Altshausen, 9 August 2003
Wedding programme
Thursday, 7 August 2003
- 19:30-21:00 – Serenade at the Seminarplatz (public)
Friday, 8 August 2003
- 11:00 – Civil Marriage at Schloss Altshausen (private)
- 16:30-19:00 – Reception at Schloss Althausen or in the castle park (private)
- 19:45 – Congratulations by Mayor König and club-committees at the inner court of Schloss Altshausen (private)
- 20:00-24:00 – Summer party at the castle square (Seminarplatz and Marktplatz) (public)
Saturday, 9 August 2003
- 10:15 – Cortège (public)
- 10:30-12:00 – Religious Marriage at the Castle Church (private)
- 12:00-16:00 – Reception in the castle park (private)
- 14:30 – Family-déjeuner at Schloss Altshausen (private)
- 20:30 – Soirée at Schloss Altshausen (private)
The day before the wedding, 8 August 2003
As I hadn’t been able to get away from my work until August 8th, I had to skip most of Duchess Fleur and Count Moritz’s (pre-) wedding festivities: the serenade at the Seminarplatz on Thursday evening, as well as the civil wedding at Altshausen Castle on Friday morning, with reception in the afternoon. I had left the north of The Netherlands early in the morning of Friday August 8th, but I only arrived at my hotel in Bad Saulgau – very near Altshausen – after an11-hour journey by train (2 hours extra because of delay). Pretty tired I put my luggage in my room and had a small dinner on the terrace of my hotel. I was still eating when I already discovered the first royals – passing me in two cars were for sure Duchess Sophie von Württemberg with her two brothers Alexander and Eugen, and probably also sister Margarethe. They passed too quickly to have a very good look.
Still I was not sure if I would go to Altshausen that evening, because I was pretty tired and would have to wake up already very early the next morning. But my curiosity won it and I walked to the railway station, bought a ticket and then heard that the train had 40 minutes delay. That made me loose most of my enthusiasm to go to Altshausen that evening, and I decided to go back to my hotel.
However I knew there was an expensive hotel in the neighbourhood and as I had seen the Württembergs passing I thought there would be a chance some of the guests would stay at that hotel. I passed it on my way back to my hotel and to my surprise I saw two taxi-busses for Altshausen Castle, as was on a paper placed behind the windows, standing outside the hotel. I was crazy enough to ask if I could have a lift to Altshausen, and to my surprise that was no problem. I only had to wait until the guest for Altshausen would come out. I didn’t have to wait very long, as he soon arrived.
I stepped into the car after the guest and explained to him why I was travelling with the same taxi as him and said to hope he didn’t mind (of course not). I soon found out he didn’t speak German, but English with a heavy South-European accent. My interest raised when he said he had been born in Bern, and it didn’t take long to find out he was a royal and was from Portugal, which together said enough to me about his identity. I asked him then if he was Dom Miguel de Bragança Duke of Viseu, brother of the Duke of Bragança, and yes, it was him. We had a nice chat in the car, and he told me he had just discovered that he had forgotten to take the white waistcoat with him he had to wear the next day.
Soon we reached Altshausen Castle and drove over the court of the castle to the beginning of the square where the party was held. The square was already pretty filled with people. There was no place at the benches and tables anymore: they were already occupied by royal and noble guests as well as people from Altshausen. Soon I saw some press I knew, and to my big surprise Stefan from Bunte, a German magazine, had taken my friend Verena with him to assist him. Also Albert from Royal Press Holland walked around, as well as some other photographers I had met at other occasions.
I unfortunately already had missed the arrival of the most important guests, but it was very easy to spot the royal guests around the tables talking and laughing. Among them of course was King Juan Carlos of Spain, godfather of the bride, who had already attended some of the earlier festivities on Friday, and was surrounded by several security people. I didn’t dare to photograph anymore as it was already pretty dark when I arrived, but spent my time observing the royals and talking to people I hadn’t seen for a while. Regularly I could see a royal enjoying a huge beer, for example Duke Philipp von Württemberg and even his sister Duchess Fleur von Württemberg.
