Archduchess Estelle of Austria sadly died earlier this month at the age of 46. The royal leaves behind her husband Archduke Carl Christian and their five children
Archduchess Estelle of Austria’s five children paid a moving tribute to their beloved mother following her tragic passing. Estelle, who was a member of the European aristocracy, sadly died earlier this month at the age of 46, leaving behind her husband Archduke Carl Christian and their five children.
A bulletin confirmed the heartbreaking news, adding that her family were “deeply saddened” by her death. The announcement read: “Her husband, Archduke Carl Christian, their children, her parents, and her in-laws are deeply saddened to announce that Archduchess Estelle of Austria, née Lapra de Saint Romain, was called to God on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.”
READ MORE: Shock as royal dies aged 46 leaving husband and five children in mourning
Estelle was mum to five children, and shared Zita, 17, Anezka, 15, Anna, 12, Paola, 10 and four-year-old Pier-Giorgio with her husband. Her funeral was reportedly held in Nice, close to the family home, and, according to reports, each of her children lit a candle and placed it on her coffin in an emotional final tribute.
Princess Astrid of Belgium was among the mourners in attendance, according to reports. Prince Charles of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Ferdinand of Habsburg, Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg, and the Duke of Castro were also present.
Local media Point De Vue has reported her cause of death, alleging Estelle died of cancer. The report did not clarify any additional information.
Archduchess Estelle was born Estelle Lapra de Saint-Romain in Orsay in 1979. The royal was the daughter of Pierre Lapra de Saint Romain and Nora Boucharlat de Chazotte.
In 2007, she married Archduke Carl Christian, who is a great-grandson of Emperor Charles I, who was the last ruler of Austria-Hungary. The monarchy was abolished in 1918. However, the family remained part of the European aristocracy in the years that followed. Carl Christian’s cousin Archduke Archduke Karl von Habsburg is currently head of the family.
It comes after Prince Frederik of Luxembourg, another member of European royalty, sadly died earlier this month. The 22-year-old had been diagnosed with POLG Mitochondrial disease eight years ago.
He was born with the genetic condition, though was 14 years old when he was diagnosed after his symptoms became more noticeable. POLG Mitochondrial disease affects the energy producing parts of cells in people’s bodies and can cause progressive weakness of muscles. It can also lead to conditions such as epilepsy and liver failure.
Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg said in a statement: “Frederik knows he is my superhero, as he is to all of our family, and to so very many good friends and to so very many people the world over.
“Part of his superpower was his ability to inspire and to lead by example. Frederik was born with a special capacity for positivity, joy, and determination. When he was little, I would always say that if there is one child of ours that I would never need to worry about, it was him.
“Over the years on a number of occasions, Frederik voiced his gratitude for having his disease. He cited the intensity of his experiences and his relationships as the reason for this. He felt there were so many amazing people that he would never have known had it not been for his disease.
“We wish to extend our deep gratitude for all the messages of support and love received by our family in this very difficult moment. With our superhero’s help we hope to turn our deep grief into positive results and therewith follow his unwavering example. His ultimate message is one of hope, compassion, and resilience. We are all so very proud of you, Frederik. I am so very proud of you. We love you.”