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| Prince Carlos | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke of Parma and Piacenza Duke of Madrid | |||||
 Prince Carlos in 2024 | |||||
| Head of the House of Bourbon-Parma | |||||
| Tenure | 18 August 2010 – present | ||||
| Predecessor | Prince Carlos Hugo | ||||
| Heir Apparent | Prince Carlos Enrique | ||||
| Born | (1970-01-27)27 January 1970 (age 55) Nijmegen, Netherlands | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue | Prince Hugo de Bourbon de Parme(illegitimate) Princess Luisa, Marchioness of Castell'Arquato Princess Cecilia, Countess of Berceto Prince Carlos Enrique, Prince of Piacenza | ||||
| |||||
| House | Bourbon-Parma | ||||
| Father | Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma | ||||
| Mother | Princess Irene of the Netherlands | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||
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Extended royal family Descendants ofPrince Felix and also members of theGrand Ducal Family of Luxembourg (see there):
Descendants ofPrince René:
Princess Marina
Descendants of Prince Louis:
Prince Rémy
Princess Chantal Prince Jean
|
| Dutch royal family |
 |
Extended family Princess Irene
Princess Margriet*
|
| * Member of theDutch royal house |
Prince Carlos, Duke of Parma and Piacenza (Carlos Xavier Bernardo Sixto Marie; born 27 January 1970) is the current Head of theHouse of Bourbon-Parma, which ruled theDuchy of Parma and Piacenza from 1748 to 1802 and from 1847 to 1859. He assumed the role upon the death of his father in 2010.[1]
The eldest son ofCarlos Hugo, Duke of Parma andPrincess Irene of the Netherlands, Carlos is also a member of theDutch royal family and the Dutch nobility with the style of "His Royal Highness" and the title ofPrince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme.[2] Additionally, he is theCarlist pretender to the Spanish throne with the titleDuke of Madrid.[3] In theFrench nobility, he bears the title "Prince de Borbon", and is the grand master of theParmesan Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, the Order of Saint Louis for Civil Merit, theOrder of Prohibited Legitimacy and the Order of St. George for Military Merit.
PrinceCarlos Xavier Bernardo Sixto Marie of Bourbon-Parma was born inNijmegen,The Netherlands on 27 January 1970 as the elder child and son ofCarlos Hugo, Duke of Parma, and his wifePrincess Irene of the Netherlands.[4] He was baptized in the Catholic faith on 10 February 1970 by CardinalJoseph-Charles Lefebvre.
He has two younger sisters,Princess Margarita andPrincess Carolina, and a younger brother,Prince Jaime. At the time of his birth, his parents, Carlist Pretender to the Spanish throne, were expelled from Spain by theFranco regime since 20 December 1968, asFranco already did with his grandfatherPrince Xavier of Bourbon-Parma and some members of his family on 25 November 1937.
Carlos spent his youth in several countries including the Netherlands, Spain,France,England, and theUnited States.[5] In 1981, when he was eleven, his parents divorced. Together with his mother and his siblings, he then moved toSoestdijk Palace (Baarn) in the Netherlands. He lived at the palace for a number of years with his maternal grandparents,Queen Juliana of the Netherlands andPrince Bernhard.
Prince Carlos studiedpolitical science atWesleyan University inConnecticut anddemography and philosophy atCambridge University inEngland; in 1995, he obtained a Postgraduate Degree (MPhil) in Demography at the Cambridge University.[6] He is fluent in Spanish, Dutch, French, Italian and English.
After completing his studies, Carlos worked for the companyABN AMRO in Amsterdam, where he was involved with preparations for theintroduction of the euro. He then worked for a period inBrussels as apublic affairs consultant for the company European Public Policy Advisors (EPPA).
He has chaired the Foundation for Cooperation for the Economic Development of Latin America, was a member for eight years of the Council of CSR Netherlands, which ensures corporate social responsibility.[7] He was a non-executive director of "ASN Vermogensbeheer" and a member of the advisory board of PGGM Responsible Investing. He belongs to the Investment Committee of the Energiiq Fund of South Holland, is president of the Short Supply Chains Advisory Panel of the Dutch agricultural sector, and a collaborator of the think-tank The Ex'tax Project.
Since 2007, he has been engaged in projects concerning sustainability in the business world, advising projects worldwide focused on the circular economy, with alternative and environmentally friendly production methods and on the energy transition towards clean energies. He is also director of "Compazz", an independent foundation whose objective is to promote innovation and sustainability in the economic sector, acting as a bridge between the public, academic and private sectors, supported by its knowledge in Communication and management of conflict situations.