I didn’t really enjoy the Austrian and German music that was played at the stage in the beginning. When I was having a drink with a photographer of Seeger Press Dom Miguel de Bragança passed us and told us he loved the music and the beer. Soon afterwards a nice band started playing and we got to see some rock ‘n roll. It was already around 11:30pm when also Duchess Fleur and Count Moritz walked to the stage and danced together under loud applause of the public around them. Soon other royals joined them for a while. What I only discovered later was that the drummer of the band was noone else as Prince Constantin von und zu Liechtenstein. He and his band were playing at the party as a wedding gift for Fleur and Moritz. I couldn’t find Verena and Stefan back anymore, and I decided once more to try to get a lift with one of the taxis as the last train had long left Altshausen. Around midnight I arrived at my hotel and I soon fell asleep, of course dreaming of the next day …
Wedding day, 9 August 2003
Although I arrived at Altshausen by train very early, around 8:30, I wasn’t the first one of the press to arrive. I picked up my press card and some information, including the order of service, and then went to have a look at the press stand just in front of the entrance of the Schloss- und Pfarrkirche Sankt Michael (Castle and Parish Church St Michael). Most of the about 460 guests arrived around 10:00, including many interesting royals. Some of the guests didn’t arrive until when the bride and groom were already inside, and some even managed to show up halfway the service. Unfortunately most of the guests didn’t stand still for photos, as it had been the wish of the family that the cortège would be able to walk to the church as natural as possible, thus without stopping for photos.
However the ones who were not in the cortège and came via the carpet from behind us, were often very willing to pose. Photographing the cortège walking towards the church was pretty difficult, as the guards were even standing right in front of our noses, so all the photographers left the stand to make photos from between the guards and sometimes even ran over the carpet, standing in the way of other colleagues. Happily on the way out of church the boss of Seeger Press had arranged that the guards would not stand in front of us anymore so we would have a clear view. Later I heard that it hadn’t been the intention to have the guards in front of us and that there must have been a misunderstanding at the guards.
At 10:15 the cortège started arriving at church. Among the guests were the godfather of Duchess Fleur, King Juan Carlos of Spain, and Queen Margarita of the Bulgarians. Unfortunately King/Prime Minister Simeon of Bulgaria had cancelled his trip to Altshausen. Also Duchess Fleur’s aunt Duchess Marie Therese de Montpensier had cancelled. At the end of the cortège the groom, Count Moritz von Goëss, arrived with his godmother Countess Luisa von Seilern. His parents have already died.
- Margrave Gian-Carlo Pallavicini
- Dr Max von Wohlgemuth – Countess Sophie Henckel von Donnersmarck – Prince Philipp von der Leyen
- Prince Constantin von und zu Liechtenstein – Princess Isabelle zu Hohenlohe-Jagstberg
- The Count von Goëss – The Countess von Goëss
- The Prince zu Waldeck und Pyrmont – The Princess zu Waldeck und Pyrmont – The Landgrave von Hessen
- The Margrave of Baden – The Margravinne of Baden
- The Duke of Bragança – The Duchess of Bragança
- Prime Minister Erwin Teufel – Mrs Edeltraud Teufel
- King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Margarita of the Bulgarians
- Dr. Tilo Berlin – Duchess Marie von Württemberg (Bavaria) – The Hon. Mr. Charles Balfour
- The Hereditary Count von Waldburg-Zeil – Duchess Marie von Württemberg (Wied)
- Duke Michael von Württemberg – Mrs Filippa Berlin
- Duke Philipp von Württemberg – The Hon. Mrs. Svea Balfour
- Duke Eberhard von Württemberg – The Hereditary Countess von Waldburg-Zeil
- Duke Friedrich von Württemberg – The Duchess von Württemberg
- Count Moritz von Goëss – Countess Luisa von Seilern
- The Duke von Württemberg – Duchess Fleur von Württemberg
At 10:30 Duchess Fleur von Württemberg on the arm of her father, Duke Carl, came walking down the carpet from a part of the castle to the entrance of the church. She looked beautiful in a white organza dress set with Brussels lace and designed by Parisian designer Cathérine Puget. Duchess Fleur further wore a 4-metres-long train with a splendid diademe from the Württemberg family.
