👀 "Celebrating 90 Years of Princess Marie Louise: A Life of Resilience and Devotion" This title captures the essence of the article, highlighting Princess Marie Louise's remarkable life journey and her unwavering dedication to her heritage. The use of "Celebrating" and "Resilience" convey a positive sentiment, emphasizing the joy and admiration for the princess's remarkable life.

On January 13, Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria celebrated her 90th birthday in the capital of her homeland, Sofia. This milestone marks a significant occasion in the life of a royal who has lived through tumultuous times and has been a symbol of resilience and dedication to her heritage. As she marked this special day, Princess Marie Louise was surrounded by her family, including her sons Prince Karl-Boris and Prince Hermann zu Leiningen, her daughter Princess Alexandra von Kohary with her husband Jorge Champalimaud Raposo de Magalhães and their children, as well as her son Pawel Chrobok, Prince von Kohary.

The birthday celebration was marked by a thanksgiving prayer service at the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which Princess Marie Louise attended personally, accompanied by King Simeon II. This event was a testament to her enduring connection to her Bulgarian roots and her commitment to her faith. Throughout her life, Princess Marie Louise has been a beacon of hope and continuity for the Bulgarian royal family, and her 90th birthday serves as a reminder of her remarkable journey and the enduring legacy she has left behind.

what are some memorable moments from Princess Marie Louise's life

Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, celebrated her 90th birthday on January 13, 2024, in Sofia, Bulgaria. This milestone marks a significant occasion in the life of a royal who has lived through tumultuous times and has been a symbol of resilience and dedication to her heritage. As she marked this special day, Princess Marie Louise was surrounded by her family, including her sons Prince Karl-Boris and Prince Hermann zu Leiningen, her daughter Princess Alexandra von Kohary with her husband Jorge Champalimaud Raposo de Magalhães and their children, as well as her son Pawel Chrobok, Prince von Kohary. Throughout her life, Princess Marie Louise has been a beacon of hope and continuity for the Bulgarian royal family. She has lived through the tumultuous times of the 20th century and has been a symbol of resilience and dedication to her heritage. Her life has been marked by numerous memorable moments, including her early years spent in a foreign language environment, where she spoke to God in Bulgarian, and her later years as a patron of the arts and a philanthropist, establishing the Princess Club for the workers of Rotherhithe and Bermondsey.

what was Princess Marie Louise's experience like living in a foreign language environment

Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, celebrated her 90th birthday on January 13, 2024, in Sofia, Bulgaria. This milestone marks a significant occasion in the life of a royal who has lived through tumultuous times and has been a symbol of resilience and dedication to her heritage. As she marked this special day, Princess Marie Louise was surrounded by her family, including her sons Prince Karl-Boris and Prince Hermann zu Leiningen, her daughter Princess Alexandra von Kohary with her husband Jorge Champalimaud Raposo de Magalhães and their children, as well as her son Pawel Chrobok, Prince von Kohary. Princess Marie Louise's early life was marked by living in a foreign language environment. Born on August 12, 1872, she was raised by her parents, Princess Helena and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, who were closely tied to Queen Victoria. Her parents taught her German by reading her fairy tales, and she also learned literature, dancing, deportment, and French from her tutors. However, she was particularly close to her grandmother, Queen Victoria, who spent a significant amount of time with her. This close relationship with her grandmother helped shape her personality and values. In her later years, Princess Marie Louise continued to navigate foreign environments, including her marriage to Aribert of Anhalt. She faced challenges in adapting to her new role and the cultural expectations that came with it. Despite these difficulties, she remained committed to her family and her heritage, engaging in various philanthropic activities and establishing the Princess Club for the workers of Rotherhithe and Bermondsey.

how did Princess Marie Louise learn Bulgarian

Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria learned Bulgarian by speaking to God in Bulgarian. This was a personal gesture that her aunt, Princess Eudoxia, taught her. Princess Eudoxia bequeathed her a personal prayer book with the inscription "To Marie-Louise, who speaks to God in Bulgarian" on the first page. This act symbolized the true dignity of people of royal blood, as it showed that even in exile, they could turn to God in their native language.

 

Tsar Simeon and Princess Marie Louise.

Photo (c) Paraskeva Georgieva.

Last Friday, on 13 January, Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria celebrated her ninetieth birthday in the capital of her homeland, Sofia. She arrived for the event together with her sons Prince Karl-Boris and Prince Hermann zu Leiningen, her daughter Princess Alexandra von Kohary with her husband Jorge Champalimaud Raposo de Magalhães and their children, as well as her son Pawel Chrobok, Prince von Kohary. On the occasion of Princess Marie Louise’s birthday, a thanksgiving prayer service was held in the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral., which she personally attended, accompanied by King Simeon II. In addition to her children, the Royal Family included Princess Kalina, her husband Kitin-Muñoz and Prince Simeon-Hasan. Unfortunately, Queen Margarita was unable to return from Madrid, where she is recovering from hip joint surgery.

