Sunday, January 16, 2011

A royal engagement: Prince Ludwig zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg & Countess Philippa Spannocchi

On December 26, 2010, Prince Ludwig zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn and Countess Philippa Spannocchi  got engaged.   Prince Ludwig Ferdinand Maria Karl August Simon Theodor. 28, is the fifth of seven children of  Alexander, Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, and his wife, Gabriela, Countess of Schönborn-Wiesentheid.
Countess Philippa is the daughter of Count Hieronymous Spannocchi and Countess Verena  of Schönborn-Buchheim.
In August 2010,  Philippa and Prince Ludwig took  took part in  a fashion show at "Night of the Emperor" (Die Nacht der Kaiser) at Bad Ischl. the former summer residence of the Austrian Imperial Family. The fashion show raised funds for the Franz Klammer Foundation.  The gala celebrated the 180th birthday of the late Kaiser Franz Joseph I.  
Philippa,27. joined the other young nobles, including Countess Simone von Miller au Aichholz, Countess Cameo von Miller zu Aichholz and Count Gundaccar von Wurmbrand-Stuppach, in discussing her background with a reporter.  She said she enjoyed the imperial history. 
"My family lives in a castle in Upper Austria.  Thus I, and my four siblings grew up with this special flair.  I would love to run around in imperial clothes all day long.
"Several hundred years ago the Spannocchis were the richest family in Tuscany.  There is a saying 'as rich as a Spanncchi.'  Many think we are still so rich.  Unfortunately, they have the wrong idea."
She also talked about her relationship with Prince Ludwig.  "We have been together for two years.  I think my parents are very satisified. But I do don't think there would be a problem if my partner were a commoner."
Philippa grew up at Schloss Sprinzenstein, near Rohrbach.  Count Hieronymous inherited the castle from his grandfather, Count Guido von Sprinzenstein, who died without male issue.  (This title is now extinct.) 
http://madonna.oe24.at/thema/Aristokraten-Interview-Gewinnspiel-Nacht-der-Kaiser/1411059

http://www.sayn.de/html/aktuell.html

Philippa is the sales manager at the Hotel Prinz Eugen in Vienna.  Her aunt, Countess Katharina Spannocchi is the second wife and widow of Count Rudolf Erwein of Schöborn-Wiesentheid, Prince Ludwig's maternal grandfather. Her paternal grandfather, Count Lelio Spannocchi, was a prominent Austrian politician.
The date of the wedding has not been announced.

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