Walburga Habsburg Douglas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walburga Habsburg Douglas
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Pictured in 2009
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| Born |
Walburga Maria Franziska Helene Elisabeth von Habsburg-Lothringen
5 October 1958 Berg am Starnberger See, Germany
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| Title | Countess Douglas |
| Spouse(s) |
Count Archibald Douglas
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 1 |
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Countess Walburga Douglas (born 5 October 1958) is a lawyer and politician. She was born in Germany and later became a citizen of Sweden. From 2006 to 2014, she served as a member of the Riksdag of Sweden, which is the Swedish Parliament. She is also a leader in the Paneuropean Union and works with an organization that shares information about crimes committed under communism.
Contents
Early Life and Family History
Walburga Douglas was born in 1958 in a town called Berg am Starnberger See in Germany. Her father was Otto von Habsburg, who was the last crown prince of Austria-Hungary. Her mother was Princess Regina of Saxe-Meiningen. Walburga was given the full name Walburga Maria Franziska Helene Elisabeth when she was baptized.
When she was born, her family faced some challenges. Her father did not have a country to call his own and lived in Germany using a Spanish diplomatic passport. Walburga and her brothers and sisters were not allowed to live in Austria for many years because of an old law called the Habsburg Law. This law had been put back in place by the Nazis in 1938. Later, Austria had to change this law. This happened before Austria could join the European Union, because the law was seen as going against human rights.
Walburga is the granddaughter of Charles I of Austria, who was the last emperor of Austria. She is part of the famous House of Habsburg-Lorraine family. In the past, her family had special titles like Archduchess of Austria. These titles were stopped in Austria in 1919. While her family used these titles when she was a child living in exile, Walburga does not actively use them today. However, in Sweden, where she now lives, she is legally known as Countess Douglas.
Her Career Journey
Studying and Working
After finishing school in 1977 in Tutzing, Germany, Walburga studied law in Salzburg. From 1979 to 1992, she worked as an assistant at the European Parliament. This is where elected members from different European countries meet to make laws.
In 1983, she also studied journalism in Washington, D.C., in the United States. She worked for a magazine called Reader's Digest there. Later, from 1985 to 1992, she worked for the Ministry of Information in the country of Oman. In 2004, she joined the board of the Arab International Media Forum in London.
Political Work and Impact
Walburga Douglas has been involved in politics for a long time. In 1973, she helped start a youth group called Paneuropa-Jugend Deutschland. She became its leader in Bavaria and later a national leader.
From 1980 to 2004, she held important roles in the international Paneuropean Union. This organization works for a united and peaceful Europe. Since 2004, she has been its executive vice chairperson.
She played a key role in organizing the Paneuropa-Picknick on August 19, 1989. This event took place at the Iron Curtain, which was the border between Hungary and Austria. For the first time, the border fence was opened. This allowed more than 660 Germans from East Germany to escape to the West. This was a very important moment and is seen as a symbol of the end of communism in Eastern Europe.
Since 2003, she has been active in the Swedish Moderate Party. She led the local branch in Flen and was on the board of the party's regional organization. She also serves on the board of the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation, which is connected to the Moderate Party.
Walburga ran for the European Parliament in 1999 and 2004. She also ran for the Swedish Parliament (called the Riksdag) in 2002 and 2006. On September 17, 2006, she was elected to the Swedish Parliament. This election was a big success for her party. From 2011, she was also a vice-president of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. She led the Swedish team to the OSCE. She served in the Swedish Parliament for eight years until 2014.
She is also a board member of the Institute for Information on the Crimes of Communism. This group works to share information about the bad things that happened under communist rule.
Her Family Life
On December 5, 1992, Walburga married a Swedish nobleman named Count Carl Axel Archibald Douglas in Budapest, Hungary. His family, the Douglas family, is a noble family in Sweden. They are descended from a Scottish man named Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge. The family's title of Count was given to them by Queen Christina of Sweden in 1654 and is recognized in Sweden.
Walburga and Archibald have one son together. His name is Count Mauritz Otto Wenzel Douglas, and he was born on March 30, 1994, in Stockholm. They live at Ekensholm Castle in Sweden.
Awards and Recognition
House of Habsburg-Lorraine: She is a Dame of the Imperial and Royal Order of the Starry Cross, 1st Class.
: She is a Dame of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
