Albert, 12th Prince of Thurn and Taxis

Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel, 12th Prince of Thurn and Taxis (or, legally, Albert Prinz von Thurn und Taxis; born 24 June 1983 in Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany) is a German prince and socialite. He has been listed as the world's youngest billionaire many times since his father's death in 1990. He first appeared on the list when he was age eight. His mother, Princess Gloria (née Countess of Schönburg in Glauchau and Waldenburg), was a popular media figure in the 1980s, and was instrumental in preserving his fortune until he was old enough to officially inherit it. He has two older sisters: Princess Maria Theresia and Princess Elisabeth.

Biography

Education

Prince Albert completed his high school education in Rome and then, after his military service, he went to the University of Edinburgh where he studied economics and theology. He is an enthusiastic racing driver, vice-champion of the 2007 German GT Championship ADAC GT Masters with the German Team Reiter Engineering.

Family

The Princely House of Thurn und Taxis is a German family whose fortune derives from its chief's position as hereditary postmaster general of the Holy Roman Empire. Because of this, the family was a key player in European postal services in the sixteenth century. The family of Thurn und Taxis remains well known as owners of breweries and builders of numerous castles.

Media attention

In 2008 he was included as 11th on the list of the "20 Hottest Young Royals" as compiled by Forbes magazine.^[1]

Titles, styles, honours and arms

As royal titles are not recognized by the German law since they were declared void in 1919, the family has included the title as an integral part of their name in the form of Prinz von Thurn und Taxis. Because of this the legal name of Albert is Albert Prinz von Thurn und Taxis, although he himself as the head of the family would be called Albert Fürst von Thurn und Taxis if his titles were legally recognized by the German state.

Titles and styles

• 24 June 1983 – 14 December 1990: His Serene Highness The Hereditary Prince of Thurn and Taxis
• 14 December 1990 – present: His Serene Highness The Prince of Thurn and Taxis

Honours

• Grand Master of the Order of Parfaite Amitié

Ancestry

Through king Miguel I of Portugal, he is related to all the reigning hereditary head of states in Europe, including the defunct houses of Europe, such as France, Austria, Portugal, as well as current reigning houses, such as UK through Maria Josepha of Austria and Eleanor of England, Queen of Castile, and he is also descended from the house of Scotland, Denmark, Parma, Savoy, Bavaria, and Oldenburg.

References

External links

• Thurn and Taxis Family Homepage
• Richest Germans: Silver Spoon Baby^
• Homepage of Albert of Thurn und Taxis