The Fiftieth Birthday of Hereditary Prince Bernhard of Baden, Great-Nephew of the Duke of Edinburgh

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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

Bernhard of Baden studied business administration and law in Hamburg and Switzerland. Since completing his education, the hereditary prince has worked as a commercial lawyer. Prince Bernhard is involved in the management of his family's real estate and business holdings.

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

The christening of Prince Karl-Wilhelm of Baden in May 2006
Left to right: Marie Louise Baker, Princess Stephanie holding son Friedrich, Prince Bernhard standing in front of son Leopold, Mathias Schilling and Prince Ernst August Jr of Hannover holding their godson Karl-Wilhelm, Archduke Alexander of Austria-Tuscany, Princess Agläe of Baden
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.

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We wish His Royal Highness many happy returns!