Vienna – February 2021. The Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George notes with much sadness the passing on 15 February 2021, aged 92, of Her Highness Duchess Eleonore of Hohenberg.
Duchess Eleonore was first invested as a Dame of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George by decree of HRH Prince Ferdinand of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro in April 1985. Her Highness was later promoted to the rank of Dame Grand Cross of Justice within the British and Irish delegation by decree of HRH Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro, at a private ceremony held Vienna in October 2011. The Duchess was also a Dame of the Order of Starry Cross (Imperial House of Habsburg-Lorraine).
Duchess Eleonore was born a princess von Auersperg-Breunner on 12 September 1928 in Goldegg, Austria, daughter of Prince Karl Auersperg-Breunner and Princess Henriette Auersperg-Breunner née Countess Meran. Given the often unstable political situation in Central Europe Her Highness spent her childhood and adolescence in several countries including Austria, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Switzerland and Argentina.
In the early 1950´s Duchess Eleonore returned to Austria and on 8 September 1960 married Prince Georg von Hohenberg at a ceremony held at Schloss Wald. In 1977 Prince Georg succeeded to the dukedom following the passing of his brother Duke Franz and became Head of the Ducal House of Hohenberg and as senior agnate of the Imperial and Royal House of Habsburg-Lorraine.
Duchess Eleonore supported Duke Georg throughout his professional life spent as a respected public servant and diplomat. After serving his country in Vienna he took up postings in the Austrian embassies in France and Argentina. In 1978 Duke Georg was appointed by the Federal President of Austria as Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to several states including the Tunisian Republic (1978-1984) and finally to the Holy See/Vatican, the Republic of San Marino and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (1988-1994).
After his retirement, the Duchess and her husband lived in Vienna. The Duke passed away in July 2019 and the Duchess is survived by two sons, one daughter and seven grandchildren.
The Hohenberg Family maintain longstanding familial ties with the Bourbon Two Sicilies dynasty and the Constantinian Order. They are all direct descendants of the assassinated Austro-Hungarian heir presumptive Archduke Franz Ferdinand whose mother was Princess Maria Annunziata of Bourbon Two Sicilies, daughter of King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies.
The Delegation extends its sincere condolences to HH Duke Nikolaus, HSH Princess Henriette, HSH Prince Maximilian and all other members of the Hohenberg family at this time. A private Requiem Mass will take place shortly in Austria observing the current Covid-19 restrictions. A memorial service will follow in due course.
Duchess Eleonore will be remembered in prayer at the next delegation mass for deceased members.
Requiescat in pace. Ruhe in Frieden. Rest in peace. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam. Riposare in pace.