Prince Harald von Hohenzollern "unexpectedly" passed away at the age of 63. The late Prince's wife, Princess Josefa von Hohenzollern, announced her husband's death on June 25.
"Dear fellow citizens of Leonberg, today I am writing with a heavy heart. My beloved husband Harald v. Hohenzollern died completely unexpectedly of a sudden cardiac death," she wrote on Instagram alongside a collage of photos of herself and Harald. "This loss hits me very deep. I need time to grieve, say goodbye and be there for our unborn child."
According to HOLA! USA's sister brand HELLO!, Harald died of sudden cardiac arrest in Windhoek, Namibia, where he was working in the diamond industry. Stuttgarter Nachrichten reported that the Prince was trying to get into his car and suddenly collapsed last Monday.
The Prince's death comes less than a year after he married Josefa. Paris Match reported that the pair, who are said to have met two years earlier at a trade fair, tied the knot last September. The couple's first child is reportedly due this month (July).
Prince Harald was a member of the House of Hohenzollern. Per Harald Prinz von Hohenzollern's website, "The House of Hohenzollern is a German royal dynasty whose members were variously princes, electors, kings and emperors of Hohenzollern, Brandenburg, Prussia, the German Empire, and Romania."
Five days before revealing her husband's passing, Josefa, 51, announced that she was running for mayor of Leonberg. "Leonberg is my city, is my home and a matter of my heart. I want to live and live here with my family. Leonberg is close to my heart - together with you I want to make our city even more livable, modern and future-friendly," she wrote in her announcement (translated to English). "My focus is on strong infrastructure, vibrant community facilities and open co-operation.I support transparent decisions, citizen-friendly governance and new impetus for our city."
Following her husband's death, Josefa stated that she would be "stepping back from campaigning and social media in the coming days." She wrote, "I hope for your understanding during this time off and thank you from the bottom of my heart at this point for your condolences and support."
Speaking to Stuttgarter Nachrichten after her husband's death, Josefa said (translated to English), "I now need time and peace for my child and myself." She also told the outlet that she intends to continue her run for mayor. Josefa said, "That would also be in my husband's best interest."
