Princess Maria da Gloria, Duchess of Segorbe, recently gave an insightful interview to the Serbian press, sharing her experiences and thoughts on family, titles, and the importance of being together. The Duchess, a former Crown Princess of Yugoslavia, spoke candidly about her recent visit to Serbia, where she rushed to the hospital to see her son, Hereditary Prince Philip, who had been admitted unexpectedly.
In the interview, Princess Maria da Gloria discussed her family dynamics, including the renunciation of her eldest son, Prince Peter, and her efforts to keep her family close. She also reflected on her first meeting with her former husband, Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia, and the challenges they faced. The Duchess emphasized the significance of family, stating, "Family is the most important thing. You can be Karađorđević or whatever, carry important titles, but family is family." Her words offer a glimpse into the personal life of a royal figure, highlighting the importance of love and unity in the face of adversity[1].
what were the main topics Princess Maria da Gloria discussed in her interview
- Family Dynamics: She spoke about her family, including the renunciation of her eldest son, Prince Peter, and her efforts to keep her family close. She emphasized the importance of family, stating, "Family is the most important thing. You can be Karađorđević or whatever, carry important titles, but family is family".
- Hospital Visit and Family Disconnection: Princess Maria da Gloria shared her experience of rushing to the hospital to see her son, Hereditary Prince Philip, who had been admitted unexpectedly. She mentioned that her ex-husband, Crown Prince Alexander, did not invite her, her son, or her daughter-in-law, Hereditary Princess Danica, to the court, which caused her pain and highlighted the disconnection within the family.
- Meeting Crown Prince Alexander: She recalled her first meeting with Crown Prince Alexander, which took place at a dinner at her aunt and uncle's house in Estoril. She described it as a beautiful moment and mentioned that they became good friends from the start.
- Children and Their Choices: Princess Maria da Gloria expressed pride in her children, stating that they help each other and support each other's decisions. She mentioned that her son Peter renounced the throne to Philip, which she found acceptable because her children's happiness comes first.
what did Princess Maria da Gloria say about her son Prince Peter's decision to renounce his rights to the Serbian throne
why did Prince Peter decide to renounce his rights to the Serbian throne
- Personal Choice: Prince Peter wanted to live in Spain, where he had been based for a long time, and not return to Serbia. He believed that his younger brother, Prince Philip, who was already living in Serbia with his family, was better suited to be the future head of the Serbian royal family.
- Family Dynamics: Prince Peter's decision was also influenced by his family dynamics. He did not have children, and his younger brother, Prince Philip, had a son, Prince Stefan, who was the first male heir born to the Karađorđević royal family on Serbian soil in 90 years.
- Duty to the Family: Prince Peter believed that his younger brother, Prince Philip, was more committed to the Serbian royal family and its future. He wanted to ensure that the family's interests were protected and that the throne was passed to someone who would be more actively involved in the family's affairs.
Last week, Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans-Bragança, Duchess of Segorbe and former Crown Princess of Yugoslavia, gave an interview to the Serbian paper Kurir. The princess was wrapping up her fourth visit to Serbia: the first was in 2005 for the sixtieth birthday of her ex-husband Crown Prince Alexander, the second was in 2017 for the wedding of her son and daughter-in-law Hereditary Prince Philip and Hereditary Princess Danica, and the third was in 2018 for the baptism of her grandson Prince Stefan of Serbia.
Maria da Gloria's fourth visit to Serbia was rather unexpected. The princess had been in Venice with her husband, the Duke of Segorbe. During dinner, Maria learned that her son had been admitted to hospital. She immediately caught the first available flight to Belgrade...and, like any caring mom, she showed up unannounced. As Princess Danica was with her husband, Princess Maria da Gloria went ahead and picked up her grandson Prince Stefan from his kindergarten, where he made sure she was introduced to his teachers and classmates. Maria da Gloria then went to the hospital to check on the condition of her son. Fortunately, he was alright. The Duchess of Segorbe remarked: "I came on the first flight as soon as I heard that my son Filip was in the hospital. Thank God it was nothing serious, everything is fine now. I told my ex-husband, the heir to the throne Crown Prince Aleksandar of Serbia, that I was here, that I wanted to go to the court [Royal Palace], but no - he didn't invite me, nor Filip, nor Danica. The attempt to be like a family, for Stefan to be with his grandfather, who practically does not know him, failed. All this hurts me a lot, because family is the most important thing. You can be Karađorđević or whatever, carry important titles, but family is family."
The Duchess of Segorbe commented on the renunciation of her eldest son Prince Peter: "Peter left his rights to the Serbian throne to Filip, and that is an act of patriotism. He himself said that he is not ready to take on that duty. His abdication is perfectly fine with me. First of all, because of Peter's happiness, and then - here, in Serbia, Filip has married a beautiful Serbian woman, who understands all of that. See, Dana even looks like me, like she is my daughter! And my son Alexander also supported this, and he and Peter told me: 'Mom, whatever Filip needs, we will fight for him.'" The princess then added: "The relationship with Crown Prince Alexander is a difficult story." When asked if Crown Princess Katherine was a factor in the schism within the Serbian royal family, Princess Maria da Gloria noted: "You should ask Crown Prince Alexander, not me. He almost never sees his grandson, and Stefan has been in Spain many times, for Christmas and so on... It's very sad. The attempt to be like a family, for Stefan to be with his grandfather, has not worked."
