Prince Mariano Hugo, 6th Prince of Windisch-Graetz

Mariano Hugo, Prince of Windisch-Graetz (German: Mariano Hugo, Fürst zu Windisch-Graetz, Italian: Mariano Ugo, Principe di Windisch-Graetz; born 27 July 1955) is the current head of the Austrian House of Windisch-Graetz. He is currently a member of the Grand Magisterium of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. A former ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to Slovakia, he is also currently the Order's ambassador to Slovenia. He also sits on the council of the Dynastic orders of knighthood for the Royal House of Savoy.

Upbringing and family Windisch-Graetz was born at Trieste

Windisch-Graetz was educated in Rome at the school of the De La Salle Brothers. In 1975 he graduated from University College of Buckingham with a degree in Philosophy, Economics and Political Science.

When his father died in 1976, Windisch-Graetz succeeded as head of a cadet branch of the House of Windisch-Graetz, a mediatised house whose members historically bore the style of "Serene Highness".

On 19 December 1987, Pope John Paul II appointed Windisch-Graetz a Gentleman of His Holiness, a role which entails meeting visiting heads of state and ambassadors and escorting them to meet the pope. He is also a Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion in Obedience of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. this appointment was renewed in 2006, until December 2009. In March 2009, he was appointed Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to the Republic of Slovenia.

On 9 June 2021, Windisch-Graetz was appointed to the Grand Magisterium of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem by the Grand Master of the Order, Fernando Cardinal Filoni. Windisch-Graetz has been a Knight Grand Officer of the Order since 1980.

Honours and awards Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion in Obedience of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Savoy