Ernst August of Hanover

Ernst August, Prince of Hanover (German: Prinz von Hannover, in English also known as Ernest Augustus of Hanover), styled His Royal Highness The Prince of Hanover; born 26 February 1954 in Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany) is the eldest son of Ernest Augustus IV, Prince of Hanover (1914–1987) and his first wife, Ortrud Prinzessin von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (1925–1980). He is best known for his much-publicized bouts of temper, his conviction for grievous bodily harm, and for being the third and present husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco, heiress presumptive to the throne of Monaco.

Name and ancestry

The Prince's given names are Ernst August Albert Paul Otto Rupprecht Berthold Friedrich Ferdinand Christian Ludwig. The family's historic surname is Welf, which is never used. In Germany, since the Weimar Constitution took effect on 14 August 1919, former titles have legally been regarded as surnames, so Ernst August's legal surname is Prinz von Hannover (German for "Prince of Hanover").

Related Topics:
Welf - Weimar Constitution - 14 August - 1919

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As the senior male descendant of George III of the United Kingdom, Ernst August is head of the House of Hanover, which ruled the United Kingdom from 1714 to 1901, and is enumerated as Ernest Augustus V. As such he is the Hanoverian heir to the thrones of Hanover and Brunswick-Lüneburg. Hence, he styles himself His Royal Highness The Prince of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg, Prince of Great Britain and Ireland. However, in Germany royalty and nobility has been abolished, so Ernst Augustus although styled as such does not hold the title, and is therefore not a prince - he is referred to as such by courtesy only. Moreover, his British styles are not recognized by the British Royal Family, although they do not prevent him from using them. As heir of the Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, Ernst August has the right to petition under the Titles Deprivation Act 1917 for the restoration of his ancestors' royal British titles but has not done so, even though his father Ernest Augustus successfully claimed British nationality after World War II by virtue of long-dormant provisions of the Sophia Naturalization Act.

Related Topics:
George III of the United Kingdom - House of Hanover - United Kingdom - 1714 - 1901 - Hanover - Brunswick-Lüneburg - Style - Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale - Titles Deprivation Act 1917 - Ernest Augustus - World War II - Sophia Naturalization Act

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The Prince is also a great-grandson of the last German emperor, William II.

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