The Family of Prince Claus - The von Amsbergs

[lucien]

Rixa von Amsberg,sister of the beloved late Prince Claus,passed away aged 82 on wednesday january 6th.

R.I.P.

The 6 sisters of Prince Claus never got out in the press much as they didn't like that,wished to remain anonymous if possible.
But they always kept a warm relationship with the Dutch RF and were welcome on all haydays,happy or sad,and were/are
regular visitors to Huis ten Bosch Palace.

 

[Maura724]

Did he only have sisters and no brothers? That's sort of a funny thought to imagine a guy having to grow up in a house surrounded by 6 girls - poor little Claus was probably never allowed more than 30 seconds in the bathroom in the morning. Do you know where he was in the birth order (oldest, youngest)?

 

[lucien]

Did he only have sisters and no brothers? That's sort of a funny thought to imagine a guy having to grow up in a house surrounded by 6 girls - poor little Claus was probably never allowed more than 30 seconds in the bathroom in the morning. Do you know where he was in the birth order (oldest, youngest)?

He was the second child,after his sister Sigrid - 1925 ,after him came Rixa - 1927 ,then the twins Margit and Barbara - 1930,then Theda - 1939 - and Christina - 1945.The children grew up for the larger part of their youth in Tanzania,Africa.

Here's the best site to see all and everyone:

Descendants of August von Amsberg

courtesy dearest Hein.

 

[Marengo]

The only member of the RF who attended the funeral of Rixa Ahrens, née von Amsberg was prince Friso. HM. sent a wreath.

 

[Maura724]

Were Claus and Beatrix particularly close to any of the sisters?

 

[Marengo]

I believe that they were fairly close to all of them, but esp. to the youngest sister of the prince, Christina. I believe she was in The Netherlands during the last days of the prince & was pictured with HM in a car leaving the hospital several times in those days.

 

[Maura724]

Two baby sisters named Christina - I would imagine that could be confusing at times.

 

[lucien]

The engagement day of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus:

Two of the sisters on this picture,Christina and Sigrid:

ANP Beeldbank

On both Christina von Amsberg stands next to Prince Carlos Hugo
Princess Christina is at the left,easy to see the difference:the glasses:

ANP Beeldbank


ANP Beeldbank

courtesy royalimages.

 

[anirac]

Two baby sisters named Christina - I would imagine that could be confusing at times.

It is much more confusing then you could imagine.
Gosta von Amsberg, the mother of Prince Claus, became grandmother of two grandchildren in 1967:
both born April 27th
both boys
both called Alexander (although it is official Willem-Alexander, but within the family it is just Alexander)

 

[Lumutqueen]

How sad, its wonderful the HM sent a wreath and Prince Friso went to his aunts funeral.

 

[lucien]

It is much more confusing then you could imagine.
Gosta von Amsberg, the mother of Prince Claus, became grandmother of two grandchildren in 1967:
both born April 27th
both boys
both called Alexander (although it is official Willem-Alexander, but within the family it is just Alexander)

Oh don't you just love that!!!?I thought it was hilarious too!Poor woman...

 

[anirac]

Oh I just love it!!!
And I forgot, if I remember right, both times it was the first child of Beatrix and Claus AND Theda and her husband Karl. It is amazing!!! When I read it for the first time I also thought about the granny, who surely wanted to be tear apart to be at both places at the same time.

 

[Marengo]

The engagement day of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus:

Two of the sisters on this picture,Christina and Sigrid:

ANP Beeldbank

Is the lady left of princess Armgard, princess Simone of Lippe-Biesterfeld? Do you know why the mother of prince Claus, Gösta von Amsberg, did not attend the photo session?

 

[Maura724]

It is much more confusing then you could imagine.
Gosta von Amsberg, the mother of Prince Claus, became grandmother of two grandchildren in 1967:
both born April 27th
both boys
both called Alexander (although it is official Willem-Alexander, but within the family it is just Alexander)

Wow, I have a friend who has a granddaughter named Libby and a granddaughter named Lily, and I thought that was hard to keep straight!

 

[anirac]

Is the lady left of princess Armgard, princess Simone of Lippe-Biesterfeld? Do you know why the mother of prince Claus, Gösta von Amsberg, did not attend the photo session?

His mother had a little car accident almost two weeks before and stayed in the hospital because of a conncussion. Several days later Claus and Beatrix visited her in Uelzen. (Archiv - Hamburger Abendblatt Sadly you can't download the PDF anymore with the article. I have it, but I don't know where and how I could upload it )

 

[anirac]

The engagement day of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus:

Two of the sisters on this picture,Christina and Sigrid:

ANP Beeldbank

On both Christina von Amsberg stands next to Prince Carlos Hugo
Princess Christina is at the left,easy to see the difference:the glasses:

ANP Beeldbank


ANP Beeldbank

courtesy royalimages.

I assume you are wrong, because I think this is not Christina von Amsberg. I read that the only two sister who attend the engagement were Sigrid and Theda and since you can easily recognize Sigrid if you compare this photo with photos of her at the wedding of Alexander (she didn't really changed in the last 45 years ) I guess the other is Theda.

