Today, Princess Olga of Savoy, Duchess of Aosta, marks a significant milestone in her life as she celebrates her fiftieth birthday. Born on November 17, 1971, in Athens, Greece, Princess Olga Isabelle of Greece is the second daughter of Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark and Princess Marina of Greece. Her paternal grandparents are Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark and Princess Françoise d’Orléans, while her maternal grandparents are Theodoros Karella and Elly Chalikiopoulos.
Princess Olga’s life has been marked by significant events, including her engagement to Prince Aimone of Savoy in 2005. The couple civilly married in Moscow, Russia, in 2008 and celebrated their religious wedding on the Isle of Patmos in Greece. They have three children together: Prince Umberto, Princess Isabella Marina Vita, and Prince Amedeo. As the Duchess of Aosta, Princess Olga has maintained close ties with her family and is deeply involved in her royal duties. Her fiftieth birthday is a testament to her enduring legacy and commitment to her role.
what are some notable achievements of Princess Olga of Savoy
- Lepidoptery: She is a lepidopterist, having helped set up and worked at the Liquid Jungle Lab in Panama in cooperation with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
- Journalism and Filmmaking: Princess Olga has worked as a journalist and filmmaker, showcasing her versatility and dedication to her craft.
- Education: She holds a degree from Princeton University and a degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.
- Interior Decoration: Although she initially worked in interior decoration, Princess Olga has explored various other interests and pursuits throughout her life.
- Family and Royal Duties: As the Duchess of Aosta, Princess Olga is deeply involved in her royal duties and maintains close ties with her family, including her husband, Prince Aimone of Savoy, and their three children, Prince Umberto, Princess Isabella Marina Vita, and Prince Amedeo.
These achievements demonstrate Princess Olga’s multifaceted personality and her commitment to various pursuits, making her a notable figure in her own right.
what contributions has Princess Olga made to the field of lepidoptery
what specific species of butterflies has Princess Olga studied
 |
| Princess Olga. Painted by her mother Marina Karella (Princess Marina of Greece). |
Today, Princess Olga of Savoy, Duchess of Aosta, celebrates her fiftieth birthday!
 |
| Princess Olga and her father Prince Michael. |
Born at Athens on 17 November 1971, Princess Olga Isabelle of Greece is the second daughter of Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark (b.1939) and Princess Marina (b.1941; born Marina Karella), who married in 1965. Olga has one sister, Princess Alexandra (b.1968; married Nicolas Mirzayantz).
 |
| Princess Françoise d’Orléans and Prince Christoper of Greece on their wedding day, 1929. |
The paternal grandparents of Olga are Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark and Princess Françoise d’Orléans. The maternal grandparents of the princess are Theodoros Karella and Elly Chalikiopoulos.
 |
| Aimone and Olga’s engagement picture, 2005. |
On 7 May 2005, Princess Olga and Prince Aimone of Savoy (b.1967), Duke of Apulia, became engaged in Turin. Aimone is the only son of Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta, and his first wife Princess Claude d’Orléans. Although related in several different ways, Olga and Aimone are second cousins. Both are the great-grandchildren of Prince Jean d’Orléans, Duke de Guise, and his wife and first cousin Princess Isabelle d’Orléans.
 |
| The Duke and Duchess of Apulia on the day of their religious wedding, 2008. |
On 16 September 2008, Aimone of Savoy and Olga of Greece were civilly married at the Italian embassy in Moscow, Russia, where the couple live. The pair celebrated their religious wedding on 27 September at the Church of Panagia Diasozousa on the Isle of Patmos in Greece. Their union was attended by their parents and by King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of the Hellenes.
 |
| The Duke and Duchess of Apulia with their first child, Prince Umberto, at his baptism. |
The first child of the Duke and Duchess of Apulia arrived in 2009. Prince Umberto Sathya of Savoy, Prince of Piedmont, was born on 7 March at Neuilly-sur-Seine. The prince was baptised on 18 June and received as godparents Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy and Carlo Radicati di Primeglio.
