A princely engagement: Arenberg - de Lannoy

 

Le Carnet Mondain - Brussels

HSH Prince and Duke Evrard-Guillaume Engelbert Jean Bona Melchior of Arenberg is the second and younger child of HSH Prince and Duke Charles-Louis Felix Melchior of Arenberg and Donna Fiammetta Margherita Venanzia dei Marchesi Frescobaldi Franceschi Marini.   He was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, in January 1996.  

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Prince Evrard had a bachelor's degree in hospitality administration and management from the EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne.  He is based in Brussels, where he works in the hotel industry.

Countess Madeleine Marie Gabrielle Ghislaine de Lannoy is a member of one of Belgium's distinguished noble families.  She is the daughter of Count Hughes de Lannoy and Countess Marie de Liedekerke.   She was born in May 1966 in Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Brussels, Belgium.

@Bouchaud

Madeleine studied anthropology and philosophy at the University of Freiburg, but changed her career plans after earning a master's in architectural engineering at the Catholic University of Louvain. She is the Project Manager at Bouchaud, a Paris-based architecture firm. 

The newly engaged couple are 7th cousins—as they are both descendants of Duke Charles of Arenberg (1721-1778) and Countess Louise-Marguerite de La Mark (1730-1820).   Countess Madeleine and Stéphanie, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, are second cousins.  Stéphanie was born a Countess de Lannoy.

Grand Duke Guillaume and Prince Evrard are third cousins as both are descendants of Grand Duke Adolf of Luxembourg.

Philippe de Lannoy - Paul - Philippe- Stéphanie

Philippe de Lannoy - Baudouin - Hughes - Madeleine

HRH Princess Antonia of Luxembourg and HRH Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria  (Marlene A Eilers Koenig Collection)x

HSH Jean, Duke of Arenberg and HRH Princess Sophie of Bavaria  (Marlene A Eilers Koenig Collection).  

Prince and Princess Charles-Louis of Arenberg and Prince Evrard-Guillaume  - christening photo 
@Princess Charles-Louis of Arenberg

The groom-to-be's maternal grandmother, Marchesa Bona Marchi Frescobaldi, is a long-time friend of King Charles III.  The connection between the Frescobaldi family and the English royals goes back to Edward II. At the time, the Frescobaldi family was "incredibly influential" and was "intervening in political affairs outside of Italy, including England." 

Bona first Charles, then Prince of Wales, at an event at St. James's Palace.  The night before the Coronation, Bona and her husband, Vittorio, were guests at the Harald Acton Library in the British Institute of Florence.   "He loves olive oil," she said, as he believes that the "combination of oil and bread" is the "best recipe in the world."    Every year she sends the king bottles of the family's olive oil, and when she turned 80, Charles sent her a watercolor he had painted.

Wine from the Frescobaldi vineyards will most certainly be served at Evrard and Madeleine's wedding.

Prince Evrard is a descendant of Grand Duke Adolf of Luxembourg.

Adolf - Guillaume - Antonia - Sophie -  Charles-Louis -  Evrard

Adolf - Guillaume - Charlotte - Jean - Henri - Guillaume

Ludwig III of Bavaria - Rupprecht - Sophie - Charles-Louis - Evrard