Gabriella, Duchess of the Regal Cape

Princess Gabriella, Duchess of the Cape, (Gabriella Margaret Theresa Bonnecelli; born 23rd May 1977), is the second of three daughters of Duchess Adriana and Duke George and the sister to Queen Alexandra V. At the time of her birth, Gabriella was third in line to the throne, but following the death of her father she became second in line, behind her sister. After the birth of her two nephews and niece, Gabriella has fallen to fourth in line to the crown.

As the second sibling to the heir apparent to the throne, the Princess has become a prominent figure in the royal household, and acted as Princess Regent between January 1995 and January 2001 during Queen Alexandra's period of reduced responsibilities following to the birth of her three children. Since then, Gabriella has become the main royal performing overseas tours, ceremonial events and government visits alongside or in the place of the Queen. When Alexandra is abroad, she has acted as the main royal representative and performs hundreds of royal engagements each year.

Gabriella is the closest of the two daughters to her mother, Duchess Adriana, who taught her the responsibilities of a member of the royal family, whilst her sister was educated by Queen Elizabeth, their paternal grandmother. It is well-known that she has continued this teaching role with her niece, Princess Helena, with whom she split her dukedom in 2001 and has carried out royal tours with since 2010.

Royal Duties
Princess Gabriella was made a Counsellor of State in 1994, upon the ascension of her sister to the throne.

Titles and Styles

 * 23 May 1977 - 13 November 1987: Gabriella Bonnecelli, Duchess of Lessito
 * 13 November 1987 - 1 January 1995: Her Royal Highness Princess Gabriella, Duchess of Lessito
 * 1 January 1995 - 1 January 2001: Her Royal Highness The Princess Regent, Gabriella
 * 1 January 2001 - : Her Royal Highness Princess Gabriella, Duchess of the Cape

Princess Gabriella has had several royal titles during her life, but her current title is "Princess Gabriella" or the "Duchess of the Cape". When she was born, Gabriella was made Duchess of Lessito by her great-uncle, Roger XVI of Cattala, and following his death became a direct heir to the throne and was made Princess and HRH. When her sister announced a withdrawal from public life to raise her children, Gabriella became Princess Regent of the United Kingdom of Cattala at the age of 17 and served in the place of Queen Alexandra for six years, attending over 300 overseas events and 600 domestic engagements.

Her formal title, in full, is Her Royal Highness The Princess Gabriella Margaret Theresa of House Bonnecelli, Duchess of the Cape and the Northern Realms, Princess of the White Seas and Lady of the Violet Peaks.

The Princess is also known by her Celestinian title, granted upon her by her ancestral link to the Celestine monarchy and consisting of mostly ancient titles: The Princess Gabriella Margaret Theresa of House Celestine, Scion of the Graceful Realm, Duchess of the Cape and the Northern Realms, Princess of the White Seas, Most Serene Lady of the Violet Peaks, Defender of the Faith and Grand Duchess of the Hellenic Isles.

Ancestry
Princess Gabriella is descended from noble houses across Europe, especially the English, Spanish and Italian royal families. The Celestine household regularly married children into dukedoms and lesser royals from across Europe, right up to the late 19th century, to ensure the diplomatic and trade benefits of relations with European kingdoms was maintained. Gabriella's line through her great-grandfather Marco Bonnecelli links her to the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg through his female-line descendancy from Queen Michéle Celestine, daughter of the prince of Schleswig. The Bonnecelli crown can trace its lineage to the House of Bourbon through French and Spanish paternal and maternal ties.