Wilhelmine Fürstin von Khevenhüller-Metsch (1932-2023)

@Burg Hochosterwitz

HSH Wilhelmine Fürstin von Khevenhüller-Metsch died on September 18, 2023 at Schloss Niederosterwitz. She was 91 years old.

The Princess was the widow of HSH Max Alfred Bartholomäus Friedrich Anton Franz Eduard Joachim Anna Maria Schnee Oswald Hubertus, 9th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch(1919-2010).  She was born on March 24, 1932, in Naklo, Kr. Tarnowitz, Silesia, as Countess Marie Wilhelmine Josefina Theresia Franziska Georgia von Henckel von Donnersmarck.  She was the third child and second daughter of Count Lazarus Henckel von Donnersmarck (1902-1991) and Countess Franziska von Eltz gen. Faust von Stromberg (1905-1997). 

[Naklo is now in the Czech Republic.]

Wilhelmine's older brother, Count Carl Josef (1928-2008) was married Princess Marie Adelheid of Luxembourg. 

The marriage between Countess Wilhelmine and the then Hereditary Prince Max of Khevenhüller-Metsch took place in Munch on January 19, 1956.   The couple lived in Lugano, Italy, and in Madrid, where their six children were born, before moving to Schloss Niederosterwitz in Launsdorf, Austria.

The Schloss has been in the Khevenhüller family since 1690.   Prince Max succeeded his father, Franz, 8th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch, as the 9th Prince in 1977.

Princess Wilhelmine is survived by five of her six children: Bartholomäus, 11th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch (1958), Count Karl (1959), Count Georg (1960), Countess Melanie von Waldburg-zu Wolfegg-und Waldsee (1967) and Countess Isabel von Hartig (1972).  Her eldest son, Johannes, 10th Prince of Khevenhüller-Metsch died in 2020.

Twenty-two grandchildren also survive her:  Countesses Franziska, Helena, Sophie, Cäcilie von Khevenhüller-Metsch, Hereditary Prince Andreas of Khevenhüller-Metsch, Countesses Clara, Gabriela and Count Philipp of Khevenhüller-Metsch, Counts Maximilian, Franz, Sigmund von Khevenhüller-Metsch, Countesses Hemma, Teresa, Marie Elisabeth and Paula von Khevenhüller-Metsch, Countesses Isabel, Anna, and Count Georg von Waldburg zu Wolfegg-Waldsee, and Countesses Henriette, Laura and Wilhelmine von Hartig, as well as several great-grandchildren.

https://royalmusingsblogspotcom.blogspot.com/2021/01/hsh-johannes-prince-of-khevenhuller.html