Skip to main contentSkip to footer

Three royal weddings that brought Liechtenstein closer to Latin America


From Panama to Colombia and Venezuela, the small alpine principality has found love stories in Latin America that shaped its history.


Three royal weddings that brought Liechtenstein closer to Latin America© Getty Images
By Angela Landinez
SEPTEMBER 3, 2025 4:05 PM EDT

Although Liechtenstein is one of the smallest, most discreet, and most exclusive states in Europe, its ties with Latin America stand out for being romantic, endearing, and, above all, historic. Three royal weddings have brought the princely family closer to our region, weaving a special bond that unites Alpine elegance with the color, music, and joy that define the Latin world.

VADUZ, LIECHTENSTEIN - AUGUST 30: Josef von und zu Liechtenstein, Maria Claudia Echavarría Suarez, Princess Marie-Astrid von Liechtenstein, Raphael Worthington, Princess Maria-Anunciata von Liechtenstein, Emanuele Musini, Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein and Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg attend the wedding of Princess Marie Caroline of Liechtenstein To Mr Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer at Cathedral of St. Florin on August 30, 2025 in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)© Getty Images
(L-R) Josef von und zu Liechtenstein, Maria Claudia Echavarría Suarez, Princess Marie-Astrid von Liechtenstein, Raphael Worthington, Princess Maria-Anunciata von Liechtenstein, Emanuele Musini, Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein and Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg

The First Chapter: Prince Maximilian and Ángela Brown

The first of these love stories was written on January 29, 2000, when Prince Maximilian, son of Sovereign Prince Hans-Adam II, married Ángela Brown, a renowned Panamanian designer who graduated from the prestigious Parsons School of Design, at St. Vincent Ferrer Church in New York. 

VADUZ, LIECHTENSTEIN - AUGUST 30: Prince Maximilian von und zu Liechtenstein and Princess Angela of Liechtenstein attend the wedding of Princess Marie Caroline of Liechtenstein To Mr Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer at the Cathedral of St. Florin on August 30, 2025 in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. (Photo by Gerald Matzka/Getty Images)© Getty Images
Prince Maximilian and Princess Angela of Liechtenstein

Elegant, sophisticated, and approachable, Ángela had received the Óscar de la Renta award during her studies and sold her designs under the label A. Brown in the United States. Her marriage to Prince Maximilian set a precedent: she became the first Afro-descendant princess in European royalty, a symbol of diversity and modernity in an institution known for its discretion. A year later, in 2001, the couple welcomed their son, Prince Alfons, who grew up in a cosmopolitan environment reflecting the blend of two worlds.

Prince Maximilian Liechtenstein and Princess Angela of Liechtenstein attend the wedding of Princess Marie Caroline of Liechtenstein to Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer.© Getty Images
Prince Maximilian Liechtenstein and Princess Angela of Liechtenstein attend the wedding of Princess Marie Caroline of Liechtenstein to Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer.

The Second Chapter: Prince Josef-Emanuel and María Claudia Echavarría

More than two decades later, in March 2022, Cartagena de Indias witnessed a new chapter between Liechtenstein and Latin America. In the grand church of San Pedro Claver, surrounded by colonial history and facing the Caribbean Sea, Prince Josef-Emanuel, youngest son of Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg and Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein, married Colombian María Claudia 'Cloclo' Echavarría, known for her sophisticated style and natural charm. 

Josef von und zu Liechtenstein and Maria Claudia Echavarria Suarez © Getty Images
Josef von und zu Liechtenstein and Maria Claudia Echavarria Suarez

The wedding captivated everyone with its perfect mix of European glamour and Caribbean vitality, with royal guests such as Princesses Maria Astrid and Maria Anunciata, the groom’s sisters, accompanied by their husbands Raphael Worthington and Emanuele Musini. Today, the couple enjoys a full family life, celebrated with the arrival of their two children: Leopoldo, affectionately called Leo, born in 2023, and Nikolai, who arrived just a few months ago, marking a new generation of royal blood with Colombian roots.

The Third Chapter: Princess Marie Caroline and Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer

From Tradition to Celebration: The Wedding of Marie-Caroline and Leopoldo© Getty Images

Finally, on August 30, 2025, Liechtenstein once again became the stage for a union reflecting the strength of its ties with our region. Princess Marie Caroline, only daughter of Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein and Princess Sophie of Bavaria, married Venezuelan Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer at Vaduz Cathedral. Modern, cosmopolitan, and with her own style, Marie Caroline has built her career in London’s competitive fashion industry. Her husband, born in Caracas and educated in Britain, works as an investment manager, embodying the same mix of Latin roots and international vision that defines this new generation. Their marriage was a reflection of diversity, freshness, and openness in European royalty, gradually enriched by the heritage of other cultures.

Princess Marie Caroline Weds Leopoldo Maduro Vollmer© Getty Images

Three weddings that, beyond titles and protocol, confirm that the heart of Liechtenstein beats with a deeply Latin soul, forever uniting the snow-capped peaks of the Alps with the warmth of the tropics.

© ¡HOLA! Reproduction of this article and its photographs in whole or in part is prohibited, even when citing their source.