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]
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 1967–83. 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 familyedit
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.
Two of her descendants were named after her: her great-granddaughters Princess Gina "Gina" 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 honoursedit
Titles and stylesedit
24 October 1921 – 7 March 1943: Countess Georgina von Wilczek
7 March 1943 – 18 October 1989: Her Serene Highness The Princess of Liechtenstein
15. Countess Eugénia Barbara Erdödy de Monyorókerék et Monoszló
Referencesedit
^Dotson, Samuel C., Genealogie des Fürstlichen Hauses Liechtenstein seit Hartmann II. (1544–1585), Rosvall Royal Books, Falköping, Sweden, p. 68.
^Willis, Daniel, The Descendants of Louis XIII, Clearfield Co., Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, 1999, ISBN0-8063-4942-5, p. 510.
^. 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.
^ abcdef"Princess Gina". Liechtenstein Princely House Official Website. from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
princess, gina, liechtenstein, née, countess, georgina, wilczek, october, 1921, october, 1989, princess, liechtenstein, from, 1943, 1989, wife, franz, joseph, prince, liechtenstein, mother, hans, adam, prince, liechtenstein, widely, known, gina, ginaduchess, t. Princess Gina of Liechtenstein Nee Countess Georgina von Wilczek 24 October 1921 18 October 1989 was Princess of Liechtenstein from 1943 to 1989 as the wife of Franz Joseph II Prince of Liechtenstein She was the mother of Hans Adam II Prince of Liechtenstein 1 2 and was widely known as Gina 3 GinaDuchess of Troppau and JagerndorfCountess of RietbergPrincess Gina in August 1988Princess consort of LiechtensteinTenure7 March 1943 18 October 1989BornCountess Georgina Norberta Jane Marie Antonie Raphaela von Wilczek 1921 10 24 24 October 1921Graz Styria AustriaDied18 October 1989 1989 10 18 aged 67 Grabs St Gallen SwitzerlandBurialCathedral of St Florin Vaduz LiechtensteinSpouseFranz Joseph II Prince of Liechtenstein m 1943 wbr IssueHans Adam II Prince of Liechtenstein Prince Philipp Prince Nikolaus Princess Nora Dowager Marchioness of Marino Prince Franz JosefFatherCount Ferdinand von WilczekMotherCountess Norbertine Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau Contents 1 Early life 2 Princess of Liechtenstein 3 Marriage and family 4 Titles styles and honours 4 1 Titles and styles 4 2 Honours 4 2 1 National honours 4 2 2 Foreign honours 5 Ancestry 6 References 7 External linksEarly life editPrincess 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 Sacre 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 edit nbsp 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 fur 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 fur Heilpadagogische Hilfe from 1967 83 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 fur 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 Furst Franz und Furstin Gina Pfadfinder was founded in honour of Prince Franz Josef II and Princess Gina 10 Marriage and family editGeorgina 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 nbsp Princess Gina with her family in 1955 The couple had five children 11 Hans Adam II Prince of Liechtenstein born 1945 Married Countess Marie Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau and has issue Prince Philipp of Liechtenstein born 1946 Married Isabelle de l Arbre de Malander b 1949 and has issue Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein born 1947 Married Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg b 1957 daughter of Grand Duke Jean and has issue Princess Norberta of Liechtenstein born 1950 popularly known as Princess Nora Married Vicente Sartorius y Cabeza de Vaca 3rd Marquis of Marino and has issue Prince Franz Josef of Liechtenstein Zurich 19 November 1962 Vaduz 28 February 1991 popularly known as Prince Wenzel Two of her descendants were named after her her great granddaughters Princess Gina Gina 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 editTitles and styles edit 24 October 1921 7 March 1943 Countess Georgina von Wilczek 7 March 1943 18 October 1989 Her Serene Highness The Princess of Liechtenstein Honours edit National honours edit This section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed November 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message nbsp Liechtenstein Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein Grand Star nbsp Liechtenstein Recipient of the 50th Birthday Medal of Prince Franz Joseph II nbsp Liechtenstein Recipient of the 70th Birthday Medal of Prince Franz Joseph II Foreign honours edit nbsp Austrian Imperial and Royal Family Dame of the Order of the Starry Cross 1st Class nbsp Greek Royal Family Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Saints Olga and Sophia nbsp Greek Royal Family Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Beneficence nbsp Holy See Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre 13 nbsp Holy See Recipient of the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice nbsp Iranian Imperial Family Recipient of the Commemorative Medal of the 2 500 year Celebration of the Persian Empire 14 Ancestry editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed November 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message Ancestors of Princess Gina of Liechtenstein8 Count Johann Nepomuk von Wilczek4 Count Johann Nepomuk von Wilczek9 Countess Emma Maria Emo Capodilista2 Count Ferdinand Maria von Wilczek10 Ferdinand Bonaventura 7th Prince Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau5 Countess Elisabeth Wilhelmine Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau11 Princess Maria Josepha of Liechtenstein1 Countess Georgina von Wilczek12 Count Johann Baptist Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau6 Count Oktavian Zdenko Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau13 Iphigenia Terezia Dadanyi de Gyulvesz3 Countess Norbertine Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau14 Count Gyorgy Laszlo Festetics de Tolna7 Countess Georgine Ernestine Festetics de Tolna15 Countess Eugenia Barbara Erdody de Monyorokerek et MonoszloReferences edit Dotson Samuel C Genealogie des Furstlichen Hauses Liechtenstein seit Hartmann II 1544 1585 Rosvall Royal Books Falkoping Sweden p 68 Willis Daniel The Descendants of Louis XIII Clearfield Co Inc Baltimore Maryland 1999 ISBN 0 8063 4942 5 p 510 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 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 a b c d e Wanger Harald 31 December 2011 Liechtenstein Georgine Gina von Historisches Lexikon des Furstentums Liechtenstein in German Retrieved 3 July 2022 Batliner Joachim 31 December 2011 Liechtensteinisches Rotes Kreuz LRK Historisches Lexikon des Furstentums Liechtenstein in German Retrieved 9 January 2024 Princess Gina Liechtenstein Princess The Washington Post 19 October 1989 Princess Gina The New York Times Vaduz Liechtenstein 18 October 1989 Liechtenstein s Prince Franz Josef II 83 Los Angeles Times 15 November 1989 Retrieved 17 May 2023 Abteilungen pfadi li Archived from the original on 3 July 2022 Prince Franz Josef II 1938 1989 Liechtenstein Princely House Official Website Archived from the original on 3 July 2022 Retrieved 1 July 2020 Sekretariat SD des Fursten von Liechtenstein Imhof Henriette Erste feierliche Investitur der Schweiz www oessh ch Archived from the original on 18 February 2016 Retrieved 4 May 2013 Iran Collection Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 2 April 2016 External links editGina s biography on the Princely House s website Princess Gina of LiechtensteinWilczek FamilyBorn 24 October 1921 Died 18 October 1989 Liechtensteiner royalty Preceded byElisabeth von Gutmann Princess consort of Liechtenstein1943 1989 Succeeded byCountess Marie Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Princess Gina of Liechtenstein amp oldid 1223747198, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
