Wikipedia

Prince Carlos, Duke of Parma

Prince Carlos, Duke of Parma and Piacenza[1] (Carlos Xavier Bernardo Sixto Marie; born 27 January 1970), is the current (since 2010) Head of the Royal and Ducal House of Bourbon-Parma, who ruled the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza from 1748 to 1802 and from 1847 to 1859 (which includes the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg). He is a member of the Dutch royal family, and since 1996 he is incorporated into the Dutch nobility (based upon the Dutch Nobility Act of 1994) with the style of "His Royal Highness" and the title of Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme.[2] He is also considered as the legitimate King of Spain and Head of the Carlist Royal Family by the Carlists with the name of "Don Carlos Javier, Rey de las Españas", since 2010, succeeding his father. In Spain, he uses also the title of Duke of Madrid (Duque de Madrid).[3]

Prince Carlos
Duke of Parma and Piacenza
Prince Carlos in Parma in 2017
Head of the House of Bourbon-Parma
Tenure18 August 2010 – present
PredecessorPrince Carlos Hugo
Heir ApparentPrince Carlos Enrique
Born (1970-01-27) 27 January 1970 (age 54)
Nijmegen, Netherlands
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2010)​
IssuePrince Hugo de Bourbon de Parme
(illegitimate)
Princess Luisa, Marchioness of Castell'Arquato
Princess Cecilia, Countess of Berceto
Prince Carlos Enrique, Prince of Piacenza
Names
Dutch: Carlos Xavier Bernardo Sixto Marie de Bourbon de Parme
Spanish: Carlos Javier Bernardo Sixto María de Borbón-Parma y Orange-Nassau
Italian: Carlo Saverio Bernardo Sisto Maria di Borbone-Parma
HouseBourbon-Parma
FatherCarlos Hugo, Duke of Parma
MotherPrincess Irene of the Netherlands
ReligionRoman Catholic

The eldest son of Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma and Princess Irene of the Netherlands, he is also titled as Prince de Bourbon in the French nobility. He is the Grand Master of the Parmesan Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, the Order of Saint Louis for Civil Merit, the Order of Prohibited Legitimacy and the Order of St. George for Military Merit.

Early life

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Prince Carlos with his mother Princess Irene, Duchess of Parma; 1970

Prince Carlos Xavier Bernardo Sixto Marie of Bourbon-Parma was born in Nijmegen, The Netherlands on 27 January 1970 as the elder child and son of Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma, and his wife Princess Irene of the Netherlands.[4] He was baptized in the Catholic faith on 10 February 1970 by Cardinal Joseph-Charles Lefebvre.

He has two younger sisters, Princess Margarita and Princess 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 the Franco regime since 20 December 1968, as Franco already did with his grandfather Prince Xavier of Bourbon-Parma and some members of his family on 25 November 1937.

 
Prince Carlos' baptism in February 1970.

Carlos spent his youth in several countries including the Netherlands, Spain, France, England, and the United States.[5] In 1981, when he was eleven, his parents divorced. Together with his mother and his siblings, he then moved to Soestdijk Palace (Baarn) in the Netherlands. He lived at the palace for a number of years with his maternal grandparents, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard.

Education and career

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Prince Carlos studied political science at Wesleyan University in Connecticut and demography and philosophy at Cambridge University in England; 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 company ABN AMRO in Amsterdam, where he was involved with preparations for the introduction of the euro. He then worked for a period in Brussels as a public 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]

Duties and appearances

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Dutch Royal House

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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 of Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien.

In April 2013, Prince Carlos attended the inauguration of his cousin King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima in Amsterdam.[9] In August 2019 he and his wife attended the funeral of his aunt Princess Christina of the Netherlands, sister of former Queen Beatrix, near Noordeinde Palace, The Hague.[10]

His rights as the Carlist pretender

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After the death of his father Carlos Hugo in 2010, Prince Carlos Xavier succeeded him as Duke of Madrid and Carlist Pretender to the Spanish 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 newspaper La Vanguardia, said:

I don't set out dynastic lawsuits.[12]

— Barcelona, October 11th, 2010

Duke of Parma

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Prince Carlos became Duke of Parma and Piacenza and Head of the House 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 di Piacenza" (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 di Castell'Arquato" (Marquise of Castell'Arquato), and her younger sister Princess Cecilia was named as "Contessa di Berceto" (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 in Parma to confer the Ducal orders to those people who have achieved personal merits towards the Royal House; then he visited Palazzo della Pilotta.[18] In September 2018, he visited Parma to confer some honors of the Royal House and to visit the Church 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 the Teatro Regio in Parma and made a visit to the Military Academy of Modena, 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 in Vienna to attend the funeral of Archduke Otto, the last Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary (son of Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma, sister to Carlos' grandfather Prince Xavier) at the St. Stephen's Cathedral.[21] In August 2016, Prince Carlos was in Romania to attend the funeral of Queen Anne (née Princess of Bourbon-Parma as a daughter of Prince René, brother of Carlos' grandfather) in Curtea de Argeș. At the funeral, Carlos represented also the Dutch Royal Family who was unable to attend.[22] In June 2018 he traveled to Prague to remember his ancestor Maria 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 the Cathedral of San Vito in Prague to lay flowers on the tomb of Duchess Maria Amalia.[23] In May–June 2019, he visited Venice with his wife Annemarie at the invitation of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta: they were received at a dinner at Treves de Bonfili Palace, overlooking the Grand Canal;[24] they also visited St Mark's Basilica and were received by the Patriarch of Venice, Francesco Moraglia.[25][26]

