Dowager Princess Marianne

Photographer and doyenne of German and Austrian nobility

- Patrick Kidd

On a Sunday morning in August 1985, during a holiday on the Wolfgangsee near Salzburg, Margaret Thatcher was introduced over coffee to a woman called Manni, who invited her for lunch.

The prime minister politely declined, explaining her busy schedule. “That's a pity,” Manni said. “I'm sure you would have enjoyed talking to Sean Connery.”

That grabbed Mrs Thatcher's attention. “You mean James Bond?” she asked. A conversation followed with the British ambassador. “I can come for one drink,’ the prime minister said. Soon after, Manni recalled, “Sean was introduced to his biggest fan,’ as the Thatchers were photographed by their host relaxing in the garden and chatting about devolution with the Scottish actor.

Manni was also known as Marianne, Dowager Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn and quadruple-great-granddaughter on her mother’s side of Empress Maria Theresa, ruler of the Habsburg monarchy. Or the “Mamarazza”, to use the nickname Princess Caroline of Monaco gave her in recognition of her status as the best-connected celebrity photographer in Europe.