Countess Georgina von Wilczek

Princess Georgina was born on 24 October 1921, in Graz, Austria. She was the daughter of Count Ferdinand von Wilczek and Countess Norbertine "Nora" Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau. In 1923, when Georgina was just two years old, her mother died after gave birth to a stillborn child.[4]

She received her formal education in the Sacre Coeur high school,[5] a private Catholic school in Vienna.[4] She then studied art history and applied arts[4] and later studied languages at the University of Vienna and graduated as an interpreter in English, French and Italian.[5]

Georgina probably met her future husband, Prince Franz Joseph II, in early 1942. He was also her third cousin, and he had been the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein since 1938. They had an age difference of 15 years, and their friendship eventually turned to love. Their engagement was announced on 30 December 1942. They were married on 7 March 1943 at the Cathedral of St. Florin in Vaduz. It was the first time that the wedding of a ruling Prince had taken place in Liechtenstein. During the following weeks, the newlyweds visited all eleven communes of Liechtenstein.[6]

The couple had five children:

• Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein (born 1945). Married Countess Marie Aglaë von Wchinitz und Tettau and has issue.
• Prince Philipp of Liechtenstein (born 1946). Married Isabelle de l'Arbre de Malander (b. 1949) and has issue.
• Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein (born 1947). Married Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg (b. 1957), daughter of Grand Duke Jean, and has issue.
• Princess Norberta of Liechtenstein (born 1950), popularly known as Princess Nora. Married Vicente Sartorius y Cabeza de Vaca, 3rd Marqués de Mariño, and has issue.
• Prince Franz Josef of Liechtenstein (Zurich, 19 November 1962 – Vaduz, 28 February 1991), popularly known as Prince Wenzel.

During World War II, Princess Georgina had concerns for prisoners of war[6] and travelling by bicycle when the country suffered a gasoline shortage.[4] When the war ended, Princess Georgina helping the refugees by making soup and bathe children on the national border at Schaanwald.[5] On 22 June 1945, she founded the Liechtenstein Red Cross, and was president from 1945 to 1984, when she handed over the position over to her daughter-in-law Princess Marie.[6][7] Beside from her numerous charitable and social activities, Princess Gina was also committed to a number of political issues including the introduction of women’s suffrage in Liechtenstein.[5]

In 1976, Princess Gina's father permitted the publication titled Russisches Tagebuch: 1916-1918 (English: Russian Diaries: 1916-1918) about his late wife's diaries written during her time in Siberia. Princess Gina contributed the foreword to the publication.[8]

Princess Georgina also assisted Gamander children's home and educational institution for mentally challenged children. She also served as President of the Society for Orthopedic Aid, and helped organize home care system for Liechtenstein's elderly residents. In her later years, Princess Gina organized delivery of food aid during the famine in Ethiopia.[8]

In 1987, the Princess was awarded the Henry Dunant Medal by the International Committee of the Red Cross.[5] Her last public appearance was on 29 July 1989 at the wedding of Prince Gundakar of Liechtenstein to Princess Marie of Orléans.[4]

Princess Georgina died on 18 October 1989, in a hospital in Grabs, Switzerland, six days before her 68th birthday shortly after receiving her last sacraments.[4][6][7] She had been hospitalized for an undisclosed illness leading up to her death.[9] Her husband, who was also in poor health, collapsed at her bed[4] and died 26 days later.[6] They are now buried together in the Cathedral of St. Florin in Vaduz.

Princess Gina Trail was named in honour the Princess memory.[4]