After escaping the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 with the assistance of Catholic Relief Services, Marie-Françoise helped settle refugees in West Berlin who fled the Soviet Union. In the 1980s, while her husband, Prince Edouard de Lobkowicz, was serving as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta's ambassador to Lebanon, she was involved in the construction and development of twelve medical and social centers owned by the Order. Princess Marie-Françoise founded the Malte Liban Association, a Catholic organization that raises money for medical clinics serving the poor in Lebanon, in 1987. She served as a delegate to the United Nations from 1990 to 1995.
While living in West Berlin, after escaping the Hungarian Revolution, Marie-Françoise volunteered with Catholic Relief Services to hold Russian refugees who escaped the Soviet Union.[1]
In 1980, she and her family moved to Lebanon, where her husband was appointed ambassador for the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. In Lebanon she became involved in the construction and development of twelve medical-social centers owned by the Order. In 1987 she founded the Malte Liban Association, a Catholic organization which raises money for the medical clinics serving the poor.[2]
Marie-Françoise was a member of the Saint-Siège delegation of the United Nations from 1990 to 1995.
Princess Marie Gabrielle Anita Olga Thérèse Lisieux Gaspara (born 11 June 1967, Paris)
Marie-Françoise's oldest son, Edouard-Xavier, was murdered in Paris in 1984.[6] Her second son, Robert Emanuel, died in 1988 from a brain tumor.[7] Her husband died in 2010.
Marie-Françoise lives alternating between Paris and Lebanon.[8]
Later life
Princess Marie-Françoise participated in events held by the House of Bourbon-Parma in France, including visiting the Château de Nérac in August 2014.[9][10] In September 2015, she attended a garden party in Souvigny for a family reunion of the various branches of the House of Bourbon.[11][12] Her son Charles-Henri, Prince Louis, Duke of Anjou and Princess Marie-Marguerite, Duchess of Anjou were also attended.[12] On 17 September 2018, Princess Marie-Françoise visited the Imam Sadr Foundation in Lebanon. Princess Marie-Françoise also spoke to various personalities working at the facility and toured the foundation complex.[13] Marie-Françoise also attended the wedding of Jean-Christophe, Prince Napoléon and Countess Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg on 19 October 2019 in Paris.[14] On 28 September 2022, the Princess attended a religious service for the 35th anniversary of the founding of her association Malte Liban, at the Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Church, Paris. The Princess received congratulations from those present who attended the service.[15] From 5 to 9 May 2023, Princess Marie-Françoise attended the Order of Malta's pilgrimage to Lourdes, participating in prayers and masses and meeting many people.[16]
Marie-Françoise's relations with her brother Prince Carlos Hugo and with her sisters Princess Marie Thérèse, Princess Cécile Marie and Princess Marie des Neiges were strained due to their opposing views on Carlism. Their relationship had deteriorated to the point that Marie-Françoise did not attend Carlos Hugo's funeral in 2010.[17] However in 2018, Marie-Françoise reconciled with her three younger sisters.[17] She attended the funerals of her sisters Marie Thérèse in April 2020 and Cécile Marie in September 2021. She arrived at the funeral of the latter with her sister Marie des Neiges.[18]