Princess Angela of Liechtenstein
Princess Angela of Liechtenstein (née Angela Gisela Brown; 3 February 1958) is a Panamanian fashion designer and the wife of Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein.[1] She was born in Bocas del Toro, Panama, and was the first woman of African descent to marry into a reigning European dynasty.[2] Her marriage to the prince had been authorised by his father, the reigning monarch of Liechtenstein. Together, they have a son, Prince Alfons (b. London, 18 May 2001), who is in the line of succession to the Liechtensteiner throne.[2]
| Princess Angela | |
|---|---|
| Born | Angela Gisela Brown 3 February 1958 Bocas del Toro, Panama |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | Prince Alfons of Liechtenstein |
| House | Liechtenstein (by marriage) |
| Father | Javier Francisco Brown |
| Mother | Silvia Maritza Burke |
| Princely family of Liechtenstein |
|---|
 |
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| Styles of Princess Angela of Liechtenstein | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | Her Serene Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Serene Highness |
Early life and education
Princess Angela was born in Bocas del Toro, Panama, as Angela Gisela Brown, the daughter of businessman Javier Francisco Brown and Silvia Maritza Burke, a homemaker.[1] The family moved to New York City when Angela was five years old.[3]
After finishing high school in New York, Angela studied fashion at Parsons School of Design, where she graduated and received the Oscar de la Renta Gold Thimble Award[4] for fashion design. She was a stylist for three years and created her own fashion label, named "A. Brown"[4] before becoming Creative Director for the fashion brand Adrienne Vittadini, a position she held until September 1999.[4]
Marriage
In 1999, the Principality of Liechtenstein's Information Bureau announced the forthcoming nuptials of the second son of the reigning prince, Hans Adam II, Prince Maximilian, to Angela Gisela Brown.[5] On 29 January 2000, at 11:00 am, she married Prince Maximilian at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in New York City,[1] wearing a dress that she designed herself.[6]
The marriage was groundbreaking, bringing a person of Afro-Panamanian ancestry into one of the few still reigning families in Europe by a marriage which obtained the prior consent and full support of the groom's sovereign and father, who also attended the wedding.[2][5] While some members of the dynasty were said to be shocked and to consider the interracial marriage "the end of an era", others were said to have expressed support.[5]
Prince Maximilian and Princess Angela have a son, Prince Alfons Constantin Maria of Liechtenstein (b. London, 18 May 2001).[2] Since her marriage, Princess Angela participates, sometimes with her son, in ceremonial events in the principality.[5]
See also
- Princely Family of Liechtenstein
References and notes
- Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XVI. "Liechtenstein". C.A. Starke Verlag, 2001, pp. 52-54. ISBN 3-7980-0824-8.
- de Badts de Cugnac, Chantal. Coutant de Saisseval, Guy. Le Petit Gotha. Nouvelle Imprimerie Laballery, Paris 2002, pp. 632-634, 654-655 (French) ISBN 2-9507974-3-1
- Fikes, Robert. "Princess Angela of Liechtenstein (née Angela Gisela Brown, 1958- )". Retrieved 2021-02-05.
- Tregaskes, Chandler (12 June 2020). "Royally stylish: The Princess of Liechtenstein whose wedding might have inspired the Duchess of Sussex". Tatler. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- Beeche, Arturo (2009). The Gotha: Still a Continental Royal Family, Volume 1. US: Eurohistory. pp. 38, 41, 43 50.14, 244. ISBN 978-0-977-19617-3.
- Tregaskes, Chandler. "Royally stylish: The Princess of Liechtenstein whose wedding dress might have inspired the Duchess of Sussex". Tatler. Retrieved 2021-02-05.