The marriage of Count Johann von Wilczek and Anna-Livia Guggenberg von Riedhofen

 

Anna-Livia Guggenberg von Riedhofen and  Count Johann Wilczek were married on June 21st at St Martin's Church on Giran, South Tyrol.

The bride, 28, is the daughter of Clemens Guggenberg von Riedhofen and his former wife, Archduchess Marie Christine of Austria, and the 30-year-old groom is the son of Count Hans Christian von Wilczek and Katharina von Hartig.

HSH Prince Josias of Waldeck und Pyrmont

Hereditary Prince Carl Philipp of Croy

Princess Joanna of Croy with her sister-in-law, Princess Anastasia of Croy

The guests included Heeditary Prince Carl Philipp of Croy, Princess Anastasia of Croy, Prince Heinrich and Princess Joana of Croy, Archduke Philipp of Austria, Prince Josias of Waldeck-Pyrmont, Count Ignaz of Toerring-Jettenbach with two of his daughters, Count Clemens Moy de Son and his wife, Duchess Katharina of Oldenburg, Princess Assunta of Waldburg zu Zeil (who was the official photographer), Marcus von Goess and his wife, Princess Fanny of Hohenlohe  Croy with sister Anastasia and brother Heinrich with wife Joana, Philipp von Habsburg, one of the Waldeck Pyrmont twins. I think, Josias, he came alone, Graf Ignaz von Toerring with two daughters, Herzogin Katharina von Oldenburg with husband Clemens Moy de Son, Assunta Waldburg Zeil,  Count Marrkus von Goëss-Saurau and his wife, Princess Franziska of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst,  and Kassian Goess-Enzenberg.

According to Bunte, the couple got engaged two years ago in Kenya.  The young count proposed to Anna-Livia with a "magnificent ring with a ruby and diamonds."

Count Ignaz of Toerring-Jettenbach with one of his daughters

Count Johann Wenzel with his parents, Countess Katharina and Count Hans Christian

The groom with his mother, and Count Hans Christian with the bride's mother, Archduchess Maria Christine

The reception was held at Zinneberg Manor, followed by a grand dinner at Schloss Freudenstein.  Guests partied into the wee hours of the next morning.  The bride's gown was made in Spain.  Her veil was held in place by a diamond tiara.

The new Countess was attended by ten flower girls, "dressed in adorable blue and white outfits." The witnesses were Count Georg von Wilczek, Sofia Guggenberg von Riedhofen, and Princess Marie Caroline of Liechtenstein.

HSH Princess Marie Caroline of Liechtenstein

Count Clemens de Moy Sons with his wife, Duchess Katharina of Oldenburg

Count Markus von Goess Sarau and his wife, Princess Fanny of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst.

Her father told Bunte: "After the engagement, Anna Livia came to me and said she had never been happier in her life, but at her wedding, she radiated even more."

https://www.bunte.de/royals/royals-weltweit/oesterreichischer-adel/anna-livia-guggenberg-von-riedhofen-johann-wenzel-von-wilczek-gaben-jawort.html

The bride and groom are fourth cousins once removed.

The copyright for these photos belongs to the photographer, a friend of mine.

A noble engagement: Königsegg-Aulendorf/Arco-Zinneberg

@ Lilian van Reijen

@Marianne van Dam Both photos were taken at the Matuschka/Waldburg wedding in 2024.

 Count Géza Paul Stephan Eusebius of Königsegg-Aulendorf and Countess Elena Maria Cecilia Eugenia Marietta Sophie of Arco-Zinneberg are engaged to be married.  

The count is the third and youngest child of  H Ill H Count Markus Maximilian Eusebius Johannes of Königsegg-Aulendorf and  H Ill H Countess Philippa Charlotte Gertrud Walburga Maximiliana of  Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems.  He was born on January 19, 1998, in Vienna.

Géza is a nephew of the head of the house, Count Maximilian of Königsegg-Aulendorf.

Elena is the second of three children of Count Maria Andreas Maximilian Ludwig Eucharius Arco von und zu Zinneberg and Daria-Maria Turnauer. She was born on November 11, 1999, in Vienna. 

Daria is the only child of  Max Turnauer, a member of Austria's wealthiest families.  

In 2022, the Turnauers' wealth was estimated to be €1.25 billion.

https://www.forbes.com/profile/max-turnauer/

Géza is based in Zurich, where he is a Private Equity Associate with LGT Partners. He has a BA in Business Management from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland.  

Elena grew up in Up Cerne, Dorset, where her father has been a farm manager with Up Cerne Ltd. Previous directors of that company include Archduke Michael of Austria and Severin Meister.  The company is a part of the Turnauer family businesses.  Severein Meister, son of Archduchess Gabriela of Austria, is now the CEO of Constantia Beteiligungs AG in Vaduz, Liechtenstein.   She graduated from the University of Westminster where she earned a BS in Sociology.   