In 2021 he has published a book,Nothing in excess. Re-evaluating Nature, Economy and Life post Corona.[8]
Carlos is sometimes present at representative occasions concerning the Royal House of the Netherlands. In 2003, he was involved, together with his aunt,Queen Beatrix, in the inauguration of the "Prince Claus Leerstoel", a professorship named after the Queen's husband,Prince Claus. During special events of the Royal House, he is regularly present. For example, he was one of the organizers of the wedding celebration ofPrince Constantijn andPrincess Laurentien.
In April 2013, Prince Carlos attended theinauguration of his cousin King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima inAmsterdam.[9] In August 2019 he and his wife attended the funeral of his auntPrincess Christina of the Netherlands, sister of former Queen Beatrix, nearNoordeinde Palace,The Hague.[10]
After the death of his father Carlos Hugo in 2010, Prince Carlos Xavier succeeded him asDuke of Madrid andCarlist Pretender to theSpanish throne. He started to use the Carlist title of "Rey Don Carlos Javier I" (King Don Carlos Xavier I).[11] However, Carlos Xavier, in an interview with the newspaperLa Vanguardia, said:
I don't set out dynastic lawsuits.[12]
— Barcelona, October 11th, 2010
Prince Carlos becameDuke of Parma and Piacenza and Head of theHouse of Bourbon-Parma after the death of his father on 18 August 2010, aged 80.[13]
In 2016, at the baptism of Prince Carlos Enrique, Prince Carlos conferred on his son the title of "Principe diPiacenza" (Prince of Piacenza), which is the traditional title assigned to the Crown Prince of the House of Bourbon-Parma, the continuer of the dynasty, and future Duke of Parma and Piacenza.[14] In September 2017, the Duke of Parma named his daughter Princess Luisa as "Marchesa diCastell'Arquato" (Marquise of Castell'Arquato), and her younger sister Princess Cecilia was named as "Contessa diBerceto" (Countess of Berceto).[15]
Prince Carlos has visited and regularly visits the lands of the former Duchy of Parma and Piacenza. In September 2015, he was in Parma to grant the "Prince's Medal to Meritorious Men in silver" to the firefighters who distinguished themselves during the 2015 flood that struck the area.[16] In September 2016, he visited Palazzo Farnese in Piacenza, and in the same place he conferred some orders of the Royal House on people from Piacenza who have distinguished themselves for personal merits.[17] At the end of September 2017, he presided over the General Chapter of the Knights of the House of Bourbon-Parma inParma to confer the Ducal orders to those people who have achieved personal merits towards the Royal House; then he visitedPalazzo della Pilotta.[18] In September 2018, he visitedParma to confer some honors of the Royal House and to visit theChurch of Santa Maria della Steccata, together with the Royal Family.[19] Also, he was present at the inauguration of the opera season by attending a representation of the opera "Macbeth" at theTeatro Regio in Parma and made a visit to the Military Academy ofModena, received by the Commander.[20]
As Duke of Parma, Prince Carlos is committed to preserving the memory of the lands and members and relatives of the dynasty: in July 2011 he was inVienna to attend the funeral ofArchduke Otto, the last Crown Prince ofAustria-Hungary (son ofPrincess Zita of Bourbon-Parma, sister to Carlos' grandfather Prince Xavier) at theSt. Stephen's Cathedral.[21] In August 2016, Prince Carlos was inRomania to attend the funeral ofQueen Anne (née Princess of Bourbon-Parma as a daughter ofPrince René, brother of Carlos' grandfather) inCurtea de Argeș. At the funeral, Carlos represented also theDutch Royal Family who was unable to attend.[22] In June 2018 he traveled toPrague to remember his ancestorMaria Amalia, Duchess of Parma, and to take part in the presentation of the book "Maria Amalia Duchess of Parma and Piacenza (1746–1804)" dedicated to the life of his ancestor, and later visited theCathedral of San Vito in Prague to lay flowers on the tomb of Duchess Maria Amalia.[23] In May–June 2019, he visitedVenice with his wife Annemarie at the invitation of theSovereign Military Order of Malta: they were received at a dinner at Treves de Bonfili Palace, overlooking theGrand Canal;[24] they also visitedSt Mark's Basilica and were received by thePatriarch of Venice,Francesco Moraglia.[25][26]
Prince Carlos had a relationship with Brigitte Klynstra (born 10 January 1959), the stepdaughter of Count AdolphRoderik ofRechteren-Limpurg. During this relationship he fathered a son:
In December 2015, the then 18-year-old Carlos Klynstra started the legal procedure to attempt to change his surname to that of his biological father[27] which would also allow him to use the title of "Prince". The Duke of Parma opposed this on the basis that it was in contravention of the traditions of the House of Bourbon-Parma. On 9 March 2016 the Minister of Security and Justice declared his family name request valid.[28] Later that year a court in The Hague concurred with the minister in declaring the claim valid under Dutch law.[29]
