HH Duke Friedrich August of Oldenburg (1936-2017)

Embed from Getty Images



HH Duke Friedrich August of Oldenburg died on July 9, 2017 at Merano, Italy.  He was 81 years old.

 The sixth of nine children of  Hereditary Grand Duke Nikolaus of Oldenburg and Princess Helene of Waldeck und Pyrmont,  Duke Friedrich August Wilhelm Christian Ernst was born at Rastede on January 11, 1936.    He was a grandson of the last reigning Grand Duke of Oldenburg, Friedrich August, who renounced the throne on November 11, 1918.  The last Grand Duke died in 1931.

Embed from Getty Images


He was married twice.  His first wife was HRH Princess Marie Cecile of Prussia, daughter of HI & RH Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia and HIH Grand Duchess Kira of Prussia.   They married in 1965 and were divorced in 1989.   Three years later in February 1991, Friedrich August married Countess Donata of Castell-Rüdenhausen, the widow of Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia, the brother of Friedrich August's first wife.    Duchess Donata died in September 2015.


Embed from Getty Images


Duke Friedrich August and his family lived for many years at Sievershagen in Manhagen.  He is survived by his three children, Duke Paul, Duchess Rixa and Duchess Bibiane,  and eight grandchildren, Duke Kirill, Duke Carlos, Duke Paul-Maria, Duchess Maria-Assunta, Duke Louis Ferdinand and Xenia, Rixa and Max-Wladimir Dorner and three of his siblings, Duchess Altburg and Dukes Huno and Johann.

The funeral took place at St. Ulrich's Church in Rastede.

No death announcements have been published in the Oldenburg area newspapers or in Meran.   The death was confirmed to me by a family member.


Embed from Getty Images