Two royal engagements

Archduke Christian and Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria have announced the engagements of their two eldest sons, Archduke Imre and Archduke Christoph, to Kathleen Walker and Adélaide Drapé-Frisch, respectively.

http://www.tageblatt.lu/people/luxemburg/story/Verliebt--verlobt--verlobt-28886156

The announcement was made on December 22nd.  Miss Drapé-Frisch, 22, is the daughter of Philippe Drapé-Frisch and his wife, Odile.  Drapé-Frisch is a French diplomat.   Adélaide has been living in Belgrade, Serbia.

Katie Walker is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio.  She graduated from Northern Kentucky University with a degree in journalism.  She currently works as the Communications director for the Arlington  (Virginia)  Diocesan Catholic Charities.  She is active in what many call the Pro-life movement.

Katie is a contributor to The Integrated Catholic, a blog.  In one post she wrote about a conversation with her grandmother: “Katie, be a little mysterious and leave them wondering,” she told me as she expertly peeled potatoes with her perfectly manicured hands. I’d giggle and sip on Country Time lemonade at her kitchen table and dream about all the boys I would one day dazzle.

"Fast forward a dozen or so years and here I am at 24. Grandma’s advice is taking different shape these days."

Miss Walker has apparently dazzled a scion of the Habsburg dynasty, a great-grandson of Emperor Karl and Empress Zita.  Archduke Imre's mother, Marie-Astrid, was born a Princess of Luxembourg, the sister of the present Grand Duke Henri. 

So how does an American girl, a devout Roman Catholic, working in Arlington, Virginia, meet an archduke?  Perhaps they  met on October 21, 2010 at a Missa Cantata in honor of Blessed Karl of Austria, which took place at Old St. Mary's Roman Church in Washington, D.C.   Archduke Imre attended the Mass, which was followed by a talk on the late Emperor.  Katie Walker posted on a Facebook page for the Missa Cantata in response to a post about Archduke Imre attending.   
Katie wrote:  "Must meet him."  She also asked the previous poster if he was in "my Empress Zita fan page perchance?"

Cupid certainly had his finger on arrow as Katie Walker did meet Archduke Imre.  A year later, they are engaged to be married.    She is also the person behind the Empress Zita of Austria Facebook page.

Earlier this year, Katie received the Cincinnati "Pro-Life" award.  Her mother, Margaret, won the drawing for the all-sterling silver rosary.

Archduke Imre (as Imre de Habsbourg-Lorraine) was a Summer Intern at Atlas Network, a (very) right-wing think tank based in Washington, D.C.  Earlier this year, he interned at the Brussels-based World Youth Alliance.

http://atlasnetwork.org/blog/2010/10/internships/

http://wyaeurope.blogspot.com/2011/04/population-regulation-key-to-economic.html

http://www.catholicherald.com/stories/Catholic-Charities-Katie-Walker-appointed-to-CBN-board,16633?content_source=&category_id=&search_filter=pro-life&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=&sub_type=stories&town_id=

http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2010/09/meet-new-contributing-writer-katie-walker/