Gina, Princess of Liechtenstein

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Gina
Duchess of Troppau and Jägerndorf
Countess of Rietberg
Princess Gina in August 1988
Princess consort of Liechtenstein
Tenure7 March 1943 – 18 October 1989
BornCountess Georgina Norberta Jane Marie Antonie Raphaela von Wilczek
(1921-10-24)24 October 1921
Graz, Styria, Austria
Died18 October 1989(1989-10-18) (aged 67)
Grabs, St. Gallen, Switzerland
Burial
Cathedral of St. Florin, Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1943)​
Issue
FatherCount Ferdinand von Wilczek
MotherCountess Norbertine Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau

Georgina Norberta Jane Marie Antonie Raphaela von Wilczek (24 October 1921 – 18 October 1989) was Princess of Liechtenstein from 1943 to 1989 as the wife of Prince Franz Joseph II. She was the mother of Prince Hans-Adam II[1][2] and was widely known as Gina.[3]

Early life

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Princess Gina was born on 24 October 1921, in Graz, Austria. She was the daughter of Count Ferdinand von Wilczek (1893–1977) and Countess Norbertine "Nora" Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau (1888–1923). In 1923, when Georgina was just two years old, her mother died after giving birth to a stillborn child.[citation needed]

Princess Gina received her formal education in the Sacré-Cœur grammar school and a boarding school run by the Congregation of Jesus in Rome.[4] She then studied languages at the University of Vienna and graduated as an interpreter in English, French and Italian.[4]

Princess of Liechtenstein

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Princess Gina with Josef Hoop in French-occupied Feldkirch presenting gifts for the wounded to the French city commander, 1945.

During World War II, Princess Gina had concerns for prisoners of war and travelling by bicycle when the country suffered a gasoline shortage. When the war ended in 1945, Princess Gina helped the refugees by making soup and bathing children on the national border at Schaanwald.[4] On 22 June 1945, at her imitative, the Liechtenstein Red Cross was founded, and she was president from 1945 to 1985 and became honorary president in 1985.[4][5][6] The following year, she founded a counseling center for mothers in Liechtenstein. In 1948, the Liechtenstein Red Cross's family welfare organization was founded. In 1956, Princess Gina opened the Red Cross's first children's home in Triesen. In 1972, the Red Cross's rescue service was established.[5]

She supported Vereine für Familienhilfe since 1956. She was also a president of Verband Liechtensteinischer Familienhilfen, a family support organisation, from 1966 to 1977 and a patron from 1977 to 1989. In 1989, she became honorary president of the International Council of Homehelp-Service. She became president of Association for Curative Education in Liechtenstein (German: Verein für Heilpädagogische Hilfe) from 1967 to 1983. Under her leadership, a school for disabled children and a protective workshops were founded in 1969 and 1975 respectively. She also founded the Liechtenstein Foundation for Old Age (German: Liechtenstein Stiftung für das Alter) in 1971 where she became the president of the board of trustees. She became the head of the Martin Tietz Foundation. In 1966, Association of Liechtenstein Female Farmers was founded on the initiative of Princess Gina with the support of the Liechtenstein Farmers' Association and she was appointed as an honorary president. She was the patron of the Liechtenstein Girl Scouts and often attended their events.[5]

Beside from her numerous charitable and social activities, Princess Gina was also committed to a number of political issues including the introduction of women's suffrage in Liechtenstein. In 1987, the Princess was awarded the Henry Dunant Medal by the International Committee of the Red Cross.[4] Princess Gina was very popular with the public for her social commitment to families, the disabled, the elderly and refugees, being a caring mother, as well as her warm and open personality.[5]

Princess Gina died on 18 October 1989, in the Cantonal Hospital in Grabs, Switzerland, six days before her 68th birthday shortly after receiving her last sacraments.[7] She had been hospitalized for an undisclosed illness leading up to her death.[8] Her husband, who was also in poor health, collapsed at her bed and died 26 days later.[9] They are interred together in Vaduz Cathedral.

Princess Gina Trail was named in her honour.[5] Fürst Franz und Fürstin Gina Pfadfinder was founded in honour of Prince Franz Josef II and Princess Gina.[10]

Marriage and family

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Georgina probably met her future husband, Prince Franz Joseph II, in early 1942. He was also her third cousin, and he had been the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein since 1938. They had an age difference of 15 years, and their friendship eventually turned to love. Their engagement was announced on 30 December 1942. They were married on 7 March 1943 at the Cathedral of St. Florin in Vaduz. It was the first time that the wedding of a ruling Prince had taken place in Liechtenstein.[4] During the following weeks, the newly-weds visited all eleven communes of Liechtenstein.

Princess Gina with her family in 1955.

The couple had five children:[11]

Two of her descendants were named after her: her great-granddaughters Princess Georgina Maximiliana Tatiana Maria of Liechtenstein (b. 2005, daughter of Prince Constantin) and Althaea Georgina Worthington (b. 2022, granddaughter of Prince Nikolaus through his second daughter Princess Marie-Astrid).[12]

Titles, styles and honours

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Titles and styles

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  • 24 October 1921 – 7 March 1943: Countess Georgina von Wilczek
  • 7 March 1943 – 18 October 1989: Her Serene Highness The Princess of Liechtenstein

Honours

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National honours

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Foreign honours

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Ancestry

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References

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  1. ^ Dotson, Samuel C., Genealogie des Fürstlichen Hauses Liechtenstein seit Hartmann II. (1544–1585), Rosvall Royal Books, Falköping, Sweden, p. 68.
  2. ^ Willis, Daniel, The Descendants of Louis XIII, Clearfield Co., Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, 1999, ISBN 0-8063-4942-5, p. 510.
  3. ^ "H.S.H. Prince Hans-Adam II". Liechtenstein Princely House Official Website. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020. Prince Hans-Adam II is the eldest son of Prince Franz Josef II and Princess Gina.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Princess Gina". Liechtenstein Princely House Official Website. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e Wanger, Harald (31 December 2011). "Liechtenstein, Georgine (Gina) von". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  6. ^ Batliner, Joachim (31 December 2011). "Liechtensteinisches Rotes Kreuz (LRK)". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 9 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Princess Gina, Liechtenstein Princess", The Washington Post, 19 October 1989
  8. ^ "Princess Gina", The New York Times, Vaduz, Liechtenstein, 18 October 1989
  9. ^ "Liechtenstein's Prince Franz Josef II, 83". Los Angeles Times. 15 November 1989. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Abteilungen". pfadi.li. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Prince Franz Josef II (1938 – 1989)". Liechtenstein Princely House Official Website. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  12. ^ Sekretariat SD des Fürsten von Liechtenstein
  13. ^ Imhof, Henriette. "Erste feierliche Investitur der Schweiz". www.oessh.ch. Archived from the original on 18 February 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  14. ^ "Iran Collection". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
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Gina, Princess of Liechtenstein
Wilczek Family
Born: 24 October 1921 Died: 18 October 1989
Liechtensteiner royalty
Preceded by Princess consort of Liechtenstein
1943–1989 		Succeeded by
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