Personal life

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Relationship with Brigitte Klynstra and son

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Prince Carlos had a relationship with Brigitte Klynstra (born 10 January 1959), the stepdaughter of Count Adolph Roderik van Rechteren 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 the royal 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 the Dutch Nobility Law.[30]

Marriage to Annemarie Gualthérie van Weezel

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On 7 October 2009, it was announced through his mother's private secretary that Prince Carlos would marry Annemarie Cecilia Gualthérie van Weezel. The civil marriage took place on 12 June 2010 at Wijk bij Duurstede. The church wedding was to have taken place at the La Cambre Abbey in Ixelles on 28 August, but it was postponed owing to his father's illness. Prince Carlos Hugo died shortly afterwards.[citation needed]

Annemarie (born The Hague, 18 December 1977) is a daughter of Johan (Hans) Stephan Leonard Gualthérie van Weezel and Gerarda Gezine Jolande (Ank) de Visser. Her father was a member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands for the Christian Democratic party, the Dutch ambassador to the Council 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 in Strasbourg and obtained a Master of Laws degree at the University 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 channel NOS. 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 the House 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 in Barcelona, 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 in La Cambre Abbey in Bruxelles.[33][34] The wedding was attended by Máxima, 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 and Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza. Together, they have two daughters and a son:[citation needed]

  • Her Royal Highness Princess Luisa Irene Constance Anna Maria of Bourbon-Parma, Marchioness of Castell'Arquato (born on 9 May 2012 in The Hague);[35][36] she was baptized at the Parma Baptistery, in Italy, in September 2012.[37]
  • Her Royal Highness Princess Cecilia Maria Johanna Beatrix of Bourbon-Parma, Countess of Berceto (born 17 October 2013 in The Hague);[38][39] she was baptized at the Piacenza Cathedral, in Italy, in April 2014.[40][41]
  • His Royal Highness Prince Carlos Enrique Leonard of Bourbon-Parma, Prince of Piacenza (born 24 April 2016 in The Hague);[42][43][44] he was baptised at the Parma Cathedral, in Italy, in September 2016.[45]

Titles, styles and honours

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Styles of
Carlos, Duke of Parma
 
Reference styleHis Royal Highness
Spoken styleYour Royal Highness

Titles and styles

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  • 2 September 1996 – 18 August 2010: His Royal Highness The Prince of Piacenza[46]
  • 18 August 2010 – present: His Royal Highness The Duke of Parma and Piacenza[47]
    • Officially in the Netherlands: 15 May 1996 – present: His Royal Highness Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme

Honours

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Dynastic

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As Head of the House of Bourbon-Parma, Carlos is Grand Master of four dynastic orders:[48]

