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| Archduke Maximilian and Archduchess Franziska of Austria Photograph © Alamy/Daniel Seidel |
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| Archduke Maximilan of Austria and Princess Franziska zu Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst |
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| Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and fiancée Countess Helen zu Törring-Jettenbach (4 April 1956) Photograph © Keystone Press Agency/Keystone USA via ZUMAPRESS.com |
On 10 April 1956 in a religious ceremony at Schloß Seefeld, Archduke Ferdinand married Countess Helene (Helen) Marina Elisabeth zu Törring-Jettenbach (b.1937), the only daughter of Count Carl Theodor zu Törring-Jettenbach (1900-1967) and Princess Elisabeth of Greece and Denmark (1904-1955), who wed in 1934. Helen was a paternal granddaughter of Count Hans Veit zu Törring-Jettenbach (1862-1929) and Duchess Sophie in Bavaria (1875-1957); she was a maternal granddaughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark (1872-1938) and Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia (1882-1957). Helen's aunts were Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, and Princess Olga of Yugoslavia. Thirty-seven year-old Ferdinand, a businessman, had announced his engagement to eighteen year-old Helen in January 1956.
During the course of their marriage, Archduke Ferdinand and Archduchess Helen had three children: Archduchess Elisabeth (1957-1983), Archduchess Sophie (b.1959), and Archduke Maximilian (b.1961).
During the course of their marriage, Archduke Ferdinand and Archduchess Helen had three children: Archduchess Elisabeth (1957-1983), Archduchess Sophie (b.1959), and Archduke Maximilian (b.1961).
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| Archduchess Helen of Austria with her eldest child Archduchess Elisabeth Photograph © Eurohistory Royal Archive |
Archduchess Elisabeth of Austria, Ferdinand and Helen's eldest child, married James Litchfield (b.1956), an Australian citizen, in October 1982 at Salzburg. Tragically, Elisabeth died from a brutally quick health issue in May 1983 in Australia. Archduchess Elisabeth was just twenty-six years-old. Her husband, James, was left a widower after barely six months of marriage.
Archduchess Sophie of Austria, Ferdinand and Helen's second child, married Fürst Mariano-Hugo zu Windisch-Grätz (b.1955) in January 1990 at Salzburg. Sophie and her husband have three children: Hereditary Prince Maximilian (b.1990), Prince Alexis (1991-2010), and Princess Larissa (b.1996). Archduchess Sophie was a muse of Valentino. Sophie designs and produces unique lines of clutches, purses, and other fashionable accessories for women.
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| Archduke Maximilian and Archduchess Maya on their wedding day (2005) |
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| Archduke Maximilian and Archduchess Maya are greeted by Archduke Otto and Archduchess Regina (2005) |
Archduke Maximilian of Austria, Ferdinand and Helen's third child and only son, married Sara Maya Al-Askari (b.1977) in 2005. Archduke Maximilian and Archduchess Sara have three children: Archduke Nikolaus (b.2005), Archduke Constantin (b.2007), and Archduchess Katharina (b.2010).
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| Archduke Ferdinand and Archduchess Helen of Austria Photograph © Eurohistory Royal Archive |
On 6 August 2004, Archduke Ferdinand of Austria died at Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, at the age of eighty-five. The archduke was buried at Winhöring, Bavaria. He was survived by his wife of forty-eight years, Archduchess Helen, as well as by his younger two children, Archduchess Sophie and Archduke Maximilian, in addition to their families.
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