Charles II (German: Karl II) is the present Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary (as Charles V), etc, thus the present ruler of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire. He was born on 11 January 1961 in Vienna, the sixth child and oldest son of Emperor Otto I and Empress Regina, née Princess of Saxe-Meiningen.
He became ruler of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire upon the death of his father on 4 July 2011.
He married on 31 January 1993 to Baroness Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza (born 1958), the only daughter of Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza and his second wife, Fiona Frances Elaine Campbell-Walter, having the following issue:
Eleanor (born 1994)
Ferdinand (born 1997), Crown Prince of Austria and Hungary etc
Gloria (born 1999)
Although still married, the Emperor has been separated since 2003. Logically, his wife should receive the title of Empress upon him becoming Emperor, but in an Imperial decree issued on the morning of 5 July 2011, Emperor Charles II declared that his wife was to keep the title of Princess of Austria and Hungary, and not become Empress.