Ira von Fürstenberg
Encyclopedia
Princess Virginia of Fürstenberg (German: Ira Prinzessin zu Fürstenberg) (born 18 April 1940) is a European socialite
, actress, jewelry designer, and a former public relations manager for the fashion designer Valentino Garavani.
and his first wife, Clara Agnelli, a Fiat
heiress, she was born as Her Serene Highness Princess Virginia Carolina Theresa Pancrazia Galdina of Fürstenberg in Rome
, Italy
.
Her maternal great-grandmother was an American heiress, Jane Campbell (Princess di San Faustino, by marriage), and the elder of her two brothers was the fashion designer Egon von Fürstenberg
. Her former sister-in-law is the fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg
, and an uncle was Gianni Agnelli
, the chairman of Fiat. She also has a younger brother, Prince Sebastian. She is first cousin of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
Karel Schwarzenberg
.
Princess Ira was reportedly an occasional companion and potential consort
of Prince Rainier III of Monaco
after the death of his wife, the former Grace Kelly
, but premature speculation in the press by her son about the marriage apparently dissuaded the prince from making a proposal. Like the late ruler of Monaco
, her second cousin, she is a great-grandchild of the Scottish aristocrat Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton
, the first wife of Prince Albert I of Monaco
, though Ira is descended from Lady Mary's second marriage with the Hungarian prince, Tassilo Festetics von Tolna
.
, Italy
, on 17 September 1955, was Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1924–2003), who founded the Marbella
Club, the Spanish resort. At the time of the wedding, the bride was 15, the groom, 31. They were divorced in 1960, and the marriage was annulled in 1969. They had two children:
ian industrialist. They married in Reno, Nevada
, on 12 January 1961. They divorced in Las Vegas
in January 1964. They had no children.
(1967), Dead Run (1967, co-starring Peter Lawford
), The Vatican Affair
(1968), Dolls for an August Moon (1970) and The Fifth Cord (1971).
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
, actress, jewelry designer, and a former public relations manager for the fashion designer Valentino Garavani.
Background
The daughter of Prince Tassilo zu FürstenbergFürstenberg (princely family)
Fürstenberg is the name of a noble house in Germany, based primarily in southern Baden-Württemberg. The family derives its name from the fortified town of the line's founder, Count Heinrich von Fürstenberg, today part of Hüfingen...
and his first wife, Clara Agnelli, a Fiat
Fiat
FIAT, an acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino , is an Italian automobile manufacturer, engine manufacturer, financial, and industrial group based in Turin in the Italian region of Piedmont. Fiat was founded in 1899 by a group of investors including Giovanni Agnelli...
heiress, she was born as Her Serene Highness Princess Virginia Carolina Theresa Pancrazia Galdina of Fürstenberg in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy
Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)
The Kingdom of Italy was a state forged in 1861 by the unification of Italy under the influence of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which was its legal predecessor state...
.
Her maternal great-grandmother was an American heiress, Jane Campbell (Princess di San Faustino, by marriage), and the elder of her two brothers was the fashion designer Egon von Fürstenberg
Egon von Fürstenberg
Egon von Fürstenberg or Prince Egon of Fürstenberg was a fashion designer.- Family :Eduard Egon Peter Paul Giovanni Prinz zu Fürstenberg was the elder son of Prince Tassilo zu Fürstenberg and his first wife, Clara Agnelli , a sister of Fiat's chairman, Gianni Agnelli. His stepmother was the Texas...
. Her former sister-in-law is the fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg
Diane von Fürstenberg
Diane von Fürstenberg, formerly Princess Diane of Fürstenberg , is a Belgian-American fashion designer best known for her iconic wrap dress. She initially rose to prominence when she married into the German princely House of Fürstenberg, as the wife of Prince Egon of Fürstenberg...
, and an uncle was Gianni Agnelli
Gianni Agnelli
Giovanni Agnelli , better known as Gianni Agnelli , was an Italian industrialist and principal shareholder of Fiat. As the head of Fiat, he controlled 4.4% of Italy's GDP, 3.1% of its industrial workforce, and 16.5% of its industrial investment in research...
, the chairman of Fiat. She also has a younger brother, Prince Sebastian. She is first cousin of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
Minister of Foreign Affairs (Czech Republic)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs is the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and handles foreign policy of the Czech Republic.- Ministers of Foreign Affairs :...
Karel Schwarzenberg
Karel Schwarzenberg
Karel Schwarzenberg or Karel, Prince of Schwarzenberg , 7...
.
