25 years ago the Little town Altshausen in Upper Swabia experiecned a big royal Wedding when Duchess Mathuilde of Württemberg married Hereditary Count Erich of Waldburg zu Zeil and Trauchburg. Duhcess Mathilde is the oldest daughter of Duke Carl of Württemberg, the head of the Royal Family of Württemberg and his wife Duchess Diane, née Princess of France. Her groom Hreditary Count Erich is the only son of Georg. 7. Fürst of Waldburg zu Zeil of Trauchburg and his wife Fürstin Marie Gabriele, née Princess of Bavaria a daughter of the late Duke Albrecht of Bavaria.
The Wedding festivites which lasted for 3 days started in the morning of Thursday the 17. Novemberg with the civil Wedding Ceremony which took place at Altshausen Castle and was officiated by the Altshausen Mayor Kurt König. In the evening the big Soiree took place at Altshausen Castle. On Friday then Schools of Altshausen honoured the Young Copuple the Musik Capelle of Altshausen and the vigilante of Saulgau played and danced. Later that day Duke Carl and Duchess Diane hosted a reception.
The highpoint of the festivites was the religious Wedding Ceremony on Saturday the 19. November at the Castle Church. The Wedding Service was conducted by the Bishop of Rottenburg-Stuttgart Bernhard Rieger. After the Wedding Ceremony a reception took place at Altshausen Castle. The bride wore a gown of white silk which had been designed by the Parisian designer Catherine Puget
together with Duchess Mathilde.
Among the guest at the Wedding where:
Archduchess Regina of Austria
Duke Albrecht of Bavaria, maternal grandfather of the groom
Prince Philippe of Belgium
Princess Isabelle of France, Countess of Paris, the maternal grandmother of the bride
Fürst Franz Joseph II. and Fürstin Gina of Liechtenstein
Hereditary Prince Hans Adam and Hereditary Princess Marie of Liechtenstein
Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg
Hereditary Grand Duke Henri and Hereditary Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
Prince Willem Alexander of teh Netherlands, Prince of Orange
Prince Friso of the Netherlands
Prince Constantin of the Netherlands
After the Wedding Herditary Count Erich and the new Hereditaray Countess Mathilde moved to Rimpach Castle near Leutkirch where they stille life. They have became the parents of five daughters. Countess Marie-Thérèse (1989), Countess Elisabeth (1990), Countess Charlotte (1992), Countess Hélène (1993) and Countess Gabrielle (1996).
