Gonzalo de Borbón y Dampierre

[Marc]

thank you. Actually Fiona is a Baronet's daughter and the head of her clan, Duke of Argyll was a guest at the marriage. But most of us can claim descent from James II of Scotland let alone Roman King Rudolf I .The Thyssen title is very modern...I think Francesca's brother is only the 3rd?

True,but nobody can say that she is not noble,Thyssen title is very modern,but not Bornemizsa de Kászon et Impérfalva...they were untitled nobles until 1717 when they were created Barons of the Holy Roman Empire...from that side of her family Francesca claims descent from many prominent aristocratic houses in Hungary...true about descent,but many people don't have that noble ''chain'' for centuries which she does from her mother's side(even if Fiona's father was ''just'' a Baronet)...she descended from many noble families in England and Scotland,not just through one person...

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes noble but not royal. Sophie Chotek was also a member of Czech aristocrazy but it did not make her acceptable. Times have changed definitely.

[Marc]

True,but my reply was to Remi's post about Francesca being not noble...in old times it would be like Rudolph ending up with Baroness von Vetsera...

[Norbert]

lets get back to Gonzalo...times have changed and Royalty has to reinvent itself to survive.

[Eric_Lowe]

But too much change would make the institution of monarchy irrelevent. One need to bear that in mind as well...

[Norbert]

Well the rules were shot after the First World War, which excluded the German Royals . 

[Eric_Lowe]

I think the Orleans branch made the best marriages. The Spanish generally did not do too bad either...until recently. It is now the raity of those who made a real "royal" marriage (meaning both sides were of royal blood). The recent ones included Princess Caroline of Monaco to Prince Ernst August of Hannover and Prince Amione of Savoy with Princess Olga of Greece...

[Norbert]

I think many royal houses are worried at the in-breeding. What is surprising is that rather than marry into the nobility of their own lands, they go to the extreme of taking partners from Cuba and Argentina etc. Still it seems to have worked...so far.

[Eric_Lowe]

Really...I heard the late Josephine Charlotte of Luxembiurg wasn't too keen on her Cuban daughter-in-law and called her "The Little Cuban"...

[Norbert]

I know, apparently she said it in an interview about her late mother-in-law. But it's the people's attitude rather than the ruling family and I believe she is very popular.

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed. Their eldest son is very tall and dashing.

[Norbert]

Marc to be fair to Remi. Europe is awash with the most ancient noble families and not many were impressed with the Bornemizsa de Kászon et Impérfalva. Sadly the marriage didn't last but she will bring some needed dosh to the Habsburg coffers

[Marc]

This is not a thing about being impresed,but being noble...she is not equal,we know that,but her father and her mother are noble...

[Norbert]

Well I like her and she will bring some good healthy hungarian blood into the Habsburg veins ;-)

[Marc]

Yes,from the male line of her fathers side she is German,from the female line of her fathers side she is Hungarian and from her mothers side she is British(or rather Scottish by blood)...