Death of Carl, Duke of Württemberg (85)

Carl, Duke of Wurttemberg and head of the royal house of Württemberg has died at the age of 85 in Ravensberg, not far away from his home Schloss Althausen. He is succeeded by his 27-year-old grandson Wilhelm.

Carl of Württemberg had been in poor health for several years and has died on today after a long illness. He was only in a clinic in Ravensburg for five days and had lived at home before that.

He is survived by his wife Diane, born Princes of France, his three remaining sons, two daughters, sixteen grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.

Carl  was born in 1936 as the second son of Duke Albrecht of Württemberg and Archduchess Rosa of Austria-Tuscany. He became is father’s heir in 1959, after his elder broter Ludwig renounced his succession rights to marry a noblewoman. In 1960 Carl married Princess Diane of France, one of the many daughters of the Count of Paris -head of the French royal family- and Princess Isabelle of Orleans-Braganza (a member of the Brazilian imperial family). Carl succeeded his father in 1975.

As head of the family he transformed the family company (Hofkammer), which was primarily focused on forestry and agriculture with 5500 hectares of forest and 1000 hectares of arable land. It was converted in such a way that it is now very active in the real estate and financial sectors. The Hofkammer owns 700 properties, among which 50 hectares of vineyards, the castle-hotel Monrepos near Ludwigsburg and several golf courses.

The death of Carl’s eldest son & heir – Duke Friedrich- four years ago was a heavy blow for the whole family – Friedrich had an accident at the age of 56 while driving his vintage car from Altshausen Palace, the ancestral seat of the House of Württemberg, to Friedrichshafen.

In 2020, Carl’s second eldest son Michael took over the management of the Hofkammer. The head of the house is now 27-year-old Wilhelm, Friedrich’s son and Carl’s grandson. Wilhelm studied in Great Britain and should still gain professional experience before he also leads the Hofkammer. Management of the Hofkammer and the house remain separate for the time being.

Filed under Germany
Tagged Death, House of Württemberg.