The Head of the "Black Württembergs": Duke Ferdinand of Württemberg Celebrates His 95th Birthday

Duke Ferdinand greeting his cousins: Duke Carl, Duchess Diane, the late Duke Friedrich, and Duchess Marie (2006).
Photograph (c) Presse-Foto-Seeger

Today, Duke Ferdinand Eugen of Württemberg celebrates his ninety-fifth birthday. Ferdinand is a first cousin of Duke Carl of Württemberg, the Head of the Royal House. Ferdinand is the oldest living member of the family.

The engagement of Albrecht Eugen of Württemberg and Nadejda of Bulgaria is announced in January 1924.

Newlyweds: Duke Albrecht Eugen of Württemberg and Princess Nadejda of Bulgaria

On 3 April 1925, HRH Duke Ferdinand Eugen Albrecht Maria Joseph Ivan Rilsky Philipp August Clemens Karl Robert Ludwig Boris Cyrill Franz de Paula of Württemberg was born at Karlsruhe.  Ferdinand was the first child of Duke Albrecht Eugen of Württemberg (1895-1954) and Princess Nadejda of Bulgaria (1899-1958), who married in 1924. Ferdinand was joined by four younger siblings: Duchess Margarethe (1928-2017; married to François Luce de Chevigny), Duke Eugen Eberhard (b.1930; married and divorced Archduchess Alexandra of Austria-Tuscany), Duke Alexander (b.1933), and Duchess Sophie (b.1937; married and divorced Antonio Manuel Rôxo de Ramos-Bandeira). The family became known as the "Black Württembergs" as the children of Albrecht Eugen and Nadejda all had dark hair, which put them in contrast with their first cousins, the children of Albrecht Eugen's brother Philipp.

Duke Albrecht of Württemberg and Archduchess Margarete Sophie of Austria
Image (c) ALAMY

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Ferdinand's paternal grandparents were Duke Albrecht of Württemberg (1865-1939) and Archduchess Margarete Sophie of Austria (1870-1902). The duke's maternal grandparents were King Ferdinand of Bulgaria (1861-1948) and Princess Marie Louise of Bourbon-Parma (1870-1899). Ferdinand's maternal uncle was King Boris III of Bulgaria (1894-1943), who was one of his namesakes.

Duke Ferdinand of Württemberg and Hereditary Princess Stephanie of Baden in 2009.
Photograph (c) Presse-Foto-Seeger

Duke Ferdinand, his sister Duchess Sophie, and his brother Duke Alexander at the 70th birthday celebrations of their cousin Duke Carl of Württemberg in 2006.
Photograph (c) Presse-Foto-Seeger

Ferdinand Eugen spent his childhood and youth in Carlsruhe and at Lindach Castle. He attended a grammar school in St Gallen and secondary schools in Ettal and Munich. For political reasons he was declared unworthy of military service in 1943. In 1944, he received a diploma and was obliged to work. Afterward, he attended further secondary school in Schwäbisch Gmünd and graduated from there in 1946. Ferdinand Eugen studied forestry at the University of Freiburg im Breisgau and graduated as a forester. He is particularly interested in botany and photography.

Ferdinand of Württemberg had a long career as a forestry engineer. He never married and has no children. Ferdinand is currently sixth in line to the Headship of the Royal House of Württemberg. The duke lives at Friedrichshafen.

Fürst Friedrich Wilhelm of Hohenzollern with his cousin Duke Ferdinand of Württemberg in 2002.
Photograph (c) Presse-Foto-Seeger

We wish His Royal Highness many happy returns of the day!