Altshausen (dpa) – With a funeral service, family and companions from politics, culture and society said goodbye to Carl Duke of Württemberg on Saturday. The bishop of the diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, Gebhard Fürst, paid tribute to the former head of the House of Württemberg at a requiem in the castle and parish church in Altshausen (Ravensburg district) for his role as a mediator in society and his charitable commitment. The Protestant regional bishop Frank Otfried July also contributed to the funeral service.
Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) described Carl Duke of Württemberg as a “strong personality with a solemn, dignified appearance”. He saw him as someone who was extremely committed and, understanding his role, always did something good for the people in the country, said Kretschmann before the funeral service on SWR television. Carl von Württemberg also contributed politically to the cohesion of the country – he was a convinced European, according to the head of government. In 2017, Kretschmann awarded him the state’s Stauffer medal.
Prince Hans Adam von und zu Liechtenstein and Grand Duke Henri von Luxemburg attended the funeral service as aristocratic guests. Interior Minister Thomas Strobl, former Prime Minister Erwin Teufel (both CDU) and Social Affairs Minister Manne Lucha (Greens) attended the requiem from state politics.
Dozens of people also watched the funeral service on a large screen in the community’s marketplace. Numerous people had already taken part in a funeral procession through the place where Carl von Württemberg lived on Friday. The coffin was carried on a carriage accompanied by the “Yellow Hussars”, a historic vigilante group, to the market square in Altshausen, where hunting horn players were playing. After the funeral service on Saturday, the coffin was taken to the family’s crypt in Altshausen Castle.
Carl Duke of Württemberg died on June 7th at the age of 85. Until the dissolution of the monarchy after the First World War, the noble family ruled over large areas of south-west Germany. It is one of the namesakes of the federal state.
Von Württemberg made a name for itself as a modernizer of the Hofkammer. For decades he was also involved socially and charitably in the country as well as in Africa and South America. In 2020 he retired from the day-to-day business of his noble family. Successor as head of the house was the eldest grandson Wilhelm.
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