My family and I would like to thank you for taking an interest in the long history of the House of Hohenzollern, the formerly-ruling royal house of Prussia.
Our family’s ancestral Seat, Hohenzollern Castle near Hechingen, in Baden-Württemberg, sees 350,000 visitors from all over the world each year, making it one of the most popular private museums in Germany. Hohenzollern Castle is still privately owned by the two branches of our house. It was here that my family’s history began over 950 years ago – a history that has significantly shaped Europe over the last millennium. Today, the royal palaces in Potsdam and various royal parks are world cultural heritage sites. Many of my direct ancestors were important historical figures, including the Prussian kings and German Emperors who succeeded them – Wilhelm I, Friedrich III and Wilhelm II – as well as Queen Victoria of Great Britain, the grandmother of Emperor Wilhelm II.
The private art collection I presently manage includes numerous important artifacts from our family’s nearly 1,000-year history. A large portion of the collection has been on public display at Hohenzollern Castle for over 70 years. It includes the Prussian royal crown that was made for Emperor Wilhelm II. Because the exhibition has been so popular, we will be gradually increasing the exhibition space in the coming years, which will enable us to display even more artworks from my private collection at our ancestral seat. Hohenzollern Castle also houses our family’s private archive, which is open to scholars and researchers.
The castle has also been used as a holiday retreat for students from disadvantaged families since 1954. The Princess Kira of Prussia Foundation sponsors a free holiday retreat at Hohenzollern Castle for children and young people, which includes a music education programme. Over 14,000 children and young people have stayed at our castle since the foundation began its work.
My private estate includes another popular destination as well, the Princes’ Island at the Großer Plöner See near Hamburg. The restaurant there was renovated in winter 2020/2021.
Other prominent works of art from my collection are currently on display at the various sites of the Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz (Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation) and the Stiftung Preussische Schlösser (Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation). As early as the 1950s, my grandfather, Dr. Louis Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia (1907 – 1994), was among the most open-handed private lenders in former West Berlin. These loaned items have been on display, free of charge, since 1994 in the castles and museums open to the public in Berlin and Brandenburg.
Since Germany’s reunification, my family has been engaged in an active dialogue to finally resolve the issue surrounding ownership of around 15,000 further works of art, which my great-grandparents Wilhelm and Cecilie, as well as my grandparents Louis Ferdinand and Kira, had to leave behind when they fled to West Germany in 1945.
The fact that the issue concerning which artworks belong to our private collection and which items belong to the state collections remains unresolved after 30 years highlights just how complex the matter is. Settling it in court might take several more decades.
For this reason, I am firmly of the belief that an out-of-court compromise is in the interest of all parties involved and would benefit the state collections in particular. I myself am willing to make considerable concessions in favour of the Federal Republic of Germany and the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, affording planning certainty to all parties involved while upholding my family’s historical responsibilities. In any case, my private collection will remain on public display for art enthusiasts visiting Hohenzollern Castle and other palaces and museums.
I look forward to posting updates on this website to keep the public informed of any relevant developments. Transparency towards the public with regard to the future of our common cultural heritage is important to me and to my family.
Sincerely,
Georg Friedrich
Prince of Prussia
Current events around the House of Hohenzollern
On December 18, 2024, Prince Georg Friedrich participated in the traditional Hanukkah reception hosted by the Ambassador of the State of Israel, H.E. Ron Prosor, and his wife, Hadas. Commitment to the right of existence of the Jewish state is part of Germany’s raison d’état. Following in the footsteps of the Prince’s grandfather, Prince Louis […]
On St. Michael’s Day, September 29, 2024, Princess Sophie officially assumed the patronage of the Hechingen Hospice Association. With this patronage, the Princess wishes to honor the exemplary commitment of the association, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024.
On St. Michael’s Day, September 29, 2024, Princess Sophie officially assumed the patronage of the Hechingen Hospice Association. With this patronage, the Princess wishes to honor the exemplary commitment of the association, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024.
