Gotha: Civil Wedding of HH Princess Stephanie of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Hr. Jan Stahl

Today, 5 July 2018, the eldest child of TH Prince Andreas and Princess Carin of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha married civilly in the Throne room of Gotha's Schloß Friedenstein.

Princess Stephanie and Hr. Jan Stahl.

©Eurohistory

Born in Hamburg in January 1972, Stephanie was raised in Coburg, from where her father diligently worked to rebuild the family's once vast legacy, which had been decimated by heavy losses caused by the aftermath of the Second World War, as well as lackluster management. Prince Andreas led a monumental effort to rebuild, expand, and hand over to his eldest son a legacy that today closely mirrors that which his grandfather Duke Carl Eduard had once inherited.

Stephanie attended schools in Coburg, and then was enrolled at the State Professional School for Home Economics for several years. In 1992, she began a three-year apprenticeship to further her business administration training. Once this was completed, she went to work for the Coburg Family Foundation.

From the left: Prince Andreas, Hereditary Princess Kelly, Hereditary Prince Hubertus, Princess Carin, Princess Stephanie, Hr. Jan Stahl, and Prince Alexander. ©Eurohistory

Stephanie, who for many years worked alongside her father, now dedicates her time to causes of interest to her, among them the equine world. She is a fantastic rider and loves spending time with her horse. Stephanie acquired her first horse in 1983. She is also very fond of her canine companion. She has always had a keen interest in the well-being of her animals and uses a technique called "Bowtech," a gentle, non-intrusive hands-on therapy that stimulates the muscles in the body to aid in healing. She has been certified  in this therapeutic practice since 2013. More can be found at her website: http://www.stephanie-coburg.de

She met Jan Stahl at a gathering of friends in common several years ago.

Schloß Friedenstein.

Schloß Friedenstein was the seat of the Dukes of Sase-Gotha-Altenburg until their extinction in the mid-1820s. Upon the male line's disappearance, the remaining Ernestine Duchies reshuffled their territories. Coburg being the duchy last allied matrimonially to Gotha, Duke Ernst I received the bulk of Gotha as his two sons were the only legitimate grandchildren of the next-to-las Duke of Sase-Gotha-Altenburg. Ernst I had married Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1800-1831), only daughter of Duke August (1772-1822) and his first wife Duchess Louise Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Duke August was known as a talented artist and art collector, while holding an aversion for hunting or riding. He is rumored to have been gay. A well-known visitor to the ducal court recalled that he was "one of the greatest originals of his time" ... "his appearance had an air of lady-like, and he also preferred dancing, wearing silk socks and feminine clothes." Among his friends, Duke August liked to be called "Emilie," and many of his literary writings have references to homosexuality. He also happened to be a close friend of Emperor Napoleon, who always referred to August as "mon cousin."

Duchess Louise Charlotte died as a consequence of giving birth to the couple's only child. This was a common occurrence in those unsanitary times. The following year, August remarried to Princess Karoline Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (1771-1848), but the marriage was most unhappy. Unsurprisingly, the ducal couple had no children. They became estranged, because "their mutual points of view about life are completely different."

Duke August died in 1822 run unclear circumstances. He was succeeded by his unmarried brother Duke Friedrich IV (1774-1825). The ensuing division of the Saxon duchies gave Gotha to Coburg, which ceded Saalfeld to Meiningen. Altenburg went to Hiuldburghausen. Gotha and Coburg were not unified, but were ruled in personal union by the same duke. Hence, three new duchies came out of the reshuffling: Saxe-Meiningen, Saxe-Altenburg, and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Sadly, Saxe-Altenburg became extinct in 1991 with the death Hereditary Prince Georg Moritz (1900-1991). Saxe-Meiningen is facing dynastic extinction as the current Head of House, Prince Konrad, is unmarried and he refuses to extend recognition of equality to his nephew Prince Constantin (son of Konrad's half-brother the late Prince Friedrich [whose parents were married morganatically] and of his widow Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a half-sister of Prince Andreas). Madness...

In a sad note for the Ernestine Wettins, Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach will most likely also become extinct in the male since the the recent death of Prince Constantin, left his cousin Prince Michael without a male heir.

During her long widowhood, Duchess Karoline Amalie remained in Gotha, where she died in 1848.

The wedding calèche. ©Eurohistory

Let us return, hence, to happier times. Following are the particulars of today's events in Gotha:

1. 1200-1245 – Civil ceremony at Schloß Friedenstein, followed by a toast in the "antechamber of the Duchess."

2. 1245-1315 – A small parade in historical uniforms will pass review by the wedding couple.

3. 1315-1400 – The wedding couple will ride a carriage through the schloßpark and some Gotha streets. Planting of a commemorative tree.

4. 1400-1530 – Lunch to celebrate the wedding couple.

5. 1530-1630 – Press conference at the Ducal Museum, Gotha.

6. 1830-2200 – Dinner at the Pagenhaus.

A religious ceremony is scheduled to be celebrated in Coburg for a later date

Congratulations to Stephanie and Jan...much happiness!

Princess Stephanie and Hr. Jan Stahl.

©Marianne van Dam for Eurohistory

https://www.np-coburg.de/region/oberfranken/laenderspiegel/Stephanie-Prinzessin-von-Sachsen-Coburg-und-Gotha-hat-sich-getraut;art2388,6213234