You’ve likely heard the name whispered in hushed tones across New York galas or seen it in the fine print of a high-end fashion label. Princess Annie-Laurie von Auersperg—or "Ala," as she’s known to those who actually know her—is a woman who carries a heavy history with a surprising amount of grace. Honestly, when your life story involves a "sleeping beauty" heiress mother, a sensational murder trial that gripped the entire world, and a literal princely title, people tend to look at you like a character in a movie rather than a real person.
But Ala is very real. And her story isn't just about the tragedy of the von Bülow case; it’s about what you do when the world decides your family is a tabloid fixture before you’ve even hit your thirties.
Who Exactly is Princess Annie-Laurie von Auersperg?
Born in Munich in 1958, Annie-Laurie was the first child of Prince Alfred von Auersperg and the legendary heiress Martha "Sunny" Crawford. If that sounds like the start of a fairy tale, well, the settings certainly matched. We're talking about a childhood split between Austrian estates and the gilded halls of Manhattan and Newport.
The name Annie-Laurie itself is a tribute to her grandmother, Annie Laurie Warmack, whose husband George Crawford had built a massive fortune in utilities. Basically, Ala was born into the kind of wealth that most of us can’t even fathom—the kind where you visit Parisian couture houses with your mother as a casual weekend activity.
The Family Split That Changed Everything
Her parents' marriage didn't last forever. After the divorce in 1965, her mother married Claus von Bülow. This is where the story usually takes a dark turn in the public imagination. While Ala and her brother Alexander were growing up, their world was relatively private until the early 1980s.
Then came the coma.
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When Sunny von Bülow was found unconscious at their Newport mansion, Clarendon Court, the family was shattered. Ala and Alexander eventually became the primary accusers against their stepfather, Claus, alleging he had injected their mother with insulin. It was a mess. A total, public, exhausting mess.
What Really Happened with the von Bülow Trials
The trials were a circus. You had the media obsessed with the "American Sleeping Beauty" and a European husband who seemed straight out of a noir film. Ala wasn't just a bystander; she and Alexander were the ones who pushed for the investigation.
They even hired their own private investigator. That's some serious "taking matters into your own hands" energy.
- The First Trial: Claus was found guilty.
- The Reversal: Alan Dershowitz (yes, that Alan Dershowitz) took the case, and the conviction was overturned.
- The Final Acquittal: In 1985, a second trial found him not guilty.
The fallout was permanent. It split the family right down the middle, with Ala's half-sister Cosima siding with Claus. This resulted in years of estrangement and a massive legal battle over their grandmother's $100 million estate. Eventually, a settlement was reached where Claus gave up his rights to the fortune in exchange for Cosima being reinstated in the will.
Beyond the Headlines: The Birth of "Ala von Auersperg"
For a long time, Ala was defined by that tragedy. But she's spent the last few decades building something that is entirely hers. She’s not just a "socialite"—a word that honestly feels a bit reductive these days.
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In 2015, she launched her own fashion label, Ala von Auersperg (AvA). It wasn't some vanity project, either. It actually started with her love of painting. She’d been painting for years—nature scenes, flowers, things she saw at her home in Antigua.
A designer friend, Antonio Gual, saw her work and basically said, "Hey, we should put this on a dress."
The AvA Aesthetic
The brand is very "elegant nomad." It’s designed for women who travel, who want to look expensive but don't want to deal with a steamer or uncomfortable zippers. She works with her daughter, Sunny Kneissl (named after her mother), who acts as the brand's stylist.
It’s kind of a full-circle moment. Ala grew up watching her mother and grandmother navigate the world of high fashion, and now she’s the one creating it. The clothes are breezy, colorful, and—most importantly—functional.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
If you want to know the "real" Annie-Laurie, you have to look at her philanthropy. She didn't just walk away from the trauma of her mother's condition. Along with Alexander, she co-founded:
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- The National Center for Victims of Crime: Founded in 1985 to help people who have been through the unthinkable.
- The Brain Trauma Foundation: This was directly inspired by her mother's persistent vegetative state. They fund research and create guidelines for treating traumatic brain injuries.
She’s also a filmmaker. She produced a documentary called Surviving Coma, which honestly tells you everything you need to know about where her heart is. She took the most painful part of her life and tried to make it a little easier for the next person.
The Antigua Connection
These days, you're more likely to find her in Antigua than at a stuffy New York party. She’s been part of the community there for over 20 years. Her home there is her sanctuary, and it’s where most of the inspiration for her prints comes from.
She’s big on conservation, too. It seems like after a life lived under the microscope of the American legal system, the quiet of the Caribbean is exactly what she needed.
What We Can Learn From Her Journey
Annie-Laurie von Auersperg’s life is a reminder that you aren't defined by the worst things that happen to you. You can be a "princess" and still be a businesswoman. You can be a victim's advocate and a fashion designer at the same time.
If you're looking to follow her lead or learn more about her world, here are a few ways to engage with her legacy:
- Support Victim Advocacy: Look into the work the National Center for Victims of Crime does. They provide actual, boots-on-the-ground resources for people in crisis.
- Explore the Art of the "Elegant Nomad": If you're into fashion, check out how she translates her paintings into textiles. It’s a great example of how to pivot a hobby into a second career later in life.
- Research Brain Health: The Brain Trauma Foundation is a gold mine of information if you’re interested in the science of recovery.
Princess Annie-Laurie von Auersperg is a survivor. She's proof that even when the headlines are screaming your name for all the wrong reasons, you can still write your own ending.