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.
My family and I appreciate your interest in our shared cultural heritage.
Sincerely,
Georg Friedrich
Prince of Prussia
Current events around the House of Hohenzollern
Donata, Duchess of Oldenburg, was born 75 years ago today on 20 June 1950 as the daughter of Prince Siegfried zu Castell-Rüdenhausen and Princess Irene, Countess of Solms-Laubach. Donata is the only daughter of the princely couple’s eight children. In 1974, Donata met Louis Ferdinand Jr, the third son of the then head of the […]
Starting Signal for the new Foundation ‘Hohenzollernscher Kunstbesitz’ (= Hohenzollern Art Collection) In addition to the committees of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg, the Advisory Board of the German Historical Museum has now also approved an agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany, the states of Berlin […]
On May 27, Herrman Parzinger was bid farewell in a ceremonial event at the Neues Museum after serving 17 years as the President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. At the same event, his successor, Marion Ackermann, the former Director General of the Dresden State Art Collections, was officially welcomed. For Prince Georg Friedrich, this […]
Prince Christian Ludwig and Princess Desiree of Prussia attended the ceremonial reopening of the palace on Pfaueninsel on May 21. After seven years of restoration, the building originally constructed in 1795 for King Frederick William II is once again open to the public with a restored interior and renovated facade.
On May 9th, Margot Friedländer passed away at the age of 103 in Berlin. Prince Georg Friedrich and Princess Sophie are deeply grateful to have personally known the Holocaust survivor and honorary citizen of Berlin, and they express their admiration for her life’s work. Prince Georg Friedrich is a member of the board of trustees […]
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 […]
Donata, Duchess of Oldenburg, was born 75 years ago today on 20 June 1950 as the daughter of Prince Siegfried zu Castell-Rüdenhausen and Princess Irene, Countess of Solms-Laubach. Donata is the only daughter of the princely couple’s eight children.
In 1974, Donata met Louis Ferdinand Jr, the third son of the then head of the House of Hohenzollern and great-grandson of the last German Emperor. Their wedding on 24 May 1975 in Rüdenhausen became the social event of the year. The marriage was blessed with two children: Prince Georg Friedrich (1976) and Princess Cornelie (1978). Prince Louis Ferdinand did not witness the birth of his daughter. In the summer of 1977, he was involved in an accident as a reserve officer during a Bundeswehr manoeuvre and succumbed to his injuries a few weeks later.
In 1991, Princess Donata married her former brother-in-law, Duke Friedrich August von Oldenburg. In the last years of their lives, the couple retired in Bavaria. She got to know three of her four grandchildren – Princes Carl Friedrich and Louis Ferdinand and Princess Emma – personally. She died on 5 September 2015 in Traunstein, following a long illness.
For decades, she was committed to the Princess Kira of Prussia Foundation, where she also served as a board member. For many years, she was particularly passionate about supporting the association ‘Zukunft Rumänien – Kinderklinik Temesvar e.V.’, which aimed to build a paediatric clinic in 1989 in the same town where the bloody revolution in Romania began.
Starting Signal for the new Foundation ‘Hohenzollernscher Kunstbesitz’ (= Hohenzollern Art Collection) In addition to the committees of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Prussian Palaces and Gardens Foundation Berlin-Brandenburg, the Advisory Board of the German Historical Museum has now also approved an agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany, the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, and the House of Hohenzollern.
The goal of the agreement, signed by Prince Georg Friedrich on May 5, 2025, was to resolve all outstanding issues concerning the art collection of the House of Hohenzollern. The core of the agreement is the joint establishment of a foundation’ which will ensure the preservation, care, and accessibility of significant objects related to Prussian, German, and European history in the future.
On May 27, Herrman Parzinger was bid farewell in a ceremonial event at the Neues Museum after serving 17 years as the President of the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. At the same event, his successor, Marion Ackermann, the former Director General of the Dresden State Art Collections, was officially welcomed. For Prince Georg Friedrich, this is the third transition of office he has witnessed as the head of the House of Hohenzollern, following previous presidents Klaus-Dieter Lehmann and Werner Knopp.
As the new president, Marion Ackermann will also become a member of the board of the “Hohenzollern Art Foundation,” co-founded by the Prince Georg Friedrich.
Prince Christian Ludwig and Princess Desiree of Prussia attended the ceremonial reopening of the palace on Pfaueninsel on May 21. After seven years of restoration, the building originally constructed in 1795 for King Frederick William II is once again open to the public with a restored interior and renovated facade.
On May 9th, Margot Friedländer passed away at the age of 103 in Berlin. Prince Georg Friedrich and Princess Sophie are deeply grateful to have personally known the Holocaust survivor and honorary citizen of Berlin, and they express their admiration for her life’s work. Prince Georg Friedrich is a member of the board of trustees of the Margot Friedländer Foundation, established last year.
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.
