Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia
Encyclopedia
Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia (Franz Wilhelm Victor Christoph Stephan; born 3 September 1943) is a German businessman and member of the House of Hohenzollern
, the former ruling imperial house of Germany and royal house of Prussia
. From 1976 to 1986 he was known as Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich of Russia. As a descendant of Wilhelm II, he is also a great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria and a fourth cousin of Charles, Prince of Wales
.
, Silesia
as the son of Prince Karl Franz of Prussia
(1916–1975) and his first wife Princess Henriette of Schönaich-Carolath
(1918–1972). He had a twin brother, Prince Friedrich Christian who died three weeks after his birth. Prince Franz Wilhelm is a grandson of Prince Joachim of Prussia
the youngest son of Emperor William II
.
In 2002 Prince Franz Wilhelm with Theodor Tantzen founded the Prinz von Preussen development company which restores old buildings in Germany. In 2004 he purchased the Royal Porcelain Manufacture Berlin
(the acquisition was financed by a group of investors) saving it from insolvency
. He has also served as a member of the Almanach de Gotha
's Comité de Patronage
.
) in a civil marriage at Dinard
on 4 September 1976 and religiously on 22 September 1976 in Madrid
. Following his marriage he converted to the Russian Orthodox faith and was created a Grand Duke of Russia with the name Mikhail Pavlovich by his father in law Grand Duke Vladimir of Russia. Prince Franz Wilhelm and Grand Duchess Maria had one son before divorcing in 1986 at which point he reverted to his previous title.
House of Hohenzollern
The House of Hohenzollern is a noble family and royal dynasty of electors, kings and emperors of Prussia, Germany and Romania. It originated in the area around the town of Hechingen in Swabia during the 11th century. They took their name from their ancestral home, the Burg Hohenzollern castle near...
, the former ruling imperial house of Germany and royal house of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
. From 1976 to 1986 he was known as Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich of Russia. As a descendant of Wilhelm II, he is also a great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria and a fourth cousin of Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
.
Biography
Prince Franz Wilhelm was born in GrünbergZielona Góra
Zielona Góra is a city in Lubusz Voivodeship, in western Poland, with 117,557 inhabitants within the city limits and 294,000 inhabitants within the metropolitan area, including three neighbouring counties ....
, Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
as the son of 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 his first wife Princess Henriette of Schönaich-Carolath
Princess Henriette of Schönaich-Carolath
Princess Henriette of Schönaich-Carolath was the youngest daughter of Prince Johann Georg von Schoenaich-Carolath and Princess Hermine Reuss of Greiz, second wife of Wilhelm II, German Emperor.-Early life:...
(1918–1972). He had a twin brother, Prince Friedrich Christian who died three weeks after his birth. Prince Franz Wilhelm is a grandson of 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 Emperor William II
William II, German Emperor
Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia, ruling the German Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. He was a grandson of the British Queen Victoria and related to many monarchs and princes of Europe...
.
In 2002 Prince Franz Wilhelm with Theodor Tantzen founded the Prinz von Preussen development company which restores old buildings in Germany. In 2004 he purchased the Royal Porcelain Manufacture Berlin
Royal Porcelain Manufacture Berlin
The Royal Porcelain Manufacture Berlin was founded in 1763 by Frederick II of Prussia...
(the acquisition was financed by a group of investors) saving it from insolvency
Insolvency
Insolvency means the inability to pay one's debts as they fall due. Usually used to refer to a business, insolvency refers to the inability of a company to pay off its debts.Business insolvency is defined in two different ways:...
. He has also served as a member of the Almanach de Gotha
Almanach de Gotha
The Almanach de Gotha was a respected directory of Europe's highest nobility and royalty. First published in 1763 by C.W. Ettinger in Gotha at the ducal court of Frederick III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, it was regarded as an authority in the classification of monarchies, princely and ducal...
's Comité de Patronage
Patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows to another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings or popes have provided to musicians, painters, and sculptors...
.
Personal life
Prince Franz Wilhelm married his third cousin, once-removed Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia (he is a great-great-great grandson of Queen Victoria and she is a great-great grandaughter of Queen Victoria. The Prince is also fourth cousins of Charles, Prince of WalesCharles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
) in a civil marriage at Dinard
Dinard
Dinard is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in north-western France.Dinard is on the Côte d'Émeraude of Brittany. Its beaches and mild climate make it a popular holiday destination, and this has resulted in the town having a variety of famous visitors and residents...
on 4 September 1976 and religiously on 22 September 1976 in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. Following his marriage he converted to the Russian Orthodox faith and was created a Grand Duke of Russia with the name Mikhail Pavlovich by his father in law Grand Duke Vladimir of Russia. Prince Franz Wilhelm and Grand Duchess Maria had one son before divorcing in 1986 at which point he reverted to his previous title.
- Grand Duke George Mikhailovich of Russia, Prince of Prussia (born 1981).
Titles
- 1943–1976 His Royal Highness Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia
- 1976–1986 His Imperial and Royal Highness Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich of Russia, Prince of Prussia
- 1986–present His Royal Highness Prince Franz Wilhelm of Prussia