Gustav, Hereditary Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

Gustav Frederik Philip Richard, Hereditary Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (born 12 January 1969 in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany),^[1] is the eldest child and only son of Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Benedikte of Denmark.^[2]

Brief Biography

Prince Gustav is currently the hereditary prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, the senior branch of the princely house of Sayn-Wittgenstein. He is a descendant of Queen Victoria and is in the line of succession to the British Throne, via descent from Victoria, her son Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, his daughter Princess Margaret of Connaught, and her daughter Princess Ingrid of Sweden to Gustav's mother, Princess Benedickt of Denmark. He resides at the Schloss Berleburg in the town of Bad Berleburg, in the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, with his parents, Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Benedikte of Denmark, and current partner Carina Axelsson.^[3] He has two sisters, Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and her sister Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.

Succession of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

The House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg follows Agnatic primogeniture succession, male-only; Prince Gustav, as the sole male child of the head of the princely house Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, is heir apparent to his father's titles. Conversely, the sisters of Prince Gustav (Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and her sister Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg) are excluded from inheriting the titles and accompanying estates, regardless of Gustav's inclusion or exclusion from the succession.

At this time, Gustav, Hereditary Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg remains unmarried and childless. Upon his death without a legitimate heir, the headship of the House will pass to the Princely House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein in the form of Gutav's cousin Bernhard, Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein (see Additional Notes below). This is because the younger brother of Prince Richard, Prince Robin of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, contracted two morganatic marriages, which were in contravention of the House marriage laws of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg; had Prince Robin married in accordance with House laws, he would have been the heir presumptive after Gustav.

The House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein, the presumed inheriter of the titles and property, is a cadet branch of the House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. Because the title and style of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg is superior to that of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein, it is anticipated that the titles would merge and Bernhard, Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein would assume the title of Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.

Ancestry

References

External links

• Princely House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
• Royal House of Denmark

Additional Notes on Inheritance

Son: Hereditary Prince Gustav zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg;has no brothers
Father: Prince Richard zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg; one brother (see "Uncle" on next line)
Uncle: Prince Robin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg; is excluded (married in contravention of House law)

Grandfather: Prince Gustav-Albrecht zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
Great Uncle (Older of two younger brothers of grandfather): Prince Christian-Heinrich zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein; married according to House law with Beatrix Countess von Bismarck-Schönhausen (firstly) and with Dagmar Fürstin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein (secondly)
Sons of Prince Christian-Heinrich zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein: with Beatrix Countess von Bismarck-Schönhausen, Prince Albrecht zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein; died in infancy with Dagmar Fürstin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein, Bernhard, the present Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein, who is married in accordance with House laws to Katharina Countess von Podewils-Dürniz, with legitimate issue