⭐ 💎 Legacy of Royalty: Princess Maria Carolina's Life and Times

The passing of Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, a member of the once-powerful royal family of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, marks the end of an era in European history. Her death, which occurred on January 7, 2021, at the age of 87, serves as a poignant reminder of the dwindling number of royal relics from the continent's storied past.

Princess Maria Carolina, born in 1934, was the daughter of Prince Ferdinand, Duke of Castro, and Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. She was a direct descendant of King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies, who ruled the kingdom from 1830 to 1859. Throughout her life, Princess Maria Carolina was deeply committed to preserving the legacy of her royal heritage, actively participating in various charitable and cultural initiatives that honored her family's rich history. Her passing leaves a significant void in the world of European royalty, as well as a lasting impact on those whose lives she touched.

what is the significance of the royal relic mentioned in the article

The article does not explicitly mention a "royal relic." It discusses the life and activities of Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, including her charitable work, cultural engagements, and family heritage. The term "relic" is not used in the context of the article to describe any specific artifact or object related to the royal family.

what is the name of the royal relic mentioned in the article

The article does not mention a specific "royal relic." It discusses the life and activities of Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, including her charitable work, cultural engagements, and family heritage. The term "relic" is not used in the context of the article to describe any specific artifact or object related to the royal family.

what is the story behind the royal relic mentioned in the article

The late Princess Eva Maria of Yugoslavia.

On 13 December 2020, HRH Princess Eva Maria of Yugoslavia died in Palm Springs, California. The widow of Prince Andrej of Yugoslavia, the princess was ninety-four years-old. She had lived in Palm Springs for many decades. Born on 26 August 1926 at Vrnjacka-Banja, Serbia, Milica "Mitzi" Anđelković was the daughter of Milan Anđelković and Eva Jovanović. Mitzi was born during the reign of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia, whose youngest son she would later marry. During World War II, Mitzi Anđelković fled Yugoslavia for the United States as the Communists under Tito were about to take power.

King Peter II of Yugoslavia and Mrs Mitzi Lowe.

In 1955, Milica Anđelković married Dr Franklin P Lowe (b.2 April 1922). The couple had two children and lived in California. At some point in the 1960s, Mitzi Lowe met King Peter II of Yugoslavia, who became friends with Mitzi and her husband Frank. It is believed that Mitzi looked after the king when he was ill, which he often was due to complications from alcoholism and depression. When King Peter II died in 1970, Mitzi Lowe was the executor of his will. Prince Tomislav writes that Mitzi first met Prince Andrej at the funeral of his brother the King. Dr Frank Lowe and Mrs Mitzi Lowe were divorced on 18 March 1974. By the end of the year, both had remarried.

Prince Andrej and Princess Eva Maria of Yugoslavia in Palm Springs, 1983.

On 30 March 1974, Mitzi Lowe married Prince Andrej "Andy" of Yugoslavia (b.Bled 28 Jun 1929) in Palm Springs. Andrej's brother Tomislav tried to prevent Andrej from marrying that "problematic woman," as Tomislav called her, but the prince could not prevent the marriage. Andrej was the youngest son of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia (1888-1934) and Queen Marie (1900-1961; née Princess of Romania). From 1956 until their divorce in 1962, the prince was married to Princess Christina "Christa" of Hesse (1933-2011), the daughter of Prince Christoph of Hesse and Princess Sophie of Greece and Denmark, a sister of the Duke of Edinburgh. From 1963 until their divorce in 1972, Prince Andrej was married to Princess Kira zu Leiningen (1930-2005), the daughter of Fürst Karl zu Leiningen and Grand Duchess Maria Kirillovna of Russia. After the marriage, Mitzi was styled and titled as HRH Princess Eva Maria of Yugoslavia.

Prince Andrej and Princess Eva Maria of Yugoslavia in Palm Springs, 1984.

Prince Andrej and Princess Eva Maria were active on the social scene in California and visited Serbian communities abroad. In a November 1984 visit to Australia, the prince elaborated on his life in the United States: "Palm Springs is an extraordinary little town. In summer it has a small population with semi-retired and professional people, former USA presidents. In winter, many more people arrive." Princess Eva Maria added: "We are there for six to seven months a year and we have black-tie dinners - very formal - six to seven balls a year and lots of parties." At the time it was noted that Prince Andrej was retired, but open to getting involved in business activities again if the right opportunity presented itself. In the past, he had worked as a consultant at ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc., in Costa Mesa, California.

Prince Andrej of Yugoslavia in Sydney, 1984. Photograph (c) Getty Images/Fairfax Media Archives

What seemed to be a good opportunity presented itself to Andrej in the form of Comparator Systems Corporation, an electronics company founded in 1976. Around 1986, the prince took the position as Head of International Marketing at the company. In a 1997 exposé on Comparator and its fallout by Orange Coast Magazine, Princess Eva Maria cooperated fully. After all, it was widely believed that her husband's role at the company, and the subsequent things that he learned about its dire financial position, had contributed to his early death.

Prince Andrej and Princess Eva Maria of Yugoslavia in Sydney, February 1990. Photograph (c) Getty Images/Fairfax Media Archives.

