Dramatic Castle Festival: Gloria von Thurn und Taxis under review!

Dramatic Castle Festival: Gloria von Thurn und Taxis under review!

This season, the Regensburg Castle Festival is at the center of a diplomatic dispute between Princess Mariae Gloria von Thurn und Taxis and the popular pop singer Vicky Leandros. Leandros, who used her appearance in the historical setting of the castle as an opportunity to speak out clearly against AfD leader Alice Weidel, triggered a chain reaction of controversy. During the concert, Leandros stated that Weidel was “not welcome” in the audience, which drew an immediate negative reaction from Princess Gloria. She then withdrew the invitation to Weidel, who had already decided not to appear, as a spokesman confirmed. A previously published photo shows Weidel in private with Gloria in the castle, which further complicated the situation. These incidents were reported by the [Augsburger Allgemeine](https://www.augsburger- Allgemeine.de/bayern/regensburg-eklat-bei-festspiele-gloria-von-thurn-und-taxis-beschreit-vicky-leandros-11-08-110487895).

In the run-up to the festival, which began on July 14, 2025, prejudice against the princess had increased again. Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, who acts as patron of the festival, finds herself criticized not only because of her political statements, but also because of her contacts with the AfD. Critics such as Jonas Höschl, a photographer and conceptual artist, describe Gloria as a political agitator and accuse her of profiting economically from her position as patron while promoting controversial views. Höschl accompanied the protest against the princess with an online petition that has already mobilized 832 supporters.

Dispute about the political climate

Although the festival itself attracts many high-profile artists such as Giovanni Zarrella and Simply Red, it is the person of the Princess who draws public interest far beyond the cultural aspect. The criticism of Gloria as patron is based less on the festival program and more on her political stance. This led to several long-standing sponsors, including REWAG and BMW, withdrawing their support for the festival, but this also attracted new sponsors such as a local Mercedes dealer. Gloria herself is sympathetic to the concerns of the sponsors who feel threatened by the negative reporting, as the Abendzeitung reports.

“Protests are a part of living democracy,” commented Gloria, recalling that she was already confronted with protests at her wedding over 40 years ago. She firmly rejects the accusation of being homophobic or xenophobic and describes it as “total nonsense”. However, it remains unclear how the Thurn und Taxis administration will respond to the ongoing criticism and whether there will be consequences for the princess. In response to the public calls for a boycott, Gloria described them as regrettable, but she sees no positive effect from them and emphasizes that public discussion remains important.

Looking into the future

The reactions to the current situation show how complex the topics surrounding the Castle Festival are. While Gloria von Thurn und Taxis defends her position, critics are increasingly mobilizing against her influence. It remains to be seen whether the cultural highlights in Regensburg can exist apart from the political controversies and how the audience, which finds itself in an area of ​​tension between art and political ideology, will behave. One thing is certain, however: the Castle Festival will remain a topic in the coming weeks not only because of its artistic performances, but also because of the political dimension, as the Bayerischer Rundfunk also notes.