Last year, she joined Habemu, a PR firm based in Munich and Berlin. In early 2025, she was promoted to Junior Consultant.

Géza's father, Count Markus, is the co-owner of Schloss Halbturn with his brother, Count Maximilian.  The Schloss was gifted initially by Empress Maria Theresia to her daughter, Archduchess Maria Christina, when she married Prince Albert of Saxony, Duke of Teschen.  Their only child, Princess Maria of Saxony, died a day after her birth in 1767.   Maria Christina persuaded her brother, Archduke Leopold. Grand Duke of Tuscany, to adopt one of his younger sons, Karl Ludwig, so he could succeed as the Duke of Teschen.   The estate passed to Karl Ludwig, then his son, Archduke Albrecht, who died without surviving male issue.  The property was inherited by his nephew, Archduke Friedrich, who also succeeded to the Teschen title.  One of the wealthiest members of the Habsburg dynasty, Archduke Friedrich, married Princess Isabella of Croy.   He made Schloss Halbturn one of his primary residences, and it was not one of the properties confiscated after World War I.   His son, Archduke Albrecht, inherited the estate in 1936.

In 1949, a fire destroyed nearly all of the Schloss, which at the time was uninhabited.  Albrecht died in 1955, and the property was inherited by his nephew, Baron Paul von Waldbott-Bassenheim, the son of his sister, Archduchess Maria Alice.   Paul recognized "the potential of the soils on his property" and established a 40-hectare vineyard site at the Wittmannshof, near Halbturn Palace.   He began cultivating a winery in 1960.   

Embed from Getty Images 

 Paul and his wife, Countess Marie-Therese (Marietherese) Wickenburg-Capellini gen. Stechelini, were childless. His sister, Stephanie, was married to Count Johannes von Königsegg-Aulendorf.  Through Marie Therese's recommendation, Stephanie's younger son, Count Markus, is invited to restructure the vineyard.  He brings several international wine experts.  Today, it is the "largest contiguous vineyard site in Austria, with 42 hectares, and is surrounded by the organic farms of Halbturn estate". 

Baron Paul von Waldblott-Bassenheim passed away in 2008. Eight years prior, he adopted his nephew, Count Markus, and inherited his estate, which included the vineyards. He now runs the winery alongside his older brother, Count Maximilian.

https://www.weingut-schlosshalbturn.com/en/

This might not be the only engagement in the Königsegg-Aulendorf family.   Géza's brother, Count Constantin, is said to be in a relationship with HRH Duchess Pauline of Württemberg.

Day 6: Harrogate & Knaresborough

Kings Cross   head to Hogwarts

Up at 5 a.m., and trying to be as quiet as a mouse as I leave my Airbnb without waking my host, whose bedroom is by the front door.  I have my large suitcase, my carry bag and my camera bag.  I open the door, bring each one into the hallway, and then I quietly close the door.  

I push the elevator button and get the bags into the elevator.  Down two floors to the front door ... and the bus is nearly at the top.  Pure luck. I get on the bus for the short ride (15 minutes) to Kings Cross.  

The M&S does not open until 6:30. I bought a yoghurt, fruit, and a bottle of water, and then headed to Cafe Nero for a vanilla latte.  There are seats where I can watch the departure board.  My train is scheduled to leave at 7:37 a.m., and it is on time.  I had a window seat, and no one sat next to me for the entire journey to Leeds, where I changed for the train in Harrogate.

I texted my friends Michael and Alison Rhodes to let them know I was on my way, and texted them again when I was on the train to Harrogate.  Michael runs the Peerage News blog.

https://peeragenews.blogspot.com/

I arrived in Harrogate shortly after 10:00, where Michael and Alison were waiting for me with open arms.  Big Hugs.  Luggage goes into the Mini as we head to their home.  After having a cup of tea and something to eat, Michael and Alison suggest visiting Knaresborough Castle.  

Knaresborough is a quick drive - and the castle is a ruin.

https://great-castles.com/knaresborough.html

The castle is a ruin

the River Nidd

The Manor House is privately owned so no access to the gardens, but the tree is in the next photo

I would love a pink door.

Cute ducks in a store window.  Thankfully, the store was closed; otherwise, the ducks might now be in Virginia.

Pet toys in a local shop window

Alison parked the car not too far from the castle. The weather was glorious. To get back down to the river, we followed a series of steps to get to the River Nidd. We sat and watched boaters on the river enjoying a late spring early evening.  Knaresborough is very hilly, which meant walking back up to the car.

I definitely got my steps in while walking around and up and down in Knaresborough.

While at Knaresborough, I spotted a man wearing a Nats cap.  Quite fun to run into another Nats fan!!!!

Back in Harrogate, we had dinner at the Mucky Duck, down the street from the Rhodes' home.  A great 

place to relax.  The food and beer are excellent.

https://www.instagram.com/muckyduckharrogate/?hl=en