[1][2][3] Johannes was born at Schloss Höfling in Regensburg, Germany, to Karl August, 10th Prince of Thurn and Taxis, and Infanta Maria Anna de Braganza.

[7] The Schönburg-Glauchaus were a countly branch of the mediatised princely House of Schönburg, which still possessed large estates in Germany after World War I,[2] but became refugees in Africa under the Nazi regime and fell on hard times.

The couple attracted massive media attention into the mid 1980s, with a haut bohème lifestyle locating them among the jet set and the Princess Gloria's over-the-top appearance (characterized by bright hair color and flashy clothes) prompted Vanity Fair to describe her as "Princess TNT, the dynamite socialite", a sobriquet that stayed with her a long time.

With a legacy of U.S. $500 million in debts, his widow was forced to simplify her way of life to master the fiscal responsibilities of probating his estate and securing what remained of her husband's fortune.

[8] Dynastic orders of non-reigning families: Media related to Johannes, Prince of Thurn and Taxis at Wikimedia Commons