Princess Marie Louise.

Photo (c) Paraskeva Georgieva.

During the duration of the service, Plovdiv Metropolitan Nikolai addressed the following remarks to the princess and those present in the church:

Your Royal Highness, On the day of your birth, 21 cannon salutes were fired over the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, and a thousand people gathered to express the joy of the entire nation that God has blessed the Royal Family, and thus our country, with a child. Two days later, you received Holy Baptism and were accepted into the fold of the Holy Orthodox Church. The blessed Metropolitan Stefan and later Bulgarian Exarch baptized you, and your Godfather is the chair of the National Assembly Alexander Malinov. Let me say one more time, in order to understand the significance of the state act – the head of the church baptized you and you were accepted from the holy font by the entire Bulgarian people in the person of the highest representative of the legislative body. From the moment of your birth and your baptism, you have been in the embrace of the Bulgarian Church and the Bulgarian people, and I assure you that this is still the case to this day. I will not dwell on the difficulties you have gone through in your life. The fact that you lost your father so young, together with your brother, His Majesty Simeon II, is sad and should not happen to any child. The fact that soon after you and your family were expelled from your homeland is a consequence of the historical vicissitudes to which our entire people fell victim. We regret and suffer with you, but unfortunately, history is what it is. We cannot change it, but we must remember it. I, for example, remember how you were welcomed in Sofia in 1991, when you, as the first member of the Royal Family, set foot on your Motherland again. In Plovdiv, they still have an unforgettable memory of your visit with your blessed mother, Her Majesty Queen Mother Giovanna. These thousands of rallies, these ovations and tears in the eyes especially of the older Bulgarians, your peers, may have redeemed even a little of the bitterness you suffered. Surely the people’s love for you and your family, which was shown then and was shown many times later, convinced you that Bulgaria considers you its daughter, flesh of the flesh and blood of the blood of the people. You certainly have many merits and achievements in your life, first of all your children and family. From the point of view of the Bulgarian statehood, a huge merit of yours is that during all these years, in exile and in our country, you have steadfastly stood by your brother, His Majesty the King of the Bulgarians and modestly, quietly, sometimes imperceptibly to the general public, but you firmly and steadfastly support it. We know very well what His Majesty did for the Bulgarian state and for the Bulgarian people, about the extent to which his personal authority and efforts made it possible for Bulgaria to once again be an integral part of the family of European nations. We will never forget what His Majesty did for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church by helping to overcome the unfortunate schism. Every person, and especially the statesman, when he has to make difficult and responsible decisions, needs to ask his close people, his family and his brothers or sisters, from whom he can seek support and advice. His Majesty has mentioned more than once how close you are to his heart. We are sure that just as in decisive moments he relied on the advice of his wife, Her Majesty Queen Margarita and his family, so he also turned to you for advice. Moreover, you have always given him good advice and sincere support as a loving sister. I am sure he has thanked you for your devotion not once. We also thank you, because your love and your devotion to your royal brother is an expression of your love for the Bulgarians and for Bulgaria, of which your family, in two historical periods, was the personification, and for the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, because of the Divine character of royal power, for which will always be God’s mercy and blessing. In conclusion, I want to share a small but very important detail of your personal history, which, when I learned it, moved me greatly. Your aunt Princess Eudoxia, sister of O’Bose, the late King Boris III, bequeathed you her personal prayer book, on the first page of which was written “To Marie-Louise, who speaks to God in Bulgarian.” You lived in a foreign language environment. You spoke to God in Bulgarian! This is not just beautiful, in these gestures lies the true dignity of people of royal blood. Those who, even in exile, far from the Motherland, if they feel the need to turn to God, turn to him only and only in their native language. Because God wanted their personal destiny to be woven into the destiny of their Motherland, which is actually the Divine meaning of history. My request to you is – as, of course, I wish you many more years of health and life – that you also give your children and nephews, not as a bequest, but from now on, a Bulgarian prayer book and write on it the words of Your aunt: “… talk to God in Bulgarian”. Invite them to pray together every day with one humble prayer for the Bulgarian people and for Bulgaria, as we are sure that you say it. For that Bulgaria, which has loved you since the day you were born and which is in such great need of this prayer today.

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Your Royal Highness! It was God’s will that you welcome and celebrate your blessed 90th anniversary in the Motherland! Allow me, on behalf of His Holiness the Bulgarian Patriarch Neophyte and my Most Eminent fellow synodal metropolitans, the most consecrated bishops and clergy, to wish you many more years blessed with health, strength and spiritual joys! May God help you, may God protect you, Your Royal Highness, and grant you, your children and loved ones many and happy years.

