Princess Gabriele of Leiningen, formerly BegumInaara Aga Khan, also previously known as Princess Inaara Aga Khan, and was the second wife of the Aga Khan IV, the 49th Imam of the Nizari branch of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims; from May 1998 to March 2014, she held the title Begum Aga Khan.
After interrupting her career prior to the birth of her daughter, Princess Gabriele became a consultant for UNESCO in Paris, advising on the promotion of equality and improved conditions for women. The marriage between Prince Karl Emich of Leiningen and Gabriele Thyssen was dissolved early in 1998. In May 1998, she married Prince Karim Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Nizari branch of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and became the Begum Aga Khan. Prior to her marriage to the Aga Khan and her conversion to Islam, the couple jointly chose the Muslim name "Inaara" for the bride. The marriage took place at the Aga Khan's walled compound and chateau, Aiglemont, in Gouvieux, France, on May 30, 1998. She has a son:
However, a little over six years after the marriage - on October 8, 2004 - an announcement was made that the Aga Khan and Begum Inaara were to seek a divorce. In September 2011, a divorce settlement was reached and Begum Inaara was to receive a settlement amount of £50 million. It was revealed in the court that she had hired a private detective to track the Aga Khan's movements with an air hostess. An extra-marital liaison of the Aga Khan with Beatrice von der Schulenburg, whom the Aga Khan has been close to for five years and whom it is expected the Aga Khan would marry following completion of the divorce with Begum Inaara, was also highlighted by the Begum's lawyers. However, the £50 million settlement was contested by the Aga Khan in France's highest court, shortly after being announced. As a result, divorce proceedings continued while the Aga Khan was said to remain legally married to his second wife. The divorce was finalized in 2014 with the final financial settlement not revealed. In April 2016, it was announced that part of Begum Inaara's jewellery collection was to be auctioned by Christie's.
Charitable activities
Since 1999, Princess Gabriele of Leiningen has been supporting micro-loans and third world development projects through the German foundation Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe. The foundation funds micro-loans to families and single parents to promote self-reliance and to end the cycle of poverty in developing countries, which include Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Montenegro, Pakistan, Romania, Thailand and Vietnam. Princess Gabriele of Leiningen has committed time to charitable causes; in particular those involving women’s rights, educational projects and the improvement of opportunities and living conditions for people of all faiths and origins in developing countries. In January 2002, Begum Inaara became the honorary president of Focus Humanitarian Assistance, the crisis response agency that is an affiliate of the Aga Khan Development Network and which provides relief and support services during and following natural and man-made disasters, primarily in Asia and Africa. In this capacity, the Begum supported a number of projects for the repatriation of Afghan refugees to their homeland and rebuilding civil society in Afghanistan. In addition she continued to contribute to numerous UNESCO projects, particularly in the area of welfare for women and children, for example UNESCO's "Passport for Equality" project. Amongst others, she accepted the patronage of the Innocence in Danger Gala event for 2003 in Berlin in order to help victims of child sexual abuse. Together with her mother and stepfather, Ernst-Theodor Henne, Gabriele founded in 2003 the German aid organization "SOS Projects for People and Animals" to help mentally-ill, handicapped and traumatized children with the support of animals, particularly dogs, to bring fun and joy into the children’s lives, and to overcome their pain and suffering. Since 2004, Princess Gabriele of Leiningen has become intensively involved in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic and supports the German AIDS Foundation. In order to respond in a more effective way to the above-mentioned humanitarian programmes Princess Gabriele of Leiningen founded an umbrella organization, The "Princess Inaara Foundation", in 2004. The purpose of the foundation is to provide philanthropic assistance to the causes and charitable organizations whose work represents the humanitarian goals that Princess Gabriele of Leiningen has long supported. In 2009, Princess Gabriele of Leiningen became an ambassador for FIFA Football for Hope to promote a high-quality, sustainable social and humanitarian development programme, centred on football, which focuses on the fields of health promotion, peace building, children’s rights and education, anti-discrimination, social integration and the environment.
Awards and recognition
In September, 2006, Princess Gabriele of Leiningen was awarded "Reminders Day" award for her commitment, dedication and relentless effort in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The award was presented to her at Berlin's red-brick City Hall by Mayor Klaus Wowereit during the "Reminders Day" ceremony. In January, 2007, she was named the "No.1" person of German Society by the German magazine "Gala", which wrote "Whereas other women, following separation from their influential husbands, often disappear from society without a trace, Her Highness has catapulted from last year’s 19th position to first position. She has maintained her commitment to charitable work and stylish appearance and not said a single unkind word about her husband, the Aga Khan."
Titles and styles
1963 – ?:Miss Gabriele Renate Homey
? – 1990:Miss Gabriele Renate Thyssen
1990 – 1991:Dr Gabriele Renate Thyssen
1991 – 1998:Her Serene Highness Princess Gabriele Renate of Leiningen
1998 – 2014:Her Highness The Begum Aga Khan
2014 – present:Dr Gabriele Renate Inaara Prinzessin zu Leiningen
