Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt
Encyclopedia
Frédéric Prinz von Anhalt (born 1943) is a German-born socialite
best known as Zsa Zsa Gabor
's husband from her latest and longest-lasting marriage. He was born Robert Hans Lichtenberg; and in 1980, he became the adult adopted son of Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt
.
, Germany
. He was one of 5 children at home, and his grandmother also lived with them. His father was the chief of police
in Frankfurt
.
In 1980, he was adopted as an adult by Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt
(1898–1983), daughter-in-law of German Emperor Wilhelm II.
"Prinz von Anhalt" is his surname, rather than a title, as per German laws regarding the country's former nobility. Marie Auguste's first husband was Prince Joachim of Prussia
, the youngest son of German Emperor Wilhelm II. Prince Joachim committed suicide in 1920 after four years of marriage. She subsequently (in 1926) wed Johannes-Michael Freiherr
von Loën, whom she divorced in 1935.
Some reports state that Prinz von Anhalt, a former masseur, has claimed to be a friend of Princess Marie Auguste's only child, Prince Karl Franz of Prussia
(1916–1975), and that the grieving mother adopted him out of kindness and "gave" him the name Prince Frederic von Anhalt, Duke of Saxony. However, British press reports indicate that Princess Marie Auguste was bankrupt and the adoption was apparently a business transaction. The transaction was said to be masterminded by Hans Hermann Weyer
, a former window dresser who became an honorary consul of Bolivia in Luxembourg, known for selling certificates of nobility, doctoral degrees from invented colleges and universities, and other decorations in Germany
throughout the 1960s.
Although Princess Marie-Auguste adopted Frédéric, the rest of the ducal family of Anhalt (the House of Ascania) has never recognized him as being part of their lineage. The House of Ascania's family website states that the adoption laws of Germany allow adult adoptions with almost no conditions, and that the website itself lists only people who actually descend from the House of Ascania. Frédéric is not listed on the website.
When asked about the title in his name in 2010, Prinz von Anhalt said that he was a family friend and had played soccer for a long time with the son of Princess Marie-Auguste, and that she agreed to adopt him. He also said: "It doesn't mean anything, it’s just a name. After 1918 in Germany, royalty didn't exist any longer."
, who is 26 years older than he is. The couple are still married, making it Gabor's longest marriage. "We didn't marry for love", he later said. "It was a friendship, but when you're with someone over a certain time you fall in love." The marriage is legally Gabor's eighth, her marriage to Felipe de Alba
having been annulled because she was still married to Michael O'Hara when she married de Alba. On February 9, 2007, von Anhalt stated that he had a decade-long affair with Anna Nicole Smith
and could potentially be the father
of her infant girl,However later in March it was determined that Frederic von Anhalt was not the father of the baby, Smith's ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead was the biological father. .
, Prinz von Anhalt has adopted several men. Among them are: Marcus Prinz von Anhalt
(formerly known as Marcus Eberhardt), who refers to himself as "Prince Germany"; Oliver Prinz von Anhalt (formerly known as Oliver Bendig); Michael Prinz von Anhalt (formerly known as Michael Killer). Following their adoption, these men are entitled to use the last name of "Prinz von Anhalt". German newspapers have speculated that Frédéric is effectively selling the name, which would be a criminal offence in Germany and render the adoptions, which were made under German law, invalid.
in Southern California. They asked him to pose for pictures with them, at which point one of the women robbed him at gunpoint, taking his car keys, jewelry, wallet, driver's license and all his clothes. According to Prinz von Anhalt, his assailants bound him and placed him in handcuffs, yet he managed to call the authorities on a cellular phone. Los Angeles police found him completely naked approximately one hour later. No handcuffs were found at the scene. The culprits apparently drove away in a Chrysler convertible.
's daughter, Francesca Hilton, has alleged that Prinz von Anhalt has compromised her mother's dignity, security, and health for attention and profit. Hilton claims that Prinz von Anhalt prohibits Gabor from having visitors, including her own daughter.
Hilton claims that he has fostered a "circus atmosphere" surrounding her mother's health, his plans to have her body preserved with plastic for public display, and claims that Gabor wants to mother a child at the age of 94, which she described as "just weird." Worried about her mother's health, home, and fortune, Hilton is reportedly considering legal action against von Anhalt.
Relations between Hilton and Prinz von Anhalt have been sour for nearly a decade. In 2005, he sued Hilton alleging that she attempted to defraud her mother, Gabor. Zsa Zsa Gabor refused to sign the papers in the suit against her daughter and the court dismissed it.
, as an independent candidate. He withdrew his candidacy on August 2, 2010, citing his wife's health issues.
