Quick Facts
Biography
Andreas, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Saxony (given names: Andreas Michael Friedrich Hans Armin Siegfried Hubertus; born 21 March 1943) has been the head of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha since 1998. He is the grandson of Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the last ruling duke.
Early life
Prince Andreas was born at Schloss Casel in Lower Lusatia to Friedrich Josias, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and the former Countess Viktoria-Luise of Solms-Baruth; his parents divorced in 1946. In 1949 he moved to New Orleans in the United States where he spent his childhood with his mother and her second husband, Richard Whitten.
Prince Andreas became heir apparent to the headship of the ducal house on 6 March 1954, when his father became the head. From the age of 16 he made regular visits to Germany in preparation for his future role as head of the ducal house, permanently returning in 1965. He completed his military service between 1966 and 1968 in the Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion 6 based in Eutin, Schleswig-Holstein. After leaving the army he trained as a timber merchant in Hamburg from 1969 to 1971.
Head of the house
Prince Andreas succeeded to the Headship on his father's death on 23 January 1998. In 2006, Prince Andreas created the Ducal Saxe-Coburg and Gotha House Order, which is based on the extinct Ducal Saxe-Ernestine House Order. Prince Andreas is a first cousin of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. He is the godfather of the king's youngest daughter Princess Madeleine, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland.
Prince Andreas is the owner of Callenberg Castle in Coburg and Greinburg Castle in Grein, Austria. He manages the family estates including farms, forests and real estate.
Marriage
In Hamburg on 31 July 1971, Andreas married Carin Dabelstein (b. Hamburg, 16 July 1946), daughter of Adolf Wilhelm Martin Dabelstein, Fabrikant, Kaufmann, and wife Irma Maria Margarete Callsen. The marriage, although unequal, is not morganatic, and was authorized by Andreas's father. They have had three children, who inherit the ducal styles and titles:
- Princess Stephanie Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (b. Hamburg, 31 January 1972).
- Hubertus Michael, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (b. Hamburg, 16 September 1975), the heir-apparent to the Headship.
- Prince Alexander Philip of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (b. Coburg, 4 May 1977).
Honours
House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha: Co-Sovereign Knight Grand Cross of the Ducal Saxe-Coburg and Gotha House Order
Sweden: Recipient of the 70th Birthday Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf (30 April 2016)
Ancestry
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Patrilineal descent
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