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Princess Angela of Liechtenstein (née Angela Gisela Brown, 3 February 1958) is a Panamanian fashion designer and the wife of Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein. She was born in Bocas del Toro, Panama, and was the first woman of African descent to marry into a reigning European dynasty. Her marriage to the prince had been authorised by his father, the reigning monarch of Liechtenstein. Together, they have a son, Prince Alfons (b. London, 18 May 2001), who is in the line of succession to the Liechtensteiner throne.
Early life and education
Princess Angela was born in Bocas del Toro, Panama, as Angela Gisela Brown, the daughter of Javier Francisco Brown and Silvia Maritza Burke.
After finishing high school in New York, Angela studied fashion at Parsons School of Design, where she graduated and received the Oscar de la Renta award. She was a stylist for three years and created her own fashion label, named "A. Brown", having set up a company with partners in New York. The princess eventually worked as the Creative Director for the fashion brand, Adrienne Vittadini until September 1999.
Marriage
In 1999, the Principality of Liechtenstein's Information Bureau announced the forthcoming nuptials of the second son of the reigning prince, Hans Adam II, Prince Maximilian, to Angela Gisela Brown. On 29 January 2000, at 11:00 am, she married Prince Maximilian at the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer in New York City. The marriage was groundbreaking, bringing a person of Afro-Panamanian ancestry into one of the few still reigning families in Europe by a marriage which obtained the prior consent and full support of the groom's sovereign and father, who also attended the wedding. While some members of the dynasty were said to be shocked and to consider the interracial marriage "the end of an era", others were said to have expressed support.
Since her marriage, Princess Angela participates, sometimes with her son, in ceremonial events in the Principality.
Prince Maximilian and Princess Angela have one child:
- Prince Alfons Constantin Maria of Liechtenstein (b. London, 18 May 2001).
References and notes
- ^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XVI. "Liechtenstein". C.A. Starke Verlag, 2001, pp. 52-54. ISBN 3-7980-0824-8.
- ^ de Badts de Cugnac, Chantal. Coutant de Saisseval, Guy. Le Petit Gotha. Nouvelle Imprimerie Laballery, Paris 2002, pp. 632-634, 654-655 (French) ISBN 2-9507974-3-1
- ^ Beeche, Arturo (2009). The Gotha: Still a Continental Royal Family, Volume 1. US: Eurohistory. pp. 38, 41, 43 50.14, 244. ISBN 978-0-977-19617-3.