Latest news with #Hohenzollern
Local Germany
7 days ago
- Business
- Local Germany
Germany and last Kaiser's heirs agree to keep treasures on display
The agreement ends a century-old dispute between the state and the Hohenzollern family, descendants of the last German emperor and king of Prussia, Kaiser Wilhelm II, who abdicated after World War I. "After 100 years, we have amicably resolved a dispute dating back to the transition from the monarchy to the republic," said Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer, hailing the "historic success". The collection reportedly covers 27,000 objects including paintings, sculptures, coins, books and furniture. "Countless works of art that are of great importance to the history of Brandenburg, Prussia, and thus Germany will now be permanently accessible to the public and continue to form the centrepieces of our museums and palaces," said Weimer. Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia said in a statement that "it has always been my goal to permanently preserve our shared cultural heritage for art-loving citizens and to make it publicly accessible". "The solution now found provides an excellent basis for a new partnership between the state cultural foundations and my family." Under the agreement, previously disputed objects will be transferred to a non-profit Hohenzollern Art Heritage Foundation, with two thirds of the board made up of public sector representatives, and one third by the aristocratic family. Advertisement Lost behind Iron Curtain The ancient House of Hohenzollern ruled the German Empire from its establishment in 1871 until Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate in 1918, going into exile after Germany's defeat in World War I. The Prussian royals were initially to be stripped of their properties but a deal was later worked out under a 1926 law. The imperial family received millions of Deutschmarks and kept dozens of castles, villas and other properties, mainly in and around Berlin but also as far away as today's Namibia. However, after Nazi Germany's World War II defeat, Soviet occupation of eastern Germany and communist rule led to additional expropriations. The riches lost behind the Iron Curtain only came back into reach for the Hohenzollern family with the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall. Under a 1994 law, people whose property was expropriated by the Soviets have a right to claim compensation -- but only if they did not "lend considerable support" to the Nazi regime. The family fought for years to recover the treasures but dropped the bid in 2023 when a family representative acknowledged that Kaiser Wilhelm II "sympathised with the Nazis at times". The deal announced on Friday was sealed after the German Historical Museum Foundation gave its approval, following the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Prussian Castles and Gardens Foundation in Berlin-Brandenburg.
Asharq Al-Awsat
13-06-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Germany and Last Kaiser's Heirs Agree to Keep Treasures on Display
The heirs of the former Prussian monarchy and Germany's state-run cultural foundations on Friday announced a deal that will allow thousands of the family's treasures and artefacts to remain on public display. The agreement ends a century-old dispute between the state and the Hohenzollern family, descendants of the last German emperor and king of Prussia, Kaiser Wilhelm II, who abdicated after World War I. "After 100 years, we have amicably resolved a dispute dating back to the transition from the monarchy to the republic," said Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer, hailing the "historic success". The collection reportedly covers 27,000 objects including paintings, sculptures, coins, books and furniture. "Countless works of art that are of great importance to the history of Brandenburg, Prussia, and thus Germany will now be permanently accessible to the public and continue to form the centerpieces of our museums and palaces," said Weimer. Prince Georg Friedrich of Prussia said in a statement that "it has always been my goal to permanently preserve our shared cultural heritage for art-loving citizens and to make it publicly accessible". "The solution now found provides an excellent basis for a new partnership between the state cultural foundations and my family." Under the agreement, previously disputed objects will be transferred to a non-profit Hohenzollern Art Heritage Foundation, with two thirds of the board made up of public sector representatives, and one third by the aristocratic family. The ancient House of Hohenzollern ruled the German Empire from its establishment in 1871 until Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate in 1918, going into exile after Germany's defeat in World War I. The Prussian royals were initially to be stripped of their properties, but a deal was later worked out under a 1926 law. The imperial family received millions of Deutschmarks and kept dozens of castles, villas and other properties, mainly in and around Berlin but also as far away as today's Namibia. However, after Nazi Germany's World War II defeat, Soviet occupation of eastern Germany and communist rule led to additional expropriations. The riches lost behind the Iron Curtain only came back into reach for the Hohenzollern family with the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall. Under a 1994 law, people whose property was expropriated by the Soviets have a right to claim compensation, but only if they did not "lend considerable support" to the Nazi regime. The family fought for years to recover the treasures but dropped the bid in 2023 when a family representative acknowledged that Kaiser Wilhelm II "sympathized with the Nazis at times". The deal announced on Friday was sealed after the German Historical Museum Foundation gave its approval, following the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Prussian Castles and Gardens Foundation in Berlin-Brandenburg.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
