Princess Maria Laura, Archduchess of Austria-Este
Encyclopedia
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Princess Maria Laura of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (Maria Laura Zita Beatrix Gerhard, born 26 August 1988) is the second child and oldest daughter of Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este and Princess Astrid of Belgium. She was born at the University Clinic St. Luc, Woluwe-St-Lambert, Belgium and is currently eighth in line to the Belgian throne.
Her godparents are her paternal uncle Archduke Gerhard of Austria-Este and her elder paternal aunt Archduchess Maria Beatrix of Austria-Este, Countess von und zu Arco-Zinneberg.
All of her grandparents and great-grandparents are royal or noble. She descends from the Austrian, Belgian, Italian, French, Swedish, Danish, British, Portuguese, Spanish and German royal families.
(founded 1604) in Brussels. She completed her secondary education at the St. John's International School
in Waterloo, Belgium
, during which time she was involved in a minor accident (see below). She then went to London, like her brother Amedeo (educated at the London School of Economics and Political Science), but attended SOAS in London, where she studied Chinese. In 2007–2008, she spent time in China as part of her studies. She then enrolled at the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales in Paris in 2008, where she is still studying.
The Princess is fluent in French, Dutch, and German, the three official languages of Belgium.
in Waterloo
when the bus collided into three cars and rolled over several times. All of the students managed to escape before the bus burst into flames. Maria Laura was unharmed but was taken to the hospital for observation and released to her parents after a few hours.
All the children of The Archduke of Austria-Este, Prince Lorenz, bear the title "Prince(ss) of Belgium" by Belgian Royal Decree of 2 December 1991, this in addition to their Austrian titles by tradition i.e. "Archduke/Archduchess of Austria-Este, Prince(ss) Imperial of Austria, Prince(ss) Royal of Hungary and Bohemia, Prince(ss) of Modena". Internationally Maria Laura is shortly styled as HI&RH Princess Maria Laura of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este.
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Princess Maria Laura of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (Maria Laura Zita Beatrix Gerhard, born 26 August 1988) is the second child and oldest daughter of Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este and Princess Astrid of Belgium. She was born at the University Clinic St. Luc, Woluwe-St-Lambert, Belgium and is currently eighth in line to the Belgian throne.
Family
Maria Laura has one older brother, Amedeo (b. 1986), one younger brother, Joachim (b. 1991) and two younger sisters: Luisa Maria (b. 1995) and Laetitia Maria (b. 2003).Her godparents are her paternal uncle Archduke Gerhard of Austria-Este and her elder paternal aunt Archduchess Maria Beatrix of Austria-Este, Countess von und zu Arco-Zinneberg.
All of her grandparents and great-grandparents are royal or noble. She descends from the Austrian, Belgian, Italian, French, Swedish, Danish, British, Portuguese, Spanish and German royal families.
Education
Maria Laura was raised until 1993 in Basel, Switzerland, at which point her parents relocated to Belgium. She was educated, like her siblings and younger cousins, at the Jesuit school College Sint Jan BerghmansSint-Jan Berchmanscollege
Sint-Jan Berchmanscollege may refer to different schools:*Sint-Jan Berchmanscollege , located in Antwerp, Antwerp*Sint-Jan Berchmanscollege , located in Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region...
(founded 1604) in Brussels. She completed her secondary education at the St. John's International School
St. John's International School
St. John's International School is an international private day school located in Waterloo, Belgium. The school was founded by a group of Catholic nuns belonging to Faithful Companions of Jesus in 1964. The school has a student body from a very international background with students from most...
in Waterloo, Belgium
Waterloo, Belgium
Waterloo is a Walloon municipality located in the province of Walloon Brabant, Belgium. On December 31, 2009, Waterloo had a total population of 29,573. The total area is 21.03 km² which gives a population density of 1,407 inhabitants per km²...
, during which time she was involved in a minor accident (see below). She then went to London, like her brother Amedeo (educated at the London School of Economics and Political Science), but attended SOAS in London, where she studied Chinese. In 2007–2008, she spent time in China as part of her studies. She then enrolled at the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales in Paris in 2008, where she is still studying.
Public life
Princess Astrid has guarded the private lives of her children, and Princess Maria Laura has thus made very few public appearances. She appeared in family photos, and at the marriages of her uncles Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant in 1999 and Prince Laurent of Belgium in 2003. She has appeared with her mother a few times, most recently at the grand wedding of her second cousin Marie-Christine to Comte Rodolphe de Limburg-Stirum last December. She has also been to a Chanel fashion show, and she met Karl LagerfeldThe Princess is fluent in French, Dutch, and German, the three official languages of Belgium.
Mentions in the press
On 9 September 2005, Maria Laura, along with six other students, were riding home from St. John's International SchoolSt. John's International School
St. John's International School is an international private day school located in Waterloo, Belgium. The school was founded by a group of Catholic nuns belonging to Faithful Companions of Jesus in 1964. The school has a student body from a very international background with students from most...
in Waterloo
Waterloo, Belgium
Waterloo is a Walloon municipality located in the province of Walloon Brabant, Belgium. On December 31, 2009, Waterloo had a total population of 29,573. The total area is 21.03 km² which gives a population density of 1,407 inhabitants per km²...
when the bus collided into three cars and rolled over several times. All of the students managed to escape before the bus burst into flames. Maria Laura was unharmed but was taken to the hospital for observation and released to her parents after a few hours.
Titles and styles
- 26 August 1988 2 December 1991: Her Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess Maria Laura of Austria-Este, Princess Imperial of Austria, Princess Royal of Hungary and Bohemia
- 2 December 1991 7 February 1996: Her Imperial and Royal Highness Princess Maria Laura of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este, Princess Imperial of Austria, Princess Royal of Hungary and Bohemia
- 7 February 1996 present: Her Imperial and Royal Highness Princess Maria Laura of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este, Princess Imperial of Austria, Princess Royal of Hungary and Bohemia, Princess of Modena
All the children of The Archduke of Austria-Este, Prince Lorenz, bear the title "Prince(ss) of Belgium" by Belgian Royal Decree of 2 December 1991, this in addition to their Austrian titles by tradition i.e. "Archduke/Archduchess of Austria-Este, Prince(ss) Imperial of Austria, Prince(ss) Royal of Hungary and Bohemia, Prince(ss) of Modena". Internationally Maria Laura is shortly styled as HI&RH Princess Maria Laura of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este.
Ancestry
The Princess descends from the Austrian, Belgian, Italian, Scottish, French, Spanish and Swedish royal families.External links
- Paul Theroff. Imperial House of Austria
- Paul Theroff. Royal House of Belgium
- Regine ___. "Les 20 ans de la Princesse Maria Laura de Belgique" 26 August 2008. Contains a photo of Princess Maria Laura.
- Maria Laura with her mother in 2005. Contains a photo of the princess with her mother in 2005.