King Boris with his two children, Princess Maria Luisa and Crown Prince Simeon. Photo (c) Bulgarian Royal House.

Born on 13 January 1933 at Sofia, Princess Maria Luisa of Bulgaria was the first child of King Boris III of Bulgaria (1894-1943) and his wife Queen Ioanna (1907-2000; née Princess Giovanna of Savoy), who had married in 1930. The princess was joined by a brother, Crown Prince (and later King) Simeon, in 1937.

Prince Karl zu Leiningen and Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria, 1957.

Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria married Prince Karl Vladimir Ernst Heinrich zu Leiningen in a civil ceremony on 14 February 1957 in Amorbach; this was followed by a religious ceremony on 20 February 1957 at the Russian Orthodox Church in Nice. Prince Karl zu Leiningen (1928-1990) was the son of Fürst Karl zu Leiningen and Grand Duchess Maria Kirillovna of Russia, the daughter of Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich and Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna. Karl and Marie Louise had two sons: Prince Boris (b.1960) and Prince Herman (b.1963). The couple divorced on 4 December 1968.

Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria and Bronislaw Chrobok, 1969.

On 16 November 1969 at Toronto, Canada, Princess Maria Luisa married Bronislaw Chrobok (b.1933). The son of a Polish officer, at the outset of the Second World War, his family settled in London, where Bronislaw graduated from college. The marriage ceremony was conducted by the prominent professor of Theology, Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann. The couple’s best man at the marriage was Stefan Grouef, the son of the Royal Chancellory Office head Pavel Grouev. Marie Louise and Bronislaw had two children, Alexandra (b.1970) and Pawel-Alistair (b.1972).

Our belated best wishes to the Princess on her birthday!

As we conclude this article about Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria's 90th birthday, it is essential to reflect on the significant milestones she has achieved throughout her life. Born in 1933, Princess Marie Louise was the eldest child of King Boris III and Queen Giovanna of Bulgaria. Her life has been marked by a deep connection to her Bulgarian heritage, as well as her experiences living in foreign language environments. Despite these challenges, she has remained a symbol of resilience and dedication to her heritage. Her 90th birthday celebration was a testament to her enduring legacy, with a thanksgiving prayer service held at the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, attended by King Simeon II and other members of the royal family. This event highlighted her continued connection to her faith and her homeland, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to her Bulgarian roots.

In conclusion, Princess Marie Louise's remarkable journey is a testament to her strength and perseverance. Her life has been marked by significant events, including her education in Bulgaria and her experiences living in foreign language environments. Her dedication to her heritage and her faith has been a constant theme throughout her life. As we celebrate her 90th birthday, we are reminded of the importance of preserving cultural heritage and the enduring legacy of individuals like Princess Marie Louise. Her story serves as a reminder of the power of resilience and dedication to one's roots. We wish her many more years of blessed life and continued connection to her Bulgarian heritage, which has been a defining aspect of her life.

what other significant events have marked Princess Marie Louise's life

Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria has had several significant events mark her life. Here are some notable ones:

1. Early Life and Education: Born in 1933, Princess Marie Louise was the eldest child of King Boris III and Queen Giovanna of Bulgaria. She was educated in Bulgaria and later in Spain, where she attended the Medical Nurse College of the Spanish Red Cross Society and graduated with honors.
2. Royal Family and Cultural Heritage: As a member of the royal family, Princess Marie Louise was deeply connected to her Bulgarian heritage. Her aunt Princess Eudoxia, sister of King Boris III, bequeathed her a personal prayer book inscribed with the message "To Marie-Louise, who speaks to God in Bulgarian." This highlights her strong connection to her faith and cultural roots.
3. World War II and the Death of Her Father: During World War II, Princess Marie Louise's father, King Boris III, died on August 28, 1943, after a sudden illness. This event had a profound impact on her life and the future of Bulgaria.
4. Exile and Later Life: After the war, Princess Marie Louise was forced into exile, and she spent part of her life in Spain and other foreign countries. She eventually returned to Bulgaria in 1991 and continues to spend part of the year there.
5. Philanthropic Work and Legacy: Princess Marie Louise has been involved in various charitable activities throughout her life. She established the "Princess Club" for workers in Rotherhithe and Bermondsey, providing ante-natal care and other services.
6. Celebrations and Recognition: Princess Marie Louise celebrated her 90th birthday in 2024, marking a significant milestone in her life. The event was attended by her family and included a thanksgiving prayer service at the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia.

These events have shaped Princess Marie Louise's life, reflecting her strong connection to her cultural heritage, her experiences during times of war and exile, and her dedication to philanthropic work.