Michael Lafosse: Encyclopedia II - Michael Lafosse - Michael of Albany's Claims

Michael Lafosse - Michael of Albany's Claims

This history of the House of Stuart has been denied by Lafosse, who claims the Stuart line did not end with the death of Henry Benedict Stuart. Instead, Lafosse asserts that Charles Edward Stuart secretly obtained a papal annullment of his marriage to Princess Louise of Stolberg, and subsequently in a secret ceremony, remarried a woman called Marguerite O'Dea d'Audibert de Lussan, Comtesse de Massillan. This union reportedly produced an heir in 1786, a son, Edward James Stuart, Count Stuarton, Count of Albany, from whom he claims to be descended. Lafosse however, has been unwilling or unable to provide any evidence that these events ever took place, or for the existence of the bride or child. Nor does it seem likely that Charles could have fathered such a child given his physical situation at the time. Nor has any evidence from any source suggesting their actual existence been uncovered.

Lafosse claims to be the son of "HRH Princess Renee Stewart, Lady Derneley", (according to Lafosse, a direct descendent of Edward James Stuart) and "Gustave Lafosse de Chatry, 5th Baron de Chatry". These individuals, as well as others, are listed in an extensive genealogy presented by Lafosse as a claimed descent from the last Stuart King of Scotland. However, the documents provided by Lafosse, contain severe discrepancies and aberrations from accepted and established history, cannot be independently verified, and cannot be considered as sufficient evidence to provide any basis for those claims. Indeed, Lafosse is unable to provide the wedding date for his own grandparents. Despite this fact, Lafosse seems to have acquired a following among Scots dissatisfied with the current British Monarchy and government.

Lafosse has claimed that he was "President of the European Council of Princes", following Archduke Otto of Austria's tenure in that position. Archduke Otto has said that he had never been president of any such body, or a member of any such body, and that, in fact, he had never heard of it.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Michael of Albany's Claims", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki