What Really Happened to Princess TNT and Her Glitziest Jewels.

In the 1980s, there was perhaps no royal quite like Princess Gloria von Therne on taxis. She wore leather jackets with priceless tiaras. She attended rock concerts with pop stars. She posed for photographers in towering hairstyles. But then, almost overnight, everything changed. So what really happened to Princess Gloria? And what became of the most glamorous aristocrats? To understand the story, we have to begin before the headlines. Gloria was born Countess Gloria von Schoenberg-Glaucau in 1960. Although she came from an old German noble family, she did not grow up surrounded by immense wealth, as family's ancestral homes and castles in Saxony were seized. And she grew up as a simple girl split between West Germany and Africa. But in 1979, she met her distant cousin, Prince Johannes von Therne on taxis. He was one of Europe's wealthiest aristocrats who made their wealth on postal services, and he was more than 30 years older than Gloria. No doubt she may have dreamt about marrying a prince, but it took a year for her to say yes. The couple married on May 31, 1980, in Regensburg, Germany. Gloria was only 20 years old. Johannes was 53. The age difference shocked many observers, but the wedding instantly became one of the most talked-about aristocratic events of the decade. And then there were the jewels. For her wedding, Gloria wore a breathtaking couture gown designed by Valentino and extraordinary diamond and pearl tiara with imperial connections. The jewel had originally been created in 1853 by royal jeweler Alexandre-Gabrielle Lemonnier for the wedding of Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie of France, featuring 212 pearls and 1,998 diamonds. The bride also wore a matching pearl and diamond corsage brooch. The religious ceremony took place at the spectacular St. Emerim's Abbey, the massive seat of the House of Thern and Taxes and the largest private residence in Germany, showing the extraordinary status the House of Thern and Taxes had achieved among European aristocracy. But it wasn't her first important jewel. Before the main ceremony, she famously wore the massive Thern and Taxes sapphire tiara to a spectacular lavish ball held at the family's massive private residence, Schloss St. Emerim. Originally a Benedictine abbey, the property was granted to the Thern and Taxes family in the early 19th century. With over 500 rooms, the palace is a stunning mix of architectural styles, including Romanesque, Gothic, Rococo, and Neo-Renaissance, and is filled with an eclectic mix of historical antiques and contemporary art. Of course, a separate place was filled with family's jewels. The same sapphire tiara features a grand empire-style design of diamonds and sapphires and takes its proper rights as one the largest towering royal tiaras. And three years later, she would wear the same tiara for the baptism of her son, Prince Albert. After her marriage, Gloria entered a world of unimaginable wealth. The Thern and Taxes family had built its fortune through the postal system of the Holy Roman Empire and later through vast land holdings and investments. By the 1980s, Prince Johannes was frequently described as one of the richest men in Europe, with an estimated net worth of around three billion dollars. And their palace often hosted royalty, celebrities, artists, and musicians, including Michael Jackson, who was invited by Princess Gloria. But there is something different in her. A newly established princess embraced fashion in a way few aristocrats dared. She experimented with dramatic hairstyles, bold makeup, and spectacular jewels altogether. The media could not get enough of her. Thus, they nicknamed her Princess TNT because of her explosive personality and the initials of her title, Thern and Taxes. At a time when many royals carefully guarded their public image, Gloria seemed determined to break every rule. Soon, Princess TNT became one of the most recognizable aristocrats in the world, and her collection reflected that larger-than-life image. No doubt one of her favorites was the Thern and Taxes ruby tiara. The tiara's dramatic ruby and diamond floral and scroll motifs made it instantly recognizable. During Gloria's most glamorous years, photographs frequently showed her wearing the ruby tiara at gala events and aristocratic gatherings, including with a flamboyant hairstyle and a black, glitzy dress for a performance of La Traviata at the Paris Opera House. As part of the parure, the tiara had a matching necklace, brooch, and long clustered earrings originating from the house of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Some years later Gloria also used a ruby and diamond brooch to adjust it atop her hairstyle. And unlike some family jewels that were later sold, this tiara remains in the family's possession today, worn both by Gloria and her daughters. Then there was the magnificent sapphire bow brooch, forming a part of the vast parure. Created in the 19th century, the jewel features a large sapphire surrounded by diamond-set bow motifs and a pearl drop. Gloria often styled the brooch in unusual ways, sometimes wearing it in her hair rather than on a gown or attached to the necklace. The jewel became closely associated with her unconventional approach to aristocratic fashion. The most interesting part is that the sapphires from a parure, consisting of a tiara, necklace, brooch, earrings, could actually be changed for diamonds, with a necklace often worn in the combination of sapphires and diamonds. The parure was commissioned in 1890 by Albert, the 8th prince of Thurn and Taxis, as a wedding gift for his bride, Archduchess Margaret Clementine of Austria, and made by the renowned jewelry firm Kreuter of Hanau in Germany. Worn together with a sapphire brooch, I personally love