User:M.Hugo Windisch-Graetz/M.Hugo Windisch-Graetz

H.H. THE AMBASSADOR M. HUGO Prince of WINDISCH-GRAETZ

M. Hugo Prince of Windisch-Graetz was born on the 27th of July 1955 in Trieste, his Father Prince Maximilian, Brigadier Colonel of the Noble Guard of His Holiness the Pope, Balì Grand Cross of the S.M.O. of Malta and Mother Princess Maria Luisa Serra di Gerace Dem of Grand Cross of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

He frequented the school in Rome of the Fratelli Cristiani del S.Giuseppe Istituto de Merode and the St. Cloud school in UK. He qualified in 1975 as economist and political science at the University of Buckingham UK.

In 1976, when his Father died, at the age of 21, he become head of the Windisch-Graetz Family and began to manage the Family Estate.

In 1984 he is appointed by His Holiness the Pope John Paul the II to one of the highest civilian rung in the Roman Catholic Church as Gentleman of His Holiness. He is Knight of Hon. and Dev. of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and Grand Officier pro Merito Melitensi, Knight Grande Officer of the Order of Santo Sepolcro, Cav. di Giustizia of the Sacro Ordine Costantiniano di S.Giorgio, Cav. del Collare del Supremo Ordine della SS. Annunziata and Cav. di Gran Croce dell’Ordine dei Santi Maurizio and Lazzaro.

On the11th of February 1990 he marries in Salzburg in Austria H.I.R.H. the Archduchess Sophie of Austria, daughter of the Archduke Ferdinand and the Archduchess Helen. Of whom three children, Maximilian Hugo, Alexis Ferdinand and Larissa Maria Grazia Helen Leontina Maria Luisa.

In 1997 he founds the WINDISCH-GRAETZ Foundation for humanitarian interventions towards the poor, the sick people and the Catholic Church. Through its funds the Foundation saved children life’s from mines injuries caused from the war in Serbia and Kosovo.

On the 30th of November 2000, H.I.R.H. the Archduke Otto of Austria appointed him as Knight of  the Toison d’Or.

As a gentleman of the Holy Father he receives officially the Head of States, Prime Ministers, visiting the Holy Father and Ambassadors Accredited to the Holy See, participates at the official Audiences of the Holy Father. In 2003 he was nominated by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary towards the Republic of Slovakia presenting his credentials to the President of the Republic on the 23d of October 2003.

In 2006 he was also nominated by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary towards the Republic of Slovenia presenting his credential to the President of the Republic on the 19th of March 2009.

In February 2009 His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, President of the Pontifical Counsel of Justice and Pace, nominates him as a Board Member of  the Foundation of Holy Matthew.