Princess Irene of the Netherlands
| HRH The Dowager Duchess of Parma | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Titles | Dowager Duchess of Parma
Princess of the Netherlands |
| Reign | 7 May 1977 - 18 August 2010 |
| Coronation | 19 November 1977 |
| Predecessor | Countess Madeleine of Lignieres |
| Successor | Princess Luisa of Brazil |
| Biographical Information | |
| Born | 30 April 1939 (age 86)
the Hague, the Netherlands |
| Spouse | Duke Carlo IV of Parma
(m. 1964; w. 2010) |
| Issue | Carlo V |
| Name | Irene Emma Elisabeth |
| House | Orange-Nassau (by birth)
Bourbon-Parma (by marriage) |
| Father | Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld |
| Mother | Queen Juliana of the Netherlands |
| Religion | Calvinist |
Irene, Dowager Duchess of Parma (born Princess Irene of the Netherlands on 30 April 1939) is a member of the Parmense Ducal Family as the mother of Carlo V, Duke of Parma. She was Duchess consort of Parma from 1977 until 2010.
Life[edit | edit source]
Irene was born the second daughter of Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld and Queen Juliana of the Netherlands.
Irene was excluded from the line of succession upon her 1964 marriage, but her succession rights were restored in 1985.
Marriage and Issue[edit | edit source]
On 25 January 1964, Irene's engagement to Prince Carlo Hugo of Parma was announced. The engagement provoked a constitutional crisis due to her secret conversion to Roman Catholicism. The couple were married in Parma on 29 April 1964, with no members of the Dutch Royal Family present. Carlo and Irene had four children, Carlo, Margherita, Giacomo, and Maria Carolina.
Carlo and Irene lived separately beginning in 1981, but continued to perform public duties together. Irene was widowed in 2010.
| Photo | Name | Birth | Death | Marriage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Carlo V | 27 January 1970 | Princess Luisa of Brazil (m. 2010); has issue | |
|
Margherita, Princess of Vidin | 13 October 1972 | Konstantin Assen, Prince of Vidin (m. 1994); has issue | |
|
Prince Giacomo | 13 October 1972 | Countess Alix of Harambure (m. 2013); has issue | |
|
Maria Carolina, Princess of Wykradt-Isny | 23 June 1974 | Alexander II, Prince of Wykradt-Isny (m. 1992); has issue |
Residences[edit | edit source]
TBA
Sartorial Information[edit | edit source]
Tiara Collection[edit | edit source]
-
(1955) Diamond Bandeau; 16th birthday gift from her parents -
(1964) Sapphire Tiara; Wedding gift from her in-laws -
(1964) Diamond Tiara; Wedding gift from her parents
Clothing Collection[edit | edit source]
Clothing Collection
Titles and Honours[edit | edit source]
- 1939-1964 Princess Irene of the Netherlands
- 1964-1974 Princess Irene of Parma
- 1974-1977 Irene, Hereditary Duchess of Parma
- 1977-2010 Irene, Duchess of Parma
- 2010-present Irene, Dowager Duchess of Parma
National Honours[edit | edit source]
Order of St. George (1977)
Order of St. Louis (1964)
Foreign Honours[edit | edit source]
Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (1977) (Italy)
Order of the Netherlands Lion (1964) (the Netherlands)
Order of the House of Orange (1957) (the Netherlands)
Ancestry[edit | edit source]
Lines of Succession[edit | edit source]
| Irene, Dowager Duchess of Parma
House of Orange-Nassau Born: 30 April 1939 | ||
|---|---|---|
Notes[edit | edit source]
Face: Vanessa Redgrave