Today, Princess Olga of Savoy, Duchess of Aosta, celebrates her fiftieth birthday. Born on November 17, 1971, in Athens, Greece, Princess Olga Isabelle of Greece is the second daughter of Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark and Princess Marina of Greece. Her maternal grandparents, Theodoros Karella and Elly Chalikiopoulos, and paternal grandparents, Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark and Princess Françoise d’Orléans, have played significant roles in shaping her life.
Princess Olga’s life has been marked by significant milestones. She married Prince Aimone of Savoy, Duke of Apulia, in 2008, and the couple has three children together. Their eldest son, Prince Umberto, was born in 2009, followed by Prince Amedeo in 2011, and their only daughter, Princess Isabella Marina Vita, in 2012. The family resides in Russia, where they maintain close ties with their parents and other royal family members. As Princess Olga celebrates her fiftieth birthday, we take a look back at her remarkable journey.
what are some notable achievements of Princess Olga of Savoy
- Education and Professional Pursuits:
- She holds a degree from Princeton University and a degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.
- Princess Olga worked in interior decoration and later became a journalist and filmmaker.
- Conservation and Research:
- She helped set up and worked at the Liquid Jungle Lab in Panama, collaborating with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
- Family and Marriage:
- Princess Olga married Prince Aimone of Savoy, Duke of Apulia, in 2008, and they have three children: Prince Umberto, Prince Amedeo, and Princess Isabella Marina Vita.
- Philanthropy and Public Service:
- Princess Olga has been involved in various charitable endeavors, such as organizing the opening of a Byzantine Museum.
These achievements demonstrate Princess Olga’s dedication to her education, professional pursuits, and family, as well as her commitment to conservation and philanthropy.
what contributions has Princess Olga made to lepidoptery
what specific species of butterflies has Princess Olga studied
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| Princess Olga. Painted by her mother Marina Karella (Princess Marina of Greece). |
Today, Princess Olga of Savoy, Duchess of Aosta, celebrates her fiftieth birthday!
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| Princess Olga and her father Prince Michael. |
Born at Athens on 17 November 1971, Princess Olga Isabelle of Greece is the second daughter of Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark (b.1939) and Princess Marina (b.1941; born Marina Karella), who married in 1965. Olga has one sister, Princess Alexandra (b.1968; married Nicolas Mirzayantz).
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| Princess Françoise d’Orléans and Prince Christoper of Greece on their wedding day, 1929. |
The paternal grandparents of Olga are Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark and Princess Françoise d’Orléans. The maternal grandparents of the princess are Theodoros Karella and Elly Chalikiopoulos.
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| Aimone and Olga’s engagement picture, 2005. |
On 7 May 2005, Princess Olga and Prince Aimone of Savoy (b.1967), Duke of Apulia, became engaged in Turin. Aimone is the only son of Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta, and his first wife Princess Claude d’Orléans. Although related in several different ways, Olga and Aimone are second cousins. Both are the great-grandchildren of Prince Jean d’Orléans, Duke de Guise, and his wife and first cousin Princess Isabelle d’Orléans.
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| The Duke and Duchess of Apulia on the day of their religious wedding, 2008. |
On 16 September 2008, Aimone of Savoy and Olga of Greece were civilly married at the Italian embassy in Moscow, Russia, where the couple live. The pair celebrated their religious wedding on 27 September at the Church of Panagia Diasozousa on the Isle of Patmos in Greece. Their union was attended by their parents and by King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes.
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| The Duke and Duchess of Apulia with their first child, Prince Umberto, at his baptism. |
The first child of the Duke and Duchess of Apulia arrived in 2009. Prince Umberto Sathya of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont, was born on 7 March at Neuilly-sur-Seine. The prince was baptised on 18 June and received as godparents Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy and Carlo Radicati di Primeglio.
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| The baptism of Prince Amedeo of Savoy. |
Aimone and Olga welcomed their second child in 2011. Prince Amedeo Michel of Savoy, Duke of the Abruzzi, was born on 24 May at Paris. The prince was baptised on 8 June 2012 at Milan in the Basilica of San Marco and received as godparents Princess Mafalda of Savoy, Princess Marina of Greece and George Antaki.