Prince Georg Friedrich received a delegation of 75 South African female managers at Hohenzollern Castle on June 11, 2024. As part of the “Women Leading in the Energy Industry” program from Duke University, the employees of the energy provider “Eskom” had the opportunity to discuss with experts from politics, business, and society in Germany. During […]
By the Prince’s command, the European flag is traditionally raised at Hohenzollern Castle on May 9, Europe Day. Normally, only the Prince’s Personal Flag is raised on the castle’s flagpole, and only when he is present at the castle. Commitment to European unification has a long tradition within the House of Hohenzollern. Prince Louis Ferdinand […]
On the occasion of the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the first free elections after the end of apartheid, Prince Georg Friedrich visited the Republic of South Africa from March 18 to 22, 2024. As part of his program, the Prince visited, among others, the Holocaust & Genocide Center Johannesburg, the University of Cape […]
On December 18, 2024, Prince Georg Friedrich participated in the traditional Hanukkah reception hosted by the Ambassador of the State of Israel, H.E. Ron Prosor, and his wife, Hadas. Commitment to the right of existence of the Jewish state is part of Germany’s raison d’état. Following in the footsteps of the Prince’s grandfather, Prince Louis Ferdinand (1907-1994), Prince Georg Friedrich and Princess Sophie are also avowed supporters of Israel and the Jewish people.
On St. Michael’s Day, September 29, 2024, Princess Sophie officially assumed the patronage of the Hechingen Hospice Association. With this patronage, the Princess wishes to honor the exemplary commitment of the association, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024.
On St. Michael’s Day, September 29, 2024, Princess Sophie officially assumed the patronage of the Hechingen Hospice Association. With this patronage, the Princess wishes to honor the exemplary commitment of the association, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024.
Prince Georg Friedrich received a delegation of 75 South African female managers at Hohenzollern Castle on June 11, 2024. As part of the “Women Leading in the Energy Industry” program from Duke University, the employees of the energy provider “Eskom” had the opportunity to discuss with experts from politics, business, and society in Germany. During his trip to South Africa, Prince Georg Friedrich had met the organizers of the project and invited them, along with all participants, for a visit to the Swabian Alb.
By the Prince’s command, the European flag is traditionally raised at Hohenzollern Castle on May 9, Europe Day. Normally, only the Prince’s Personal Flag is raised on the castle’s flagpole, and only when he is present at the castle. Commitment to European unification has a long tradition within the House of Hohenzollern. Prince Louis Ferdinand (1907-1994), the grandfather of Prince Georg Friedrich, as Head of the House of Hohenzollern, strongly advocated for overcoming the division of Germany and Europe into East and West.
On the occasion of the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of the first free elections after the end of apartheid, Prince Georg Friedrich visited the Republic of South Africa from March 18 to 22, 2024. As part of his program, the Prince visited, among others, the Holocaust & Genocide Center Johannesburg, the University of Cape Town and educational institutions in Orange Farm. Discussions with human rights activists were also on the program. The highlight of the 5-day trip was an official dinner by the Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, in honor of the visit of Prince Georg Friedrich.
On the first day of his South African tour, Prince Georg Friedrich visited the Holocaust & Genocide Centre Johannesburg. Speaking to students from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds, the Prince emphasized the importance of dialogue. In the evening, Prince Georg Friedrich spoke to around 100 invited guests at a fundraising dinner for the center about the importance of historical responsibility.
On the evening of the second day of his South African tour, Prince Georg Friedrich was received in Cape Town by the Premier of the Western Cape Province, Alan Winde. In his dinner speech at the Premier’s official dinner, the Prince highlighted the successful cooperation between Germany and South Africa in in overcoming the consequences of apartheid. German Consul-General Tanja Werheit was in attendance.
On the occasion of Human Rights Day, Prince Georg Friedrich visited educational projects in Orange Farm, west of Johannesburg, on the morning of the last day of his visit. In discussions with learners and teachers, the Prince emphasized the importance of addressing historical injustices.
At the conclusion of his trip, Prince George Friedrich visited the Constitutional Court of the Republic of South Africa on Constitution Hill on the afternoon of Human Rights Day and met with human rights activists. The Constitutional Court is located in a former prison for opponents of the apartheid regime. South African Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela was also imprisoned there for a time.