Order of service
The wedding is celebrated by:
– S.G. Abbot Gregor Henckel von Donnersmarck Ocist
In concelebration with:
– H.H. Priest Josef Schäfer
– H.H. Father Pierre Conrads Kronenberg SJ
Music
– Choir of the Castle- and Parish Church St Michael Altshausen
– Wind-band (quartet) of the Kath. Freien Gymnasium Studienkolleg St. Johann, Aulendorf, led by Herbert Wenzel
Soloists:
– Carola Romer, Soprano
– Susanne Rube, Contralto
– Michael Pflumm, Tenor
– Simon Robinson, Bass
Capella Novanta, Concert Master Günther Luderer
On the organ: Christoph Dorn
Celebration of the mass
Music at the entrance of the guests
– Georg Friedrich Händel – Feuerwerksmusik: Ouverture Allegro
– Joseph Haydn – From the thanking song to God: “Du bist’s, dem Ruhm und Ehre gebühret”
– Johann Gottfried Weiske – “Jauchzet dem Herrn”
– Felix Mendelssohn – from the oratory Elias: “Wohlan, alle, die ihr durstig seit”
– Moritz Hauptmann – “Salve Regina”
– Georg Friedrich Händel – Feuerwerksmusik: Bourrée – La Paix
– Maurice Durufle – “Notre Père”
Entrance
– Georg Friedrich Händel – Feuerwerksmusik Ouverture Adagio 1. Satz
Welcome and Opening
S.G. Abbot Gregor Henckel von Donnersmarck Ocist
H.H. Priest Josef Schäfer
Kyrie – Franz Bühler (1760-1823): Missa in C-Dur
Forgiveness
Gloria – Franz Bühler (1760-1823): Missa in C-Dur
Prayer of the day
God, our Creator and Father, you have sanctified the marriage and with it reproduced the bond between Christ and his Church. Hear our prayer for this bridal couple. Make, that they unfold the Grace of the sacrament of marriage, which they receive in faith, in their life together. That is why we pray via Jesus Christ.
Lecture
H.H. Priest Josef Schäfer – Kohelet 4, 9-12
Halleluja
Gospel
H.H. Father Pierre Kronenberg SJ – Matthäus 14, 22-32
Sermon
S.G. Abbot Georg Henckel von Donnersmarck Ocist
The Wedding
Abbot Gregor: Dear bride and groom, we have heard the word of God and heard his message. God has made the marriage a reproduction of his love to us people. He blesses and sanctifies the love of man and woman and makes their combination undissolvable, the way also his love for us is irrevocable. In the sacrament of marriage he offers the marrying couple his help, to let them stay loyal to each other all their life and to make them carry together the taken up duties in marriage and family. I ask you now, for all people present to testify that you are willing to start such a christian marriage together.
Moritz, I ask you: Did you come here, after mature consideration, in free will to close the bond of marriage with your bride Fleur?
Count Moritz: Ja (yes)
Abbot Gregor: Do you want to love and cherish your wife and to be loyal all days of your life, until death does part you?
Count Moritz: Ja (yes)
Abbot Gregor: Are you ready, to receive the children God wants to offer you and to raise them in the spirit of Christ and his church?
Count Moritz: Ja (yes)
Here Duchess Fleur turned to her mother to ask her mother’s blessing for her marriage, as is a custom in the Royal House of France.
Abbot Gregor: Fleur, I also ask you: Have you come here after mature consideration, in free will to close the bond of marriage with your groom Moritz?
Duchess Fleur: Ja (yes)
Abbot Gregor: Do you want to love and cherish your husband and to be loyal all days of your life, until death does part you?
Duchess Fleur: Ja (yes)
Abbot Gregor: Are you ready, to receive the children God wants to offer you and to raise them in the spirit of Christ and his church?
Duchess Fleur: Ja (yes)
Abbot Gregor: Are you both ready to fulfill your tasks in marriage and family, in church and world, as christian married people?
Duchess Fleur and Count Moritz: Ja (yes)
The Blessing of the Rings
Abbot Gregor: Before you will get married, I bless the rings you will give each other in the name of God. The way the ring encloses the finger completely, so encloses the bond the loyalty of both who wear the rings. That is why we ask: Lord Jesus Christ, bless the rings and protect this marriage for everything that threatens it, because you live and rule to all eternity.
All: Amen.
The Matrimony
Abbot Gregor: So you close the bond of marriage now for God and Church, when you speak out the word of matrimony. Then put on each other the ring of loyalty.
Count Moritz: Fleur, for the eyes of God I take you as my wife. I promise you the faith in good days and in bad, in health and illness, until death do us part. I will love you, respect and honour you all days of my life. Carry this ring as token of our love and loyalty. In name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Duchess Fleur: Moritz, for the eyes of God I take you as my husband. I promise you the faith in good days and in bad, in health and illness, until death do us part. I will love you, respect and honour you all days of my life. Carry this ring as token of our love and loyalty. In name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Abbot Gregor: Now give each other the right hand. In nam of God and his Church I confirm the bond of marriage, you have closed today and bless him. You all however, who are present here, I take as witnesses of this holy bond. “What God has bound, men are not allowed to split.”
