Gustav, 7th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
| Gustav | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg | |||||
| Predecessor | Prince Richard | ||||
| Heir presumptive | Prince Robin | ||||
| Born | 12 January 1969 Frankfurt am Main, West Germany | ||||
| |||||
| House | Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg | ||||
| Father | Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg | ||||
| Mother | Princess Benedikte of Denmark | ||||
| Styles of Gustav, 7th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | His Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Highness |
| Alternative style | Sir |
Gustav, 7th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg[1] (Gustav Frederik Philip Richard; born 12 January 1969),[2] is the eldest child and only son of Princess Benedikte of Denmark and Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.[3]
Biography
Prince Gustav is the head of the House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, the senior branch of the formerly princely house of Sayn.[4] He resides at Schloss Berleburg-Wittgenstein in the town of Bad Berleburg, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He is the son of Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Benedikte of Denmark and has two sisters, Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.
The principality and princely title of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg descended, historically, according to semi-Salic primogeniture.[4] If the unmarried and childless Gustav dies without legitimate issue, the family heritage devolves upon his father's younger brother, Prince Robin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.[1]
Gustav was formerly engaged to be married to Elvire Pasté de Rochefort (granddaughter of French Ambassador André Rodocanachi and wife Nada Diplarakou, herself sister of Aliki Diplarakou and grand-aunt of Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg), with the engagement being announced on 16 August 2000 and wedding planned for 12 May 2001 in Paris. The wedding did not occur, reportedly due to financial issues with the bride's family, and it was announced on 16 July 2001 that they had separated. Today he resides with his partner, Carina Axelsson, although they are unable to marry due to a clause in Gustav's father's will preventing him from inheriting family property if he partakes in an unequal marriage. Nonetheless, she is treated by the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg House as his official partner and accompanies him to family events.
He is the godfather of Count Richard von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth, son of his sister Alexandra, Konstantin Johannsmann, son of his second sister Nathalie, and Prince Vincent of Denmark, son of his cousin the Crown Prince of Denmark.
Ancestry
| Ancestors of Gustav, 7th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg |
|---|
References
- ^ a b In 1919 royalty and nobility were mandated to lose their privileges in Germany, hereditary titles were to be legally borne thereafter only as part of the surname, according to Article 109 of the Weimar Constitution.
- ^ Lundy, Darryl (26 August 2009). "Person Page – 4054". The Peerage. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
- ^ "HRH Princess Benedikte". The Danish Monarchy (Official Site). Archived from the original on 1 April 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2009.
- ^ a b Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser XIX. "Sayn-Wittgenstein". C.A. Starke Verlag, 2011, pp.314–338. ISBN 978-3-7980-0849-6.