I want you to close your eyes for a moment.
Picture yourself on a spaceship, traveling back in time to a destination incomparable in ridiculous splendor and extravagant excess in a galaxy far, far away.
The year is 1986.
You're making your descent into the heart of Europe - where the illustrious Thurn and Taxis family is gearing up to throw the most outrageous party the continent has ever seen.
Your spaceship gently lands on the sprawling grounds of a 500-room Bavarian castle - a fortress of untamed luxury that would make even the most seasoned millionaire gasp.
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Introduction
1:53 1. Turning Towards Power
3:52 2. A Taxi To “Old Money”
5:48 3. The Party Animals of “Old Money” Europe
7:46 4. Have They Changed?
9:20 5. The Thurn and Taxis Family Today
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Now, looking back, if there's anything to be said about the Thurn
and Taxis family, it's that they've got longevity.
They've managed to stand the test of time, harking back to the
12th century, when they were known as the Counts de la Torre.
These Italian gentry settled in picturesque Cornello, following a
bitter struggle for the glimmering city of Milan.
Family legends spin an interesting yarn: the Taxis are direct
descendants of these Counts de la Torre, and it seems Emperor
Ferdinand III was more than happy to buy into this narrative.
He handed them the right to use the Counts' coat of arms and
name, in addition to their own.
Thus, from 1650, they've been known as the Thurn and Taxis
family.
Look here, the Thurn and Taxis lot didn't just happen upon a pile
of old money and call it a day.
No, they made an absolute fortune from running the postal
services of Europe for four centuries.
And not just in one country, oh no.
They had the gall to operate across western and central Europe,
even under the Holy Roman Empire!
Their coffers also fattened through strategic marriages, because
why just deliver letters when you can deliver heirs into the noblest
of German households?
When it came to throwing the bash of the 20th century, Princess
Gloria von Turn und Taxis likely reigned supreme.
And who can forget Prince Johannes’ aforementioned 60th
birthday bash in 1986?
An epic event, so spectacular, it's etched into the annals of
aristocratic decadence.
Held at the family's grand Schloss St. Emmeram, the fête du
siècle involved an array of lavish spectacles - a pontifical mass, a
gala dinner, a costume ball and even a leisurely boat trip on the
Danube.
The world's glitterati descended upon the castle in their droves,
eager to revel in the extravagant festivities.
Vanity Fair didn't mince words, dubbing the event "aristocracy's
most flamboyant anachronism since the Bourbons tumbled” - a
comparison as decadent as the party itself!
Now, the days of wild partying might have dimmed a bit for the
Thurn and Taxis family, but they haven't hung up their party hats
just yet.
No, they've simply fine-tuned their approach, swapped out the
relentless hedonism for a more cultured, inclusive vibe.
Princess Gloria, the reigning matriarch of merriment, has made it
her mission to fling wide the doors of the St. Emmeram Palace to
as many guests as possible.
And she's not just inviting them over for a cuppa and a chat, she's
organising events that would make even the most culture-starved
aristocrat sit up and take notice.
Prince Albert II of Thurn und Taxis, a man who's taken on the
mantle of his storied lineage with a dash of panache and a
sprinkle of modernity.
After the death of his father, Prince Johannes, Albert became the
head of the family at a tender age.
But don't be fooled, he's not just a princely figurehead, he's a
businessman, a philanthropist, and a race car driver to boot. Talk
about wearing multiple hats - or should that be crowns!
Then, of course, there's the indomitable Princess Gloria, the ex-
socialite who's traded in her days of wild parties for a more sedate
existence as a patron of the arts.
Albert's sisters, Maria and Elisabeth, are also making their own
marks, the former as an artist and the latter as a journalist,
keeping the family flag flying high in the realms of arts and letters.
Now, the Thurn and Taxis family is a hive of activity.
There's the vast estates they manage, the beer they still produce
under their family name, and the palace doors they've thrown
open to the public.
But it's not just about keeping the coffers full and the stately home
busy, it's also about giving back.
Albert's philanthropic ventures are a testament to that.
14 июл 2024