‘Fake' royal prince exposed by The Sun also arranged ‘loveless' marriage of convenience to wealthy steel heiress
A 'FAKE' royal prince exposed by The Sun also arranged a 'loveless' marriage of convenience to a wealthy steel heiress. His Serene Highness Dr Donatus — who used a loophole in German law to pay to be adopted by a minor royal — wed Dr Viola Hallman. 3 3 She lived with the music teacher as Princess of Hohenzollern in a medieval castle in Haelen, the Netherlands. Locals and former household staff in the small town say Viola, who also owned Killochan Castle in Scotland, was obsessed with becoming a princess. A former housekeeper said: 'There was no intimacy. He married her for the money and she got to become a princess.' Viola, who was much older than Donatus, even bought a bulletproof Mercedes S-Guard, an armoured executive car typically used by heads of state or royalty. Donatus — who has met King Charles in his role — says he gave his inheritance to his wife's daughter when she died of cancer in 2012. Meanwhile, the genuine Prince of Hohenzollern, Karl Friedrich, says Donatus — real name Markus Hänsel — is an imposter. He said his aunt Katharina Feodora, Princess of Hohenzollern, accepted money to legally adopt Donatus in around 2003. The German prince told The Sun: 'It makes me angry and frustrated, it leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth. 'Donatus is not my blood, he is not a member of the German royal family, he is simply a non-royal name bearer. 'He certainly cannot use the moniker of Serene Highness.' Donatus told The Sun: 'I made my wife very happy over seven years of our marriage, which were very good years, until her sudden death. 'We lived on our estates in several countries. However, if you have staff in your household, you don't need enemies anymore: They are helpless in their hate of whom they serve and kick back in creative ways, compensating their own weak social standing."
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Royal fury over fake German prince who has met Prince Charles after using legal loophole to gain access to high society
A fake German prince who has rubbed shoulders with Prince Charles has been slammed for using a legal loophole to gain access to high society. His Serene Highness Dr Donatus, Prince of Hohenzollern, has spent the better part of two decades schmoozing with Britain's elite. But Donatus, who is really a 64-year-old music teacher called Markus Hänsel, was only able to do this after paying to be adopted by a minor German royal in the House of Hohenzollern at the age of 42. The real Prince of Hohenzollern, Karl Friedrich, the head of the House of Hohenzollern, has hit out at Donatus for using his family's name. He told The Sun: 'It makes me angry and frustrated, it leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth. 'Donatus is not my blood, he is not a member of the German royal family, he is simply a non-royal name bearer. 'He certainly cannot use the moniker of Serene Highness.' Donatus is connected to several music organisations and charities, alongside King Charles and Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent. He is the Chairman of the Friends of the English Chamber Orchestra and is also ambassador of The Purcell School for Young Musicians, in Bushey, Hertfordshire, both of which are organisations that King Charles is a patron of. Donatus is also a member of the International Board of Governors of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, of which the Duke of Kent is patron, and and Creative Benefactor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. On top of this, he was previously a Principal Supporter of London's Royal College of Music, and a founding patron of the Royal College of Music Prince Consort Orchestra. In one clip taken from his Surrey home, a photo of him and King Charles was seen on the side. Prince Karl told the Sun that he confronted Donatus over his claim to his family's name, and it was revealed that Katharina Feodora, Princess of Hohenzollern, adopted him in around 2003. 'I wrote to Donatus and said I know all the members of my family but I hadn't heard of him. He wrote back and said, 'yes I have been adopted by your aunt Katharina'. 'I then spoke to my aunt and she told me, 'yes well, he offered me such an amount of money I couldn't resist'. She was always short of money. 'There's nothing we as a family can do.' Three years after he was adopted, he married Dr Viola Hallman, heiress of the Theis steel business, who later became Dr Viola Christa, Princess of Hohenzollern. They lived in a castle in Haelen, the Netherlands. Viola died of cancer in 2012. Donatus told The Sun in an emailed statement, written in the third person: 'Donatus has the same legal rank and rights represented in Germany's family law as Karl Friedrich of Hohenzollern, who does not have the authority to speak on behalf of all the members of the family.' He also says he 'financially supports' his 'mother' Katharina. Prince Karl said he is now seeking legal advice on the matter: 'We don't like somebody bringing the family name into a bad light. 'It's obvious he doesn't know me and the history of the Swabian branch of the Hohenzollerns. He's an uninformed man. 'He is not a member of the royal house of Hohenzollern.'
