Princess Maria of Romania

Romanian Royal Family
HM The King HM The Queen HRH The Crown Princess* HRH Prince Radu* HRH Princess Elena HRH Prince Nicholas* HRH Princess Sophie HRH Princess Maria
* titled according to private family rules

Princess Maria of Romania, former Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen,^[1] (born 13 July 1964, Hellerup, Denmark) is the youngest daughter and fifth child of King Michael I of Romania and his wife Queen Anne. She is currently seventh and last in line to the headship to the House of Romania, behind her elder sisters and their children.^[2] She is an active working member in Romania of the Romanian Royal Family. She is also second cousin to King Felipe VI of Spain, ex-King Simeon II of Bulgaria, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, Archduke Karl of Austria, Carlos, Duke of Parma, Crown Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia and Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece.

Early life, education and careers

Maria was born in exile on July 13, 1964 in Copenhagen, Denmark as the youngest of five daughters of King Michael I and Queen Anne. Maria was while her father was in the United States on business for the New York Stock Exchange. King Michael was informed by telephone that he'd become father for the fifth time. Maria was baptised in the Orthodox faith; her godmother is her eldest sister Crown Princess Margareta.^[3] As a young girl, Maria and her sisters were told "fascinating tales of a homeland they couldn't visit" by their father.^[4]

Her teenage years were spent in Switzerland with her family, where she received her primary and secondary education. Maria later moved to the United States to pursue her studies in childcare.^[5] After completing her studies, Maria worked briefly in the childcare field.

After her brief career in childcare, Maria pursued a career in New York, doing public relations for private companies.^[6] During the Romanian Revolution of 1989, Maria, along with the rest of the Royal Family, worked to help the victims of those affected. In New York, Maria helped console the many U.S relatives of those killed in the uprising.^[7] When the situation in Romania eventually calmed down she left her public relations career and moved to New Mexico where she worked in private consulting until she moved to Romania in 2014.^[8]

Marriage and divorce

On September 16, 1995, Maria married Casmir Mystkowski, a Polish nobleman from the Mystkowski family. The wedding celebration was held in New York and was attended by the Romanian royal family, the parents of Casmir, the newly married ex-Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Greece.^[9] King Michael I served as koumbaros to the couple.^[10] As Casmir was Roman Catholic, Maria lost her place in line for the Romanian Throne.

In 2003 the couple divorced without children.^[11]

Current activities

Maria's first official appearance was on Christmas 1997 when the entire Royal family stepped foot in Romania for the first time after 50 years of exile.^[12] Since then she has returned to Romania from the United States to attend family functions such as the 90th birthday celebrations for King Michael^[13] and Christmas at Săvârșin Castle.^[14][15] Maria's first official engagement for the royal house was for a visit at the Romanian Academy with her third eldest sister Princess Irina.^[16]

In May 2014 it was announced that Maria would be invested as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown,^[17] to commemorate her 50th birthday. On the May 7, 2014 an investiture ceremony was held at the family's official residence, Elisabeta Palace, in honour of Maria where she received the Order from Crown Princess Margareta.^[18] The ceremony was attended by people from civil society, business and academic people and also politicians including the Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta.^[19] Later that week, Maria and the rest of the Royal Family took part in "Royal Day" celebrations, paying respect to the legacy of King Carol I^[20] and receiving the adulation of royalist Romanians.^[21][22]

On January 7, 2015, through a press release from the website of The Royal Family, it was announced that Maria would be moving to Romania and that she would carry out some of the engagements of the Royal House.^[23][24] Since the announcement, Maria regularly carries out engagements, such as launches,^[25][26] official visits^[27][28] and investitures by the Royal House.^[29][30]

On 20 and 21 March 2015, Maria attended the International book fair in Paris along with Romanian authors to promote Romanian books, this was her first official international visit as a working member of the House of Romania.^[31]

On the 21st of April 2015 it was announced by the Romanian cosmetic company Farmec that Maria is an official ambassador of the company, where she will participate in projects to promote products created in the research lab of the company, as well as social responsibility activities undertaken by Farmec.^[32]

Titles, styles, honours and awards

Styles of Princess Maria of Romania
Reference style	Her Royal Highness
Spoken style	Your Royal Highness
Alternative style	Ma'am

Titles

• 13 July 1964 – 30 December 2007: Her Royal Highness Princess Maria of Romania, Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen^[33]
• 30 December 2007 – Present: Her Royal Highness Princess Maria of Romania^[34]

Honours

• House of Romania: Knight Grand Officer of the Order of Carol I^[35]
• House of Romania: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown^[36][37][38]
• House of Romania: Knight of the Decoration of the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, 1st Class^[39][40][41]

Ancestors

References

External links