Countess Georgina von Wilczek

Georgina, Princess of Liechtenstein (born Countess Georgina von Wilczek; 24 October 1921 – 18 October 1989) was the Princess consort of Liechtenstein from 1943 to 1989 as the wife of Prince Franz Joseph II. She was the mother of Prince Hans-Adam II[1][2] and was widely known as Gina.[3]

Georgina von Wilczek
Princess consort of Liechtenstein
Tenure7 March 1943 – 18 October 1989
BornCountess Georgina von Wilczek
(1921-10-24)24 October 1921
Graz, Styria, Austria
Died18 October 1989(1989-10-18) (aged 67)
Grabs, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Burial
Cathedral of St. Florin, Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Spouse
Issue
Full name
Georgina Norberta Jane Marie Antonie Raphaela
FatherCount Ferdinand von Wilczek
MotherCountess Norbertine Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau
ReligionRoman Catholicism

Biography

Princess Georgina was born on 24 October 1921, in Graz, Austria. She was the daughter of Count Ferdinand von Wilczek and Countess Norbertine "Nora" Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau. In 1923, when Georgina was just two years old, her mother died after gave birth to a stillborn child.[4]

She received her formal education in the Sacre Coeur high school,[5] a private Catholic school in Vienna.[4] She then studied art history and applied arts[4] and later studied languages at the University of Vienna and graduated as an interpreter in English, French and Italian.[5]

Georgina probably met her future husband, Prince Franz Joseph II, in early 1942. He was also her third cousin, and he had been the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein since 1938. They had an age difference of 15 years, and their friendship eventually turned to love. Their engagement was announced on 30 December 1942. They were married on 7 March 1943 at the Cathedral of St. Florin in Vaduz. It was the first time that the wedding of a ruling Prince had taken place in Liechtenstein. During the following weeks, the newlyweds visited all eleven communes of Liechtenstein.[6]

The couple had five children:

During World War II, Princess Georgina had concerns for prisoners of war[6] and travelling by bicycle when the country suffered a gasoline shortage.[4] When the war ended, Princess Georgina helping the refugees by making soup and bathe children on the national border at Schaanwald.[5] On 22 June 1945, she founded the Liechtenstein Red Cross, and was president from 1945 to 1984, when she handed over the position over to her daughter-in-law Princess Marie.[6][7] Beside from her numerous charitable and social activities, Princess Gina was also committed to a number of political issues including the introduction of women’s suffrage in Liechtenstein.[5]

In 1976, Princess Gina's father permitted the publication titled Russisches Tagebuch: 1916-1918 (English: Russian Diaries: 1916-1918) about his late wife's diaries written during her time in Siberia. Princess Gina contributed the foreword to the publication.[8]

Princess Georgina also assisted Gamander children's home and educational institution for mentally challenged children. She also served as President of the Society for Orthopedic Aid, and helped organize home care system for Liechtenstein's elderly residents. In her later years, Princess Gina organized delivery of food aid during the famine in Ethiopia.[8]

In 1987, the Princess was awarded the Henry Dunant Medal by the International Committee of the Red Cross.[5] Her last public appearance was on 29 July 1989 at the wedding of Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein to Princess Marie of Orléans.[4]

Princess Georgina died on 18 October 1989, in a hospital in Grabs, Switzerland, six days before her 68th birthday shortly after receiving her last sacraments.[4][6][7] She had been hospitalized for an undisclosed illness leading up to her death.[9] Her husband, who was also in poor health, collapsed at her bed[4] and died 26 days later.[6] They are now buried together in the Cathedral of St. Florin in Vaduz.

Princess Gina Trail was named in honour the Princess memory.[4]

Titles, styles and honours

Titles and styles
  • 24 October 1921 – 7 March 1943: Countess Georgina von Wilczek[6]
  • 7 March 1943 – 18 October 1989: Her Serene Highness The Princess of Liechtenstein

National honours

Foreign honours

Ancestry

References
  1. Dotson, Samuel C., Genealogie des Fürstlichen Hauses Liechtenstein seit Hartmann II. (1544–1585), Rosvall Royal Books, Falköping, Sweden, p. 68.
  2. Willis, Daniel, The Descendants of Louis XIII, Clearfield Co., Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, 1999, ISBN 0-8063-4942-5, p. 510.
  3. "H.S.H. Prince Hans-Adam II". Liechtenstein Princely House Official Website. Retrieved 1 July 2020. Prince Hans-Adam II is the eldest son of Prince Franz Josef II and Princess Gina.
  4. "Countess Georgina von Wilczek – Princess of Liechtenstein". History of Royal Women. 3 January 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  5. "Biographies of the Princes and Princesses". Liechtenstein Princely House Official Website. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  6. Flantzer, Susan (11 October 2015). "Countess Georgina von Wilczek, Princess of Liechtenstein". Unofficial Royalty. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  7. "Princess Gina, Liechtenstein Princess", The Washington Post, 19 October 1989
  8. "Princess Gina of Liechtenstein". Luxarazzi. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  9. "Princess Gina", The New York Times, Vaduz, Liechtenstein, 18 October 1989
  10. "DINASTÍAS - Los Foros de la Realeza • Ver Tema - Gala prewedding Constantino II y Ana María de Grecia". dinastias.forogratis.es.
  11. жалею, Не; Зову, Не; Ru_royalty, Не Плачу wrote in; жалею, 2014-10-13 21:24:00 Не; Зову, Не; 21:24:00, Не Плачу Cool_skarlet Ru_royalty 2014-10-13. "Княжество Лихтенштейн. ч4".CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. Imhof, Henriette. "Erste feierliche Investitur der Schweiz". www.oessh.ch. Archived from the original on 18 February 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  13. Iran Collection
Countess Georgina von Wilczek
Wilczek Family
Born: 24 October 1921 Died: 18 October 1989
Liechtensteiner royalty
Preceded by
Elisabeth von Gutmann		 Princess Consort of Liechtenstein
1943–1989		 Succeeded by
Countess Marie Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau
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