Princess Tatiana Maria Renata Eugenia Elisabeth Margarete Radziwiłł (born 28 August 1939) is a French-Polish aristocrat,

bacteriologist A bacteriologist is a microbiologist, or similarly trained professional, in bacteriology— a subdivision of microbiology that studies bacteria, typically Pathogenic bacteria, pathogenic ones. Bacteriologists are interested in studying and learnin ...

, and nurse. The eldest daughter of Prince Dominik Rainer Radziwiłł and Princess Eugénie of Greece and Denmark, she is a member of the

House of Radziwiłł A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condit ...

and a close relative to the

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

, Danish,

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

and

Spanish royal families Spanish might refer to: * Items from or related to Spain: **Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain **Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many countries in the Americas **Spanish cuisine ** Spanish history **Spanish culture ...

and the former imperial families of

Austria Austria, formally the Republic of Austria, is a landlocked country in Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine Federal states of Austria, states, of which the capital Vienna is the List of largest cities in Aust ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

, and

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

. She served as a bridesmaid at the Wedding of Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark in 1962 and at the wedding of Constantine II of Greece and Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark in 1964. She has remained a close friend and courtier of her second cousin,

Queen Sofía of Spain Sofía (Sophia Margaret Victoria Frederica; Μαργαρίτα Βικτώρια Φρειδερίκη, romanized: ''Sofía Margaríta Bictória Freideríki''; born 2 November 1938) is a member of the Spanish royal family who was Queen of Spai ...

Early life and family

Radziwiłł was born in

Rouen Rouen (, ; or ) is a city on the River Seine, in northwestern France. It is in the prefecture of Regions of France, region of Normandy (administrative region), Normandy and the Departments of France, department of Seine-Maritime. Formerly one ...

Normandy Normandy (; or ) is a geographical and cultural region in northwestern Europe, roughly coextensive with the historical Duchy of Normandy. Normandy comprises Normandy (administrative region), mainland Normandy (a part of France) and insular N ...

on 28 August 1939 to Prince Dominik Rainer Radziwiłł, an officer in the

Polish Army The Land Forces () are the Army, land forces of the Polish Armed Forces. They currently contain some 110,000 active personnel and form many components of the European Union and NATO deployments around the world. Poland's recorded military histor ...

, and Princess Eugénie of Greece and Denmark, a member of the

Greek royal family The Greek royal family () was the ruling family of the Kingdom of Greece from 1863 to 1924 and again from 1935 to 1973. The Greek royal family is a branch of the Danish royal family, itself a cadet branch of the House of Glücksburg. The famil ...

. She is a member of the House of Radziwill, a Polish-Lithuanian noble family, and is the granddaughter of Prince Hieronim Mikołaj Radziwiłł and Archduchess Renata of Austria. Her maternal grandparents were

Prince George of Greece and Denmark Prince George of Greece and Denmark (; 24 June 1869 – 25 November 1957) was the second son and child of George I of Greece and Olga Konstantinovna of Russia, and is remembered chiefly for having once saved the life of his cousin the future Em ...

, second son of

George I of Greece George I ( Greek: Γεώργιος Α΄, romanized: ''Geórgios I''; 24 December 1845 – 18 March 1913) was King of Greece from 30 March 1863 until his assassination on 18 March 1913. Originally a Danish prince, George was born in Copenhage ...

and

Olga Constantinovna of Russia Olga Constantinovna of Russia (; 18 June 1926) was Queen of Greece as the wife of George I of Greece, King George I. She was briefly the regent of Greece in 1920. A member of the Romanov dynasty, Olga was the oldest daughter of Grand Duke Cons ...

, and

Princess Marie Bonaparte Princess Marie Bonaparte (2 July 1882 – 21 September 1962), known as Princess George of Greece and Denmark upon her marriage, was a French author and psychoanalyst, closely linked with Sigmund Freud. Her wealth contributed to the popularity ...

, daughter of Roland Napoléon Bonaparte, 6th Prince of Canino and Musignano and Marie-Félix Blanc. Radziwiłł's parents divorced in 1946. Her father remarried in 1947 to Lida Lacey Bloodgood, daughter of Lida Fleitmann Bloodgood, and her mother remarried in 1949 to Prince Raimondo della Torre e Tasso, 2nd Duke of Castel Duino. A few days after her birth,

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

began in Europe. Radziwiłł and her parents fled their home in 1940 after the

Fall of France The Battle of France (; 10 May – 25 June 1940), also known as the Western Campaign (), the French Campaign (, ) and the Fall of France, during the Second World War was the German invasion of the Low Countries (Belgium, Luxembourg and the Net ...

