Laetitia d'Arenberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Laetitia d'Arenberg |
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| Born | Lætitia Marie Madeleine Susanne Valentine de Belzunce 2 September 1941 Brummana, Mandate of Lebanon |
| Spouse |
Archduke Leopold Franz of Austria
(m. 1965; div. 1981)John Anson |
| Issue | Archduke Sigismund Archduke Guntram |
| House | Belzunce (by birth) Arenberg (by adoption) Habsburg-Lorraine (by marriage) |
| Father | Henri, Marquis de Belzunce |
| Mother | Marie-Thérèse de la Poëze d'Harambure |
Laetitia d'Arenberg (born Laetitia de Belzunce on September 2, 1941) is a well-known French Uruguayan businesswoman. She is also known for her family's connection to European nobility.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Laetitia was born in Brummana, which is now in the country of Lebanon. Her parents, Henri de Belzunce and Marie-Thérèse de la Poëze d'Harambure, were members of a noble family from France.
Her father was a soldier who fought for France during World War II. Sadly, he died in the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944, when Laetitia was very young.
A New Life in Uruguay
In 1949, Laetitia's mother remarried a German-Belgian prince named Erik Engelbert, the 11th Duke of Arenberg. Two years later, in 1951, the family decided to move all the way to Uruguay, a country in South America. They were worried that the Korean War might spread to Europe.
In 1956, Prince Erik officially adopted Laetitia and her brother, Rodrigue. This meant her last name changed to de Belzunce d'Arenberg, and she became an heir to her stepfather's fortune.
Marriage and Children
On June 19, 1965, Laetitia married Archduke Leopold Franz of Austria. He was a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, one of Europe's most famous royal families.
They had two sons together:
- Archduke Sigismund, born in 1966. He is now the head of the Tuscan branch of the Habsburg family.
- Archduke Guntram, born in 1967.
Laetitia and Leopold Franz divorced in 1981. Leopold Franz later gave up his title as head of the House of Tuscany, passing it to their oldest son, Sigismund. Laetitia stayed in Uruguay and later remarried a man named John Anson.
Honours and Charity Work
Laetitia is not just known for her family history. She is also respected for her work in business and for helping her community in Uruguay.
In 2009, the French government awarded her a special medal called the Legion of Honor. This is one of France's highest awards. She received it to recognize her 30 years of success in business and her dedication to helping others. She has worked on many projects to support children and young people facing serious challenges.
See also
In Spanish: Leticia de Belzunce para niños
- House of Arenberg
- Famille de Belzunce