National

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International

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Ancestry

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "LL.AA.RR. IL DUCA E LA DUCHESSA DI PARMA E PIACENZA". Borboneparma.it (Official Website of the House of Bourbon-Parma) (in Italian).
  2. ^ "LL.AA.RR. IL DUCA E LA DUCHESSA DI PARMA E PIACENZA". Borboneparma.it (Official Website of the House of Bourbon-Parma) (in Italian).
  3. ^ "Breve Biografía de Don Carlos". CarlosdeBorbon.com (official website of Prince Carlos) (in Spanish).
  4. ^ "Don Carlos de Borbon - Sitio Oficial". 5 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Breve biografía de Don Carlos". Carlosdeborbon.com (official website of Prince Carlos) (in Spanish).
  6. ^ "Breve biografía de Don Carlos". Carlosdeborbon.com (official website of Prince Carlos) (in Spanish).
  7. ^ "Don Carlos de Borbon - Sitio Oficial". 5 January 2024.
  8. ^ Eijffinger, Sylvester; van Geest, Paul; De Bourbon de Parme, Carlos (6 January 2024). Tilburg University. Open Press Tilburg University. doi:10.26116/nothing-in-excess-geest-eijffinger-bourbon-openpresstiu-wolf-2021. ISBN 978-94-6240-650-6.
  9. ^ "Prince Carlos and Princess Annemarie de Bourbon de Parme attending the Investiture ceremony of Dutch King Willem-Alexander, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on April 30, 2013". Alamy. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Koninklijke familie in kleurrijke kleding bij uitvaart prinses Christina". Flair.nl (in Dutch). 22 August 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Breve biografía de Don Carlos". Carlosdeborbon.com (official website of Prince Carlos) (in Spanish).
  12. ^ Amela, Víctor-M. (11 October 2010). "Ser príncipe me ayuda a mejorar el bienestar común". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). Barcelona: Conde de Godó. p. 60.
  13. ^ "L'ultimo omaggio al Principe Carlo Ugo" (in Italian). 28 August 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  14. ^ In Duomo il battesimo del Principe Carlo Enrico Archived 8 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine website of the Italian newspaper Gazzetta di Parma
  15. ^ La Duchessa di Parma e Piacenza, e la Figlia, Principessa Luisa Irena, in Visita a Castell'Arquato – Website of the Royal and Ducal House of Bourbon-Parma
  16. ^ "Alluvione, i vigili del fuoco premiati al Farnese: «Sempre pronti a rischiare la vita per gli altri»". ilpiacenza.it (in Italian). 26 September 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Palazzo Farnese reale con principi e duchi: riconoscimenti alle eccellenze piacentine". liberta.it (in Italian). 23 September 2016. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Capitolo Generale dei Cavalieri di casa Borbone Parma". notiziarioaraldico (in Italian). 9 October 2017. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  19. ^ "I Borbone Parma a messa in Steccata: foto". Gazzetta di Parma (in Italian). 29 September 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Visita dei principi Carlo Saverio e Annemarie di Borbone Parma". ilnuovogiornale.it (in Italian). 28 September 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  21. ^ "Prinz Carlos und Prinzessin Annemarie de Bourbon de Parma besuchen die Beerdigung von seine kaiserliche königliche Hoheit Erzherzog Otto von Habsburg". Alamy (in German). 16 July 2011. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Aristocrații Europei vor participa la funeraliile Reginei Ana". Q magazine (in Romanian). 11 August 2016. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  23. ^ "Parma Praga". eleutheria.cz (in Italian). Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Carlos en Annemarie bezoeken Venetië". Vorsten (in Dutch). 31 May 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Carlos en Annemarie ontmoeten patriarch". Vorsten (in Dutch). 2 June 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Perfect moment Venetië te bezoeken". ROYALBLOG.NL (in Dutch). 2 June 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  27. ^ "Buitenechtelijke zoon prins Carlos jr. Wil een Bourbon de Parme worden". 24 December 2015.
  28. ^ "Bezwaarschrift prins Carlos afgewezen". Blauw Bloed (in Dutch). Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  29. ^ "Claim buitenechtelijke zoon Carlos erkend". 24 November 2016.
  30. ^ Press release - website Council of State of the Netherlands
  31. ^ News of the House of Parma (in Spanish) Archived 5 February 2005 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ Interview in the French magazine Point de Vue, edition 13–20 October 2010: Carlos & Annemarie de Bourbon de Parme, Les amoureux de Parme
  33. ^ "Maxima shares Prince Carlos' joy as he weds his princess-bride". Hello Magazine. 24 November 2010.
  34. ^ "Carlos Javier de Borbón se casa con una periodista". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 20 November 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  35. ^ "De eerste dochter van prins Carlos heet Luisa". vernoeming.nl (in Dutch). 10 May 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  36. ^ "Dochter voor prins Carlos en prinses Annemarie". parool.nl (in Dutch). 10 May 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  37. ^ "Annamaria e Carlo di Borbone battezzano la principessina Luisa". Oggi.it (in Italian). 1 October 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  38. ^ "Tweede dochter voor prins Carlos en prinses Annemarie". Blauw Bloed (in Dutch). 18 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  39. ^ "Dochter voor Carlos en Annemarie". nos.nl (in Dutch). 18 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  40. ^ "Battesimo per la principessa Cecilia. A Piacenza la Regina d'Olanda". piacenzasera.it (in Italian). 5 April 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  41. ^ "Prinses Cecilia gedoopt". nos.nl. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  42. ^ "Zoon voor Carlos en Annemarie". Vorsten (in Dutch). 26 April 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  43. ^ "Prinsje geboren in Den Haag, nieuwe kleinzoon voor Prinses Irene". omroepwest.nl (in Dutch). 26 April 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  44. ^ "Zoon voor prins Carlos en prinses Annemarie". nos.nl (in Dutch). 26 April 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  45. ^ "Parma: in Duomo il battesimo di un Borbone". La Repubblica (in Italian). 25 September 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  46. ^ Almanach de Gotha (182nd ed.). Almanach de Gotha. 1998. p. 55. ISBN 0953214206.
  47. ^ LL.AA.RR. Il Duca e la Duchessa di Parma e Piacenza – Website of the Royal and Ducal House of Bourbon-Parma (Italian)
  48. ^ Dynastic Orders - Website of the Royal and Ducal House of Bourbon-Parma
  49. ^ "Ordine al Merito Militare di San Giorgio di Lucca". borboneparma.it. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  50. ^ The Order of the Legitimidad Proscrita - Website of the Royal and Ducal House of Bourbon-Parma
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carlos de Bourbon de Parme.
Prince Carlos, Duke of Parma
Cadet branch of the House of Bourbon
Born: 27 January 1970
Titles in pretence
Preceded by — TITULAR —
Duke of Parma
2010 – present
Reason for succession failure:
Annexed by Kingdom 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
39th position 		Succeeded by
Hereditary Prince Carlos
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