One day before the arrival of September and with summer almost at an end, the Principality of Liechtenstein witnessed the first royal wedding of the season this Saturday, a major event for the Princely Family. Princess Marie Caroline, 28, the second of four children of Hereditary Prince Alois and Princess Sophie, and granddaughter of the reigning monarch, Prince Hans-Adam II, married Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer, 33, a Venezuelan investment banker and descendant of one of the wealthiest families in the South American country.
The religious ceremony took place at 11:00 a.m. in the Cathedral of Vaduz, which is the capital of this small state nestled between Switzerland and Austria, home to approximately 41,000 residents and boasting one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. Early in the morning, decorators beautifully adorned the exterior of the 19th-century neo-Gothic church on the banks of the Rhine, covering its grand entrance stairs with a dark blue carpet and lining both sides with floral arrangements of matching hydrangeas.
Hours before the bride arrived on her father’s arm, family, friends of the couple, and representatives of the country’s official life began to gather. Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein was one of the first guests to arrive for his niece's wedding. Also in attendance were Prime Minister Brigitte Haas and the president of the state parliament, Manfred Kaufmann. One of the most anticipated guests was Victoria von Hohenlohe, Duchess of Medinaceli, who came with her husband, Maxime Corneille. The aristocrat with the most titles in Europe showcased her elegance in a grayish-green ensemble. Among the guests were the Dukes of Noto; Jaime of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and his wife, Charlotte Lindesay-Berthune; Princess Margaretha, sister of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, along with her nephew Prince Sébastien; Princess Nora of Liechtenstein and her daughter Teresa Sartorius; and Princess Tatiana of Liechtenstein, who is well known in Spain for having once been a rumored candidate as a bride for the then Prince of Asturias.
Spanish Influence in the Wedding Style
Afterward it was the groom’s turn. Leopoldo climbed the cathedral’s impressive staircase accompanied by his mother and godmother, Sofía, along with other members of both families. Both the godmother, wearing a custom-made design, and Leopoldo’s sisters and cousins chose headpieces from the Spanish brand Mimoki.
Princess Marie Caroline arrived on the arm of her father, Prince Alois, who could not hide his joy, in a vintage white Rolls Royce. That was the moment when the day’s big secret was revealed: her stunning embroidered gown and plumetis veil with lace trim. She also carried a large cascading bouquet of white flowers. Wanting to set herself apart from her mother, Marie Caroline chose to wear the Fringe tiara instead of the floral Douglas tiara that Sophie of Bavaria wore on her own wedding day. The diamond kokoshnik-style tiara was last seen on a bride of the Princely Family when Marie Caroline’s cousin, Maria Anunciata, wore it for her religious wedding in 2021. The Imperial Court jeweler crafted this spectacular piece in Vienna around 1890, using silver, gold, and diamonds.
The Principality celebrated the wedding like a true festival, with the streets of downtown Vaduz packed with locals and onlookers eager to see the guests and the newlyweds. A large security and traffic operation, which involved closing and rerouting some streets, ensured everything ran smoothly. A group of women dressed in Liechtenstein’s traditional attire, complete with their distinctive black headpieces, awaited the couple.
It is worth noting that, despite being royal, the newlyweds are very discreet. Maria Carolina of Liechtenstein is the daughter of the future sovereign, but she will never be able to ascend the throne, since the Salic Law is still in force in the country, preventing women from reigning and excluding them from the line of succession.
The marriage ceremony was officiated by Bishop Benno Elbs, after which the newlyweds and their loved ones headed to Vaduz Castle for the reception. The medieval fortress, which dates back to the 12th century and has 130 rooms, has been the residence of the Princes of Liechtenstein since 1939.
A Modern Royal: Princess Marie Caroline
Princess Marie Caroline was born at Grabs Hospital in Switzerland and has three brothers, Princes Joseph Wenzel, Georg, and Nikolaus. After attending Ebenholz Primary School in Vaduz and the Swiss International School Rheintal, she continued her education at Malvern College in England. She later studied at the prestigious Parsons School of Design in Paris and New York, graduating in 2020 with a degree in fashion design. She now lives in London and works in the textile industry.
From Caracas to London: Leopoldo’s Journey
Her now husband is the eldest son of Francisco and Sofía Maduro Vollmer and was born in Caracas on October 28, 1990. He began his studies at San Ignacio de Loyola School in the Venezuelan capital and later continued at Harrow School in England. He studied at the University of St. Andrews, the same place where Prince William and Kate Middleton met, and went on to complete a postgraduate degree at Queens’ College, University of Cambridge. He started his career in 2013 at the investment bank BNP Paribas in Paris and New York before returning to London in 2016, where he works in investment management. His family is among the wealthiest in Venezuela.