Duchess Diane, Duchess of Württemberg

Diane, Dowager Duchess of Württemberg (née Princess Diane of Orléans; born 24 March 1940) is a French-German painter, sculptor, writer and philanthropist. She is the widow of Carl, Duke of Württemberg, head of the House of Württemberg. She is the fourth daughter and sixth child of Henri, Count of Paris, Orléanist pretender to the throne of France, and Princess Isabelle of Orléans-Braganza.

Early life Diane was born in Petrópolis, Brazil, the fourth daughter and sixth child of the Orléanist claimant to the French throne, Henri, Count of Paris, and his wife, Princess Isabelle of Orléans-Braganza. At the time of her birth, as a claimant to the throne, her father was banned from living in France. Thus, she was born in her mother's native Brazil. In 1950, the ban was lifted and the family moved to France. Diane attended the Académie Julian in Paris. She signs her works as DxDiane. The letter D placed before Diane signifies Dimanche de Pâques, the day of her birth.

In 1979, the Duchess established an eponymous foundation, "Diane Herzogin von Württemberg, Prinzessin von Frankreich-Stiftung," to aid disadvantaged children. In 1957, her brother, Henri, married Carl's sister, Marie-Thérèse.

On 21 July 1960, Diane married Carl at Altshausen. Member of the Decoration of Merit, 2011

Foreign honours Italy Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit, 2000 Honorary Doctorate, Saint Petersburg State University, 2010

Works I.K.H. Diane Herzogin von Württemberg, Prinzessin von Frankreich; Diane Herzogin von Württemberg, Roger Orlik; Sp-Verlag (2002) Kunsthandwerk, Gemälde, Skulpturen; Diane von Württemberg; Ulm : Süddt. Verl.-Ges., 1991.