Countess Mariae Gloria Ferdinanda Joachima Josephine Wilhelmine Huberta of Schönburg-Glauchau was born at Stuttgart-Degerloch on 23 February 1960. She was the second child and second daughter of Count Joachim of Schönburg-Glauchau (1929-1998) and his first wife Countess Beatrix (b.1930; née Széchényi de Sárvár et Felsövidék). Gloria joined an elder sister, Maya (1958-2019), and was followed by two brothers, Carl-Alban (b.1966) and Alexander (b.1969).
Prince Johannes and Princess Gloria of Thurn and Taxis in 1981 |
Needless to say, Prince Johannes and Princess Gloria enjoyed a most unconventional lifestyle for some years.
The alliance of Prince Johannes and Princess Gloria produced three children: Princess Maria Theresia (b.1980), Princess Elisabeth (b.1982), and Prince Albert (b.1983), the long awaited male heir to the Thurn and Taxis fortune. Prince Johannes died on 14 December 1990 after two unsuccessful heart transplants within the space of two days. At this time, their only son Albert succeeded as the 12th Prince of Thurn and Taxis.