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| The baptism of Princess Isabella of Savoy. |
The Duke and Duchess of Apulia had their third child and only daughter in 2012. Princess Isabella Marina Vita of Savoy was born at Paris on 14 December. The princess was baptised on her first birthday, 14 December 2013, at the église Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin in Paris.
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| The 2020 Christmas card of the Aostas, showing Prince Umberto, Princess Isabella, and Prince Amedeo. |
Prince Aimone and Princess Olga, Duke and Duchess of Aosta, live with their children in Russia. Naturally, they have very close ties with their families in Italy and Greece.
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| Princess Olga and Prince Aimone arrive at the reception following the wedding of Grand Duke George of Russia in Saint Petersburg, 2021. |
Our best wishes to Princess Olga on her birthday!
what are the main themes of Princess Olga’s research
- Education and Professional Pursuits:
- She holds a degree from Princeton University and a degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.
- Princess Olga worked in interior decoration and later became a journalist and filmmaker.
- Conservation and Research:
- She helped set up and worked at the Liquid Jungle Lab in Panama, collaborating with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
- Family and Marriage:
- Princess Olga married Prince Aimone of Savoy, Duke of Apulia, in 2008, and they have three children: Prince Umberto, Prince Amedeo, and Princess Isabella Marina Vita.
- Philanthropy and Public Service:
- Princess Olga has been involved in various charitable endeavors, such as organizing the opening of a Byzantine Museum.
These achievements demonstrate Princess Olga’s dedication to her education, professional pursuits, and family, as well as her commitment to conservation and philanthropy.
As we conclude our reflection on Princess Olga of Savoy’s remarkable life, we are reminded of the profound impact she has had on the world around her. Her dedication to her family, her philanthropic endeavors, and her contributions to the field of lepidoptery are just a few examples of the many ways in which she has made a lasting impression. As we celebrate her fiftieth birthday, we are also reminded of the importance of preserving and honoring the legacies of those who have come before us. It is our hope that this article has provided a fitting tribute to Princess Olga’s remarkable life and that it will serve as a testament to her enduring spirit.
As we move forward, we are reminded that Princess Olga’s story is not just one of personal achievement but also of the power of family and community. Her life is a testament to the enduring bonds that exist between loved ones and the ways in which they can shape and inspire us. We are grateful for the opportunity to share her story and to honor her memory in this way. We hope that our readers will join us in celebrating Princess Olga’s remarkable life and in honoring her enduring legacy. Princess Olga’s remarkable journey is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, we can find strength and resilience. Her story is a beacon of hope and inspiration, and we are honored to have had the opportunity to share it with you.
what are some lesser-known facts about Princess Olga’s early life
- Birth Date Speculation: Her birth date is unknown, but it is speculated to have been between 890 and 925 AD.
- Early Life in Pleskov: Olga was born in Pleskov, which is now part of Russia, Ukraine, or Belarus, depending on the source.
- Varangian Origin: Olga was of Varangian (Viking) origin, which is mentioned in the Primary Chronicle.
- Age at Marriage: According to Alexey Karpov, a specialist in ancient Russian history, Olga was no more than 15 years old at the time of her marriage to Prince Igor I of Kiev.
- Marriage and Guardianship: Igor was under the guardianship of Oleg, who had consolidated power in the region, after his father’s death. This guardianship lasted until Igor reached his majority.
- Drevlian Relations: The Drevlians, a neighboring tribe, had a complex relationship with Kievan Rus’. They initially paid tribute to Igor’s predecessors but stopped after Oleg’s death. Igor confronted them and received tribute, but they murdered him on his return.
- Conversion to Christianity: Olga converted to Christianity in the 950s, possibly in Constantinople, and took the name Elena. She worked to spread Christianity in Rus’, which contributed to her veneration as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
These lesser-known facts provide a more detailed understanding of Princess Olga’s early life and her role in shaping the history of Kievan Rus’.
