One of the many abiding memories of last year’s impressive Jubilee Celebrations, of the 700th Anniversary of the dedication of Europe to Our Blessed Lady, by Ferdinand IV of Castile [1285-1312], from Gibraltar, in 1309, will undoubtedly have been the presence of an inconspicuous and elderly gentleman, seated upon the front row of the VIP enclosure.

The gentleman in question, who through his demeanour and innate ‘noblesse oblige’, immediately brought to mind the description afforded to George IV [1762-1830] as the ‘First Gentleman of Europe’, was none other than HIRH Archduke Otto of Austria, ‘de jure’ Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary and Head of the Imperial and Royal House of Habsburg, which ruled over many territories of central Europe, for over 600 years, until 1919. The Archduke was attended by members of the Prussian Royal Family and despite his advanced old age of 90 years, had, nevertheless, stoically, travelled to Gibraltar, to be present at the celebrations and, thereby, pay tribute to our Blessed Lady and the ideals of a Christian Europe, the promotion of which, has represented the guiding endeavour of his life and has included energetic support for the network of Marian Shrines in Europe, amongst which is our own in Gibraltar, at Europa Point.

By his actions, the Archduke endeared himself to our community and, accordingly, it will be with regret that Gibraltar will note the demise of the Archduke’s spouse and life long partner, HIRH Archduchess Regina of Austria, ‘de jure’ Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary, on 3rd February 2010, 08:40 a.m., at the age of 85, who died peacefully, at their home, in Poecking, Bavaria.

The late Archduchess was the daughter of Georg, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and was born in Wuerzburg, Germany, in 1925. As a result of her ‘de jure’ Sovereign status, the late Archduchess was Grand Mistress of the Most Noble Order of the Starry Cross and Grand Mistress of the Order of Saint Elisabeth. In addition and amongst others, she was also a Lady Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

The Requiem will take place at St. Pius Church, at Poecking on Tuesday, 9th February and, subsequently, the late Archduchess will be laid to rest in the tombs of the Dukes of Saxe-Meiningen, at Heldburg Castle, Germany.

However, the customary burial place for the Sovereigns of Austria-Hungary and their family is the Habsburg Vault, in the famous Church of the Capuchin Friars, in Vienna, where 12 Emperors and 19 Empresses are buried.

The last Sovereign buried therein was the late Empress Zita [1892-1989], in 1989, the mother-in-law of the late Archduchess, who was interred according to the full rites and rituals of the House of Austria, including the playing out of the famous ‘ceremonial dispute’, which dated back centuries and which involved an initial refusal to admit the cortege to the Church, until an acceptable identification of the deceased was offered.

So much so, just before the arrival of the Imperial cortege, the doors of the Church were deliberately closed and when the officials of the Royal Household, at the head of the funeral procession, knocked on the doors, the Church Wardens asked who wished to enter, whereupon the officials replied: “The Empress of Austria,” citing all her Royal titles, for good measure and in case there was any doubt. A warden replied: “I do not know this person”. Again the Royal officials knocked on the doors and, once again, uttered the deceased’s Royal identification, with titles and, yet again, entrance was declined. However, on the third occasion, the officials replied: “we come with the sinful mortal, our sister Zita”, whereupon the gates were flung open and the internment proceeded.

We are all of equal status before the Almighty.