Blessing of the newly weds
Signing the marriage certificate
Franz Schubert (1797-1828): Ave Maria.
Mediation
Lasset zum Herrn uns beten: Herr, erbarme dich. Christus, erbarme dich. Herr, erbarme dich.
Preparation of the gifts
Song Choir and Congregation
Ein Haus voll Glorie schauet weit über alle Land …
Prefation
Sanctus
Franz Bühler (1760-1823): Missa in C-Dur
High Prayer
Benediction
Franz Bühler (1760-1823): Missa in C-Dur
Our Father
Pater noster, qui es in caelis; sanctificetur nomen tuum; adveniat regnum tuum; fiat voluntas tua, sicut in caelo, et in terra. Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie; et dimitte nobis debita nostra, sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris; et ne nos inducas in tentationem; sed libera nos a malo.
Salvatoris nostri Jesu Christi.
Quia tuum est regnum, et potestas, et gloria in saecula.
Agnus Dei
Franz Bühler (1760-1823): Missa in C-Dur
Communion
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Triosonate in E-Moll, BWV 528
Song Choir and Congregation: Lobe den Herren, den mächtigen König der Ehren …
Final Prayer
Lord, our God, the power of the holy sacrifice accompanies this bridal couple on their path of life. You have united them in the bond of marriage and reached them a bread and a cup; strengthen and unfold their love, with which they will become more one all the time. Therefore we pray via Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
Reading the Papal Letter
Blessing
Salve Regina
Salve Regina, mater misericordiae, vita, dulcedo et spes nostra, salve. Ad te clamamus, exsules filii Evae. Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle. Eia ergo, advocata nostra, illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte. Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exsilium ostende. O clemens, o pia, o dulcis Virgo Maria.
Leaving
Georg Friedrich Händel (1685-1759): Feuerwerksmusik 4. und 5. Satz
Leaving church and reception
Coming out of the church after a 1,5 hour service bride and groom were greeted by loud salutes, which startled everybody. The just married couple took some time posing for the photographers and Count Moritz even kissed his bride on her cheek. While they were walking towards the entrance of the castle park where the reception was to be held, their wedding guests left church and followed them.
As soon as the last guest had left church press and public entered church in the hope to get a souvenir, like an order of service. I entered pretty quickly and already then some ladies working at the church were taking away the pieces of papers that indicated where people had been seated, and they also took away the order of services that had been left by wedding guests. The church was completely decorated with thousands of flowers in the colours blue, yellow and white. I had a look at the altar and the interior of the church before going outside again.
The reception was held in the park of Altshausen Castle. From the gate we were able to see something of it, but not that much. After a while I went to the press room to have a drink and something to eat. I also helped a photographer identifying some guests at pictures. After a while I unfortunately heard from Verena I had missed seeing several guests and also bride and groom leaving the reception area to have a déjeuner at home.
However later I managed to make several very nice photos of guests leaving or arriving. Some even especially posed for me (and Verena) when we asked. That way we managed to get a nice picture of Prince Albert von Thurn und Taxis and some beautiful ones of Hereditary Count Damian von Schönborn-Buchheim, his wife Deirdre and their little daughter Isabelle.
I had a drink in town and then went back to the castle – no press left. I talked a bit to a security man and then saw some of the bridal children, who seemed to have been sent to the swimmingpool earlier that afternoon. Later on I spotted little Duchess Dorothée and her cousin Duke Carl Theodor playing and running on the red carpet.
Déjeuner and ball
Menu
Fawn-Pie with Cumberland-Sauce
***
Vichysoisse
***
Saibling-Filet on Spinach with Potato-Mash and Rieslingsauce
***
Salad
***
Napolitaine
2001 Maulbronner Eilfingerberg Riesling Spätlese trocken
1985 Château Margaux
1995 Louis Roederer Cristal
1999 Maulbronner Eilfingerberg Riesling Eiswein
Early in the evening I got company of Albert of Royal Press Holland and his assistant Albert. Not that much later also Stefan and Verena arrived. While we were talking, around 19:30 Queen Margarita of the Bulgarians passed us wearing jeans, Verena had seen her already earlier that day also making photographs in the park of the castle. It was not until shortly before the first guests arrived that more photographers joined us. Despite of having heard that we would not be allowed to make photos from the guests arriving at the ball, we weren’t sent away after all. We again saw a long list of guests arriving, several women wearing splendid diademes, and of course everybody was in evening dress. After the guests had all arrived, it was about time to leave the scene. Stefan, Verena and I drove to Bad Saulgau and had dinner at a restaurant. Then we said goodbye, I went back to my hotel and that was the end of a long and very nice day.
