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Andreas, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; Credit – Wikipedia
Andreas, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the pretender to the former ducal throne and Head of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from 1998 until he died on April 3, 2025, in Coburg, Bavaria, Germany, at the age of 82. He was the grandson of Charles Edward, the last reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the only son of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, the youngest son of Queen Victoria.
Prince Andreas Michael Friedrich Hans Armin Siegfried Hubertus was born on March 21, 1943 at Schloss Casel in Lower Lusatia. He was the only child of Friedrich Josias, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and his first wife Countess Viktoria-Luise of Solms-Baruth.
On July 31, 1971, in Hamburg, Germany, Prince Andreas married Carin Dabelstein, the daughter of Adolf Dabelstein and Irma Callsen. His wife died in 2023, but Prince Andreas is survived by his three children – Princess Stephanie of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (born 1972), Hubertus, now Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Head of the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, (born 1975), and Prince Alexander of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (born 1977).
Prince Andreas was known for reaching out to his extended family, hoping to heal many of the wounds caused in the past, primarily after his grandfather had sided with Hitler during World War II. Following the fall of communism and the reunification of Germany, Prince Andreas worked to re-acquire former family property that had been seized after the war.
After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2011, Prince Andreas continued to be as active as possible. He spent much time with family and friends, traveling, and visiting his properties in Germany and Austria. He was a first cousin and close friend of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, and was the godfather of the King’s younger daughter, Princess Madeleine. Because of this relationship, the Prince was often seen in attendance at Swedish royal family events.
Read more about the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Family at Unofficial Royalty: Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld/Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Index.