On January 6, 1925, Princess Regina of Saxe-Meiningen was born in Würzburg. By this time, the tradition of politically arranged marriages among European aristocratic families had vastly diminished. Since its foundation in 1680, the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen expanded its initially small territory through a series of strategically arranged weddings.

Nevertheless, there were also notable instances of love-based marriages, often involving partners from the bourgeoisie. Significant examples of these morganatic unions include Prince Anton Ulrich, who married his maid, Philippine Caesar, as well as Prince George II, the “theatre prince,” who wed actress Ellen Franz, later known as Baroness of Heldburg.

The wedding of Otto, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and Regina of Saxe-Meiningen in 1951 brought together two members of the European aristocracy in a partnership characterised by love and mutual respect, lasting nearly 60 years.

Who, then, was Regina, Princess of Saxe-Meiningen (1925–2010), who spent her formative years at Elisabethenburg and Heldburg Castle and maintained a profound connection to her homeland throughout her life, even during the decades of Germany’s division?

These themes are explored in the exhibition titled “Regina von Habsburg – Princess of Saxe-Meiningen,” organised by the Meiningen Museums and the Otto von Habsburg Foundation, in cooperation with the German Castle Museum in Heldburg, to commemorate the centenary of her birth on January 6, 2025.

This publication is derived from the exhibition material.

Year of publication: 2025

Publisher: Otto von Habsburg Foundation

Place of publication: Budapest

Language: German

Length: 34 pages

Graphic design and layout: Szilveszter Dékány

Contributors to the exhibition: Eszter Fábry, Gabriela Habsburg, Andrea Jakob, Axel Wirth, Gergely Prőhle, Philipp Adlung

Archival photos: Otto von Habsburg Foundation, Stefan Rose Archive, Inge Grohmann Archive, von Wangenheim Archive

Exhibition photos: Sophie Morgenroth, Anna Zimmermann