In a medieval monastery within her sprawling 500-room Bavarian palace, Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis hurried to attend Mass on a chilly autumn night, dressed in a long dark coat complemented by a silk scarf and a pearl necklace. The dimly lit chapel was imbued with a somber red glow emanating from the crypt housing her late husband and family members. As she knelt in prayer, her guests—a British baroness and her husband—joined her in ceremony.
Gloria, now 64, once known for her vibrant party persona in the 1980s, has transformed into a conservative Catholic with substantial links to the European far right. A staunch advocate against abortion and immigration in Germany, she has recently befriended U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. during her annual music festival in the summer of 2023.
“This friendship flows naturally,” she explained in an interview at her palace in Regensburg, home to the festival. "I met him as a Catholic and realized he’s a pro-life judge," she noted. For Gloria, who finds herself among fewer like-minded individuals, this bond offers not only personal comfort but also a platform for advancing her beliefs.
Justice Alito’s visit to her opulent world unfurled opportunities for both of them. While he was introduced to the splendor of European nobility, the princess sees this connection as a crucial method to spotlight her causes and promote her festival agenda. With their shared values aligning remarkably, the friendship progresses within the context of their parallel advocacy journeys.
Gloria, now 64, once known for her vibrant party persona in the 1980s, has transformed into a conservative Catholic with substantial links to the European far right. A staunch advocate against abortion and immigration in Germany, she has recently befriended U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. during her annual music festival in the summer of 2023.
“This friendship flows naturally,” she explained in an interview at her palace in Regensburg, home to the festival. "I met him as a Catholic and realized he’s a pro-life judge," she noted. For Gloria, who finds herself among fewer like-minded individuals, this bond offers not only personal comfort but also a platform for advancing her beliefs.
Justice Alito’s visit to her opulent world unfurled opportunities for both of them. While he was introduced to the splendor of European nobility, the princess sees this connection as a crucial method to spotlight her causes and promote her festival agenda. With their shared values aligning remarkably, the friendship progresses within the context of their parallel advocacy journeys.
