

[claypoint2]

It is more likely that Madame la duchesse de Montpensier (then comtesse de Clermont) contracted toxoplasmosis in France than in Algeria -- probably through exposure to cats and cat feces, or by eating undercooked contaminated meat. Statistics show that 30% of women in the UK have been exposed to toxoplasmosis; the number is 30-35% in the U.S., and more than 65% in France. Indeed, it is tragic that modern medicine was not sufficiently advanced at the time to recognize what had happened after Prince François was born, so as to prevent the second occurrence of prenatal infection in this family.

By the way, the mother was not necessarily acutely ill for the entire period between the two pregnancies. Often, people who are affected by toxoplasmosis don't even know that they are ill. If there are any symptoms, they are very similar to those of the flu.

[rominet09]

You have to take into account the religious beliefs... if it was detected for the second child I am sure they would have refused to abort her....

[maria-olivia]

Thanks a lot Claypoint for your explanations.
I am sure that nowadays Princesses and specially Crown-Princesses are followed during their pregnancy by the best Doctors and Specialists so that nothing may happen to their child. Excepting Cecila-Cornelia of Prussia , I think they are no handicapped children in the Royal Houses?

[MAfan]

I know a couple of Princess of Bavaria are handicapped, one is a daughter of Princes Leopold and Ursula, and the other one is a daughter of Princes Luitpold and Beatrix; but I'm not totally sure.

[claypoint2]

Originally Posted by rominet09

You have to take into account the religious beliefs... if it was detected for the second child I am sure they would have refused to abort her....

I wasn't thinking about abortion, Rominet -- I was thinking about prenatal treatment. The mother could have been given antibiotics to fight the parasite Toxoplasma gondii while her children were still in utero. Infants who receive treatment before birth are more likely to be healthy afterward. (Antibiotic treatment is continued for one year after birth if the child is confirmed to be infected). By contrast, infected babies who aren't treated until after they are born are at higher risk for brain and eye damage.

That's what makes this case so very sad.... If the condition had been diagnosed and treated on time, a poor outcome might have been avoided in one or both children.

[Stefanie]

Thank you all for commenting my question concerning the handicaps of his sister and brother
I still don´t understand why this tragedy happenend again with the next child

[MAfan]

Originally Posted by Stefanie

Thank you all for commenting my question concerning the handicaps of his sister and brother
I still don´t understand why this tragedy happenend again with the next child

I also wonder...