Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Princess Maria Gabriella weds

June 18, 1969

The AP reports today that Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy, 29, the daughter of former King Umberto of Italy, was recently married to Robert de Balkany, a divorced Romanian-born Frenchman.

The couple were married in a civil ceremony yesterday at the town hall at Sainte-Mesme, near Paris, according to the New York Times. Robert de Balkany owns a chateau and private polo grounds at Saint-Mesme.
Prince Michael of Greece was the bride's witness. The groom's witnesses were Count Paul de Ganay and Jean-Louis Solai, who is a business associate of Mr. de Balkany.
A religious wedding will take place on Saturday at the Chateau de Balsan in Eze on the Riviera. More than 200 guests have been invited "including monarchs and exiled monarchs."
The groom and his first wife, Genevieve Francois Poncet, were divorced a few months ago. The divorce "was approved by the Vatican."

No comments: