Otto of Habsburg has been interred in the Capuchins’ Crypt, the traditional resting place for members of the Habsburg dynasty. His wife, who died last year, was buried alongside him. According to his personal wishes and family tradition, Habsburg’s heart will be transferred in an urn for burial at the Benedictine Abbey at Pannonhalma in western Hungary.
European royals and political leaders, many from nations that his family ruled over, attended the service. Among them were Sweden’s king and queen; the ruling grand duke and grand duchess of Luxembourg; Liechtenstein’s ruling duke and duchess; King Michael of Romania, King Simeon of Bulgaria, and representatives of the British, Belgian and Spanish ruling houses.
Seven bishops from nations of the former Austro-Hungarian empire — seven countries plus parts of modern-day Montenegro, Italy, Poland, Romania and Serbia and Ukraine — assisted Austrian Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn.
View at the beginning to the funeral ceremony for Otto von Habsburg at Saint Stephans Cathedral on July 16, 2011 in Vienna
Infanta Cristina of Spain, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca and Prince Jaime Bernardo of Bourbon-Parma, Count of Bardi, Duke of San Jaime attend the funeral ceremony for Otto von Habsburg at Saint Stephans Cathedral on July 16, 2011 in Vienna
Members of Habsburg family attend the funeral ceremony for Otto von Habsburg at Saint Stephans Cathedral on July 16, 2011 in Vienna
King Michael of Romania & Prince Nicholas (left)
Simeon II of Bulgaria, Astrid & Lorenz of Belgium
Prince Hans Adam II of Liechtenstein and Marie Aglae of Liechtenstein attend the funeral ceremony for Otto von Habsburg at Saint Stephans Cathedral on July 16, 2011 in Vienna
Burying the heart separately to the body was a custom used by a number of medieval European royals:
- Richard I (Richard the Lionheart): The English king’s heart was buried at Rouen in Normandy after he died in 1199. His body was buried in Anjou
- Robert the Bruce: The king of the Scots, who died in 1329, is buried in Dunfermline Abbey but his heart is buried in Melrose Abbey
- The House of Habsburg has practised heart burial for centuries
- Queen Marie of Romania
A very impressive requiem. I was lucky to be able to watch it in Australia – thanks to the internet.
I have been legally betrothed and married to HIRH Karl Habsburg-Hohenzollern–Lothringen for 45 years ! We legally married as children in the United States of America with the consent of my parents and Karl’s (Otto von Habsburg and his wife) and the Catholic church. There are records to prove this is fact in both countries !
Karl has married twice, while still married to me—this time to Francesca and producing three illegatimate children in a bigomist relationship — the marriage to Francesca it is not legal and therefore not legitimate since we have never divorced one another and a man can not have two or more wives ! I was never invited to the funeral of my father-in-law who arranged our union on October 26, 1966 ! The Spirit of Truth will continue to speak louder, and louder, until my husband becomes responsible for this entire entanglement and decides to take corrective measures !