Prince Andrej of Yugoslavia died by apparent suicide in the form of carbon monoxide poisoning inside his black Mercedes-Benz on 6 May 1990; the car was parked in the garage at the Comparator offices in Irvine, California, and the lifeless prince's body was discovered by the company's corporate secretary. Regarding her husband's passing at the age of sixty, Eva Maria recalled: "It was a terribly, terribly shocking tragedy." Andrej's attraction to Comparator was rooted in the innovative patent technology that the company was marketing: a fingerprint scanner, which would allow businesse to be able to tell whether the person whose finger was scanned was actually the individual they claimed to be. The princess elaborated: "He [Andrej] believed that the product was a good thing for security, hotels, banks and things like that. And he was always fascinated by anything mechanical, any gadgetry." Comparator's CEO Robert Rogers was charismatic, polite, and convincing; in the 1970s, however, Rogers was reprimanded by stock regulators for the unlawful issuing of securities. When Robert Rogers met Prince Andrej, he was certain that having a bonafide royal prince associated with the company would be an immense asset. Despite the apparently wonderful product on hand, Comparator's sales were not remarkable, and the company appeared to be struggling. Prince Andrej went on a business trip with the company's CEO to Switzerland and returned home in a depressed state. Andrej's wife remembered her husband confiding: "They didn't have any money so I paid the hotel bills with a credit card." This trip was a warning of what was to come. "Cars would be repossessed, telephones would be disconnected. This was when my husband came to the rescue," Eva Maria stated. When Eva Maria would raise her concerns about Comparator with her husband, Andrej would reply: "You just don't understand these things." In 1989, Andrej loaned the company $60,000 from a certificate of deposit which the couple possessed. For most of his time as the Head of International Marketing, Andrej as well as a good deal of the other twenty employees of Comparator had been compensated by being given stock in the company. However, by May 1990, Andrej wanted to recoup the money he had lent. On 5 May, Andrej and Eva Maria were being visited by Andrej's son Prince Karl Vladimir, who was visiting his father from Europe. On that day, the prince told his wife that he needed to go to the Irvine office in order to meet with Robert Rogers; Andrej phoned Eva Maria several times to confirm that he was expecting the meeting to occur that day. When the prince did not arrive back in Palm Springs for dinner, his wife became worried. It was early in the morning of 6 May 1990 that Summer Churchill, the company's corporate secretary, found the prince's body. Ms Churchill recalled: "He was sitting there slumped over. I reached in to find a carotid artery. There was no carotid. So I knew he was dead."

Princess Eva Maria of Yugoslavia in Sydney, 1984. Photograph (c) Getty Images/Fairfax Media Archives.

Although the princess did not think that the prince was suicidal, she did feel that when he found out about the true state of affairs at the company in which he was so invested that he might have thought there was no other solution but to take his life. Regardless, Princess Eva Maria of Yugoslavia would never forgive herself for the fate that befell her husband. "In a way part of this is my fault. I should have put my foot down and I didn't. Whenever I think of my husband, I blame myself." Prince Andrej of Yugoslavia was initially buried in the United States. In 2013, his remains were reburied at the Karageorgevich dynasty's mausoleum at Oplenac.

Prince Andrej and Princess Eva Maria of Yugoslavia in Sydney, 1990. Photograph (c) Getty Images/Fairfax Media Archives.

In the thirty years since her husband's death, Princess Eva Maria of Yugoslavia lived a very private life. It is not known where she will be buried.

May Princess Eva Maria Rest in Peace.

As we conclude our exploration of the life and legacy of Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, we are reminded of the significance of preserving the cultural heritage of royal families. The passing of this princess marks the end of an era in European history, and it is crucial that we honor her memory by continuing to study and learn from the rich history of the royal families that have shaped our world. The royal relic that Princess Maria Carolina embodied, with her commitment to preserving the legacy of her family, serves as a beacon for future generations to follow in her footsteps.

As we reflect on the life of Princess Maria Carolina, we are reminded of the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of royal families. The royal relic that she embodied, with her commitment to preserving the legacy of her family, serves as a beacon for future generations to follow in her footsteps. It is crucial that we continue to study and learn from the rich history of the royal families that have shaped our world, and that we honor their memories by preserving the cultural heritage that they have left behind. By doing so, we can ensure that the legacy of these royal families continues to inspire and educate future generations, and that their cultural heritage remains a vital part of our collective history.

what is the importance of royal relics in history

Royal relics have played a significant role in history, serving as tangible connections to the past and providing valuable insights into the lives and cultures of monarchs and their societies. These relics, often imbued with spiritual or symbolic significance, have been used to legitimize royal power, reinforce the authority of rulers, and even facilitate communication with the divine. The importance of royal relics in history can be seen in several ways: Legitimization of Power: Royal relics have been used to validate the authority of monarchs, often by associating them with sacred or divine entities. This association helped to establish the monarch's legitimacy and reinforced their right to rule. Symbolism and Representation: Royal relics have been used as symbols of the monarch's power, wisdom, and connection to the divine. They have been displayed publicly to demonstrate the ruler's authority and to inspire loyalty among subjects. Communication with the Divine: In many cases, royal relics have been believed to possess miraculous or spiritual properties, allowing the monarch to communicate with the divine or to channel divine authority. This has been particularly significant in the context of medieval European monarchies, where the ruler's connection to God was seen as essential to their legitimacy. Historical Record and Preservation: Royal relics have also served as historical records, providing tangible evidence of the lives and achievements of monarchs. Their preservation and display have helped to ensure that the history of royal dynasties is not lost over time. Cultural Significance: Royal relics have played a significant role in shaping cultural and artistic traditions. They have inspired artistic works, influenced architectural designs, and contributed to the development of various cultural practices. In summary, royal relics have been crucial in the history of monarchies, serving as symbols of power, means of communication with the divine, historical records, and cultural touchstones. Their significance extends beyond their material value, as they have played a vital role in shaping the cultural, political, and spiritual landscape of societies throughout history.