Another surprise royal wedding! Glamorous law graduate Archduchess of Austria, 26, who has modelled for Dolce & Gabbana marries Belgian racing driver at an intimate ceremony at a registry office in Monaco

by · Mail Online
  • Eleonore von Habsburg married Formula E racer Jérôme d’Ambrosio on Monday
  • The Archduchess, 26, is the great-granddaughter of Austria's last Emperor 
  • Dolce & Gabbana model studied law and insists she leads a 'normal life'
  • Pair have been dating since 2017 and announced engagement in March 2019  

The young Archduchess of Austria has married her Belgian racing driver boyfriend in a small civil ceremony in Monaco, it has been reported.  

Eleonore von Habsburg, 26, whose full title is Archduchess of Austria, Royal Princess of Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia, tied the knot with Formula E racer Jérôme d’Ambrosio, 34, on Monday at a registry office, according to Hello! magazine.

Eleonore wore an off-the-shoulder white ruffled dress by designer Carolina Herrera and a discreet fascinator by Stephen Jones for the ceremony, which took place in front of an small group of family and friends.   

Born in Salzburg, the glamorous model and socialite is the daughter of Archduke Karl von Habsburg - head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and a leading politician - and his estranged wife, Baroness Francesca von Habsburg.

Another royal wedding! Eleonore von Habsburg, 26, married  Formula E racer Jérôme d’Ambrosio, 34, in a small civil ceremony at a registry office  in Monaco yesterday 
The couple were joined by a small group of family and friends for the occasion (pictured, Mayor of Monaco Georges Marsan, Henri d'Ambrosio, Giselle d'Ambrosio, Jerome d'Ambrosio, Eleonore of Habsburg, Karl of Habsburg and Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza) 

This makes Eleonore the great-granddaughter of the last Emperor of Austria, Charles I of Austria, who reigned for two years until the monarchy was abolished at the end of the First World War.

At its height of power, the House of Habsburg was one of the leading and most influential rulers in Europe.

The couple had planned a large church wedding but due to coronavirus restrictions, they opted for a smaller civil ceremony at a registry office.

Eleonore and Jerome plan to celebrate with a larger church wedding when restrictions have lifted further.  

Eleonore has risen to prominence in the fashion world with high-profile campaigns for the likes of Dolce & Gabbana under her belt (pictured at D&G's September 2017 show, Milan)

The wedding was attended only by their closest family members, with their sisters Gloria and Olivia acting as witnesses.

The couple invited a larger group of guests to celebrate their marriage at a socially distanced lunch.   

Despite Eleonore's royal connections, she previously told Madonna24 how her parents have always insisted that she and her siblings stay 'grounded' and she loves shopping in high street stalwarts such as Mango, Zara and H&M.

'I am incredibly grateful to my parents for not raising us in the belief that it is normal to go to Swiss boarding school and to live in London in a chic apartment,' she told the site. 

Eleonore is the daughter of Archduke Karl von Habsburg and his estranged wife, art collector Baroness Francesca von Habsburg (mother and daughter pictured in Paris, December 2013)
Eleonore has been dating d’Ambrosio since early 2017 (the couple are pictured together in Monte-Carlo, Monaco) and has close links to the racing world

Eleonore has been dating d’Ambrosio, 33, since early 2017 and has close links to the racing world with her brother, Ferdinand Habsburg, a DTM driver.

The eldest of three children, she attended boarding school in Gstaad, Switzerland before studying law at London's European Business School.

The brainy aristo beauty speaks fluent German and English, and is reportedly proficient in French and Spanish too.

And it seems fashion runs in the family as her mother, who descends from Swiss nobility, also enjoyed a brief spell as a model before pursuing a career as an art collector. 

Eleonore and Jérôme at a charity gala in Monte-Carlo, September 2018. Despite Eleonore's royal connections, her parents have always insisted that she and her siblings stay 'grounded'
Eleonore (pictured with Jérôme) insists she does not have her sights set on modelling, saying: 'It was a great experience - but the model business is definitely not my main career path'

It is not known whether she has pursued a career in law, however she has risen to prominence in the fashion world with high-profile campaigns for the likes of Dolce & Gabbana under her belt. 

She was hand-picked to star in the Italian luxury label's SS18 runway show in Milan alongside other society beauties including Lady Kitty Spencer, Lady Amelia Windsor and Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark.

But she insists she does not have her sights set on modelling, telling Madonna24: 'It was a great experience - but the model business is definitely not my main career path.' 

Eleonore with her fiancé. The eldest of three children, she attended boarding school in Gstaad, Switzerland before studying law at London's European Business School
Eleonore partying with pals including heiress Sabine Getty in Gloucestershire, July 2017. The royal says she loves shopping in high street stalwarts such as Mango, Zara and H&M

Eleonore is a keen jet-setter and regularly posts Instagram updates from far-flung destinations including Cambodia, Morocco and Argentina to name a few. 

Based in Monaco, d'Ambrosio is also a brand ambassador for Hugo Boss and Julius Baer and has previously driven in the Formula 1 Grand Prix.

The couple announced their engagement in March 2019 after two years of dating.