Countess Georgina von Wilczek

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Countess Georgina von Wilczek
Georgina von Wilczek.jpg
Princess Georgina in August 1988
Princess consort of Liechtenstein
Tenure7 March 1943 – 18 October 1989
BornCountess Georgina Norberta Jane Marie Antonie Raphaela 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
FatherCount Ferdinand von Wilczek
MotherCountess Norbertine Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau
ReligionRoman Catholicism

Countess Georgina von Wilczek (24 October 1921 – 18 October 1989) was Princess 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]

Biography[]

Princess Georgina was born on 24 October 1921, in Graz, Austria. She was the daughter of Count Ferdinand von Wilczek (1893-1977) and Countess Norbertine "Nora" Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau (1888-1923). In 1923, when Georgina was just two years old, her mother died after giving birth to a stillborn child.[citation needed]

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

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.[citation needed]

The couple had five children:[citation needed]

During World War II, Princess Georgina had concerns for prisoners of war and travelling by bicycle when the country suffered a gasoline shortage. When the war ended, Princess Georgina helping the refugees by making soup and bathe children on the national border at Schaanwald.[4] On 22 June 1945, she founded the , and was president from 1945 to 1984, when she handed over the position over to her daughter-in-law Princess Marie.[5] 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.[4]

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.[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

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

Princess Georgina died on 18 October 1989, in the Cantonal Hospital in Grabs, Switzerland, six days before her 68th birthday shortly after receiving her last sacraments.[5] She had been hospitalized for an undisclosed illness leading up to her death.[6] Her husband, who was also in poor health, collapsed at her bed and died 26 days later.[citation needed] They are now buried together in the Cathedral of St. Florin in Vaduz.[citation needed]

Princess Gina Trail was named in her honour.[citation needed]

Titles, styles and honours[]

Titles and styles[]

  • 24 October 1921 – 7 March 1943: Countess Georgina von Wilczek
  • 7 March 1943 – 18 October 1989: Her Serene Highness The Princess of Liechtenstein

Honours[]

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. ^ a b c d e "Biographies of the Princes and Princesses". Liechtenstein Princely House Official Website. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Princess Gina, Liechtenstein Princess", The Washington Post, 19 October 1989
  6. ^ "Princess Gina", The New York Times, Vaduz, Liechtenstein, 18 October 1989
  7. ^ Imhof, Henriette. "Erste feierliche Investitur der Schweiz". www.oessh.ch. Archived from the original on 18 February 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  8. ^ Iran Collection
Countess Georgina von Wilczek
Wilczek Family
Born: 24 October 1921 Died: 18 October 1989
Liechtensteiner royalty
Preceded by Princess consort of Liechtenstein
1943–1989 		Succeeded by
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