Today, Princess Marion d’Orléans, Dowager Countess of La Marche, celebrates a significant milestone in her life: her 80th birthday. Born Marion Mercedes Gordon-Orr on September 4, 1942, in Santiago, Chile, she has lived a life marked by her love of discovery and her dedication to her family. As the only daughter of James Gordon-Orr and Gertrude Mercedes Devia Hermosilla, Marion’s early years were shaped by her parents’ diverse backgrounds and her own curiosity about the world.
Marion’s life took a dramatic turn when she met Prince Thibaut d’Orléans, the youngest child of Prince Henri and Princess Isabelle, Count and Countess of Paris. The couple’s shared passion for exploring lesser-known cultures led them to travel extensively and co-author six books in the Les Princes du sang series. After Prince Thibaut’s passing, Princess Marion focused on raising their son, Robert, and later received recognition from her brother-in-law Prince Henri, declaring Robert a dynastic member of the royal house. As she enters this new chapter in her life, Princess Marion’s legacy as a devoted mother and wife continues to inspire those around her.
what are some of Princess Marion’s most notable contributions to the royal family
- Travel and Cultural Exchange: Princess Marion and Prince Thibaut traveled extensively, visiting Peru, Colombia, and Chile, where Marion was born. This exposure to different cultures and peoples inspired their co-authorship of six books in the Les Princes du sang series, which detailed the fate of a fictional German princely family.
- Raising Their Son: After Prince Thibaut’s passing, Princess Marion focused on raising their only surviving son, Robert. In 1999, her brother-in-law Prince Henri recognized Robert as a dynastic member of the royal house, solidifying his place within the family.
- Supporting the Royal Family: Princess Marion has maintained a discreet and quiet presence within the royal family, attending occasional family functions and supporting her relatives. Her dedication to her family and her husband’s legacy has been a constant source of inspiration to those around her.
These contributions demonstrate Princess Marion’s commitment to her family and her role within the royal family, making her a significant figure in the history of the House of Orléans.
what impact did Princess Marion have on the upbringing of her son, Robert
how did Princess Marion balance her royal duties with raising Robert
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Thibaut, Marion, and Robert.
Photo (c) Micheline PELLETIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.
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Today, Princess Marion d’Orléans, Dowager Countess of La Marche, celebrates her eightieth birthday.
Born on 4 September 1942 at Santiago, Chile, Marion Mercedes Gordon-Orr was the only daughter of James Gordon-Orr (1894-1973), an engineer, and Gertrude Mercedes Devia Hermosilla (1914-2003). Marion’s paternal grandparents were Alexander Orr (1838-1919) and Clara Eliza Gordon (1858-1947).
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| Thibaut and Marion shortly before their marriage, 1972. |
In 1968, Marion first met Prince Thibaut d’Orléans, the youngest child of Prince Henri and Princess Isabelle, Count and Countess of Paris. At the time, Marion was working as an interpreter in Paris for an American firm.
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| Thibaut and Marion. |
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| The newlyweds. |
On 23 September 1972 at Edinburgh, Marion Gordon-Orr, aged thirty, married Prince Thibaut, aged twenty-four. The royal couple celebrated their religious marriage at the private chapel of Cardinal Gray, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh. At the time, their union was not pleasing to the groom’s father, and the Count of Paris forbade all family members from attending the wedding. Thibaut’s sister Princess Claude, then still Duchess of Aosta, was his only sibling to go against the wishes of the Orléans patriarch, and she was present to celebrate Thibaut and Marion’s nuptials.
During their marriage, Thibaut and Marion travelled widely. They visited Peru, Colombia, and Chile, where Marion was born. In Marion, Thibaut found a soul who shared his love of the discovery of lesser-known peoples and their cultures. Between 1973 and 1974, the couple wrote six books in the Les Princes du sang series; these books detailed the fate of a fictional German princely family. The first of these books was published in English under the title A Castle in Bavaria.
