Active in events linked to the former Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, the Princess carries out activities linked to the memory of her late sisters, such as the presidency of the «Academic Senate of the Studium» or of the «Marie-Thérèse of Bourbon-Parma International Award».[2] She also created an award, the "Doña Maria de las Nieves of Parma Award", given to people who have made significant contributions to their communities and the world at large.[3]
During her childhood and adolescence, she was educated in the United States and in Quebec.[10] Throughout her youth, she was active in society and attending various balls, including the Paris Ball held at the French Embassy in Brussels.[11] In 1964, she attending the wedding of Princess Irene of the Netherlands and her brother, Prince Carlos Hugo, in Rome.[12] Also, in July 1964, she represented her family at the wedding of Prince Guy of Bourbon-Parma, her cousin, with Brigitte Peu-Duvallon, in Cannes, France.[citation needed]
A Carlist, she supported the progressive reforms of her brother, Carlos Hugo, alongside her sisters Cécile Marie and Marie-Thérèse. She denounced the traditionalist agenda and Carlist claim made by her brother, Sixtus Henry.[13][14] She attended Carlist gatherings around Spain to support political causes.[15]
In 1962, she presided with her three sisters a large meeting of Carlists in Montejurra, one of the largest of the 60s.[16] In early March 1968 Princess Marie des Neiges, as a Carlist Infanta, visited Valencia, Navarre and Castilla–La Mancha for many Carlist events. She also took part in an event on the occasion of the carlist Feast of the Martyrs of Tradition (Fiesta de los Mártires de la Tradición) in Madrid before departing for her trip.[17]
Marie des Neiges presided over an important gathering of Carlists in Montejurra in 1974.[18] She was present at the Montejurra massacre on 9 May 1976. In 1976 she was expelled from Spain: she did not care about the order, however, and in response, she visited the spanish city of Santander, where she stayed for two days and where she attended carlist events and where she met great carlist personalities.[19]
As a reward for her hard work for Carlism and Spain, she was made Countess of Castillo de la Mota by her father.[20]
Recent years
In 2016, Marie des Neiges visited the former ducal lands of Parma, and was received by the city of Fontanellato's mayor, Francesco Trivelloni.[21] She had previously visited Parma to attend the christening of her grandnephew Prince Carlos Enrique of Bourbon-Parma, of whom she was named godmother.[22][23] In 2018, Marie des Neiges, Marie-Thérèse, and Cécile Marie reconciled with their sister, Marie-Françoise, ending their dispute over conflicting approaches on Carlism.[24] The sisters spent a lot of time together after reconciling.[24] As her sister, Cécile Marie, became ill, she helped care for her.[15]
In March 2020, upon the death of her sister Marie-Thérèse, Marie des Neiges became the new president of the Academic Senate of the Studium in Monferrato, Italy. The office had belonged to Marie-Thérèse until her death. Marie des Neiges was contacted by Dr. Roger Rossell, Academic Senator in charge of international relations, who asked her if she wanted to become President, and she accepted. She also became President of the «Marie-Thérèse of Bourbon-Parma International Award» (so named in honor of her sister), already in its third edition.[25]
^Marcellus Donald R. von Redlich, Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants, volume I (1941; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2002), page 60. Hereinafter cited as Pedigrees of Emperor Charlemagne, I.
^C. Arnold McNaughton, The Book of Kings: A Royal Genealogy, in 3 volumes (London, U.K.: Garnstone Press, 1973), volume 1, page 448. Hereinafter cited as The Book of Kings.
^de Badts de Cugnac, Chantal. Coutant de Saisseval, Guy. ‘’Le Petit Gotha’’. Nouvelle Imprimerie Laballery, Paris 2002, (French) p. 586-589 ISBN2-9507974-3-1
^"Borbon Parma". House of Borbon Parma. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
^Enache, Nicolas. La Descendance de Marie-Therese de Habsburg. ICC, Paris, 1996. pp. 416-417, 422. (French). ISBN2-908003-04-X
^Bernier Arcand, Philippe, « Les Bourbon-Parme dans les institutions d’enseignement du Québec », Histoire Québec, 202, p. 24-28 (lire en ligne [archive])
^The first signs of discord between the two brothers, already grave and possibly including violence, were noted in 1967. García Riol 2015, p. 112. As late as 1972 relations between Carlos-Hugo and Sixte were still correct, as Sixte served as godfather at the christening of his brother's first daughter, Margarita. Heras y Borrero 2010, p. 110
^Marie des Neiges settled as an ornithologist and was engaged in protecting the Extremadura nature, Cecile specialized in theology and archives. Neither has married and neither maintained public profile, except attending family feasts and some events related to Parma, Heras y Borrero 2010, p. 150
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