On June 27, 1996, a shocking double suicide rocked the Gotha, a royal family known for its storied history. Ernst-Leopold Prinz von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha, 61, and his wife Sabine, 55, were found dead in their car outside a pub in Bad Wiessee, Bavaria. The gruesome scene was discovered by a local farmer who had parked his own vehicle nearby. The couple’s bodies were found with hunting rifles in their laps, leading investigators to conclude that it was a joint suicide.
Ernst-Leopold, a member of the extended family of the Ducal House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, had struggled with financial difficulties and a sense of desperation. He had relocated to Limbach-Oberfrohna and established a property development company, but it ultimately failed. The couple’s financial woes were compounded by their hopes of regaining properties seized by the Soviets. As one relative recalled, “He found it difficult to accept his position as a morganatic member of the extended family.” The tragic event sent shockwaves through the royal family and left many wondering what led to this devastating outcome.
what were the main reasons behind Ernst-Leopold and Sabine’s decision to end their lives
what were the financial struggles that Ernst-Leopold faced before his death
how did Ernst-Leopold’s business failures contribute to his financial struggles
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| Ernst-Leopold and Sabine. |
On 27 June 1996, Ernst-Leopold Prinz von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha and his wife Sabine died by suicide at Bad Wiessee, a resort town in Bavaria. Ernst-Leopold was sixty-one; Sabine was fifty-five, having celebrated her birthday only two days before her untimely death. The bodies of the couple were discovered by a local farmer who came across their white Mercedes Benz outside of a pub; the car had been parked when the farmer entered the pub and was still there when he left the pub. Peering inside, the farmer discovered the horrific sight of the deceased couple, who each had hunting rifles in their laps. One of the detectives involved in the case stated: “It couldn’t have been a murder then suicide. All the circumstances and all the evidence from the discovery of the bodies to the post mortem confirm the joint suicide thesis.” Upon learning of the death of the couple, an unnamed relative of Ernst-Leopold told The Guardian, “Oh God, I bet the British royal family is getting anxious. It’s those Coburgs again.”
Born on 14 January 1935, Ernst-Leopold Eduard Wilhelm Josias Prinz von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha was the eldest son and second child of Hereditary Prince Johann Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and his wife Baroness Feodore von der Horst, who wed in 1932. Johann Leopold and Feodore’s marriage was morganatic; the result of this was that Johann Leopold gave up his rights of succession to the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha as well as the ability to pass on his princely titles to his children. Ernst-Leopold had one older sister, Marianne, and one younger brother, Peter.
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| Ernst-Leopold. |
Ernst-Leopold found it difficult to accept his position as a morganatic member of the extended family of the Ducal House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. When he visited the United Kingdom, Ernst-Leopold would introduce himself as the Duke of Albany, a title that was stripped from his grandfather Duke Carl Eduard of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1919. After the unification of West Germany and East Germany, Ernst-Leopold relocated to Limbach-Oberfrohna; there he established a property development and consulting company. A German baron, who was a friend of the family, recalled: “He tried to build up that business in Saxony, got taken for a ride by the sharks out there and got trapped in a hopeless financial situation. He was living beyond his means.” Ernst-Leopold was hopeful that he could gain restitution of properties that had been seized by the Soviets. However, as the elderly baron remembered, “He got nothing, because the government has recognised the Soviet robbery and, anyway, he is well out of the line of succession. That’s because under the law he and his children are allowed to call themselves princes and princess but they have no inheritance rights where the dukedom is concerned because his father [Johann Leopold] married wrong. She [Feodore] was an excellent woman but she wasn’t a princess. Ernst Leopold made a mess of most things. His suicide was the only way out of desperation, out of a hopeless financial, economic and personal situation.”
what were the key events leading up to the Saxe-Coburg double suicide
The tragic story of Prince Ernst Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and his wife Sabine serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating consequences of financial struggles and the desperation that can arise from them. The couple’s double suicide on June 27, 1996, in Bad Wiessee, Bavaria, was a shocking event that sent shockwaves through the royal family and the public alike. As we reflect on this tragic event, it is crucial to acknowledge the complex web of circumstances that led to their demise. Ernst-Leopold’s struggles to regain properties seized by the Soviets and his inability to accept his morganatic status within the royal family contributed significantly to his financial woes. His business failures, including a property development company, further exacerbated his financial difficulties, ultimately leading to a sense of desperation that proved insurmountable.
Ernst-Leopold and Sabine’s story is a stark reminder of the devastating impact that financial struggles can have on individuals and families. It is essential to recognize the intricate interplay of factors that contributed to their tragic decision. The couple’s financial struggles, coupled with their hopes of regaining properties seized by the Soviets, created a sense of desperation that ultimately led to their demise. As we reflect on this tragic event, it is crucial to acknowledge the complexities of the situation and the devastating consequences that can arise from financial struggles. The story of Ernst-Leopold and Sabine serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of financial stability and the devastating impact that financial struggles can have on individuals and families. It is a powerful reminder of the need for financial planning, responsible decision-making, and the importance of seeking help when faced with financial difficulties.