 

[lucien]

..you're right

 

[lucien]

Theresa Freiin von der Recke will marry Mr.Mathias Ruperti on october 16th.

Theresa is a first cousin to HRH The Prince of Orange,and ofcourse HM is her aunt...

 

[sjetajiem]

Theresa's elder sister Katinka has a daughter Carlotta (14-2-2008) and a baby just born.
There is a pic of the two kids on her Facebook Katinkavdr.

 

[sjetajiem]

Theresa Freiin von der Recke will marry Mr.Mathias Ruperti on october 16th.

Theresa is a first cousin to HRH The Prince of Orange,and ofcourse HM is her aunt...

There are rumors that princess Alexia will be bridesmaid

 

[CyrilVladisla]

It was informative to learn that Prince Claus' family in Germany is referred to as von Amsberg and in The Netherlands the Dutch Royal Family uses the surname van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg.
​

 

[Lee-Z]

It was informative to learn that Prince Claus' family in Germany is referred to as von Amsberg and in The Netherlands the Dutch Royal Family uses the surname van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg.
​

Where did you find that? as far as i know, the dutch royals don't really have a surname as such, the granddaughters of P.Claus (children of the current king) for instance don't have van Amsberg in their name..

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

Where did you find that? as far as i know, the dutch royals don't really have a surname as such, the granddaughters of P.Claus (children of the current king) for instance don't have van Amsberg in their name..

The children of Prince Constantijn have a surname according article 1 of the Royal Decree of May 11th 2001: "The surname of the children whom might be born in the marriage of His Royal Highness Prince Constantijn Christof Frederik Aschwin of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg with Ms Petra Laurentien Brinkhorst reads: Van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg, with the title of Count and the predicate Jonkheer."

The children of Prince Constantijn are:
The highborn lady Eloïse Sophie Beatrix Laurence Countess van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg
The highborn lord Claus-Casimir Bernhard Marius Max Count van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg
The highborn lady Leonore Marie Irene Enrica Countess van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg

The children of Prince Friso have a surname according article 1 of the Royal Decree of March 19th 2004: "To let His Royal Highness Prince Johan Friso Christiaan Bernhard David of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg behold the title Prince of Orange-Nassau as a personal title, with the predicate of Royal Highness, to grant him the hereditary title of Count and to establish his surname as Van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg."

The children of Prince Friso are:
The highborn lady Emma Luana Ninette Sophie Countess van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg
The highborn lady Joanna Zaria Nicoline Milou Countess van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg

With these two Royal Decrees as new noble family has been established: Van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg. As there were only two males with that surname (the late Prince Friso and his nephew Count Claus-Casimir), the continuation of this young dynasty lies in the hands of one person, see picture: http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Count+Orange+Claus+Casimir+Princess+Carolina+JAojErBxkxdx.jpg

 

[CyrilVladisla]

Duc et Pair, It is good to see that research was done to find out the particulars of the Royal Decrees of 2001 and 2004. I knew van Amsberg was part of the surname. You presented the proof.
​

 

[Tatiana Maria]

The decrees did not establish the surname of the whole royal family, I believe.

 

[Lee-Z]

Yes, but not all grandchildren of P.Claus have that surname, the 3 daughters of the king don't...

The children of Prince Constantijn have a surname according article 1 of the Royal Decree of May 11th 2001: "The surname of the children whom might be born in the marriage of His Royal Highness Prince Constantijn Christof Frederik Aschwin of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg with Ms Petra Laurentien Brinkhorst reads: Van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg, with the title of Count and the predicate Jonkheer."

The children of Prince Constantijn are:
The highborn lady Eloïse Sophie Beatrix Laurence Countess van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg
The highborn lord Claus-Casimir Bernhard Marius Max Count van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg
The highborn lady Leonore Marie Irene Enrica Countess van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg

The children of Prince Friso have a surname according article 1 of the Royal Decree of March 19th 2004: "To let His Royal Highness Prince Johan Friso Christiaan Bernhard David of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg behold the title Prince of Orange-Nassau as a personal title, with the predicate of Royal Highness, to grant him the hereditary title of Count and to establish his surname as Van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg."

The children of Prince Friso are:
The highborn lady Emma Luana Ninette Sophie Countess van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg
The highborn lady Joanna Zaria Nicoline Milou Countess van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg

With these two Royal Decrees as new noble family has been established: Van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg. As there were only two males with that surname (the late Prince Friso and his nephew Count Claus-Casimir), the continuation of this young dynasty lies in the hands of one person, see picture: http://www2.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Count+Orange+Claus+Casimir+Princess+Carolina+JAojErBxkxdx.jpg

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

The decrees did not establish the surname of the whole royal family, I believe.

The royal family has different surnames, the main line however has the surname Van Oranje-Nassau, which is also the name of the dynasty, as established in 1901.