Princess Ira was reportedly an occasional companion and potential consort
Princess consort
Princess consort is a title or an informal designation normally given to the wife of a sovereign prince. Since a male sovereign ruler is generally titled as a king and not a prince, the title of princess consort is not widely used. More rarely, it may be given to the spouse of a king, if the more...
of Prince Rainier III of Monaco
Rainier III, Prince of Monaco
Rainier III, Prince of Monaco , styled His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, ruled the Principality of Monaco for almost 56 years, making him one of the longest ruling monarchs of the 20th century.Though he was best known outside of Europe for having married American...
after the death of his wife, the former Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly
Grace Patricia Kelly was an American actress who, in April 1956, married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, to become Princess consort of Monaco, styled as Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco, and commonly referred to as Princess Grace.After embarking on an acting career in 1950, at the age of...
, but premature speculation in the press by her son about the marriage apparently dissuaded the prince from making a proposal. Like the late ruler of Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
, her second cousin, she is a great-grandchild of the Scottish aristocrat Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton
Mary Victoria Hamilton
Lady Mary Victoria Douglas-Hamilton, also known as the Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton was the Lanarkshire-born, Scottish-German-French great-grandmother of Prince Rainier III of Monaco, the fashion designer Prince Egon von Fürstenberg, the socialite and actress Princess Ira von Fürstenberg and the...
, the first wife of Prince Albert I of Monaco
Albert I, Prince of Monaco
Albert I was Prince of Monaco and Duke of Valentinois from 10 September 1889 until his death.-Early life:...
, though Ira is descended from Lady Mary's second marriage with the Hungarian prince, Tassilo Festetics von Tolna
Tassilo Festetics von Tolna
Prince Tasziló Festetics de Tolna was a member of the Hungarian noble family of Festetics...
.
First marriage
Fürstenberg's first husband, whom she married at VeniceVenice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, on 17 September 1955, was Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1924–2003), who founded the Marbella
Marbella
Marbella is a town in Andalusia, Spain. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Málaga, beneath the La Concha mountain. In 2000 the city had 98,823 inhabitants, in 2004, 116,234, in 2010 approximately 135,000....
Club, the Spanish resort. At the time of the wedding, the bride was 15, the groom, 31. They were divorced in 1960, and the marriage was annulled in 1969. They had two children:
- Christoph Victorio Egon HumbertoChristoph von HohenlohePrince Christoph Victorio Egon Humberto von Hohenlohe-Langenburg was a European socialite and member of the extended Agnelli family....
(a.k.a. Kiko, 8 November 1956 — 5 August 2006), died of massive organ failure a few days after being imprisoned in Klongprem Central Prison in BangkokBangkokBangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
on charges of suspicion of illegally altering a visa. His health had been weakened from a weight-loss regimen at a Thai wellness center.
- HubertusHubertus von HohenloheHis Serene Highness Prince Hubertus of Hohenlohe-Langenburg is a Mexican Alpine skier, photographer, businessman, and a pop singer known as Andy Himalaya and Royal Disaster...
(born 31 May 1959) is a musician and photographer who was on MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
's Olympic skiing team in 1984, 1988, 1992, 1994, and 2010.
Second marriage
Fürstenberg's second husband was Francisco "Baby" Pignatari (1916–1977), a BrazilBrazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian industrialist. They married in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, on 12 January 1961. They divorced in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
in January 1964. They had no children.
Film career
Known for her plush silhouette, sloe eyes, and gift for light comedy, Ira von Fürstenberg (she and her brother Egon changed the zu to von for use in their public lives, although the former predicate historically implied a noble family's retention of ancestral estates, whereas von only suggests family origin) was a sumptuous star of European-made B-movies in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Her film appearances included the spy spoof Matchless (1966, co-starring Patrick O'Neal), I Killed RasputinI Killed Rasputin
I Killed Rasputin is a 1967 Italo-Franco biographical film directed by Robert Hossein. Gert Fröbe stars as the main subject, Grigori Rasputin. It is based on the work Lost Splendor by Felix Yusupov, a nobleman and participant in the murder of Rasputin. The script was approved by Yusupov and he...
(1967), Dead Run (1967, co-starring Peter Lawford
Peter Lawford
Peter Sydney Ernest Aylen , better known as Peter Lawford, was an English-American actor.He was a member of the "Rat Pack", and brother-in-law to US President John F. Kennedy, perhaps more noted in later years for his off-screen activities as a celebrity than for his acting...
), The Vatican Affair
The Vatican Affair
The Vatican Affair is a 1968 Italian crime film directed by Emilio Miraglia and starring Klaus Kinski.-Cast:* Klaus Kinski - Clint Rogers* Walter Pidgeon - Prof...
(1968), Dolls for an August Moon (1970) and The Fifth Cord (1971).
Ancestry
See also
- Gloria EmersonGloria EmersonGloria Emerson was an American author, journalist and New York Times war correspondent, who won a National Book Award for her book about the Vietnam War, Winners and Losers....
, "Her Closets Brim With Fashion: Princess Virginia Ira von und zu Furstenberg", New York Times, 14 April 1966.