Friday, November 12, 2010

Another princely sacrifice to Cupid

November 12, 1906

An exclusive dispatch to the Los Angeles Times. 

Kaiser Wilhelm II is "vastly annoyed" over another royal mésalliance like that of Prince Albrecht of Prussia and an actress Marie Sulzer.

Hereditary Prince Eberwyn of Bentheim und Steinfurt has also decided to follow his heart and recently married Pauline Langenfeld, daughter of a provincial mayor, who also owns a shop.
 
[The Los Angeles Times refers to the bride as Fanny Koch and notes the prince recently announced his engagement.  The couple was married on October 1, 1906, in London.]


The prince is the son of Alexis, Prince of Bentheim und Steinfurt, and Princess Pauline of Waldeck und Pyrmont.   He is a nephew of the Queen Mother of the Netherlands and the Duchess of Albany, and a first cousin to Queen Wilhelmina.

After Eberwyn informed his father of his decision to marry a commoner, Prince Alexis, as head of the house, "tried vainly to prevent the marriage. He told his son that he would forfeit his "birthright and titles" if he married the shopkeeper's daughter."

Prince Eberwyn is reported to have said: "I am willing to make the sacrifice."   He took an oath, renounced his right of succession, and swore that he would not "contest his brother's succession as Hereditary Prince. 
 
Eberwyn will also be "compelled to resign his position as captain of the guard."  His financial losses will also be great "as the loss of rank and titles."  In renouncing his dynastic rights, he will lose a future income of $1,000,000 a year.

The prince is twenty-four, and his bride is 23 years old.

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