her emerald and ruby choker and her emerald earrings, a spectacular 19th century heirloom of the German princely family. Though it is a signature piece for Princess Gloria, the choker has a long history and was worn by several high-ranking royals, including Margaret Clementine of Austria and Duchess Helene, the elder sister of Empress Elizabeth of Austria. Among her most famous jewels was also this spectacular Thurn and Taxis emerald tiara. Dating to the 19th century and exhibited by the London jeweler Hancocks at the Paris Exhibition of 1855, the tiara features a diamond scroll design set with impressive pear-shaped cabochon emeralds. The jewel became one of Gloria's signature pieces and remains one of the most recognizable emerald tiaras in Germany. The family also possessed important diamond jewels, including diamond dynamite bracelets, a fuchsia tiara, and different brooches accumulated over generations. Her jewelry styling was so unusual that photographers actively searched for her at major events. While many royals favored understated elegance, Gloria embraced spectacle. One of the most legendary examples came during Prince Johannes's lavish birthday celebration. Gloria appeared dressed as Marie Antoinette and reportedly descended to the festivities on a golden cloud suspended above the guests. The event became part of the mythology surrounding the Thurn and Taxis lifestyle during the height of the 1980s jet-set era. She also moved comfortably between worlds that rarely overlapped. At aristocratic gatherings, she wore historic tiaras and family jewels. At international society events, she mingled with celebrities including Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall, fashion designers, artists, and magazine editors. But before the society, at a first place, she is a mother of three, Princess Maria Theresia, Princess Elizabeth, and Prince Albert. Growing up, the children were notably close friends of pop star Michael Jackson. They spent considerable time visiting him at his Neverland ranch, with Princess Elizabeth later recalling him as very shy and a gentle, devoted friend. Then tragedy struck. In December 1990, Prince Johannes died at the age of 64. Gloria was only 30 years old. Their son Albert inherited the title, becoming the 12th Prince of Thurn and Taxis. But he was still a child. Gloria suddenly found herself responsible not only for raising three children, but also for preserving one of Europe's largest aristocratic estates. But what she discovered was alarming. Although the family still appeared enormously wealthy, the financial reality was far more complicated. Reports indicated that debts had reached millions of dollars. Maintaining palaces, forests, businesses, collections, and thousands of hectares of land required vast resources. The glamorous lifestyle of the 1980s was no longer sustainable. Many people expected the family fortune to collapse. Instead, Gloria did something few had anticipated. She reinvented herself. Leaving behind much of her jet-set lifestyle, she immersed herself in finance, accounting, and estate management. To do that, she disappeared from public at all, learning how to manage and take responsibility. In a year, she turned out to be another Gloria. She began making difficult decisions that saved the family from financial disaster. Valuable assets were sold. Land was reorganized. Investments were restructured. Some jewels were sold as part of this effort to pay out estate taxes. Several important pieces from the family's collection appeared at auctions during the 1990s, including fuchsia tiara, diamond bracelets, wedding pearl brooch, and a famous pearl tiara which was bought by the Friends of the Louvre. Collectors around the world eagerly competed for jewels carrying the famous Thurnan Taxis provenance. But Gloria couldn't sell them all. Some she meant to keep for her children. Some carried enormous memories she couldn't let go. The emerald tiara survived. The ruby tiara survived. The sapphire bow brooch and perure survived. Important emerald jewels also remained part of the collection. But one tiara was kept in the family by a mere accident. No one could buy the family's greatest heirloom for the estimated price. The Thurnan Taxis empire tiara returned from auction back to the castle vaults, yet never worn by Gloria, leaving us wonder if it never fit into her style or if there is any other reason. Today these jewels continue to appear at major family occasions and royal gatherings worn by her daughters. Gloria's daughter, Princess Elizabeth von Thurnan Taxis, has also helped keep interest in the family's jewelry tradition alive. Known for her work in fashion, media, and the art world, Elizabeth has participated in major jewelry exhibitions and Sotheby's events celebrating historic jewels and collecting. So what is Princess Gloria doing today? The woman once known as the wildest aristocrat in Europe now leads a much quieter life. She remains active in cultural, charitable, and religious circles. She continues to live at She is also known as an art collector, patron, and public speaker. While the punk hairstyles and outrageous outfits of the 1980s have largely disappeared, but her interest in fashion lives on. She can put on an unexpected ensemble of gold chunky jewels with large glasses and even make funny faces in front of the camera. Because she is still that princess who learned how to survive on her own. Princess Gloria began as the rebellious young aristocrat who shocked Europe with striking hair, leather outfits, and dazzling jewels. Yet her greatest achievement was not becoming a fashion icon. It was saving a dynasty, her family, her place to live. If you liked today's video and have anything to add, write down all your comments below, and don't forget to subscribe to see our new stories. Have a nice day.