Koninklijk Besluit van 8 februari 1901
van Oranje Nassau (without hyphen)
prinses Juliana der Nederlanden, prinses van Oranje Nassau, hertogin van Mecklenburg

Koninklijk Besluit van 8 januari 1937
van Oranje-Nassau
prinses Beatrix der Nederlanden, prinses van Oranje-Nassau, prinses van Lippe-Biesterfeld
prinses Irene der Nederlanden, prinses van Oranje-Nassau, prinses van Lippe-Biesterfeld
prinses Margriet der Nederlanden, prinses van Oranje-Nassau, prinses van Lippe-Biesterfeld
prinses Christina der Nederlanden, prinses van Oranje-Nassau, prinses van Lippe-Biesterfeld

Koninklijk Besluit 16 februari 1966
van Oranje-Nassau
prins Willem-Alexander der Nederlanden, prins van Oranje-Nassau, jonkheer van Amsberg
prins Friso der Nederlanden, prins van Oranje-Nassau, jonkheer van Amsberg
prins Constantijn der Nederlanden, prins van Oranje-Nassau, jonkheer van Amsberg

Koninklijk Besluit 25 januari 2002
van Oranje-Nassau
prinses Catharina-Amalia der Nederlanden, prinses van Oranje-Nassau, jonkvrouw van Amsberg
prinses Alexia der Nederlanden, prinses van Oranje-Nassau, jonkvrouw van Amsberg
prinses Ariane der Nederlanden, prinses van Oranje-Nassau, jonkvrouw van Amsberg

Koninklijk Besluit 11 mei 2001
van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg
Eloïse gravin van Oranje-Nassau, jonkvrouw van Amsberg
Claus-Casimir graaf van Oranje-Nassau, jonkheer van Amsberg
Leonore gravin van Oranje-Nassau, jonkvrouw van Amsberg

Koninklijk Besluit 19 maart 2004
van Oranje-Nassau van Amsberg
Luana gravin van Oranje-Nassau, jonkvrouw van Amsberg
Zaria gravin van Oranje-Nassau, jonkvrouw van Amsberg

Koninklijk Besluit 2 januari 1967
van Vollenhoven
and
Koninklijk Besluit 26 mei 1998
van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven (for the children of Prince Maurits only)

prins Maurits van Oranje-Nassau, Van Vollenhoven
- Anastasia van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven
- Lucas van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven
- Felicia van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven

prins Bernhard van Oranje-Nassau, Van Vollenhoven
- Isabella van Vollenhoven
- Bernhard van Vollenhoven
- Pieter van Vollenhoven

prins Pieter-Christiaan van Oranje-Nassau, Van Vollenhoven
- Emma van Vollenhoven
- Pieter van Vollenhoven

prins Floris van Oranje-Nassau, Van Vollenhoven
- Magali van Vollenhoven
- Eliane van Vollenhoven
- Willem van Vollenhoven

The children of Princess Irene and Princess Christina never belonged to the Royal House, they were born with the surname De Bourbon de Parme respectively Guillermo, the paternal surname.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

An article in a German newspaper about the patrician family Jencquel, cousins of King Willem-Alexander.

The King's aunt Sigrid von Amsberg married Ascan-Bernd Jencquel. In the article you see their son Claus-Ascan Jencquel (Willem-Alexander's cousin), his spouse Silke-Kathrin Jencquel-Abendroth and their youngest from three sons, Johann-Philipp Jencquel.

The newspaper found it interesting to visit a couple from two of the old Hanseatic patrician families whom succesfully grounded a family and a thriving enterprise.

The newspaper mentions that King Willem-Alexander is Claus-Ascan Jencquel's cousin. The relationship is warm but he requested the newspaper to downplay it because the family sticks to discretion. The article is named "Pssst... der Cousin des Königs"

Link: https://www.abendblatt.de/hamburg/a...KjvWjlk8OI2sFVgH84Knwcl7MV4CkD3JyzdS7snnEu00w

For thirteen generations the Jencquels were magistrates, mayors, senators, military commanders, notaries, merchants and entrepreneurs. The Abendroths likewise. Nobility has been offered to the Jencquels by the King of Denmark but was refused: they were proud on their patrician heritage in the mighty and free Hanseatic city of Hamburg and it was not possible to accept foreign nobility without losing Hamburg citizenship. But in the flow of generations, the Jencquels and the Abendroths became allianced with various North-German noble families.

 

[Marengo]

Thanks for the article and the summary. I believe Sigrid Jencquel was the late prince's eldest sister. I believe she escorted him during the wedding of his eldest son. AFAIK she is still alive today, thoguh another sister passed away in 2010. The family has always been very discreet.

Many of our own patrician families also refused ennoblement, seeing it as a step down instead of up. I believe something simular is stated in the Buddenbrooks of Thomas Mann, which deals with Hanseatic patricians from Lubeck.

It seems they changed the title of the article, the king is not mentioned in it now. Perhaps on request of the Jencquels.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I believe there are a four paternal aunts alive for Willem-Alexander and Constantijn:
- Sigrid Jencquel - von Amsberg
- Barbara Haarhaus - von Amsberg
- Theda Freifrau von Friesen - von Amsberg
- Christina Freifrau von der Recke - von Amsberg