Princess Maria da Gloria of Orleans-Bragança recalled when she met her first husband, Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia: "Oh, my goodness, it was beautiful. I met Alexander at a dinner at my aunt and uncle's house, the Count and Countess of Paris, in Estoril. He came with the King of Italy, Umberto II, whom we called Uncle Beppo. It was a time of exile, there were many kings and princes were around. Alexander and I became very good friends from the start, and as he was in the British Army, I went to Ireland, where he was stationed, to see him. Then we got engaged and I went back to Brazil to tell my parents. My mother was a strong Catholic, and the first thing she asked me was not what his religion was, but: 'Is he taller than you?'"
The Duchess of Sergorbe noted how proud she was of all of her children. "All my children help each other, they would do anything to save each other. They are brothers and sisters. Basically we are a very happy family. Thank God for that."
A thank you to Lucas Szkopinski for finding the full interview in English! In order to read everything that Princess Maria da Gloria, Duchess of Segorbe, had to say, please visit this link:
what are the main topics covered in Princess Maria da Gloria's interview
- Family Dynamics: She spoke about her family, including the renunciation of her eldest son, Prince Peter, and her efforts to keep her family close. She emphasized the importance of family, stating, "Family is the most important thing. You can be Karađorđević or whatever, carry important titles, but family is family".
- Hospital Visit and Family Disconnection: Princess Maria da Gloria shared her experience of rushing to the hospital to see her son, Hereditary Prince Philip, who had been admitted unexpectedly. She mentioned that her ex-husband, Crown Prince Alexander, did not invite her, her son, or her daughter-in-law, Hereditary Princess Danica, to the court, which caused her pain and highlighted the disconnection within the family.
- Meeting Crown Prince Alexander: She recalled her first meeting with Crown Prince Alexander, which took place at a dinner at her aunt and uncle's house in Estoril. She described it as a beautiful moment and mentioned that they became good friends from the start.
- Children and Their Choices: Princess Maria da Gloria expressed pride in her children, stating that they help each other and support each other's decisions. She mentioned that her son Peter renounced the throne to Philip, which she found acceptable because her children's happiness comes first.
As we conclude our exploration of Princess Maria da Gloria's insightful interview, it is clear that family remains the most important aspect of her life. Despite the challenges she has faced, including the renunciation of her eldest son, Prince Peter, and the disconnection within her family, Princess Maria da Gloria continues to prioritize the well-being of her loved ones. Her words serve as a reminder that even in the face of adversity, family is the foundation upon which we build our lives. It is a lesson that transcends titles and royal duties, emphasizing the importance of unity and love in our personal relationships.
Princess Maria da Gloria's story is a testament to the power of family and the enduring bonds that connect us. Her experiences, though unique, offer valuable insights into the complexities of royal life and the importance of maintaining strong family ties. As we reflect on her words, we are reminded that family is not just a title or a duty, but a fundamental aspect of our humanity. It is a reminder that, regardless of our circumstances, we must always prioritize the well-being of those we love and cherish. As Princess Maria da Gloria so eloquently put it, "Family is the most important thing. You can be Karađorđević or whatever, carry important titles, but family is family." May her words inspire us to nurture and cherish our own family relationships, and may we always remember the significance of unity and love in our lives.
what are some key takeaways from Princess Maria da Gloria's interview
- Family is the Most Important Thing: Princess Maria da Gloria emphasizes that family is the most important aspect of her life, stating, "Family is the most important thing. You can be Karađorđević or whatever, carry important titles, but family is family".
- Support for Son Peter's Decision: She respects her eldest son, Prince Peter's, decision to renounce his rights to the Serbian throne in favor of his younger brother, Prince Philip, considering it an act of patriotism and prioritizing his happiness.
- Hospital Visit and Family Disconnection: Princess Maria da Gloria rushed to the hospital to see her son, Prince Philip, who was admitted unexpectedly. She was not invited to the court by her ex-husband, Crown Prince Alexander, along with her son and daughter-in-law, which caused her pain and highlighted the disconnection within the family.
- Meeting Crown Prince Alexander: She recalled her first meeting with Crown Prince Alexander, which took place at a dinner at her aunt and uncle's house in Estoril. They became good friends from the start, and she went to Ireland to see him when he was stationed there.
- Pride in Children: Princess Maria da Gloria is proud of all her children, stating that they help each other and would do anything to save each other. She believes they are a very happy family.
- Relationship with Crown Prince Alexander: The princess notes that her relationship with Crown Prince Alexander is now difficult, citing his lack of involvement with his grandson, Prince Stefan, and the failure of their attempts to be a family.
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