Friedrich, Hereditary Prince of Württemberg

Friedrich Philipp Carl Franz Maria, Hereditary Prince of Württemberg (1 June 1961 – 9 May 2018) was the heir to the headship of the House of Württemberg and a wealthy business person.

Early life and family
Born in Friedrichshafen, he was the eldest son of Carl, Duke of Württemberg and his wife, Princess Diane of Orléans. His godparents were paternal grandfather Philipp Albrecht, Duke of Württemberg and maternal grandmother Princess Isabelle of Brazil.

Marriage
Friedrich married his distant cousin and a descendant of the last king of Württemberg William II of Württemberg, Princess Marie of Wied (born 27 December 1973 in Munich), daughter of Prince Ulrich of Wied and Ilke Fischer at Altshausen in a civil marriage on 11 November 1993 followed by a religious ceremony two days later. They had one son and two daughters:

Issue

 * Wilhelm, Duke of Württemberg (born 13 August 1994 in Ravensburg)
 * Duchess Amelie of Württemberg (born 11 March 1996 in Ravensburg), her godparents are: Duke Phillipp of Württemberg (paternal uncle) and Countess Diana of Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems, born Countess von Lodron-Laterano und Castel Romano.
 * Duchess Sophie-Dorothea of Württemberg (born 19 August 1997 in Ravensburg), her godparents are: Princess Martina of Quadt zu Wickrath und Isny and Count Johannes of Schaesberg.

Death and legacy
On 9 May 2018, Duke Friedrich died of injuries from a car crash on the road between Ebenweiler and Fronreute, one week before the wedding of Prince Harry of Wales and Meghan Markle. Friedrich had visited his elderly parents and was driving back to his home at the time of the accident; because he was driving an older model Porsche that was not fitted with airbags, his serious injuries proved fatal. The crash and his death was covered by English and German press, noting the tragic circumstances of his death and how he left his widow and three orphaned children. An image of the gruesome crash was shown in the German press.

Even before his funeral was held, there was morbid media speculation about who would inherit his multi-million-Euro fortune. He was succeeded as heir and future head of the Württemberg family by his son Wilhelm.

His Roman Catholic funeral on 25 May 2018 in Altshausen was attended by about 2,000 mourners, including various German princely families, the Liechtenstein and Luxembourg families, and King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians.

His niece Sophie's engagement in September later in 2018 was "a ray of hope after a long period of mourning" due to Friedrich's tragic death.

Honours

 * Austrian Imperial and Royal Family: Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece

Ancestry
Duke Friedrich was related closely to Queen Elizabeth II by several common ancestors, and both of them are more distantly related to Boris Johnson through their common ancestor, Frederick I of Württemberg, Elizabeth through legitimate lines, while Johnson via Karoline, an illegitimate grand daughter of the 18th-19th Century king.