Princess Catarina of Karsylvania

**Catarina** (Catarina Alexandra Elisabeta Sofia; born 20 December 1978) is the eldest child of Elena, Countess of Messarabia, eldest grandchild of Antoni IV, and the second-in-line to the Karsylvanian throne.

Born to Elena and her husband William Alverton in Morwick, Morwickshire, upon her birth Catarina became the second-in-line to the Karsylvanian throne-in-exile, behind solely her mother. The royal family had been living in exile since the fascist revolution which overthrew the monarchy and established the Fascist Republic of Karsylvania in 1919. Following the birth of her younger brother in 1980, Catarina became displaced in the line of succession due to male-preference primogeniture, and instead became the third-in-line to the throne, behind her mother and younger brother. When she was seven years old, fascist rule came to an end in Karsylvania, and the family returned to their ancestral lands in Caratina, 75 years after the fascist revolution that deposed them.

Catarina was educated privately in Ditrovia and Karsylvania and at boarding schools abroad in Ditrovia and Frankenland, graduating with her secondary school diploma in 1997. She afterwards enrolled in Labonne University, graduating with a degree in art history in 2000. Catarina married Maronan commoner François Marraud in 2006. They have two children together: Antoni (born 2009) and Nicoleta (born 2012).

## Early life and family

Catarina was born on 20 December 1978 as Catarina Alexandra Elisabeta Sofia Würestmalscher-Alverton at Morwick Royal Hospital in Morwick. She was the eldest child of Princess Elena and Prince William, later known as the count and countess of Messarabia. The family had been living in exile since 1919, after fleeing Karsylvania amidst the fascist revolution which overthrew the monarchy and established the Fascist Republic of Karsylvania. Following her birth, Catarina was second-in-line to the Karsylvanian throne, behind only her mother.

Upon her birth, Catarina was styled as a Princess of Karsylvania; while the Karsylvanian government no longer recognized the title, the family's royal titles were recognized internationally. Through her father, she may also be styled as *Lady* Catarina Würestmalscher-Alverton in the Ditrovian Kingdom, as a member of the Ditrovian untitled nobility. She has two younger siblings: Ion (born 1980) and Elisabeta (born 1983). Following the birth of Ion in 1980, Catarina was displaced in the line of succession, becoming third-in-line behind both her mother and younger brother. This was because Karsylvania practiced male-preference primogeniture at the time, where a female heir could only inherit the crown if she had no male siblings. Catarina was raised bilingually in both Karsylvanian and Ditrovian, spending her early years in an eight-bedroom estate in the village of Bycombe, Morwickshire with her parents and siblings.

## Education

Catarina began her education in 1984, attending Saint Anne's School, a private, coeducational, preparatory school in Morwick. She attended the school for only a year-and-a-half, but was said to be a gifted student and kind child, who exhibited a bit of shyness. In 1986, the family moved to Caratina following the Ruby Revolution, which deposed of the fascist government in Karsylvania and reestablished the monarchy. Catarina settled in Emporia House on the grounds of the Royal Palace of Caratina, with her family.

After arriving in Caratina, Catarina was first educated by private tutors in the Royal Palace for two years, before she enrolled in Chisu School, a private, coeducational, preparatory school in Caratina. While in school, Catarina recalls being unpopular and facing bullying for speaking Karsylvanian with an accent and being a princess. She left the school in 1991, aged 12, and transferred to Magdalen School, a private, preparatory, all-girls boarding school in Sheffieldshire in the Ditrovian Kingdom, which her mother attended. Catarina did not enjoy the school, as she did not enjoy being at an all-girls school, and transferred to Institut Le Foxay, a private, coeducational, boarding school in the village of Foxay, Maud in Frankenland, after one year. While at Institut Le Foxay, Catarina learned to speak Maronan fluently and also began skiing. She graduated from the school in 1997, where she was class valedictorian.

After graduating from secondary school, Catarina moved to Delmas to enroll in Labonne University, studying art history. While living in Delmas, Catarina attracted international attention after opting to find employment as a coffee shop waitress during her studies. She left the job after one year, citing the difficulty of balancing work with her studies. Catarina later graduated with her degree in 2000.

## Adulthood

After completing her education in 2000, Catarina opted to remain in Delmas. She resided in an apartment rented by the royal family in the seventh arrondissement with two friends from university. While in Delmas, Catarina still worked as a full member of the royal family, frequently returning to Karsylvania for various events that required her presence.

In May 2000, the House of Representatives passed the Succession Act of 2000, abolishing male-preference primogeniture and replacing it with absolute primogeniture. The legislation applied to all individuals born after 1 January 1952. Following this, Catarina retook her position as second-in-line to the Karsylvanian throne, displacing her younger brother who had previously taken her position after his birth. Catarina celebrated the news as a "victory for all Karsylvanian women" in a speech given in Caratina upon its passage. The Karsylvanian media reported that the new rules created "tension" within the royal family between its male and female members, but both Antoni IV and Elena, Countess of Messarabia decried these as "false rumors."

From June 2001 to August 2003, Catarina was involved in a romantic relationship with Maronan actor Gerard Lepaul, which attracted significant media attention in both Marone and Karsylvania.

### Marriage and children

Catarina began a relationship with Maronan lawyer François Marraud in November 2003, after meeting through mutual friends. They became engaged in December 2005, and later married in a royal wedding at Caratina Cathedral on 6 May 2006. This was the first royal wedding to be held in Karsylvania since the wedding of Ion V and Maria of Medland in 1918, and the wedding was watched by more than seven million viewers across Karsylvania, becoming one of the most-watched television programs of all-time in the nation. After the wedding, François received Karsylvanian citizenship and the royal title of *His Royal Highness* Prince François of Karsylvania.

After marrying, the family relocated from Delmas to Caratina, where they settled in Altunescu House on the grounds of the Royal Palace of Caratina. François began courses in the Karsylvanian language in preparation of his newfound royal duties. The family continues to maintain their primary residence at Altunescu House, while also owning a home in the town of Sainte-Suzanne in Marone.

Catarina and François have two children together:

* Prince *Antoni* François-Paul William (born 1 May 2009)
* Princess *Nicoleta* Anne-Marie Elena (born 12 September 2012)

## Titles

* **20 December 1978 – 18 January 1986**: Princess Catarina of Karsylvania
* **20 December 1978 – *present***: *Lady* Catarina Würestmalscher-Alverton
* **18 January 1986 – *present***: *Her Royal Highness* Princess Catarina of Karsylvania