Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis was late for Mass. Draped in a long dark coat over her silk scarf and a pearl necklace, she rushed through the medieval monastery nestled in her imposing 500-room Bavarian palace. Autumn’s chill touched the air, as raindrops pattered outside, while she made her way to the chapel to pray.
The chapel was awash in crimson light, emanating from a crypt below, where her husband and other family members rested eternally. She knelt quietly as soft bells rang, with her dinner guests—a British baroness and her partner—slipping in to join her for the evening prayers led by a priest.
At 64 years old, Princess Gloria, who first captured public attention in the 1980s with her extravagant jeweled tiaras and multicolored mohawk, has transitioned into a devout conservative Catholic with connections to the European far right. Known for her strong anti-abortion and anti-immigration rhetoric back home in Germany, her circle has recently embraced a notable figure: Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. He was a guest at her annual music festival in the summer of 2023.
The encounter afforded Justice Alito an insight into European nobility and provided Princess Gloria a platform to amplify her causes through the music festival. Reflecting on their meeting, she remarked, “I met him as a Catholic, and I realized that he’s a judge who is pro-life. So for me, that was a great thing, because very few people I know are pro-life.”
Through her evolving relationships and historical connections, Gloria aims to cultivate a community of conservative values and continue her activism.
