⭐ 🔓 Adiós a una decana de Gotha: la duquesa María Alix de Schleswig-Holstein (1923-2021)

La duquesa Marie-Alix de Schleswig-Holstein con motivo de su 95 cumpleaños. Foto cortesía de Fürst Alexander zu Schaumburg-Lippe / Stiftung Louisenlund.

El lunes 1 de noviembre de 2021, la duquesa viuda María Alix de Schleswig-Holstein falleció pacíficamente en su casa de Gut Bienebek en Holstein. Tenía 98 años. Los cuatro hijos de la duquesa estaban a su lado cuando murió mientras dormía. Tras su fallecimiento, la familia emitió un breve comunicado: “ Con profundo dolor y llenos de amor nos despedimos de nuestra madre, abuela y bisabuela y recordamos su vida llena de acontecimientos y plenitud con respeto e inmensa gratitud ” .

La boda del príncipe Stephan zu Schaumburg-Lippe y la duquesa Ingeborg de Oldenburg, 1921.

El príncipe Esteban y la princesa Ingeborg con la princesa María Alix y el infante príncipe Jorge Moritz. Foto (c) David McIntosh.

Nacida el 2 de abril de 1923 en Bückeburg, la princesa Marie-Alix de Schaumburg-Lippe fue la primogénita y única hija del príncipe Esteban de Schaumburg-Lippe (1891-1965) y la duquesa Ingeborg de Oldenburgo (1901-1996), que se casaron en 1921. A Marie-Alix le siguió un hermano menor, el príncipe Jorge Moritz de Schaumburg-Lippe (1924-1970), que lamentablemente murió en un accidente automovilístico a la edad de cuarenta y seis años. Como su padre Esteban era un diplomático alemán, Marie-Alix vivió con su familia en Sofía, Bulgaria; Roma, Italia; Río de Janeiro, Brasil; Buenos Aires, Argentina; y Santiago, Chile. Después del final de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, Marie-Alix pasó un tiempo con sus parientes maternos de Oldenburgo en Lensahn, Ostholstein.

Fürst Georg zu Schaumburg-Lippe.

Fürstin Marie zu Schaumburg-Lippe.

Gran Duque Federico Augusto II de Oldemburgo.

Gran Duquesa Isabel de Oldemburgo.

Los abuelos paternos de Marie-Alix fueron Fürst Georg de Schaumburg-Lippe (1846-1911) y su esposa, la princesa María de Sajonia-Altenburgo (1864-1918). Sus abuelos maternos fueron el gran duque Federico Agosto II de Oldenburg (1851-1932) y su segunda esposa, la duquesa Isabel de Mecklemburgo-Schwerin (1869-1955). Marie-Alix era prima hermana del duque Anton-Günther de Oldenburg, Fürstin Eilika de Leiningen, Fürst Wittekind de Waldeck y Pyrmont, Fürstin Guda de Wied y Fürst Philipp-Ernst de Schaumburg-Lippe.

Duque Pedro de Schleswig-Holstein. Foto (c) David McIntosh.

Prince Friedrich Ferdinand zu Schaumburg-Lippe and Princess Marie Melita zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg on their wedding day.

Left to right: Duke Friedrich Ferdinand, Prince Peter, and Princess Marie-Alix. Photo (c) David McIntosh.

On 9 October 1947 at Glücksburg, Princess Marie-Alix married Prince Friedrich Ernst Peter of Schleswig-Holstein (1922-1980). Peter was the third child and son of Duke Friedrich Ferdinand of Schleswig-Holstein (1891-1965) and his wife Princess Marie Melita of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (1899-1967). Peter and Marie-Alix were third cousins; they were both descendants of Fürst Georg of Schaumburg-Lippe (1784-1860) and his wife Princess Ida of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1796-1869). Peter and Marie-Alix made their home at Gut Bienebek, Rendsburg-Eckernförde. Aged fifty-seven, Marie-Alix became a widow in 1980 when her husband Peter died at the rather young age of fifty-eight. The duchess remained devoted to Schleswig-Holstein from her marriage until her last breath.

Left to right: Princess Marita, Prince Alexander, Duke Christoph, and Princess Ingeborg. Photo (c) David McIntosh.

Princess Barbara with her mother-in-law Duchess Marie-Alix at the wedding of Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden, 2001. Photo (c) Seeger-Presse.

Duchess Marie-Alix together with her son Duke Christoph and daughter-in-law Duchess Elisabeth attend the funeral of Fürst Philipp-Ernst zu Schaumburg-Lippe, 2003.

Duke Peter and Duchess Marie-Alix of Schleswig-Holstein had four children, two girls and two boys: Princess Marita (b.1948; married in 1975 to Baron Wilfried von Plotho), Duke Christoph (b.1949; married in 1981 to Princess Elisabeth zur Lippe-Weissenfeld), Prince Alexander (b.1953; married in 1994 to Barbara Beata Fertsch), and Princess Ingeborg (b.1956; married in 1991 to Nikolaus Broschek).

Birthday cheers! Duchess Marie-Alix celebrates her 95th birthday surrounded by students of Louisenlund while her daughter Princess Ingeborg happily looks at her much loved mother. Photo (c) Stiftung Louisenlund.

Duchess Marie-Alix of Schleswig-Holstein was a co-founder of the Louisenlund Foundation in 1949. This institution was envisioned by her father-in-law Duke Friedrich Ferdinand, and its mission was made a reality by continued support from her husband Duke Peter, her son Duke Christoph, and her daughter Princess Ingeborg. According to its website, Louisenlund “has created a school system with learning and teaching methods which prepare students for the future. To be equipped for the future students must develop social awareness and a strong personality. Since the very beginning, the private foundation, Louisenlund has strived to achieve a holistic education for its students. Moreover, Louisenlund is embedded in a network of international contacts and partner schools. Around 440 students benefit from an education in a global environment whilst enjoying, at the same time the familiar atmosphere of the campus.” Princess Ingeborg, the youngest child of the duchess, is the current chairperson of the foundation’s Board of Governors as well as of the Board of Trustees. The original uniform of Louisenlund students was created from a blue sweater out of Duke Friedrich Ferdinand’s wardrobe and a red sock from his daughter-in-law Duchess Marie-Alix’s closet which served as the collar.

Fürst Friedrich Wilhelm of Hohenzollern and Duchess Marie-Alix at the wedding of Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden, 2001.

Duchess Marie-Alix with her children Princess Ingeborg and Duke Christoph attend the memorial service for Fürst Kraft zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg, 2004.

Princess Marianne of Baden and Duchess Marie-Alix attend the funeral of Prince Georg Wilhelm of Hannover, 2006. Photo (c) Seeger-Presse.

For many decades, Duchess Marie-Alix of Schleswig-Holstein was the Vice-President of the regional branch of the German Red Cross in Holstein. As shown by her dedication to the Louisenlund Foundation, the duchess was particularly keen on the betterment of young people and youth development.