The Late Arrival of Princess Gloria
The princess found herself running late for Mass. Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, a figure of both elegance and intrigue, quickly donned a long, dark coat over her luxurious silk scarf and a stunning necklace of pearls before hurrying through the ancient halls of her 500-room palace, which is part of a historic monastery. Outside, the chilly autumn night in Bavaria brought a light drizzle, setting a somber mood as she finally arrived at the chapel to engage in prayer.
The chapel was bathed in a soft red glow, illuminated by the flickering lights from a crypt below, where her late husband and other family members rested in their coffins. Kneeling in reverence, she was soon joined by her dinner guests—a British baroness and her husband—as the sound of soft bells filled the air, heralding the arrival of the priest who would lead the evening prayers.
Princess Gloria, now 64, initially captivated the international stage in the 1980s with her extravagant jeweled tiaras and a striking multicolored mohawk. Over the years, she has undergone a significant transformation, evolving into a staunch conservative Catholic with connections to the European far-right. A vocal opponent of abortion and immigration, she has recently embraced a new ally in her advocacy: Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. The justice was a distinguished guest at her annual music festival during the summer of 2023.
The visit not only opened up a realm of European nobility to Justice Alito but also provided Princess Gloria with a platform to promote her causes and the festival itself. She views their relationship as a natural alliance. In a recent interview at her palace in Regensburg, home to her renowned music festival, she expressed her sentiments, stating, “I met him as a Catholic, and I realized that he’s a judge who is pro-life,” adding, “So for me, that was a great thing, because very few people I know are pro-life.”