Spouse Christa von Arnim Name Prince August | House House of Lippe | |
Born 1 April 1917
Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony ( 1917-04-01 ) Issue Prince Friedrich Wilhelm
Princess Marie
Prince Ernst August
Princess Regina Father Prince Julius Ernst of Lippe Mother Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Died June 15, 1990, Ansbach, Germany Parents Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg Children Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Lippe Grandchildren Princess Marie Christine, Princess Catharina Grandparents Adolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt | ||
Prince Ernst August of Lippe (German: Prinz Ernst August Bernhard Alexander Eduard Friedrich Wilhelm zur Lippe; 1 April 1918 – 15 June 1990) was a claimant to the headship of the House of Lippe.
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Early life
Prince Ernst August was born at Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, the second child and first son of Prince Julius Ernst of Lippe (1872–1954; son of Ernst, Count of Lippe-Biesterfeld and Countess Caroline von Wartensleben) and his wife, Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1877–1948; daughter of Adolphus Frederick V, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and his wife Princess Elisabeth of Anhalt). Through his father he was first cousin of Prince Bernhard consort to Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and was a guest at their 1937 wedding. Through his mother he was descendant of George III of the United Kingdom.
He had two half siblings; his mother had been married previously to Count George Jametel but divorced in 1908.
Marriage
Ernst August married on 3 March 1948 in Düsseldorf-Oberkassel to Christa von Arnim (b. 2 July 1923), elder daughter of Curt David von Arnim, and his wife, Stephanie von Stechow.
They had four children:
House of Lippe
On 30 December 1949 his first cousin Prince Armin succeeded his father Leopold IV as head of the House of Lippe. On 22 March 1953, he renounced his position in favour of his older half brother Prince Leopold. This move proved controversial within the house and several princes started legal proceedings. Prince Leopold later in 1958 renounced the headship in favour of his older brother Hereditary Prince Ernst. Later in that year the Hereditary Prince called a family council where it was agreed by the princes in attendance that the oldest prince living in Germany would be head of the house. So the position went to Prince Simon Casimir (1900–1980).
Prince Ernst August changed his mind, believing all princes of the house, not just those living in Germany, should be considered. He ultimately assumed the headship of the house. Ernst August died in 1990 and his son Prince Friedrich Wilhelm has continued his claim. Prince Armin, who has said he did not think his decision in 1953 was irrevocable, also claims to be head of the house.