, taking refuge in

Saint-Tropez Saint-Tropez ( , ; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Var (department), Var departments of France, department and the regions of France, region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Southern France. It is west of Nice and east of Marseille, o ...

before going in to exile in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

, then part of the

British Empire The British Empire comprised the dominions, Crown colony, colonies, protectorates, League of Nations mandate, mandates, and other Dependent territory, territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It bega ...

. They were later joined by her grandparents, Prince George of Greece and Denmark and Princess Marie Bonaparte, as well as other members of the Greek royal family, including Crown Princess Frederika and her children. Throughout her childhood, Radziwiłł became close friend with her second cousin, Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark (the future Queen of Spain). She also spent a lot of her childhood with her maternal grandmother, Princess Marie, who was a psychoanalyst and authored ''Le Livre de Tatiana'' shortly after Tatiana's birth. She later accompanied her maternal grandparents on trips to North America, Africa, Asia, and around Europe. Radziwiłł returned to France in 1945 following the end of the war, just three years after the birth of her brother, Prince George. She was educated in schools in France and in Greece, studying music and languages. She took part in the ship tour organized by Queen Frederica and her husband King

Paul of Greece Paul (; 14 December 1901 – 6 March 1964) was King of Greece from 1 April 1947 until his death on 6 March 1964. Paul was born in Athens as the third son of Constantine I of Greece, Crown Prince Constantine and Sophia of Prussia, Crown Princess ...

in 1954, which became known as the “ Cruise of the Kings” and was attended by over 100 royals from all over Europe.

Public life and royal duties

As a relative of many reining royal families in Europe, Radziwiłł attended various events across the continent including the

Coronation of Elizabeth II The Coronation of the British monarch, coronation of Elizabeth II as queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey in London. Elizabeth acceded to the throne at the age of 25 upon th ...

in 1953 and the Royal Cruise Agamemnon in 1954. As a young woman, Radziwiłł was considered as a potential wife for the future

Harald V of Norway Harald V (, ; born 21 February 1937) has been King of Norway since 1991. A member of the House of Glücksburg, Harald was the third child and only son of King Olav V of Norway and Princess Märtha of Sweden. He was second in the Succession to t ...

. In 1956, she was part of the official entourage at a reception for King Paul of Greece in

Bois de Boulogne The Bois de Boulogne (, "Boulogne woodland") is a large public park that is the western half of the 16th arrondissement of Paris, near the suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt and Neuilly-sur-Seine. The land was ceded to the city of Paris by the Em ...

and at the

Hôtel de Ville, Paris The (, ''City hall (administration), City Hall'') is the city hall of Paris, France, standing on the in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, 4th arrondissement. The south wing was originally constructed by Francis I of France, Francis I beginning ...

. She remained close to the Greek royal family, serving as a bridesmaid for her cousin, Princess Sophia, when she

married Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

the future King of Spain in 1962. Radziwiłł served alongside

Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark (, romanized: ''Iríni''; born 11 May 1942) is the youngest child and second daughter of King Paul of the Hellenes and his wife, Queen Frederica. She is the younger sister of Queen Sofía of Spain and Ki ...

Princess Irene of the Netherlands Princess Irene of the Netherlands (Irene Emma Elisabeth; born 5 August 1939) is the second child of Juliana of the Netherlands, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld, Prince Bernhard. In 1964, she converted to ...

Princess Alexandra of Kent Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy (Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel; born 25 December 1936) is a member of the British royal family and the only daughter of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and D ...

, Princess Anne d'Orléans, Infanta Pilar of Spain,

Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark Anne-Marie (; born Princess Anne-Marie Dagmar Ingrid of Denmark, 30 August 1946) is a Danish princess who was Queen of Greece as the consort of King Constantine II from their marriage on 18 September 1964 until the abolition of the Greek ...

, and

Princess Benedikte of Denmark Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (Benedikte Astrid Ingeborg Ingrid, born 29 April 1944) is a member of the Danish royal family. She is the second daughter and child of King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid o ...

. In March 1963, Tatiana Radziwiłł attended the festivities celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Greek Monarchy. She was present at the doxology service, a parade, and a gala performance at the

National Theatre of Greece The National Theatre of Greece () is based in Athens, Greece. History The first permanent theatre in modern Greece had been the Boukoura Theatre from 1840, but it had difficulty in managing its operation and stood empty for long periods of tim ...

. Later that year, she attended a lunch at Mon Repos held in honor of

Athenagoras I of Constantinople Athenagoras I of Constantinople (), born Aristocles Matthaiou Spyrou (; 6 April 1886 (25 March) – 7 July 1972), was Greek Orthodox Archbishop of North and South America from 1930 to 1948 and the 268th Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople ...