On December 22, 2010 von Anhalt was rushed to the hospital after gluing his eye shut with nail glue.
On October 20, 2010 von Anhalt was taken to the hospital after swallowing a bee, which then stung him in the throat.
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
best known as Zsa Zsa Gabor
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Zsa Zsa Gabor is a Hungarian-born American stage, film and television actress.She acted on stage in Vienna, Austria, in 1932, and was crowned Miss Hungary in 1936. She emigrated to the United States in 1941 and became a sought-after actress with "European flair and style", with a personality that...
's husband from her latest and longest-lasting marriage. He was born Robert Hans Lichtenberg; and in 1980, he became the adult adopted son of Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt
Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt
Princess Marie Auguste of Anhalt was the daughter of Eduard, Duke of Anhalt and his wife Princess Luise of Saxe-Altenburg.-Early life and family:...
.
Name
Prinz von Anhalt was born as Hans Robert Lichtenberg (other sources state Hans-Georg Lichtenberg) in Bad KreuznachBad Kreuznach
Bad Kreuznach is the capital of the district of Bad Kreuznach, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is located on the Nahe river, a tributary of the Rhine...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He was one of 5 children at home, and his grandmother also lived with them. His father was the chief of police
Chief of police
A Chief of Police is the title typically given to the top official in the chain of command of a police department, particularly in North America. Alternate titles for this position include Commissioner, Superintendent, and Chief constable...
in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
.
In 1980, he was adopted as an adult by Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt
Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt
Princess Marie Auguste of Anhalt was the daughter of Eduard, Duke of Anhalt and his wife Princess Luise of Saxe-Altenburg.-Early life and family:...
(1898–1983), daughter-in-law of German Emperor Wilhelm II.
"Prinz von Anhalt" is his surname, rather than a title, as per German laws regarding the country's former nobility. Marie Auguste's first husband was Prince Joachim of Prussia
Prince Joachim of Prussia
Prince Joachim Franz Humbert of Prussia was the youngest son of Wilhelm II, German Emperor, by his first wife, Augusta Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein.-Candidate for thrones:...
, the youngest son of German Emperor Wilhelm II. Prince Joachim committed suicide in 1920 after four years of marriage. She subsequently (in 1926) wed Johannes-Michael Freiherr
Freiherr
The German titles Freiherr and Freifrau and Freiin are titles of nobility, used preceding a person's given name or, after 1919, before the surname...
von Loën, whom she divorced in 1935.
Some reports state that Prinz von Anhalt, a former masseur, has claimed to be a friend of Princess Marie Auguste's only child, Prince Karl Franz of Prussia
Prince Karl Franz of Prussia
Prince Karl Franz of Prussia was the only child of Prince Joachim of Prussia and his wife Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt...
(1916–1975), and that the grieving mother adopted him out of kindness and "gave" him the name Prince Frederic von Anhalt, Duke of Saxony. However, British press reports indicate that Princess Marie Auguste was bankrupt and the adoption was apparently a business transaction. The transaction was said to be masterminded by Hans Hermann Weyer
Hans Hermann Weyer
Hans Hermann Consul Weyer, Graf von Yorck is a German trader in nobility and academics titles, and a flamboyant member of the international jet set...
, a former window dresser who became an honorary consul of Bolivia in Luxembourg, known for selling certificates of nobility, doctoral degrees from invented colleges and universities, and other decorations in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
throughout the 1960s.
Although Princess Marie-Auguste adopted Frédéric, the rest of the ducal family of Anhalt (the House of Ascania) has never recognized him as being part of their lineage. The House of Ascania's family website states that the adoption laws of Germany allow adult adoptions with almost no conditions, and that the website itself lists only people who actually descend from the House of Ascania. Frédéric is not listed on the website.
When asked about the title in his name in 2010, Prinz von Anhalt said that he was a family friend and had played soccer for a long time with the son of Princess Marie-Auguste, and that she agreed to adopt him. He also said: "It doesn't mean anything, it’s just a name. After 1918 in Germany, royalty didn't exist any longer."
Marriage
In 1986, Prinz von Anhalt married Zsa Zsa GaborZsa Zsa Gabor
Zsa Zsa Gabor is a Hungarian-born American stage, film and television actress.She acted on stage in Vienna, Austria, in 1932, and was crowned Miss Hungary in 1936. She emigrated to the United States in 1941 and became a sought-after actress with "European flair and style", with a personality that...
