In Memorium: Princess Margarita of Baden (1932-2013)

Serbia  September 2010  (Photo by Marlene A. Eilers  Koenig)

Princess Margarita Alice Thyra Viktoria Marie Louise Scholastica of Baden was born on July 14, 1932, the first of three children of Berthold, Margrave of Baden, and Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark.

Marlene A. Eilers Koenig collection

Princess Margarita was raised at the family's home, Schloss Salem.   In the mid-1950s, she spent some time in London, where she worked as a nurse at St. Thomas's Hospital.  She was known as Nurse von Baden.

Margarita and two of her cousins, Princess Christina of Hesse and Princess Beatrix of Hohenlohe-Langenburg remained in London in the mid-1950s.

It was in London where Margarita met her husband, Prince Tomislav of Yugoslavia, second of three sons of the late King Alexander I and Queen Marie.  Tomislav's older brother, King Peter II, was married to Princess Alexandra of Greece.

The engagement was announced on January 2, 1956.  Prince Tomislav was 28 and his future wife was 24.  Only five months earlier,  Margarita's cousin, Princess Christina married Tomislav's younger brother, Prince Andrej.

The marriage between Princess Margarita and Prince Tomislav took place in June 1957.  A civil ceremony took place at Schloss Salem on June 5.  That evening, the Margrave and Margravine of Baden hosted a gala ball.

The following day, the couple were married according to the rites of the Orthodox church, followed by a Lutheran service.  Princess Margarita was given away by her father.  Her wedding gown was a "plain white corded silk dress with a V-neckline, long sleeves, and a full skirt, and an old family train." A headdress of orange blossoms held the long veil in place.

The Princess did not have any bridesmaids, but her train was carried by her first cousins, Princes Welf and Georg of Hanover.

King Simeon of Bulgaria and the Duke of Edinburgh were the sponsors at the Serbian Orthodox ceremony.

The guests at the wedding included Margarita's uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh, and Kings Simeon of Bulgaria and Umberto of Italy.

Marlene A. Eilers Koenig collection

Princess Margarita and Princess Christina were now sisters-in-law, as well as first cousins.  Princess Beatrix was briefly engaged to Margarita's brother, Prince Maximilian, Margrave of Baden, but the engagement was broken before the wedding took place.

Margarita and Tomislav, who settled in England, had two children, Prince Nikola, who was born in 1958, and Princess Katarina, who was born in 1959.



The couple's marriage ended in divorce in 1981.

Princess Alice, the Duke of Edinburgh, Margravine of Baden and King Peter  II

All photos  Marlene A. Eilers Koenig Collection 

Royal Palace, Serbia  September 2010
Marlene A. Eilers Koenig Collection

Princess Margarita remained close to her uncle, the Duke of Edinburgh, and also maintained very good relations with Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia.

Princess Margarita died on January 15, 2013 at her home in Farnham, Surrey, after a long illness. She was 80.  She is survived by her two children, Prince Nikola, and Princess Katarina, and two granddaughters, Princess Maria and Victoria da Silva, and one great grandson, Enzo.   She is also survived by her two brothers, Max, Margrave of Baden, and Prince Ludwig of Baden and their families. If you liked this article