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| Marion, Thibaut, and their eldest son Robert. |
Prince Thibaut and Princess Marion had two children, both sons and both born while Thibaut and Marion were staying with her mother in Edinburgh. Prince Robert d’Orléans arrived on 6 September 1976; Robert’s godparents are Viscount Paul de La Panouse, one of his parents’ dearest friends, as well as his aunt Princess Claude, Duchess of Aosta. Robert’s birth led to a reconciliation between his father Thibaut and his grandfather Henri. Three years later, the family was completed by the birth of Louis-Philippe on 18 April 1979; his godparents were Count Charles of Bourbon-Busset and the infant’s grandmother Madame the Countess of Paris. Tragically, eight-month-old Louis-Philippe died on 2 January 1980 from sepsis. The sudden and unexpected loss of Louis-Philippe, coupled with the brutally insensitive decision of his grandfather the Count of Paris that the young child could not be buried in the Chapel Royal of Dreux as he was not a dynast, was a blow to Thibaut and Marion.
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The Count and Countess de La Marche, 28 June 1981.
Photo (c) AKSARAN/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.
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| Marion with her son Robert at the funeral of her husband Thibaut, 1983. Photo (c) Getty Images / Alain Mingam. |
After his release from prison, the Count of la Marche left France to organise safaris for tourists in the Central African Republic. Marion and their son Robert remained in France. On 23 March 1983, Prince Thibaut died at hospital in Bangui, in circumstances that have been considered by some to be mysterious. The prince was thirty-five years-old when he died. Thibaut’s funeral was attended by most of the Royal Family of France; even the separated Count and Countess of Clermont and divorced Princess Claude and Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta, came together to support Marion and her son Robert.
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Marion and Thibaut in Paris, 1977.
Photo (c) AGIP / Bridgeman Images.
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After the death of her husband, Princess Marion focused on the upbringing of their only surviving son, Robert. In 1999, after her brother-in-law Prince Henri succeeded as Head of the Royal House of France, Henri retroactively recognised Thibaut and Marion’s marriage and, in doing so, Henri declared that their son Robert is a dynastic member of the royal house. Princess Marion lives discretely and quietly; however, on occasion, one can still spot her attending Orléans family functions.
May Princess Marion be blessed with a very happy birthday!
what are the main themes in Princess Marion’s books
- Travel and Cultural Exchange: Princess Marion and Prince Thibaut traveled extensively, visiting Peru, Colombia, and Chile, where Marion was born. This exposure to different cultures and peoples inspired their co-authorship of six books in the Les Princes du sang series, which detailed the fate of a fictional German princely family.
- Raising Their Son: After Prince Thibaut’s passing, Princess Marion focused on raising their only surviving son, Robert. In 1999, her brother-in-law Prince Henri recognized Robert as a dynastic member of the royal house, solidifying his place within the family.
- Supporting the Royal Family: Princess Marion has maintained a discreet and quiet presence within the royal family, attending occasional family functions and supporting her relatives. Her dedication to her family and her husband’s legacy has been a constant source of inspiration to those around her.
These contributions demonstrate Princess Marion’s commitment to her family and her role within the royal family, making her a significant figure in the history of the House of Orléans.
As we celebrate Princess Marion d’Orléans’ 80th birthday, we are reminded of her remarkable life and the significant contributions she made to the royal family. Her marriage to Prince Thibaut d’Orléans was marked by a shared passion for exploration and cultural exchange, which led them to travel extensively and co-author six books in the Les Princes du sang series. This series detailed the fate of a fictional German princely family, showcasing their love for discovery and their dedication to their family. Princess Marion’s life was marked by her love for her family and her husband, and her legacy continues to inspire those around her.
As we reflect on Princess Marion’s life, we are reminded of the importance of family and the role that love plays in shaping our lives. Her story is a testament to the power of love and the impact it can have on our lives. We wish Princess Marion a happy 80th birthday and hope that she continues to be an inspiration to those around her. May her life be a reminder to us all of the importance of love and family, and may we continue to be inspired by her remarkable story.