Guestlist
- Archduke Carl-Peter and Archduchess Alexandra of Austria
- Archduke Philipp of Austria
- Archduchess Marie-Christine of Austria and Clemens Guggenberg von Riedhofen
- Archduke Ferdinand and Archduchess Katharina (Tita) of Austria
- Margrave Maximilian and Margravinne Valerie von Baden
- Hereditary Prince Bernhard and Hereditary Princess Stephanie von Baden
- Prince Leopold von Baden
- Prince Michael von Baden
- Prince Ludwig and Princess Marianne von Baden
- The Hon. Mr and Mrs Charles Balfour
- Prince Manuel of Bavaria
- Dr Tilo and Filippa Berlin
- Princess Alessandra Borghese
- Prince Antoine of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
- Princess Elisabeth of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
- Prince Gennaro of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
- The Duke and Duchess of Bragança
- Dom Miguel of Bragança
- Queen Margarita of the Bulgarians
- Princess Pilar von Croÿ
- Prince Engelbert von Croÿ
- Princess Elisabeth von Croÿ
- Stephen Geddes
- Clarissa Geddes
- Camilla Geddes
- The Count and Countess von Goëss
- Count Ulrich von Goëss Sr
- Count Georg von Goëss
- Countess Georgina von Goëss
- Count Johann-Anton von Goëss
- Countess Barbara von Goëss
- Count Paul von Goëss
- Count Ernst-Ulrich von Goëss
- Sr Count Ulrich von Goëss-Enzenberg
- Countess Katrin von Goëss-Enzenberg
- Count (Abbot) Georg Henckel von Donnersmarck
- Countess Sophie Henckel von Donnersmarck
- Landgrave Moritz von Hessen
- Princess Isabelle zu Hohenlohe-Jagstberg
- Count Rudolf Hoyos
- Countess Franziska Hoyos
- Count Hans Huyn and Countess Rosemary Huyn
- Countess Assunta Huyn
- Hereditary Count Maximilian and Hereditary Countess Valerie zu Königsegg-Aulendorf
- Countess Philippa zu Königsegg-Aulendorf
- Prince Philipp and Princess Elisabeth (Lilly) von der Leyen
- Prince Maximilian and Princess Angela von und zu Liechtenstein
- Prince Constantin and Princess Marie von und zu Liechtenstein
- Prince Philipp von und zu Liechtenstein
- Prince Alexander and Princess Astrid von und zu Liechtenstein
- Prince Christoph von und zu Liechtenstein
- Prince Gundakar and Princess Marie von und zu Liechtenstein
- Princess Amalie von und zu Liechtenstein
- Princess Marie Christine von und zu Liechtenstein
- Princess Marie-Hélène von und zu Liechtenstein
- Princess Michaela von und zu Liechtenstein
- Countess Hélène de Limburg-Stirum
- Count Louis and Countess Belén de Limburg-Stirum
- Viscountess Margarethe Luce-Bailly de Chevigny
- Count Heinrich Marenzi
- Countess Hemma Marenzi
- Count Douglas Marenzi
- Count Philipp Marenzi
- Dr Katharina Gürtler
- Maria-Teresia Martorell-Salgado
- The Duchess of Orléans
- Princess Teresa de Orléans e Bragança
- Prince Heinrich von Orsini und Rosenberg
- Princess Eleonore von Orsini und Rosenberg
- Count Ferdinand von Orsini und Rosenberg
- Countess Zdenka von Orsini und Rosenberg
- Margrave Friedrich Pallavicini
- Margravinne Helene Pallavicini
- Margravinne Gabriella Pallavicini and Ricardo Walter
- Margrave Gian-Carlo Pallavicini
- Duke Franz Albrecht and Duchess Isabella von Ratibor und Corvey
- Hereditary Prince Viktor and Hereditary Princess Alexandra von Ratibor und Corvey
- Prince Benedikt and Princess Anna-Christine von Ratibor und Corvey
- Altgravinne Cecily zu Salm-Reifferscheidt-Krautheim und Dyck
- Altgrave Benvenuto zu Salm-Reifferscheidt
- Altgravinne Laura zu Salm-Reifferscheidt
- Princess Anna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
- Count Friedrich Karl and Countess Isabella von Schönborn-Buchheim
- Count Damian and Countess Deirdre von Schönborn-Buchheim
- Countess Isabelle von Schönborn-Buchheim
- Count Vinzenz and Countess Katharina von Schönborn-Buchheim
- Countess Claire von Schönborn-Buchheim
- Countess Luisa von Seilern
- Marie-Anne von Simson
