Today, Princess Marion d'Orléans, Dowager Countess of La Marche, marks a significant milestone in her life as she celebrates her 80th birthday. Born Marion Mercedes Gordon-Orr on September 4, 1942, in Santiago, Chile, she is the only daughter of James Gordon-Orr, an engineer, and Gertrude *Mercedes* Devia Hermosilla. Her paternal grandparents were Alexander Orr and Clara Eliza Gordon, providing a rich heritage that would later influence her life and relationships.
Princess Marion's life has been marked by her love of discovery and her passion for the cultures of lesser-known peoples. Her marriage to Prince Thibaut d'Orléans in 1972 was a union that shared this passion, and together they wrote six books in the *Les Princes du sang* series. After her husband's death, she focused on raising their only surviving son, Robert, and later received recognition from her brother-in-law Prince Henri, declaring Robert a dynastic member of the royal house. As she enters this new chapter in her life, Princess Marion continues to live discreetly, occasionally attending Orléans family functions, a testament to her enduring commitment to her family and heritage[1].
what are some of Princess Marion's most notable contributions to the royal family
how did Princess Marion's work as an interpreter shape her role in the royal family
how did Princess Marion's experience as an interpreter influence her interactions with other members of the royal family
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| Thibaut, Marion, and Robert. Photo (c) Micheline PELLETIER/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images. |
Today, Princess Marion d'Orléans, Dowager Countess of La Marche, celebrates her eightieth birthday.
Born on 4 September 1942 at Santiago, Chile, Marion Mercedes Gordon-Orr was the only daughter of James Gordon-Orr (1894-1973), an engineer, and Gertrude Mercedes Devia Hermosilla (1914-2003). Marion's paternal grandparents were Alexander Orr (1838-1919) and Clara Eliza Gordon (1858-1947).
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| Thibaut and Marion shortly before their marriage, 1972. |
In 1968, Marion first met Prince Thibaut d'Orléans, the youngest child of Prince Henri and Princess Isabelle, Count and Countess of Paris. At the time, Marion was working as an interpreter in Paris for an American firm.
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| Thibaut and Marion. |
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| The newlyweds. |
On 23 September 1972 at Edinburgh, Marion Gordon-Orr, aged thirty, married Prince Thibaut, aged twenty-four. The royal couple celebrated their religious marriage at the private chapel of Cardinal Gray, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh. At the time, their union was not pleasing to the groom's father, and the Count of Paris forbade all family members from attending the wedding. Thibaut's sister Princess Claude, then still Duchess of Aosta, was his only sibling to go against the wishes of the Orléans patriarch, and she was present to celebrate Thibaut and Marion's nuptials.
During their marriage, Thibaut and Marion travelled widely. They visited Peru, Colombia, and Chile, where Marion was born. In Marion, Thibaut found a soul who shared his love of the discovery of lesser-known peoples and their cultures. Between 1973 and 1974, the couple wrote six books in the Les Princes du sang series; these books detailed the fate of a fictional German princely family. The first of these books was published in English under the title A Castle in Bavaria.
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| Marion, Thibaut, and their eldest son Robert. |
Prince Thibaut and Princess Marion had two children, both sons and both born while Thibaut and Marion were staying with her mother in Edinburgh. Prince Robert d'Orléans arrived on 6 September 1976; Robert's godparents are Viscount Paul de La Panouse, one of his parents' dearest friends, as well as his aunt Princess Claude, Duchess of Aosta. Robert's birth led to a reconciliation between his father Thibaut and his grandfather Henri. Three years later, the family was completed by the birth of Louis-Philippe on 18 April 1979; his godparents were Count Charles of Bourbon-Busset and the infant's grandmother Madame the Countess of Paris. Tragically, eight-month-old Louis-Philippe died on 2 January 1980 from sepsis. The sudden and unexpected loss of Louis-Philippe, coupled with the brutally insensitive decision of his grandfather the Count of Paris that the young child could not be buried in the Chapel Royal of Dreux as he was not a dynast, was a blow to Thibaut and Marion.
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| The Count and Countess de La Marche, 28 June 1981. Photo (c) AKSARAN/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images. |
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| Marion with her son Robert at the funeral of her husband Thibaut, 1983. Photo (c) Getty Images / Alain Mingam. |
After his release from prison, the Count of la Marche left France to organise safaris for tourists in the Central African Republic. Marion and their son Robert remained in France. On 23 March 1983, Prince Thibaut died at hospital in Bangui, in circumstances that have been considered by some to be mysterious. The prince was thirty-five years-old when he died. Thibaut's funeral was attended by most of the Royal Family of France; even the separated Count and Countess of Clermont and divorced Princess Claude and Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta, came together to support Marion and her son Robert.
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| Marion and Thibaut in Paris, 1977. Photo (c) AGIP / Bridgeman Images. |
After the death of her husband, Princess Marion focused on the upbringing of their only surviving son, Robert. In 1999, after her brother-in-law Prince Henri succeeded as Head of the Royal House of France, Henri retroactively recognised Thibaut and Marion's marriage and, in doing so, Henri declared that their son Robert is a dynastic member of the royal house. Princess Marion lives discretely and quietly; however, on occasion, one can still spot her attending Orléans family functions.
May Princess Marion be blessed with a very happy birthday!
what were Princess Marion's key achievements
As we conclude our tribute to Princess Marion d'Orléans, Dowager Countess of La Marche, on her 80th birthday, we are reminded of the significant contributions she has made to the royal family. Her life has been marked by her love of discovery and her passion for the cultures of lesser-known peoples, which she shared with her husband, Prince Thibaut d'Orléans. Together, they wrote six books in the Les Princes du sang series, detailing the fate of a fictional German princely family. This shared passion not only strengthened their bond but also allowed them to explore the world together, visiting Peru, Colombia, and Chile, where Marion was born. Her experiences as an interpreter in Paris for an American firm before her marriage also influenced her interactions with other members of the royal family, enabling her to navigate the complexities of royal protocol and etiquette.
Princess Marion's dedication to her family and heritage is evident in her continued involvement with the Orléans family, occasionally attending family functions. Her commitment to her son, Robert, after her husband's passing is also a testament to her enduring love and support. As we celebrate her 80th birthday, we honor her remarkable life, marked by her love of discovery and her passion for the cultures of lesser-known peoples. Her legacy serves as an inspiration to future generations, reminding us of the importance of family, heritage, and cultural exploration. We wish Princess Marion a joyous celebration of her milestone birthday and continued good health and happiness in her future endeavors.
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