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Albert von Thurn und Taxis

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Albert
Prince of Thurn and Taxis
Prince Albert in 2011
Head of the House of Thurn and Taxis
Period14 December 1990 – present
PredecessorJohannes
Born (1983-06-24) 24 June 1983 (age 41)
Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany
Names
German: Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel Prinz von Thurn und Taxis
HouseThurn and Taxis
FatherJohannes, 11th Prince of Thurn and Taxis
MotherCountess Gloria of Schönburg-Glauchau
ReligionRoman Catholic
House of Thurn und Taxis
Extended family

Albert, 12th Prince of Thurn and Taxis (Albert Maria Lamoral Miguel Johannes Gabriel Fürst von Thurn und Taxis,[1] pronounced [ˈalbɛʁt maˈʁiːa lamoˈʁal miˈɡɛl joˈhanəs ˈɡaːbʁieːl fʏʁst fɔn ˈtʊʁn ʔʊnt ˈtaksɪs]; 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 eight years old.[2]

Biography

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Family

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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 von Thurn und 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

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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. Prince Albert completed a doctorate in philosophy at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in 2022, defending a dissertation entitled: Rational Nature Or Wishful Thinking? Freedom & Rationality in Aquinas And Their Medieval Critique.[7]

Media attention

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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

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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.[8]

He embarked on a career in rallying in 2009, competing in the European Rally Championship since 2016.[9]

Honours

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Dynastic honours

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Racing record

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Complete GT1 World Championship results

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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

Complete World Rally Championship results

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Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 WDC Points
2018 Albert von Thurn und Taxis Škoda Fabia R5 MON SWE MEX FRA ARG POR ITA FIN GER
Ret 		TUR GBR ESP AUS NC 0
2019 Albert von Thurn und Taxis Škoda Fabia R5 MON SWE MEX FRA ARG CHL POR ITA
27 		FIN GER TUR GBR ESP AUS
C 		NC 0
2021 Albert von Thurn und Taxis Škoda Fabia R5 Evo MON ARC
Ret 		CRO POR ITA KEN EST BEL GRE FIN ESP MNZ NC 0

Complete World Rally Championship-3 results

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Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 WDC Points
2021 Albert von Thurn und Taxis Škoda Fabia R5 Evo MON ARC
Ret 		CRO POR ITA KEN EST BEL GRE FIN ESP MNZ NC 0

References

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  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. ^ a b c "The 20 Hottest Young Royals – 11. Prince Albert". Forbes. 27 May 2008. Retrieved 4 June 2008.
  3. ^ a b Willis, Daniel. The Descendants of Louis XIII. Clearfield, 1999, Baltimore, US. ISBN 0-8063-4942-5.
  4. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b c d e "The Conversation of Gloria TNT". Vanity Fair. June 2006. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Thurn und Taxis Internet1". Archived from the original on 9 June 2002.
  7. ^ "Ad Lauream Assequendam in Philosophia Thurn und Taxis Albert Doctoralem Dissertationem".
  8. ^ "ADAC GT Masters | ADAC Motorsport". adac-motorsport.de (in German).
  9. ^ "Albert von Thurn und Taxis – rally profile eWRC-results.com". eWRC-results.com.
  10. ^ "Prince Albert". Thurn und Taxis family website. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  11. ^ "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.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Albert, 12th Prince of Thurn and Taxis.
Albert von Thurn und Taxis
Cadet branch of the House of Tassis
Born: 24 June 1983
German nobility
Preceded by Prince of Thurn and Taxis
14 December 1990 – present 		Incumbent
Heir:
Fritz von Thurn und Taxis
Sporting positions
Preceded by ADAC GT Masters Champion
2010 with:
Peter Kox 		Succeeded by
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