Andreas, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Andreas, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Saxony (Andreas Michael Friedrich Hans Armin Siegfried Hubertus Prinz von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha Herzog von Sachsen; 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, the last ruling duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Andreas
Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Duke of Saxony
The Prince at the wedding of Princess Madeleine of Sweden, 8 June 2013
Head of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Tenure23 January 1998 – present
PredecessorPrince Friedrich Josias
Heir-ApparentPrince Hubertus
Born (1943-03-21) 21 March 1943
Schloss Casel, Lower Lusatia, Germany
Spouse
Carin Dabelstein
​
(m. 1971)​
IssuePrincess Stephanie
Hubertus, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Prince Alexander
HouseSaxe-Coburg and Gotha
FatherFriedrich Josias, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
MotherCountess Viktoria-Luise of Solms-Baruth

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.[1]

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.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] 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:

  1. Princess Stephanie Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (b. Hamburg, 31 January 1972).
  2. Hubertus Michael, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (b. Hamburg, 16 September 1975), the heir-apparent to the Headship. Married to Kelly Jeanne Rondesvedt civilly on 21 May 2009 in Coburg and religiously on 23 May 2009 at Callenberg Castle.[6] They have issue.
  3. Prince Alexander Philip of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (b. Coburg, 4 May 1977).

Honours

Ancestry

Patrilineal descent
Patrilineal descent
  1. Theodoric I of Wettin, c. 916-976
  2. Dedo I, Count of Wettin, 950–1009
  3. Theodoric II, Margrave of Lower Lusatia, c. 990-1034
  4. Thimo the Brave, Count of Wettin, c. 1015–1090/1091 or 1100
  5. Conrad, Margrave of Meissen, c. 1097-1157
  6. Otto II, Margrave of Meissen, 1125–1190
  7. Theodoric I, Margrave of Meissen, 1162–1221
  8. Henry III, Margrave of Meissen, 1215–1288
  9. Albert II, Margrave of Meissen, 1240–1314
  10. Frederick I, Margrave of Meissen, 1257–1323
  11. Frederick II, Margrave of Meissen, 1310–1349
  12. Frederick III, Landgrave of Thuringia, 1332–1381
  13. Frederick I, Elector of Saxony, 1370–1428
  14. Frederick II, Elector of Saxony, 1412–1464
  15. Ernest, Elector of Saxony, 1441–1486
  16. John, Elector of Saxony, 1468–1532
  17. John Frederick I, Elector of Saxony, 1503–1554
  18. Johann Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, 1530–1573
  19. Johann II, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, 1570–1605
  20. Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha, 1601–1675
  21. John Ernest IV, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, 1658-1729
  22. Francis Josias, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, 1697–1764
  23. Ernest Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, 1724–1800
  24. Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, 1750–1806
  25. Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 1784–1844
  26. Albert, Prince Consort, 1819–1861
  27. Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, 1853–1884
  28. Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 1884–1954
  29. Friedrich Josias, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, 1918–1998
  30. Andreas, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, b. 1943

Notes
  1. Official family website
  2. Official family website
  3. Official family website
  4. Official family website
  5. Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels
  6. (in German) Neue Presse Coburg | Stolpersteine für die Traumhochzeit
  7. Blogspot
  8. wearing medal of the order
  9. wearing the medal of the order on his birthday
  10. Royal Fashion Awards: King Carl Gustaf's Birthday Banquet (Row 6)
Andreas, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Cadet branch of the House of Wettin
Born: 21 March 1943
Titles in pretence
Preceded by
Friedrich Josias		 — TITULAR —
Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
23 January 1998 – present
Reason for succession failure:
Duchy abolished in 1918		 Incumbent
Heir:
Hubertus

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