Florida received true royalty this week. Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Spain hosted a prestigious reception at Miami’s iconic Freedom Tower through the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute — an evening of culture, history, and transatlantic friendship that had the city’s A-list spellbound.
H.H. Dr. Prince Mario-Max Schaumburg-Lippe was honored to attend, joining diplomats, scholars, and cultural leaders for a night built around a fascinating theme: “Florida, Cuba, and the Caribbean in the American Revolution.”
History Comes Alive at the Freedom Tower
The setting could not have been more fitting. The Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College — itself a landmark of Cuban-American heritage — hosted a program exploring the deep, often overlooked ties between Spain and America’s founding. Florida International University and Miami Dade College partnered on the evening, and the scholarly lineup gave the history real weight.
A particular highlight: a royal concert featuring the university student orchestra of Bernie von Wertheim, whose young musicians genuinely thrilled the audience. Queen Sofia’s foundation, her lectures, and that concert together made for an evening nobody in the room will forget.
A Personal Royal Connection
For Prince Mario-Max, the evening carried a personal resonance. Her Majesty’s grandfather and his father Prince Waldemar’s grandfather were first cousins — their great-grandfathers were brothers. To see the Queen in the United States, carrying her decades of cultural patronage with such grace, was a genuine honor.
The night also stirred a cherished memory: his first encounter with Liza Minnelli at the Waldorf Astoria during a New York gala years ago, and his father’s admiring words about her — a moment he says he will always treasure.
Queen Sofia’s dedication to cultural preservation and education shaped every part of the reception. Her presence was steady and purposeful, a reminder of what sustained royal patronage of the arts looks like at its best. Miami was lucky to have her.
Related Reading
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- Prince Mario Max Schaumburg Lippe Opens New York Fashion Week 2026
- H.H.Dr. Princess Antonia zu Schaumburg-Lippe: Six years ago, God needed a new angel and called H.H. Dr.h.c. Prince Waldemar zu Schaumburg-Lippe into heaven!
Originally published on Times Square Chronicles.
