Albert, 12th Prince of Thurn and Taxis

Albert, 12th Prince of Thurn and Taxis (Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel Fürst von Thurn und Taxis;[1] born 24 June 1983), is a German aristocrat, businessman, and race car driver.[2][3]^:540[4] He has been listed as the world's youngest billionaire many times since his father's death in 1990,[5] first appearing on the list when he was age eight.[2]

Albert
Prince of Thurn and Taxis
Prince Albert in 2011
Head of the House of Thurn and Taxis
Period	14 December 1990 – present
Predecessor	Johannes
Heir presumptive	Prince Max Emanuel
Born	24 June 1983 Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany
Full name German: Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel Prinz von Thurn und Taxis
House	Thurn and Taxis
Father	Johannes, 11th Prince of Thurn and Taxis
Mother	Countess Gloria of Schönburg-Glauchau
Religion	Roman Catholic

Biography

Family

Through descent from king Miguel I of Portugal, Albert is related to several reigning hereditary heads of state in Europe. He also descends from the dynasties of Wittelsbach, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Braganza and the House of Habsburg-Lorraine.[3]^{:536–540, 778}[4] The House of Thurn und Taxis is a German family whose fortune derives from the appointment of an ancestor, Leonhard von Taxis, as hereditary postmaster general of the Holy Roman Empire in 1595.[4] Albert's father preceded him as the head of this family, which has several branches.[4] The family of Thurn und Taxis remains well known as owners of breweries[6] and former builders of castles.[5] The family seat is Saint Emmeram's Abbey.

His father, Johannes, 11th Prince of Thurn and Taxis, an internationally renowned boulevardier, died in 1990 when Albert was seven years old, leaving the young boy to inherit a US$3 billion fortune and US$500 million in debts.[5] His mother, Gloria (née Countess von Schönburg-Glauchau), a popular media figure since marriage to his 53-year-old father as a 20-year-old, was instrumental in preserving the family fortune until Albert became of legal age to take over its management.[5] He has two older sisters: Princess Maria Theresia and Princess Elisabeth.[5]

Education

Thurn und Taxis completed his high school education in Rome and then, after his military service, he studied economics and theology at the University of Edinburgh.

Media attention

Prince Albert in 2008

In 2008 Albert was included as 11th on the list of the Forbes Magazine's List of The 20 Hottest Young Royals as compiled by Forbes magazine.[2]

Motorsport

He is an enthusiastic racing driver, vice-champion (2007/2008) and champion (2010) of the German GT Championship ADAC GT Masters with the German Team Reiter Engineering.[7]

He embarked on a career in rallying in 2009, competing in the European Rally Championship since 2016.[8]

Titles, styles and honours

Titles and styles

Traditional:[4]

• 28 June 1983 – 14 December 1990: His Serene Highness Prince Albert of Thurn and Taxis
• 14 December 1990 – present: His Serene Highness the Prince of Thurn and Taxis

Dynastic honours

• Calabrian House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies: Knight Grand Cross of Justice of the Calabrian Two Sicilian Order of Saint George.[9]

Racing record

Complete GT1 World Championship results

Year	Team	Car	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	Pos	Points
2012	Reiter Engineering	Lamborghini	NOG QR 3	NOG CR 8	ZOL QR Ret	ZOL CR 8	NAV QR 12	NAV QR 14	SVK QR 2	SVK CR Ret	ALG QR 13	ALG CR Ret	SVK QR 11	SVK CR Ret	MOS QR	MOS CR	NUR QR	NUR CR	DON QR	DON CR	18th	18

References

1. In 1919 royalty and nobility were mandated to lose their privileges in Germany, hereditary titles were to be legally borne thereafter only as part of the surname, according to Article 109 of the Weimar Constitution. Styles such as majesty and highness were not retained. Archived 24 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine
2. "The 20 Hottest Young Royals - 11. Prince Albert". Forbes. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
3. Willis, Daniel. The Descendants of Louis XIII. Clearfield, 1999, Baltimore, US. ISBN 0-8063-4942-5.
4. Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels: Furstliche Hauser Band XIX. Limburg an der Lahn: C. A. Starke Verlag. 2011. pp. 369, 382–383, 385–386. ISBN 978-3-7980-0849-6.
5. "The Conversation of Gloria TNT". Vanity Fair. June 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
6. https://www.thurnundtaxisbiere.de
7. https://www.adac-gt-masters.de/uk/fahrerportrait-2011/albert-von-thurn-und-taxis-1635/
8. https://www.ewrc-results.com/profile/12891-albert-von-thurn-und-taxis/
9. "09/10/2008 (London) Mass and Investiture at the". Constantinianorder.org. 9 October 2008. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2016.

External links

• Thurn and Taxis Family Homepage
• Richest Germans: Silver Spoon Baby^
• Homepage of Albert of Thurn und Taxis