The Sun
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Royal fury over fake German prince who met King Charles after using legal loophole to gain access to high society
A FAKE German prince who has met King Charles has sparked fury among real royals. His Serene Highness Dr Donatus, Prince of Hohenzollern, has spent the past 20 years using his title to access high society in Britain. 4 4 4 But despite his claims to be descended from a royal dynasty, in reality he is a low-born music teacher called Markus Hänsel. It's understood Donatus, 64, paid to be adopted by a minor royal in the House of Hohenzollern at the age of 42, taking advantage of a law loophole in Germany. The real Prince of Hohenzollern, Karl Friedrich, the head of the House of Hohenzollern, blasted the imposter. He told The Sun: 'It makes me angry and frustrated, it leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth. 'Donatus is not my blood, he is not a member of the German royal family, he is simply a non-royal name bearer. 'He certainly cannot use the moniker of Serene Highness.' And European nobility expert Bearn Bilker insisted: 'Donatus is indeed the fake prince.' Donatus is connected to a number of top music organisations and charities alongside King Charles and the Duke of Kent. He became Chairman of the Friends of the English Chamber Orchestra and is also ambassador of The Purcell School for Young Musicians, in Bushey, Herts, Charles is a patron of both. Humiliating moment Harry poses with Z-list German 'fake prince' dubbed King of Trash TV who starred in show Travel Boobs Donatus is a member of the International Board of Governors of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, of which the Duke of Kent is patron, and also Creative Benefactor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. And he's formerly a Principal Supporter of the Royal College of Music in London and founding patron of the Royal College of Music Prince Consort Orchestra. In an online video Donatus talks from his Surrey home about his charity work and in the background there's a framed photo of him and Charles together. He is also seen in a video at the Royal College of Music with the King. Prince Karl, a direct descendant of German emperor Wilhelm I, said he first found out about Donatus' bogus claims more than a decade ago. 4 He told The Sun: 'I wrote to Donatus and said I know all the members of my family but I hadn't heard of him. He wrote back and said, 'yes I have been adopted by your aunt Katharina'. 'I then spoke to my aunt and she told me, 'yes well, he offered me such an amount of money I couldn't resist'. She was always short of money. 'There's nothing we as a family can do.' It's understood Donatus was adopted by Katharina Feodora, Princess of Hohenzollern in around 2003. Three years later he married Dr Viola Hallman, heiress of the Theis steel business, who became Dr Viola Christa, Princess of Hohenzollern. They lived in a castle in Haelen, the Netherlands. Viola died of cancer in 2012. Mr Bilker exposed the couple's dodgy royal standing in the Dutch media in 2007. He said: 'Princess Katharina adopted this man. He paid a lot of money. We see such awkward facts only in Germany. 'Donatus claims to be a real prince but that is not the case.' 'Fake prince' Mr Bilker said the name Prince (Prinz) is a name under German law, not a title. He added: 'Donatus is well aware of these facts. Donatus, born in Germany in 1961, used to be a music teacher. After getting a doctorate in Catholic theology in Frankfurt, he later self-published several books under the name Dr Markus von Hänsel-Hohenhausen. He first appeared in the UK in 2007 when he bought a £975,000 annexed section of a manor house on a private estate in Surrey. He drives a Bentley convertible with a personalised number plate, takes his blind dog, Alexis, for country walks and helps out with local music groups. Donatus admits he was adopted by Princess Katharina, but said it was wrong to call him a 'fake prince'. Speaking in the third person in an email he said: 'Donatus has the same legal rank and rights represented in Germany's family law as Karl Friedrich of Hohenzollern, who does not have the authority to speak on behalf of all the members of the family,' He also says he 'financially supports' his 'mother'. Prince Karl said he is seeking legal advice and insisted: 'We don't like somebody bringing the family name into a bad light. 'It's obvious he doesn't know me and the history of the Swabian branch of the Hohenzollerns. He's an uninformed man. 'He is not a member of the royal house of Hohenzollern.'
