Prince Harald von Hohenzollern has died suddenly at the age of 63 — just days before his wife was due to give birth to their first child.
The German aristocrat died from cardiac arrest in Windhoek, Namibia, where he had been on a work trip to the diamond industry.
Princess Josefa von Hohenzollern, the wife of Herald and currently running for re-election as the mayor of Leonberg in Baden-Württemberg, shared the unfortunate news on social media.
“Dear fellow citizens of Leonberg, today I am writing with a heavy heart,” Josefa, 51, wrote on Instagram.
“My beloved husband Harald V. Hohenzollern died quite unexpectedly of a sudden cardiac death. This loss hits me very deep.”
“I need some time to mourn, bid farewell, and be present for our unborn child. Therefore, I will be taking a break from campaigning and social media in the coming days,” she stated.
The pair had tied the knot in September 2024. Their first child is due to be born in the coming days.
“I hope you understand my need for this break, and I sincerely thank you all for your condolences and support,” the princess ended her message.
Alongside the heartbreaking caption, Josefa shared a series of throwback photos with her late husband.
The pair wed in Josefa’s hometown of Kollnburg after meeting at a trade fair in 2022.
Josefa assumed the princess title after marrying Harald, who belonged to the former royal German dynasty called the House of Hohenzollern.
The dynasty, which dates back to 1061, boasts historical ties to the Hohenzollern family, Brandenburg, Prussia, Romania and the German Empire.
The locals affectionately refer to the princess as the “singing mayor” — given her love of music and frequent appearances in various cultural events in the area.
Josefa’s bid for mayorship started in November 2020 when she ran for the post of financial mayor of Leonberg in Baden-Württemberg.
She managed to secure the third most votes in the first round, though she narrowly missed advancing by just one vote.
The elected candidate ultimately withdrew before taking office, allowing her to run again.
She was then elected as the only remaining candidate in May 2021 after securing 17 of 33 votes for an eight-year term.
While serving as First Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Leonberg, Josefa has faced somewhat of a challenging time in office.
During her tenure, Mayor Martin Cohn had placed her on leave in June 2023 following months of political conflict.
