Princess Henriette of Schönaich-Carolath


Princess Henriette of Schönaich-Carolath was the youngest daughter of Prince Johann George von Schönaich-Carolath and Princess Hermine Reuss of Greiz, who later became the second wife of Wilhelm II, German Emperor.

Early life

Princess Henriette was born at Berlin, Weimar Republic, as the fifth child and youngest daughter of Prince Johann George of :de:Schoenaich-Carolath|Schönaich-Carolath and his wife, Princess Hermine Reuss of Greiz, daughter of Heinrich XXII, Prince Reuss of Greiz and Princess Ida of Schaumburg-Lippe.
After Princess Henriette's father died in 1920, her mother married secondly in 1922 to the former German Emperor, Wilhelm II. Hermine had five young children, but it was decided that only the youngest, Princess Henriette, would come to live with them at Doorn. Wilhelm generally stayed out of his stepchildren's affairs, with the exception of Henriette. He seemed to have a genuine affection for her, and she came to be known as "the general". According to Giles MacDonough, Henriette "performed the role of resident grandchild, passing the sugar when coffee was served".

Marriage

On 6 August 1940 at his residence at Doorn, former German Emperor Wilhelm II officially announced his stepdaughter Princess Henriette's engagement with his grandson, Prince Karl Franz of Prussia. Karl Franz was the only son of Prince Joachim of Prussia and his wife, Princess Marie-Auguste of Anhalt.
The couple were married on 1 October 1940 and had three children:
The couple divorced on 5 September 1946. Henriette died on 16 March 1972 at age 53 at Neuendettelsau, West Germany.

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