. In August 1963, she accompanied the Crown Prince of Greece while he hosted the 11th World Scout Jamboree. In 1964, she served as a bridesmaid in the

wedding A wedding is a ceremony in which two people are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnicity, ethnicities, Race (human categorization), races, religions, Religious denomination, denominations, Cou ...

of her cousins,

Constantine II of Greece Constantine II (, ; 2 June 1940 – 10 January 2023) was the last King of Greece, reigning from 6 March 1964 until the abolition of the Greek monarchy on 1 June 1973. Constantine was born in Athens as the only son of Crown Prince Paul and ...

and

. In 2021 she attended the wedding of

Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark (; born 26 April 1986) is the youngest child of Constantine II and Anne-Marie, who were the last King and Queen of Greece, from 1964 to 1973. Early life and education Philippos was born at St Mary's ...

and

Nina Flohr Princess Nina of Greece and Denmark (née Nina Nastassja Flohr; born 22 January 1987) is a Swiss businesswoman, heiress and socialite. She is a member of the non-reigning Greek royal family and a member of the extended Danish royal family as th ...

. In 2024 she attended the wedding of Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark and Matthew Kumar.

Personal life

While studying nursing and

bacteriology Bacteriology is the branch and specialty of biology that studies the Morphology (biology), morphology, ecology, genetics and biochemistry of bacteria as well as many other aspects related to them. This subdivision of microbiology involves the iden ...

at the

University of Paris The University of Paris (), known Metonymy, metonymically as the Sorbonne (), was the leading university in Paris, France, from 1150 to 1970, except for 1793–1806 during the French Revolution. Emerging around 1150 as a corporation associated wit ...

, Radziwiłł met the French

cardiologist Cardiology () is the study of the heart. Cardiology is a branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the heart and the cardiovascular system. The field includes medical diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery di ...

Jean Henri Fruchard, the son of Colonel Henri Fruchard. They married on 24 March 1966 in

Athens Athens ( ) is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Greece, largest city of Greece. A significant coastal urban area in the Mediterranean, Athens is also the capital of the Attica (region), Attica region and is the southe ...

.Brewer-Ward, Daniel A. (also known as Daniel Willis), ''The House of Habsburg: A Genealogy of the Descendants of Empress Maria Theresia'', Clearfield Co., Inc., Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, Maryland, 1966, p. 166. Their wedding was attended by members of the Greek and Danish royal families, including King Constantine II of Greece,

Queen Anne-Marie of Greece Anne-Marie (; born Princess Anne-Marie Dagmar Ingrid of Denmark, 30 August 1946) is a Danish royal family, Danish princess who was Queen of Greece as the consort of Constantine II of Greece, King Constantine II from their marriage on 18 Sept ...

, Dowager Queen Frederica of Greece, Queen Ingrid of Denmark, Princess Alice of Greece, Princess Irene of Greece, and Princess Sophia of Greece. Radziwiłł and Fruchaud have two children, Fabiola (born 1967) and Alexis (born 1969). A close friend of Queen Sofía of Spain, Radziwiłł has accompanied the queen on international trips and attends events at Zarzuela Palace and

Marivent Palace The Palace of Marivent (which in English means ''Palace of Sea and Wind'') is a modern palace built in the 1920s and located in the tourist area of Cala Mayor in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Since the 1970s, this palace has been the summer residence ...

Popular culture

Radziwiłł is portrayed by Paloma Bloyd in Antonio Hernández's 2011 Spanish television film directed ''Sofía''. She was also portrayed in

Benoît Jacquot Benoît Jacquot (; born 5 February 1947) is a French film director and screenwriter who has had a varied career in European cinema. In July 2024, Jacquot was charged with rape, including of a minor, and was barred from directing and having cont ...

's 2004 television film ''Princesse Marie''. In his 2013 book, ''La récréation'',

Frédéric Mitterrand Frédéric Mitterrand (21 August 1947 – 21 March 2024) was a French actor, screenwriter, producer, and politician who served as Minister of Culture and Communication of France from 2009 to 2012 under President Nicolas Sarkozy. Early life ...

writes about attending an exhibition on Princess Marie Bonaparte with Radziwiłł.

Ancestry

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Radziwiłł, Tatiana Living people 1939 births French bacteriologists French exiles French people of Austrian descent French people of Danish descent French people of Polish descent French women nurses French nurses Scientists from Rouen Polish bacteriologists Princesses of Poland

Tatiana Tatiana (or Tatianna, also romanized as Tatyana, Tatjana, Tatijana, etc.) is a female name of Sabine-Roman origin that became widespread in Eastern Europe. Origin Tatiana is a feminine, diminutive derivative of the Sabine—and later Latin� ...

Women bacteriologists World War II refugees French wheelchair users Polish wheelchair users French people of Greek descent