Archduchess Estelle of Austria dies aged 46 leaving behind five children
Archduchess Estelle of Austria has died aged 46, leaving European aristocracy in mourning.
The Archduchess leaves behind her husband Archduke Carl Christian and their five children, Zita, 17, Anezka, 15, Anna, 12, Paola, 10 and Pier-Giorgia, four.
Announcing the death in the Carnet du Figaro bulletin, the family, who live in Nice, wrote: 'Her husband, Archduke Carl Christian, their children, her parents, and her in-laws are deeply saddened to announce that Archduchess Estelle of Austria, née Lapra de Saint Romain, was called to God on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.'
The family laid her to rest on March 12 at the Cimiez Monastery in Nice.
Her cause of death was cancer, according to Point De Vue.
Princess Astrid of Belgium joined the mourners alongside other royals including Prince Charles of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Ferdinand of Habsburg, Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg, and the Duke of Castro.
Estelle's coffin was decorated with white flowers and each of her five children lit a candle and placed it on the coffin.
The priest praised the mother-of-five's the 'loving lucidity', before Ava Maria played.
In 2007, the royal married to Archduke Carl Christian, the great-grandson of Emperor Charles I the last ruler of Austria-Hungary.
The wedding in Montgirod, a small commune in Savoy, was attended by 300 guests, including family and European aristocrats including notable Princess Astrid of Belgium, Prince Jean Napoleon, Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein and Princess Marie of Orléans.
The couple then headed to Mexico on a honeymoon.
Carl Christian is the eldest son of Archduke Rudolf and Archduchess Marie-Hélène and a cousin of the current head of the Austrian Imperial House, Archduke Karl von Habsburg.
While the Austrian monarchy was abolished in 1918 the family have remained at the helm of European aristocracy and do work for the communities within the region.
It comes after the shock death of another European royal, aged 22.
Last week, Prince Robert of Luxembourg has announced the tragic passing of his youngest son, Prince Frederik, at the age of 22.
The cousin of Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg - whose shock abdication last year ended a glorious 24-year reign - revealed his son died on March 1, following a long battle with rare genetic condition, POLG Mitochondrial disease.
He mourned the news in a lengthy, heartfelt message posted to the POLG foundation, a website founded by his son, and dedicated to finding effective treatments and a cure for POLG mitochondrial disorders.
POLG disease is a rare genetic disorder that robs the body's cells of energy, in turn causing progressive multiple organ dysfunction and failure, the foundation explained.
Progression of the condition can cause multiple organs to fail, such as the brain and liver, as well as the intestines, muscles, and swallowing functions to falter.
Prince Frederik, who lived in Switzerland, was born with the disease, though official diagnosis occurred much later at age 14, when his symptoms became more acute.
In a moving statement penned by Prince Robert, 69, and his wife, Princess Julie of Nassau, 64, they revealed their son's heartbreaking last moments, which included a final goodbye to his parents and two siblings, Princess Charlotte of Nassau, 29 and Prince Alexandre of Nassau, 27.
The statement read: 'It is with a very heavy heart that my wife and I would like to inform you of the passing of our son, The POLG Foundation Founder and Creative Director, Frederik'.
He poignantly shared that his dear son said goodbye on Rare Disease Day - a special observance held on the last day of February, and committed to raising awareness and promoting research of rare conditions.
'Last Friday, February 28th, on 'Rare Disease Day', our beloved son called us in to his room to speak to him for one last time' wrote Robert.
'Frederik found the strength and the courage to say goodbye to each of us in turn – his brother, Alexander, his sister, Charlotte, me, his three cousins, Charly, Louis, and Donall, his brother-in-law, Mansour, and finally, his Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Mark.
'He had already spoken all that was in his heart to his extraordinary mother, who had not left his side in 15 years. After gifting each of us with our farewells – some kind, some wise, some instructive – in true Frederik fashion, he left us collectively with a final long-standing family joke.
'Even in his last moments, his humour, and his boundless compassion, compelled him to leave us with one last laugh….to cheer us all up.'
According to Robert, what began like 'any normal day' with the sound of his daily exercise alarm ended in shocking tragedy, as it was to 'be his last in this world'.
He lamented on his son's journey with the disease, one he said Frederik fought valiantly to the end.
'This is the battle that Frederik fought, and this is the burden that he had to carry throughout his life', penned Prince Robert.
'He always did so with grace and with humour. When we asked him if he wanted to create a foundation to find a cure and help others like him, he jumped at the opportunity.
'Though he always made it very clear that he did not want this dreadful disease to define him, he nonetheless immediately identified with and helped define the mission of The POLG Foundation'.
Robert also praised his son's 'amazing sense of humour', as well as his 'emotional intelligence and compassion that were off the charts'.
'A sense of justice, fairness and decency that knows no bounds' he continued. 'He was disciplined and organised beyond belief'.
Perhaps one of the sweetest memories he shared of his son was that he was the 'strongest person' his family and friends knew.
Prince Frederick of Nassau was born in Aix-en-Provence, France, and enjoyed a stint in London, England, before moving to Switzerland in 2004.
The former student attended the International School in Geneva, Ecole Eden primary school and St George's School in Clarens.
His father, Prince Robert of Luxembourg, is the first cousin of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, 69, who in December announced his shock abdication from the throne in favour of his son Guillaume.
Guillaume, 43, who had already assumed many of his father's duties in recent months as Lieutenant-Representant, will formally take up his new title on October 3, 2025.
Henri's abdication marks the second European monarch to step down from their reign this year.
His royal relation Queen Margrethe of Denmark decided to give up the throne after 52 years, making way for her son Frederik to take over as King on 14 January.
Grand Duke Henri is the eldest son of the five children of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte and took to the throne in 2000, after his father abdicated following a 36-year reign.
He is married to Maria Teresa Mestre, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. and the pair have five children together; Prince Guillaume, Princess Alexandra, Prince Louis, Prince Félix and Prince Sébastien.
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