| Sophie Habsburg | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1959-01-19)19 January 1959 (age 66) Boulogne-sur-Seine,Paris, France |
| Spouse | |
| House | House of Habsburg-Lorraine (by birth) Windisch-Graetz (by marriage) |
| Father | Archduke Ferdinand Karl of Austria |
| Mother | Countess Helene zu Törring-Jettenbach |
| Occupation | Model, journalist, handbag designer |
Sophie Franziska Maria Germaine Habsburg also known asArchduchess Sophie of Austria[1][2][3][4][5] (born on 19 January 1959) is a French-born Italian designer,German aristocrat and former model.
Sophie Habsburg was born inParis on 19 January 1959, the daughter ofArchduke Ferdinand Karl Max of Austria andCountess Helene of Törring-Jettenbach. She descends from theHouse of Habsburg-Lorraine, which reigned overAustria-Hungary until its deposition in 1918. While studyinginterior design in her hometown, she worked as a model.[6]
At the age of 20, Habsburg moved toMadrid and had a successful career in modelling. She appeared inDe Beers andValentino commercials, as well as on the cover of the first issue ofVogue Spain. At the same time she also designed jewellery and worked as decorator, radio host and journalist, interviewing royals and actors. She became friends withRichard Gere after an interview and raised funds with him for the charitySOS Children's Villages.[6]
In 2010, Habsburg started designing handbags, known to some as Habsbags. Habsbags are often worn by members of theSpanish andBritish royal families.[6]
Through her maternal grandmother,Princess Elizabeth of Greece and Denmark, Sophie is a first cousin once removed of:Prince Edward, Duke of Kent,Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy,Prince Michael of Kent andPrincess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia. Habsburg is a second cousin once removed ofQueen Sofía of Spain andKing Charles III, making Sophie a third cousin ofFelipe VI of Spain andWilliam, Prince of Wales. She is also a third cousin once removed ofMargrethe II of Denmark andHarald V of Norway; and a fourth cousin toGrand Duke Henri of Luxembourg andKing Philippe of Belgium.
On 11 February 1990 inSalzburg, Sophie Habsburg married PrinceMariano Hugo of Windisch-Graetz, member of theHouse of Windisch-Graetz. They had three children, one of whom, Prince Alexis Ferdinand, died in a car accident in 2010.[6]
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