According to the judgement, Carlos Hugo will be entitled to be known as "Zijne Koninklijke Hoogheid Carlos Hugo Roderik Sybren prins de Bourbon de Parme" (His Royal Highness Prince Carlos Hugo Roderik Sybren of Bourbon-Parma); this will come only into effect once the Dutch king has signed theroyal decree. According to the press release of the Council of State of 28 February 2018, the name change does not mean that Klynstra is now also a member of the Royal House of Bourbon-Parma. That is a private matter of the House itself and this is outside the jurisdiction of theDutch Nobility Law.[30]
On 7 October 2009, it was announced through his mother's private secretary that Prince Carlos would marryAnnemarie Cecilia Gualthérie van Weezel. Thecivil marriage took place on 12 June 2010 atWijk bij Duurstede. The church wedding was to have taken place at theLa Cambre Abbey inIxelles on 28 August, but it was postponed owing to his father's illness. Prince Carlos Hugo died shortly afterwards.[citation needed]
Annemarie (bornThe Hague, 18 December 1977) is a daughter ofJohan (Hans) Stephan Leonard Gualthérie van Weezel and Gerarda Gezine Jolande (Ank) de Visser. Her father was a member of theHouse of Representatives of the Netherlands for theChristian Democratic party, the Dutch ambassador to theCouncil of Europe in Strasbourg, and the ambassador to Luxembourg. Gualthérie van Weezel's paternal grandfather was Jan Hans Gualthérie van Weezel, who was the head of the police in The Hague and member of the Dutch resistance during the Second World War. Annemarie Gualthérie van Weezel went to secondary school inStrasbourg and obtained aMaster of Laws degree at theUniversity of Utrecht. Subsequently, she completed a post-graduate study in Radio and Television journalism at the University of Groningen. Gualthérie van Weezel works as a parliamentary journalist in The Hague and Brussels for the Dutch public channelNOS. In Brussels, she met Prince Carlos for the first time.
On 2 August 2010, it was revealed that the health of his father, the Duke of Parma, was quickly deteriorating due to cancer. As a consequence, the church wedding of the prince Carlos and his fiancée was delayed. In a final announcement about his condition, the Duke confirmed Carlos as the next Head of theHouse of Bourbon-Parma.[31] Just before his death the old Duke of Parma named Annemarie as "Condesa de Molina" (Countess of Molina).[32] Prince Carlos's father died on 18 August 2010 inBarcelona, Spain, at the age of 80; Carlos subsequently became the next head of the House of Bourbon-Parma.
The new Duke of Parma and Annemarie were married on 20 November 2010 inLa Cambre Abbey inBruxelles.[33][34] The wedding was attended byMáxima, Princess of Orange,Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange,Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands,Prince Jean of Luxembourg,Princess Astrid of Belgium,Prince Lorenz of Belgium andDuarte Pio, Duke of Braganza.Together, they have two daughters and a son:[citation needed]
| Styles of Carlos, Duke of Parma | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reference style | His Royal Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Royal Highness |
As Head of the House of Bourbon-Parma, Carlos is Grand Master of four dynastic orders:[48]
Duchy of Parma and Piacenza:
Grand Master of theParmese Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George (Sacro Angelico Imperiale Ordine Costantiniano di San Giorgio)_ribbon.svg)
Grand Master of theOrder of Saint Louis for Civil Merit (Real Ordine del Merito sotto il titolo di San Lodovico)
Grand Master of theOrder of Saint George for Military Merit (Ordine al merito militare di San Giorgio)[49]
Grand Master of theOrder of Prohibited Legitimacy (Orden de la Legitimidad Proscrita)[50]
Netherlands:
Recipient of theKing Willem-Alexander Investiture Medal
Recipient of the Wedding Medal 2002 (The Prince of Orange and Miss Máxima Zorreguieta)
San Marino:
Grand Cross of theOrder of San Marino
Sovereign Military Order of Malta:
Prince Carlos, Duke of Parma Cadet branch of theHouse of Bourbon Born: 27 January 1970 | ||
| Titles in pretence | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | — TITULAR — Duke of Parma 2010 – present Reason for succession failure: Annexed byKingdom of Italy | Incumbent Heir: Hereditary Prince Carlos |
| — TITULAR — King of Spain Carlist claimant 2010–present | ||
| Lines of succession | ||
| Preceded by Prince Alessandro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies | Legitimist line of succession to the French throne 29th position | Succeeded by Hereditary Prince Carlos |
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| Senior Carlists |
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| Bourbon-Parma claimants |
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| Bourbon claimants |
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| Alternative Bourbon claimant |
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| Habsburg claimants |
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