- King Juan Carlos of Spain
- Count Wilhelm and Countess Lorraine von Spee
- Prime Minister Erwin Teufel and Edeltraud Teufel
- Prince Albert von Thurn und Taxis
- Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis
- Princess Maria Theresia von Thurn und Taxis
- Princess Elisabeth von Thurn und Taxis
- Duke Wilhelm and Duchess Karen von Urach
- The Duke of Vendôme
- Countess Caroline von Waldburg zu Wolfegg und Waldsee
- Hereditary Count Erich and Hereditary Countess Mathilde von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg
- Prince Wittekind and Princess Cecilia zu Waldeck und Pyrmont
- Prince Ulrich and Princess Ilke zu Wied
- Hayo Willms
- Maria Theresia Willms
- Dr Max von Wohlgemuth
- Count Peter and Countess Marie Christine Wolff Metternich zur Gracht
- Count Simeon Wolff Metternich zur Gracht
- Prince Carl and Princess Katalin von Wrede
- Duke Carl and Duchess Diane von Württemberg
- Duke Friedrich and Duchess Marie von Württemberg
- Duke Eberhard von Württemberg
- Duke Philipp and Duchess Marie von Württemberg
- Duke Michael von Württemberg
- Duke Ferdinand von Württemberg
- Duke Eugen von Württemberg
- Duke Alexander von Württemberg
- Duchess Sophie von Württemberg
Biographies of bride and groom
Her Royal Highness Duchess Fleur von Württemberg
Duchess Fleur was born in Friedrichshafen on November 4, 1977, the youngest daughter of H.R.H. Duke Carl and H.R.H. Duchess Diane, née Princess of France. With four elder brothers and one elder sister she grew up in the Castle of Altshausen.
Duchess Fleur attended the Klosterschule Wald and concluded her school education in the Progymnasium Altshausen. Then she took up international language studies in France, England, Spain and Italy where she gained experience in the field of interior fittings and event-management.
In autumn 2000, Duchess Fleur organized a very successful exhibition of Duchess Diane’s works in the Espace Pierre Cardin in Paris. Since then, she is working for Duchess Diane, an artist of international repute, in the field of organization and coordination of art exhibitions and events.
In her leisure time, Duchess Fleur is a passionate diver and tennis player.
His High-Born Count Moritz von Goëss
Count Moritz Goëss was born in Klagenfurt on June 5, 1966, the only son of Count Ernst-Friedrich and Countess Gabrielle, née Countess of Salm-Reifferscheidt-Krautheim and Dyck. Count Moritz has two sisters. The house of Goëss has resided in Carinthia since the late 17th century; in the 19th century a number of family members held high offices at the Emperor’s court.
Count Moritz attended elementary school in Wölfnitz, then went to the Mittelschule Bundesgymnasium in Klagenfurt, and concluded his school education in the Voralpinen Knabeninstitut of Montana, Switzerland. He did his military service in the rod battalion 9 in Zwölfaxing. Then he took up reading Business and Economics at the English University of Buckingham in Oxfordshire.
His career has always been closely linked with the wood-processing industry. For 12 years he worked in the Sales Department of an Austrian group, starting in an English subsidiary of the group. After that, he worked in Austria for five years, where he gained experience in the field of Technical Purchasing and Timber Purchasing. Thereafter, he worked in Luxembourg for four years, where he was involved in the building up of a new factory. After a short employment in France, Count Moritz Goëss was appointed member of the sales management of a factory in Germany. Finally, he returned to his home country Austria and works currently in the Sales Controlling Department of a big private industrial enterprise in Vienna.
In his leisure time, Count Moritz Goëss is a passionate skier and tennis player.
Information from the Press-information received at Altshausen Castle.