Quick Facts
Biography
Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of Wied (German: Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Konstantin Fürst von Wied; 2 June 1931 – 28 August 2000) was the grandson of William Frederick, 6th Prince of Wied. He was the titular Prince of Wied from 1945 until his death.
If George III of the United Kingdom had died in infancy, as many predicted he would following his premature birth, Friedrich William would have eventually succeeded to the throne of the United Kingdom, through the line of his grandmother, Princess Pauline of Württemberg, who was descended from Princess Augusta (George III's sister) and her eldest daughter, Princess Augusta of Württemberg.
Marriage
Friedrich Wilhelm married on 9 September 1958 in Arolsen to Princess Guda of Waldeck and Pyrmont (b. 1939), youngest daughter of Josias, Hereditary Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and his wife, Duchess Altburg of Oldenburg, daughter of Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg. They divorced in 1962.
They had two children:
- Prince Alexander of Wied (b. 29 September 1960), renounced his dynastic rights; unmarried and without issue.
- Carl, Prince of Wied (27 October 1961 – 12 March 2015) married Princess Isabelle of Isenburg; had issue, including Maximilian, Prince of Wied (b. 1999).
Friedrich Wilhelm married secondly on 15 July 1967 in Runkel to Princess Sophie of Stolberg-Stolberg (b. 1943), youngest child of Wolff-Heinrich, Prince of Stolberg-Stolberg and Irma Erfert.
They had two children:
- Princess Christina of Wied (b. 9 June 1970), married Baron Wolf von Gemmingen-Hornberg, had issue.
- Prince Wolff-Heinrich of Wied (b. 12 February 1979)
- Marek, Miroslav. "runkel/runkel6.html". Genealogy.EU.
Prince of Wied
In 1945, at the age of 14, Friedrich Wilhelm succeeded as head of the House of Wied after the death of his grandfather; his father Hermann had previously died of wounds received in action during World War II in Rzeszów, Poland.
Via the "Arnold Georg AG" and the "AG für Steinindustrie" (both headquartered in Neuwied, Germany) Friedrich Wilhelm invested successfully part of his inherited wealth in a diverse range of industries. Furthermore, he owned 5,500 hectares (13,590 acres) of forest and 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) of farmland near his hometown of Neuwied (Germany). In addition he bought 25,000 hectares (61,775 acres) of forest in British Columbia (Canada). In 1974 he established the "Beaumont Timber Company" (Salmo (British Columbia)) to manage his Canadian forest interests. It is now one of the largest private timberland owners in British Columbia.
At the death of Friedrich Wilhelm in 2000, the title and the family fortune was inherited by his second son Carl. (Frederick William's eldest son, Prince Alexander, renounced the title on 4 October 2000.)
Titles and styles
- 2 June 1931 – 18 June 1945: His Serene Highness Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Wied
- 18 June 1945 – 28 August 2000 : His Serene Highness The Prince of Wied
Ancestry
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Notes and sources
- thePeerage.com - Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Constantine Fürst zu Wied
- Genealogics - Leo van de Pas - Friedrich Wilhelm, 7.Fürst zu Wied
- Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Fürstliche Häuser, Reference: 2004 452
Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of Wied House of Wied-Neuwied Cadet branch of the House of Wied Born: 2 June 1931 Died: 28 August 2000 | ||
| Titles in pretence | ||
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| Preceded by William Frederick | — TITULAR — Prince of Wied 1945–2000 Reason for succession failure: German nobility titles abolished | Succeeded by Carl |