The Archduchess of Austria and Royal Princess of Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia, Eleonore von Habsburg, is to marry the Belgian racing driver Jérôme d’Ambrosio.
The news has been reported by various Austrian and monarchist media, but the plans have not currently been confirmed by the Austrian royal court or any member of the imperial Austrian family. There is, therefore, no date set for the ceremony. d’Ambrosio and the Archduchess have been engaged since 2017.
Eleonore von Habsburg-Lothringen is the daughter of Archduke Karl von Habsburg and Baroness Francesca von Thyssen-Bornemisza de Kászon et Impérfalva. Karl von Habsburg is an Austrian politician and the current head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, the Austrian Imperial family. Archduchess Eleonore’s paternal grandfather was Archduke Otto von Habsburg, the last Crown Prince of Austria.
Eleonore von Habsburg-Lothringen attended boarding school in Gstaad before studying law at the European Business School London. She works as a fashion model, and has been in advertisement campaigns and walked the runway for Dolce & Gabbana
Jérôme d’Ambrosio was born in 1985. He is a Belgian Formula E racing driver for the Indian team Mahindra Racing. He has previously driven for Marussia Virgin Racing during the 2011 Formula One World Championship.
One of the most influential and powerful royal houses of Europe, to this day many people (even those not familiar with Austrian history or royalty in general) are aware of the House of Habsburg and its significant impact on the development of Europe from the medieval ages through to the present day. Throughout its vast history, the family has ruled over nearly all of the continent of Europe at different periods through its different members and intermarriages. Not only did the house occupy the throne of the Holy Roman Empire continuously between 1438 and 1740, but it also occupied the thrones of the Kingdoms of Bohemia, England and Ireland, Germany, Croatia, Hungary, Portugal, Spain as well as the second Mexican Empire and several Dutch and Italian principalities.