, who is 26 years older than he is. The couple are still married, making it Gabor's longest marriage. "We didn't marry for love", he later said. "It was a friendship, but when you're with someone over a certain time you fall in love." The marriage is legally Gabor's eighth, her marriage to Felipe de Alba
Felipe de Alba
Felipe de Alba was a Mexican attorney and character actor from the 1940s and 1950s. He appeared in films such as Robinson Crusoe and Real Women Have Curves .De Alba was briefly married to the actress Zsa Zsa Gabor...
having been annulled because she was still married to Michael O'Hara when she married de Alba. On February 9, 2007, von Anhalt stated that he had a decade-long affair with Anna Nicole Smith
Anna Nicole Smith
In 1992 Smith was chosen by Hugh Hefner to appear on the cover of the March issue of Playboy, where she was listed as Vickie Smith, wearing a low-cut evening gown. The centerfold was photographed by Stephen Wayda. Smith said she planned to be "the next Marilyn Monroe". Becoming one of Playboys...
and could potentially be the father
Dannielynn Birkhead paternity case
The Dannielynn Hope Marshall Birkhead paternity case, a.k.a Birkhead v. Marshall, centered on a child born September 7, 2006 to Vickie Lynn Marshall...
of her infant girl,However later in March it was determined that Frederic von Anhalt was not the father of the baby, Smith's ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead was the biological father. .
Adult adoptions
Together with his wife Zsa Zsa GaborZsa Zsa Gabor
Zsa Zsa Gabor is a Hungarian-born American stage, film and television actress.She acted on stage in Vienna, Austria, in 1932, and was crowned Miss Hungary in 1936. She emigrated to the United States in 1941 and became a sought-after actress with "European flair and style", with a personality that...
, Prinz von Anhalt has adopted several men. Among them are: Marcus Prinz von Anhalt
Marcus Prinz von Anhalt
Marcus Prinz von Anhalt is a German playboy, businessman and night club owner, whose luxurious lifestyle results in some coverage in the German yellow press. He is one of the largest and most visible owners of brothels in Germany, with over twenty brothels and night clubs...
(formerly known as Marcus Eberhardt), who refers to himself as "Prince Germany"; Oliver Prinz von Anhalt (formerly known as Oliver Bendig); Michael Prinz von Anhalt (formerly known as Michael Killer). Following their adoption, these men are entitled to use the last name of "Prinz von Anhalt". German newspapers have speculated that Frédéric is effectively selling the name, which would be a criminal offence in Germany and render the adoptions, which were made under German law, invalid.
Robbery and stripping
On July 25, 2007, Prinz von Anhalt was allegedly approached by three women he described as attractive while sitting in his Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce (car)
This a list of Rolls-Royce motor cars and includes vehicles produced by:*Rolls-Royce Limited *Rolls-Royce Motors , which was owned by Vickers between 1980 and 1998, and after that by Volkswagen...
in Southern California. They asked him to pose for pictures with them, at which point one of the women robbed him at gunpoint, taking his car keys, jewelry, wallet, driver's license and all his clothes. According to Prinz von Anhalt, his assailants bound him and placed him in handcuffs, yet he managed to call the authorities on a cellular phone. Los Angeles police found him completely naked approximately one hour later. No handcuffs were found at the scene. The culprits apparently drove away in a Chrysler convertible.
Clash with Gabor's Daughter
Zsa Zsa GaborZsa Zsa Gabor
Zsa Zsa Gabor is a Hungarian-born American stage, film and television actress.She acted on stage in Vienna, Austria, in 1932, and was crowned Miss Hungary in 1936. She emigrated to the United States in 1941 and became a sought-after actress with "European flair and style", with a personality that...
's daughter, Francesca Hilton, has alleged that Prinz von Anhalt has compromised her mother's dignity, security, and health for attention and profit. Hilton claims that Prinz von Anhalt prohibits Gabor from having visitors, including her own daughter.
Hilton claims that he has fostered a "circus atmosphere" surrounding her mother's health, his plans to have her body preserved with plastic for public display, and claims that Gabor wants to mother a child at the age of 94, which she described as "just weird." Worried about her mother's health, home, and fortune, Hilton is reportedly considering legal action against von Anhalt.
Relations between Hilton and Prinz von Anhalt have been sour for nearly a decade. In 2005, he sued Hilton alleging that she attempted to defraud her mother, Gabor. Zsa Zsa Gabor refused to sign the papers in the suit against her daughter and the court dismissed it.
Bid for Governor of California
On February 16, 2010, Prinz von Anhalt announced his candidacy for Governor of CaliforniaGovernor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
, as an independent candidate. He withdrew his candidacy on August 2, 2010, citing his wife's health issues.
Accidents
On September 21, 2011 von Anhalt was hospitalized after being hit by a car in Beverly Hills.On December 22, 2010 von Anhalt was rushed to the hospital after gluing his eye shut with nail glue.
On October 20, 2010 von Anhalt was taken to the hospital after swallowing a bee, which then stung him in the throat.