Princess Elisabeth of Thurn and Taxis, also known as Elisabeth Princess von Thurn and Taxis, (born Elisabeth Maria Anna Beatriz on 24 March 1982 in Regenburg) is a German journalist and member of the former German House of Thurn and Taxis. Based in London, she has been a style editor-at-large for Vogue magazine since 2012. In addition to writing about style, the arts and travel, she has authored a liturgical volume about faith and contributed a regular column to Vatican magazine. She is known professionally as Elisabeth von Thurn and Taxis, however is frequently referred to by her nickname, TNT.
Early Life
Elisabeth was born on 24 March 1982 at the family palace, Schloss Thurn and Taxis, 500-room 8th-century abbey in Regensburg. She is the middle child of Johannes, 11th Prince of Thurn and Taxis (5 June 1926-14 December 1990) and Gloria Princess of Thurn and Taxis (nee Grafin Schonburg-Glauchau). She has an older sister, Maria Theresia (born 28 November 1980), and a younger brother, Albert (born 24 June 1983), who succeeded their father in 1990.
The former German princely House of Thurn and Taxis is one of Germany's wealthiest and most prominent families. Her mother is the daughter of the late politician and journalist Joachim, Count of Schonburg-Glauchau, as well as the sister of author Alexander, Count of Schonburg-Glauchau, a nephew by marriage of Queen Elizabeth II.
During her childhood, Elisabeth and her siblings were frequent guests of Michael Jackson at his Neverland Ranch, visits she recalled in her blog after his sudden death in 2009. Describing Jackson as "excruciatingly shy," she defended his reputation, writing, "I couldn't imagine Michael hurting a fly, let alone a friend."
Elisabeth was educated at Sevenoaks School in Kent, England, and has a bachelor's degree in media and communications studies from the American University of Paris.
Career
Elisabeth worked as a featured editor for the London-based Finch's Quarterly Review and peened a blog, "The Princess Diaries," for Finch's until departing in 2010. The blog contrasted the expectations, pleasures, difficulties and assumptions surrounding "princess" status with more "normal" issues like flat-hunting, London weather, and work. Elisabeth also contributed a monthly column in Vogue and articles for German and international art and style publications, including New York-based style magazine Quest.
A devout Catholic, Elisabeth has written for the British Catholic Herald about the revival of traditional religious communities in France, as well as a monthly column in Vatican Magazine. She signed a 2008 petition asking the bishops of England and Wales to provide more Latin Sunday Tridentine Masses. In December 2010, she published a liturgical volume titled The Faith of Children: in Praise of the People's Devotion. The book, which featured a foreword by Pope Benedict XVI's elder brother, Georg Ratzinger, was published in Italian and German.
In 2011, her blog from Finch's Quarterly Review were translated into German and published as a book.
In 2012, she began as a contributing style editor for fashion magazine Vogue.
In March 2015, she drew media criticism when she shared a photo on Instagram of what appears to be a homeless woman in Paris reading an issue of Vogue, which she posted with the comment, "Paris is full of surprises....and @voguemagazine readers even in unexpected corners!" She later deleted the photo and apologized on Twitter for causing any offense.
Personal Life
Elisabeth has frequently featured in socialite diary items and appeared in a Vanity Fair article entitled "Fortune's Children" in June 2009, photographed by Bruce Weber. " I think it's a huge privilege to be able to use the access that we have in an interesting way," she said, discussing a book about art collectors she is writing in collaboration with her cousin, photographer Alex Flick. She is close friends with jewelry designer and socialite Sabine Getty.
In 2009, she was made a Dame of the Order of Malta
After many years living in New York City, she now resides primarily in London.
Title
24 March 1982 Her Serene Highness Princess Elisabeth Margarete Maria Anna Beatriz of Thurn and Taxis
Honor Dame of Honor and Devotion in Obedience of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
House: Thurn and Taxis
Religion: Roman Catholic