Philipp Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg
Philipp Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg was the son of Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg, and Archduchess Margarete Sophie of Austria. He was born in Stuttgart, and became head of the formerly reigning royal House of Württemberg on the death of his father on 29 October 1939. He died in Ravensburg, aged 81.
Military service
Like many members of ruling houses, Duke Philipp Albrecht nominally entered the army while still a child. On 14 November 1903, the ten-year old Philipp Albrecht was named a Leutnant in Grenadier-Regiment „Königin Olga“ Nr. 119 of the Württemberg contingent of the Prussian Army.On 18 August 1912, Philipp Albrecht entered active service in the regiment. He was promoted to Oberleutnant on 25 February 1913. On 16 June 1913, he was placed à la suite of the Royal Prussian Kürassier-Regiment „Herzog Friedrich Eugen von Württemberg“ Nr. 5. He was transferred to Dragoner-Regiment König Nr. 26 on 1 November 1913.
Philipp Albrecht entered World War I with his regiment and was promoted to Rittmeister on 24 December 1914 In 1916, he was on his father's staff with the 4th Army. On 21 May 1916, he was placed à la suite of the Royal Saxon 6. Infanterie-Regiment König Wilhelm II. von Württemberg Nr. 105. As commander of a Landwehr infantry regiment, he was promoted to Major on 26 August 1917. Besides his honorary positions in the Prussian and Saxon armies, he was also given the Charakter of k.u.k. Major in Husarenregiment Nr. 6 of the Austro-Hungarian Army. After the end of the war and the dissolution of the Imperial German Army, he retired as a Major.
Marriages and children
His first marriage was to Archduchess Helena of Austria, Princess of Tuscany, daughter of Archduke Peter Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, Princess Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, on 24 October 1923 in Altshausen. They had one daughter:- Duchess Maria Christina of Württemberg, she married Prince Georg Hartman of Liechtenstein on 23 September 1948. They have seven children and thirteen grandchildren.
His second marriage was to Archduchess Rosa of Austria, Princess of Tuscany, the sister of his late wife, on 1 August 1928 in Friedrichshafen. They had two sons and four daughters:
- Duchess Helene of Württemberg, she married Federico Pallavicini, Marchese Pallavicini, on 23 August 1961. They have four children:
- *Maria Cristina Pallavicini, she married Jens Bartram on 23 September 1995.
- *Antonietta Pallavicini
- *Gabriella Pallavicini, she married Ricardo Walter.
- *Giancarlo Pallavicini, Marchese Pallavicini
- Duke Ludwig Albrecht of Württemberg, who renounced his rights to the House of Württemberg on 29 June 1959, married Baroness Adelheid von und zu Bodman on 16 February 1960 and they were divorced on 12 December 1970. They have three children. He remarried Angelika Kiessig on 14 August 1972 and they were divorced on 14 October 1988. They have one daughter.
- *Duke Christoph von Württemberg, he married Iris Caren Metzger on 29 December 2000. They had one daughter and one son.
- *Duchess Isabelle von Württemberg, twin of Duke Christoph.
- *Duchess Sibylla von Württemberg, she has one son with Wolfgang Merz.
- *Duchess Christiane von Württemberg, she married Till Kitzing in 2003.
- Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg, she married Prince Antoine of Bourbon-Two Sicilies on 18 July 1958. They have four children and two grandchildren.
- Duchess Marie-Thérèse of Württemberg, she married Prince Henri d'Orléans, Count of Paris on 5 July 1957 and they were divorced on 3 February 1984. They have five children and twelve grandchildren.
- Carl, Duke of Württemberg, he married Princess Diane d'Orléans on 18 July 1960. They have six children and fourteen grandchildren.
- Duchess Maria Antonia of Württemberg.