Monthly Archives: August 2025

Princely Family of Liechtenstein, Royal Weddings

A Fairytale Princely Wedding in Liechtenstein: H.S.H. Princess Marie Caroline of Liechtenstein Marries Mr. Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer at St. Florin Cathedral in Vaduz.

Photos courtesy of Fürstenhaus Liechtenstein/Iconoclash Photography/Teresa Mareni/ Daniel Bachler/Roland Korner

This morning, Her Serene Highness Princess Marie Caroline of Liechtenstein married Mr. Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer at the Kathedrale St. Florin (Cathedral of St. Florin) in Vaduz, Liechtenstein.

The Catholic wedding ceremony was presided over by Bishop Benno Elbs, the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Vaduz, and Father Martin Rauch, a longtime friend of the princely family of Liechtenstein, who delivered the sermon.

The Liturgy of the Word was conducted primarily in German, with select passages in English and Spanish.

Princess Marie-Caroline and Mr. Maduro Vollmer chose the Gospel readings, music during the ceremony, as well as close friends involved in the ceremony.

Guests attending the princely wedding included the bride’s parents, His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Alois and Her Royal Highness Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein, His Serene Highness Prince Josef Wenzel of Liechtenstein, His Serene Highness Prince Georg of Liechtenstein, and His Serene Highness Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein.

The bride’s grandfather, His Serene Highness Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein, Their Serene Highnesses Prince Maximilian and Princess Angela of Liechtenstein, His Serene Highness Prince Alfons of Liechtenstein, Her Serene Highness Princess Tatjana of Liechtenstein, and her husband, Mr. Philip von Lattorff.

Their Serene Highnesses Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein and Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein (Princess of Luxembourg), His Royal Highness Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg, and Their Serene Highnesses Prince Philipp and Princess Isabelle of Liechtenstein.

Their Serene Highnesses Prince Josef-Emanuel and Princess Maria Claudia of Liechtenstein, Her Serene Highness Princess Maria-Anunciata of Liechtenstein and her husband, Mr. Emanuele Musini, Her Serene Highness Princess Marie-Astrid of Liechtenstein and her husband, Mr. Ralph Worthington V, Her Serene Highness Princess Nora of Liechtenstein, His Imperial Highness Archduke Alexander of Austria, His Royal Highness Duke Franz of Bavaria and his longtime partner, Mr. Thomas Greinwald, His Royal Highness Duke Max Emmanuel of Bavaria, and Her Royal Highness Duchess Elisabeth of Bavaria.

The groom’s family, including Mr. Francisco Maduro Galindo, Mrs. Sofía Maduro Vollmer, Mr. Gustavo Maduro Vollmer, Miss Emilia Maduro Vollmer, Mr. Alfredo Maduro Vollmer, Miss Sofia Maduro Vollmer, Mr. Ricardo Maduro Vollmer, the President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein, Mr. Manfred Kaufmann, and members of the government of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

Following the ceremony, a private reception was held in the rose garden at Schloss Vaduz.

Princess Marie-Caroline wore the historic Habsburg Fringe Tiara, once worn by her grandmother, the late Princess Marie of Liechtenstein, on her own wedding day.  

The Fürstenhaus von Liechtenstein announced the couple’s engagement on October 21st, 2024. 

Born Her Serene Highness Princess Marie Caroline Elisabeth Immaculata of Liechtenstein on October 17th, 1996, at Grabs Hospital in Grabs, Switzerland, she is the second child and only daughter of His Serene Highness Hereditary Prince Alois and Her Royal Highness Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein.  

The Princess attended the Ebenholz Primary School in Vaduz, Liechtenstein, and the International School Rheintal in Buchs, Switzerland. Princess Marie Caroline completed her formal education at Malvern College Boarding and Day School in Malvern, Worcestershire, England.

After studying at the Parsons School of Design in Paris, France, and New York City, New York, Princess Marie Caroline graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design in 2020. She currently lives in London, England, and works in the fashion industry.

Born on October 28th, 1990, in Caracas, Venezuela, Mr. Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer is the eldest son of Francisco and Sofia Maduro Vollmer, née Vollmer de Marcellus.

Mr. Vollmer attended primary school at the Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola in Caracas, Venezuela.  He was then enrolled at the Harrow School in Harrow-on-the-Hill, London, England. 

Mr. Maduro Vollmer received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of St. Andrews and his postgraduate degree from Queens College, Cambridge University in Cambridge, England. 

In 2013, Mr. Maduro Vollmer moved to Paris, France, where he began his professional career in Investment Banking.  He eventually moved to New York City, New York, before he returned to London, England, in 2016, where he now works in Investment Management.

My warmest congratulations to Her Serene Highness Princess Marie Caroline and Mr. Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer. Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness, peace, laughter, and love.

