Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis

[marilynvanderbur]

Does anyone remember this babe from about 15-20 years ago? She was all over the fashion mags as a Partier Extraordinaire. They'd refer to her as Gloria TNT, I remember. Whatever happened to her? I'm sure her story is good for quite a bit of snark.

[Auroranorth]

According to this article she is now settled down. Her husband's sudden death in 1991 seems to have ended the partying days. It's nice to hear of one royal that's matured (but hasn't Germany abolished their royal titles?)

[richierich]

I remember she was 18 he was I think in his 50s and supposedly gay they had three kids.

[americanchai]

She's living with Princess Alessandra Borghese who used to be married to one of the Niarchoses (?) - and I keep hearing them referred to as "partners" so I don't know if that means they are lovers or not. They are both very devout Catholics so I don't know how that would jive with a lesbian co-habiting situation.

Considering what a wild child she was, it's amazing her daughters haven't become the European Hilton sisters.

[Deleted]

Did you ever read The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pyncheon? He has a whole subplot (I guess it's a subplot---with Pyncheon you never really know ) about a von Thurn und Taxis Conspiracy concerning the US Mail (back when it was a Federal Agency) and Hollywood and Jacobean Tragedy and ....

Pyncheon's book was kind of wild, so I always thought that Gloria was trying to live up to it in her younger days.

[woopdedoo]

I remember hearing about her way back when...what I recall was that her husband had to marry some specific type of princess or royalty or something or he would not keep his fortune? And then bam, he finds this impoverished girl half his age and she is exactly the type he is supposed to marry, but they go on and on about how in loooove they are. I'm probably mangling that but it's what I remember from the 80s, so take it for what it's worth.

I googled her and it was interesting to read how she really turned things around for the family fortune since her husband died. Good for her. I had no idea there were lesbian/gay rumors! Interesting.

[Deleted]

Glorious Gloria is in the May 2005 copy of Vogue magazine:

The madcap days of eighties fashion will be revisited when Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis's wardrobe hits the block in London on May 24 and 25.

Gloria, Countess of Schonburg-Glauchau was 20 years old when she married the worldly Prince Johannes von Thurn und Taxis in 1980 and found herself the chatelaine of six magnificent palaces. The principal establishment, Schloss St. Emmeram in Regensburg, Germany, is bigger than Buckingham Palace.

Gloria dutifully produced three children and then let rip, her flamboyance and extravagance defining the glittering decade. Dressed in Lacroix poufs, Stephen Sprouse graffiti coats, and Montana trapeze dresses---garlanded with priceless family jewels---she stormed the world's most happening nightclubs and threw dazzling parties where pop stars and artists du jour danced with royalty.

The pictures of Princess Gloria in her wifely weeds make her look like Edwina on Absolutely Fabulous. They had the same fashion sense and worship of Lacroix. As for the "artists du jour" crack---it sounds like Princess Gloria was the "royalty du jour".

[pineapplesweat]

From Netty's Royal News (May 11):

Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis blamed herself in a television interview in the talkshow Friedman. She talked for about half an hour about religion, sex and aids. She among others said that the people in Africa do have AIDS because they like to have sex. She mentioned that how warmer the climate in a country, the more people have sex. The Princess said about abortion that it is murder, and that a woman normally doesn't want an abortion, but mostly is forced by the man. About sex she said that sex is only for making children, not for fun. The people in Germany are very shocked by what they call racial and stupid utterances. Princess Gloria herself now keeps silent.

She's the last person I expected this kind of talk to be coming from!

[Deleted]

chatchien said:

Did you ever read The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pyncheon? He has a whole subplot (I guess it's a subplot---with Pyncheon you never really know ) about a von Thurn und Taxis Conspiracy concerning the US Mail ...

I think Pynchon was riffing on how the Thurn und Taxis actually made most of their fortune, either that or the US Mail, go pick. Anyway, for more than 300 years, the Thurn und Taxis held the monopoly over imperial communications and post between Vienna and the Habsburgs, whose lands made up the bulk of the Holy Roman Empire.

No doubt it was more efficient three hundred years ago than the Royal Mail manages to be today. Can't speak about the U.S. postal service.

Sorry, topic?

[soccer mom]

There is a very good article on Princess Gloria TNT in the June 2006 Vanity Fair. She and Allessandra Borghese are very close to Pope Benedict. He dined with Gloria often and came to the annual celebration at the family palace in Regensberg as Cardinal. She has a place in Rome, and just finished building a home in Kenya. Although she did not inherit the palaces (her son, Prince Albert did), she was the custodian of the many homes of the TNT. Very devout Catholic and is aware of the lesbian rumours with Borghese, denies the rumours -- says they are and will always remain best friends.

According to Forbes, because the property was willed to Prince Albert at age 18, his net worth is about $2 billion and considered one of the most eligible bachelors in Europe. and he loves his mother. In fact, the two daughters are gainfully employed. Albert is described as "tall and broad-shouldered like his father. Albert comes across as a hearty, unpretentious college kid who enjoys hanging out with his madcap mother."

Gloria was quoted in the article: "In my opinion they [titled people], are part of the entertainment world. Aristocrats don't like to hear that. But I think it's good. The entertainment value of the family helps promote my palace. At the same time, we can use this vehicle to set a good example, to show that tradition, family, religion, work, responsibility, arts patronage--all these things--are good. I tell my kids, 'People are always going to look at you, because you have a great name. You must try to turn that attendtion to something positive. If you lead a scandalous life, then it's really going to ve over, because then we don't have any role anymore.'"

The article, by Bob Colacello, who's written in VF for years and who swings with the titled, says that Gloria has continued to personally pay for the daily hot meals fed to 400 of the poor in Regensberg even when she was finding ways to pay off the huge debts left to her when her husband died. He was a bi-sexual. She thought she had to be as outrageous as her husband when she married him.

Now, she's turned religous and conservative, but still a bright and creative businesswoman, who enjoys good things and contemporary artists.