Today, Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden marks his fiftieth birthday!
Margravine Valerie of Baden with her son Hereditary Prince Bernhard at his christening on 6 July 1970 Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse |
On 27 May 1970, Prince Bernhard Max Friedrich August Gustav Ludwig Kraft of Baden was born at Schloss Salem, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. He was christened on 6 July 1970. Bernhard was the first son and second child of Margrave Max of Baden (b.1933) and Archduchess Valerie of Austria-Tuscany (b.1941), who married in 1966. Bernhard joined an older sister, Princess Marie Louise (b.1969), and he was followed by two younger brothers, Prince Leopold (b.1971) and Prince Michael (b.1976). Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden is a great-nephew of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as Bernhard’s paternal grandmother is Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark (1906-1969). In 1931, Princess Theodora married Margrave Berthold of Baden (1906-1963). Bernhard’s maternal grandparents are Archduke Hubert Salvator of Austria-Tuscany (1894-1971) and Princess Rosemary of Salm-Salm (1904-2001).
Dowager Fürstin Gloria of Thurn and Taxis with Prince Bernhard in 1993 Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse |
Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden in 1998 Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse |
Duchess Maria Anna in Bavaria, Duchess Fleur of Württemberg, and Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden in 1998 Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse |
The newlyweds Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse |
Princess Caroline of Monaco, with her husband Prince Ernst August of Hannover in the foreground, greets the groom Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse |
King Constantine II of the Hellenes greeting the bride and groom Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse |
Queen Anne-Marie of Greece speaks with the Hereditary Prince and Princess Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse |
Bernhard and Stephanie of Baden with their parents on their wedding day Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse |
On 22 June 2001, Prince Bernhard married Stephanie Anne Kaul (b.1966), the daughter of Christian Kaul and Hannelore Scheel, in a civil ceremony. The couple were joined in a religious ceremony on 23 June at Schloß Salem. Among the 200 guests were Queen Sofia of Spain, King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, King Mihail I and Queen Anne of Romania, Prince Ernst August of Hannover and Princess Caroline of Monaco, Landgrave Moritz of Hesse, Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg, Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg, Duke Max Emanuel in Bavaria, Duke Carl of Württemberg, as well as Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan with their daughter Princess Sumeya.
Prince Leopold of Baden’s christening at Salem in July 2002 Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse / Minka Reddig |
Prince Leopold with his parents at the christening of his little brother Prince Friedrich in June 2004 Photograph (c) Seeger-Presse / Sandra Zellner |
Bernhard and Stephanie have three sons: Prince Leopold (b.2002), Prince Friedrich (b.2004), and Prince Karl-Wilhelm (b.2006). The family of five lives at Linzgau near Schloss Salem.