Noble House of Hohenzollern distances itself: Prince Harald was not a family member!

Noble House of Hohenzollern distances itself: Prince Harald was not a family member!

On July 8, 2025, the public was informed of the sudden death of Harald Prince of Hohenzollern-Emden. However, according to the noble House of Hohenzollern, he was not a recognized member of the family. Karl Friedrich, Prince of Hohenzollern, has dealt with the issue personally and will publish a press release next Monday. It makes it clear that Harald Prince of Hohenzollern-Emden does not belong to the family, is not related and does not descend from the Hohenzollern dynasty, as schwaebische.de reports.

Harald Prince of Hohenzollern-Emden died unexpectedly at the age of 63 during a business trip in Windhoek, Namibia. Death occurred as a result of cardiac arrest. His wife, Princess Josefa of Hohenzollern, is pregnant and is expecting their first child in the coming days. She shared on social media that the loss of her husband has affected her deeply and that she wants to take time to grieve as she plans to withdraw from her election campaign for the time being, according to ibtimes.sg.

A confused family picture

The interspecific costume and associated connections of the Hohenzollern family are notable. Harald was the twin brother of Prince Friedrich Viktor of Sigmaringen and bore the name Hohenzollern-Emden, which came into the family through the marriage of his ex-wife, Angela Stölzle. The marriage ended in divorce in 1997. Angela later married Tom Harald Krieger, who took her last name. The name Hohenzollern-Emden originally comes from Franz Joseph Prince of Hohenzollern, who passed it on to his descendants, as schwaebische.de explains.

The Hohenzollern dynasty has historical roots that date back to 1061. They are known for being one of the most important noble families in Germany, who also ruled the Kingdom of Romania. Their ancestral castle, Hohenzollern Castle, is an imposing building that sits on the summit of the mountain of the same name in the Swabian Alb. This castle has a turbulent history, including numerous sieges and reconstructions, and plays a central role in the Hohenzollern legacy, as myheritage.de describes.

Princess Josefa and her political career

Josefa von Hohenzollern-Emden became a princess through her marriage to Harald. Known locally as the “singing mayor,” she began her mayoral campaign in November 2020, which she successfully concluded in May 2021. However, she also faced political tensions during her term, which led to an administrative sabbatical in June 2023. Josefa received 17 out of 33 votes in her election for an eight-year term, which was well received by her supporters.

The developments surrounding the noble house, the grief over the sudden loss of Harald and the challenges that his wife is faced with show once again how dynamic the world of the nobility is. The coming days and the published press release will certainly shed light on how the Hohenzollerns will continue to deal with their history and their identity.