 |
| The baptism of Prince Amedeo of Savoy. |
Aimone and Olga welcomed their second child in 2011. Prince Amedeo Michel of Savoy, Duke of the Abruzzi, was born on 24 May at Paris. The prince was baptised on 8 June 2012 at Milan in the Basilica of San Marco and received as godparents Princess Mafalda of Savoy, Princess Marina of Greece and George Antaki.
 |
| The baptism of Princess Isabella of Savoy. |
The Duke and Duchess of Apulia had their third child and only daughter in 2012. Princess Isabella Marina Vita of Savoy was born at Paris on 14 December. The princess was baptised on her first birthday, 14 December 2013, at the église Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin in Paris.
 |
| The 2020 Christmas card of the Aostas, showing Prince Umberto, Princess Isabella, and Prince Amedeo. |
Prince Aimone and Princess Olga, Duke and Duchess of Aosta, live with their children in Russia. Naturally, they have very close ties with their families in Italy and Greece.
 |
| Princess Olga and Prince Aimone arrive at the reception following the wedding of Grand Duke George of Russia in Saint Petersburg, 2021. |
Our best wishes to Princess Olga on her birthday!
what are the main themes of Princess Olga’s life
- Lepidoptery: She is a lepidopterist, having helped set up and worked at the Liquid Jungle Lab in Panama in cooperation with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
- Journalism and Filmmaking: Princess Olga has worked as a journalist and filmmaker, showcasing her versatility and dedication to her craft.
- Education: She holds a degree from Princeton University and a degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.
- Interior Decoration: Although she initially worked in interior decoration, Princess Olga has explored various other interests and pursuits throughout her life.
- Family and Royal Duties: As the Duchess of Aosta, Princess Olga is deeply involved in her royal duties and maintains close ties with her family, including her husband, Prince Aimone of Savoy, and their three children, Prince Umberto, Princess Isabella Marina Vita, and Prince Amedeo.
These achievements demonstrate Princess Olga’s multifaceted personality and her commitment to various pursuits, making her a notable figure in her own right.
As we conclude our celebration of Princess Olga of Savoy’s fiftieth birthday, we are reminded of her remarkable life and achievements. Born on November 17, 1971, in Athens, Greece, Princess Olga Isabelle of Greece is the second daughter of Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark and Princess Marina of Greece. Her paternal grandparents are Prince Christopher of Greece and Denmark and Princess Françoise d’Orléans, while her maternal grandparents are Theodoros Karella and Elly Chalikiopoulos. Princess Olga’s life has been marked by significant events, including her engagement to Prince Aimone of Savoy in 2005 and her subsequent marriage to him in 2008. The couple has three children together: Prince Umberto, Princess Isabella Marina Vita, and Prince Amedeo. As the Duchess of Aosta, Princess Olga has maintained close ties with her family and is deeply involved in her royal duties.
Princess Olga’s dedication to her family and her royal duties is a testament to her enduring legacy. Her commitment to her role is evident in her various pursuits, including her work as a lepidopterist, where she helped set up and worked in the Liquid Jungle Lab in Panama in cooperation with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Her multifaceted personality and her commitment to various pursuits make her a notable figure in her own right. As we wish Princess Olga a happy fiftieth birthday, we acknowledge her significant contributions to the world of royalty and beyond. May her future be filled with continued success and happiness.
what are some lesser-known facts about Princess Olga’s early life
- Birth Date Speculation: Olga’s birth date is unknown, but it is speculated to have been between 890 and 925 AD.
- Varangian Origin: Olga was of Varangian (Viking) origin, born in Pleskov or Vybuty, Kievan Rus’.
- Early Marriage: At the time of her marriage to Prince Igor I of Kiev, Olga was no more than 15 years old.
- Parentage: There are different theories about Olga’s parentage, including that she was a daughter of Prince Oleg or had Scandinavian origins.
- Early Life in Kiev: Little is known about Olga’s life before her marriage to Prince Igor I of Kiev and the birth of their son, Sviatoslav.
These lesser-known facts provide insight into the early life of Princess Olga, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding her birth date and parentage, as well as her early marriage and life in Kiev.
