Essayer OR - Gratuit
Dowager Princess Marianne
The Observer
|May 11, 2025
Photographer and doyenne of German and Austrian nobility
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.
Cette histoire est tirée de l'édition May 11, 2025 de The Observer.
Abonnez-vous à Magzter GOLD pour accéder à des milliers d'histoires premium sélectionnées et à plus de 9 000 magazines et journaux.
Déjà abonné ? Se connecter
PLUS D'HISTOIRES DE The Observer
The Observer
Incompetent and doomed: Privatisation has made a Dad's Army of the state
Kenan Malik
4 mins
November 02, 2025
The Observer
Save us from ‘Shrekking’ - we have plenty of dating horrors already
In an ideal world, the young find their own way - but sometimes you have to intervene.
1 min
November 02, 2025
The Observer
We can lead the world in clean energy – if we ‘rewire’ Britain
When I took the role as chair of Great British Energy in July 2024, I knew I would be doing so at a time when the comfort of policy consensus in energy was starting to fracture. It has now become a major fault line, and at the frontline of a misinformation battle.
1 mins
November 02, 2025
The Observer
Who knew what when? The questions for protection staff
Andrew Mountbatten Windsor might have been stripped of his titles and forced to move from Royal Lodge, but questions remain about who knew what and when in the years Andrew maintained his friendship with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
2 mins
November 02, 2025
The Observer
Buyers circle as Battersea owners consider sell-off
The chimneys of Battersea Power Station have been through a lot in the past four decades.
2 mins
November 02, 2025
The Observer
Breaking up and breaking records with a divorce hit
Lily Allen's post-divorce album, West End Girl, is already breaking records and is likely to shatter more. Greeted with widespread critical acclaim, it is the UK's most downloaded album of the week and the most streamed digital-only release by a British artist in an opening week this year.
4 mins
November 02, 2025
The Observer
For baked beans, bulbs and now banking, corner shops are vital – and they're thriving
Martha Gill
4 mins
November 02, 2025
The Observer
Top hospitals turn away pregnant women too scared to use local units
At least five of England's top-rated maternity units have been forced to turn pregnant women away because of \"significant and unanticipated increases in demand\", despite birth rates falling across the country.
2 mins
November 02, 2025
The Observer
Bartlett's Disney dream will test the reach of the creator economy
Venture capitalists are striking more deals with influencers, but do they have the right business models to rival Hollywood, asks Stephen Armstrong
3 mins
November 02, 2025
The Observer
Phones centre stage? Surely, the play's the thing
Theatrical tech overload is another symptom of our digital obsession, writes Kate Maltby
2 mins
November 02, 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size