All Photos courtesy of Fürstenhaus Liechtenstein/Iconoclash Photography/Teresa Mareni/ Daniel Bachler/Roland Korner

Māori Monarchy

The Kiingitanga Announces the Schedule for the 1st Anniversary Celebrations of the Koroneihana of Te Arikinui Kuīni Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō.

Portrait courtesy of the Kiingitanga

This morning, a press release was issued from the Kiingitanga announcing the schedule for the upcoming celebrations of the 1st anniversary of the Koroneihana of Te Arikinui Kuīni Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō.

The five-day celebrations will begin on September 2, 2025, at Tūrangawaewae Marae in Ngāruawāhia, New Zealand.

Royals and High Chiefs throughout the Pacific are confirmed to attend the celebrations, including His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala of Tonga, Kaumaiti Nui Travel Tou Ariki, the High Chief of the House of Ariki (Cook Islands), His Royal Highness Ariki Teriihinoiatua Pomare (Tahiti), His Royal Highness Prince Quentin Kūhiō Kawānanakoa and his son, His Royal Highness Prince Riley Kawānanakoa (Hawai’i), and Ratu Tevita Lutunauga Kapaiwai Uluilakeba Mara, the High Chief of the Province of Lau (Fiji).

Te Arikinui Kuīni Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō was crowned the 8th Māori monarch after the death of her father, the late King Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero VII, on August 30, 2024.

Ms. Rukumoana Schaafhausen, a spokesperson for the Kiingitanga, noted that there is, “…great anticipation and excitement about the Koroneihana celebrations for Te Arikinui, who is the eighth monarch since the establishment of the Kiingitanga movement in 1858.”

Ms. Scaafhausen went on to say:

“Te Arikinui will celebrate the life and legacy of her late father and reaffirm his vision of Kotahitanga. Guided by the values inherited from her parents and her tuupuna, Te Arikinui is acutely aware of the challenges facing te iwi Māori in a rapidly changing world.

Empowering rangatahi, strengthening whānau resilience, and upholding Mana Motuhake are important aspirations for Te Arikinui.

As is custom, the first two days of Koroneihana will be dedicated to remembering loved ones who have died in the past year – ngaa kawe mate o Tainui waka and ngaa kawe mate o te motu.

Day Three, Thursday 4 September 2025 – will acknowledge the historical and enduring whanaungatanga connections between Kiingitanga and the Pacific nations.

Day Four, Friday 5 September 2025 – is Te Raa Koroneihana o Te Arikinui, the anniversary of her rising up one year ago. Te Arikinui will deliver her kauwhau to the motu – her first as Te Arikinui – at 12:30 pm.

Koroneihana highlights include:

The arrival of Te Ara Maurei, the jawbone of a bull sperm whale that died and was washed ashore in 2016.

Originally intended as a gift for the late Te Arikinui Te Atairangikaahu from the eight iwi of Te Tauihu, the kauae was gifted to Te Arikinui Kuīni Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō earlier this year. It has resided in Nelson since then to await the Koroneihana.

The formal handing over of the mauri of Te Matatini Kapa Haka Festival from Te Kaahui Maunga to Waikato, who will host the next festival in 2027. Each afternoon session of Koroneihana will feature kapa haka performances from groups representing other iwi and Tainui waka, and entertainment.

A free outdoor concert starting at 3 P.M. on Friday and Saturday, 6 September 2025, will close out Koroneihana celebrations.”

Headlines

Princess Talita von Fürstenberg, Granddaughter of Fashion Designer Diane von Fürstenberg, is engaged to Be Married

Photo courtesy of Talita von Fürstenberg/Instagram

This morning, it was announced that Princess Talita von Fürstenberg is engaged to Mr. Rocco Brignone de Brabant.

Born Princess Talita Natasha von Fürstenberg on May 7, 1999, she is the daughter of Prince Alexander Egon von Fürstenberg and his first wife, Alexandra von Fürstenberg, née Miller. 

Princess Talita is also the niece of Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Marie Chantal of Greece and Ms. Pia Getty. Princess Talita’s maternal grandparents are billionaire Robert Warren Miller, the co-founder of Duty Free Shoppers (DFS), and his wife, María Clara Miller, née Pesantes Becerra.  

Princess Talita’s paternal grandparents are the late Prince Egon von Fürstenberg and legendary fashion designer Diane von Fürstenberg.

Mr. Rocco Brignone de Brabant, 24, is the son of Mr. Filippo Brignone and Ms. Karina de Brabant. Mr. Rocco Brignone de Brabant is the grandson of the late Gianfranco Brignone, an Italian banker who founded the private community, Costa Careyes, in the state of Jalisco, México.

Mr. Rocco Brignone de Brabant is the founder of Laúd Tequila. 

After the news broke of her engagement, Princess Talita took to social media and wrote, “Forever!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you so much my heart is bursting.”

Congratulations to the couple.