She was born Princess Theresia Christiane Maria Josepha Ignatia Benizia Michaela Gabriele Raphaele Gonzaga of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha at the Thüringen in Austria-Hungary, the sixth child of Prince August Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Archduchess Karoline Marie of Austria.

[1] Teresa Cristina was the only grandchild of Leopoldina to retain Brazilian nationality.

[2] Through her mother she was also a great-granddaughter of Leopold II, the last Grand Duke of Tuscany.

Teresa Cristina married in Salzburg on 6 October 1930 to Lamoral, Baron Taxis di Bordogna e Valnigra (1900-1966).

[1] Their descendants assumed the surname Tasso de Saxe-Coburgo e Bragança.