Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. has recently reported a single notable gift on his latest financial disclosure: $900 concert tickets gifted by Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis, a German aristocrat known for her connections to conservative activists. The disclosure, however, did not provide details regarding the concert’s name, location, or the number of tickets provided. Interviews with German media revealed that the tickets were for the Regensburg Castle Festival, an annual summer event hosted at Princess Gloria’s 500-room Bavarian castle. She described Justice Alito and his wife as “private friends.”
Princess Gloria, once dubbed “Princess TNT” for her vibrant personality, has evolved from a party-loving figure into a conservative Catholic with close ties to figures critical of the current Pope. She is known for her relationships with high-profile individuals, including Stephen K. Bannon, a former adviser to President Donald J. Trump.
Justice Alito’s disclosure has added to the growing scrutiny around ethics at the U.S. Supreme Court. The court has been in the spotlight after revelations that some justices, including Clarence Thomas, accepted luxury gifts and travel from wealthy benefactors without disclosing them on required annual financial forms. Gabe Roth, the leader of Fix the Court, a group advocating for more transparency in the judiciary, criticized the acceptance of the expensive gift, noting that justices should not be taking such presents, regardless of who offers them.
Justice Alito has already faced significant scrutiny. A report by ProPublica earlier revealed that he had failed to disclose a private jet flight paid for by a conservative billionaire, part of a luxury salmon-fishing trip. The billionaire later had cases before the Supreme Court. Alito defended his actions in an opinion column in The Wall Street Journal, arguing that there was no conflict of interest and that he was not required to disclose the trip as it fell under “hospitality.”
Details about the concert gift were sparse on Alito’s 2023 financial disclosure form, with no mention of dates, the number of tickets, or accommodations provided. An archived search of the Regensburg Castle Festival’s schedule showed it took place from July 14 to July 23, 2023. The event, held at Princess Gloria’s palace, has been associated with plans to create a network of finishing schools for far-right conservatives, according to a 2019 interview with Bannon.
The princess’s ties to conservative figures are well-known. She is close to Cardinal Raymond Burke, a leader of a faction opposing Pope Francis, and introduced him to Bannon. Bannon, who has aligned himself with far-right political groups in Germany and France, has publicly spoken of creating a “gladiator school” for Catholics opposed to the Pope’s reforms.
Bannon, currently serving a four-month prison sentence for defying a congressional subpoena related to the January 6 Capitol attack investigation, was not immediately available for comment.
Princess Gloria has also faced controversy over past remarks on race. In 2001, she reportedly said that the high AIDS rate in Africa was due to “Blacks liking to copulate a lot.” Although she later attempted to clarify her comments, her statements continued to spark criticism. Nevertheless, her influence within conservative Catholic circles remains strong. She has hosted several conservative salons and liturgical concerts in Rome, where she also owns a palace.
Her devotion to conservative Catholicism became more prominent after the death of her husband in 1990, leaving her to raise three children and manage significant financial challenges, including debts and inheritance taxes exceeding $350 million. Since then, Princess Gloria has immersed herself in her religious beliefs, often participating in charitable activities such as volunteering in Lourdes, France, through the Order of Malta.
Her religious and political views have caused friction with some cultural institutions. In 2019, El Museo del Barrio, a prominent Latino art museum in Harlem, withdrew its decision to honor her at its 50th-anniversary gala due to concerns over her conservative beliefs. In response, Princess Gloria expressed disappointment in what she described as a divided society with no tolerance for differing views. She maintained that her religious views had no impact on her “open mind on cultural diversity and inclusion.”
In October 2019, Princess Gloria met with Justice Alito, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, Cardinal Müller, and Brian S. Brown, an anti-LGBTQ activist, at the Supreme Court. The meeting, part of an event by the International Organization for the Family, reflects her ongoing involvement in far-right Catholic activism and her personal connections to prominent conservative figures.
