Germany’s “Poor” Princes

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 137, 31 August 1927, Page 13

Germany’s “Poor” Princes

May Have to Go to Work

Miss Ira Hellburg, a Swedish writer, has been visiting the family of the German ex-Crown Prince at Oels, Moravia, and writes an unintentionally amusing account of her experiences. In the library of the castle she had a conversation with the three young sons of the ex-Crown Prince, one of whom said to her, in telling of his travels: “We can no longer travel as princes; we have not enough money for that.” Miss Hellberg asked whether it was true that one of them was about to get married. They all laughed. “How could we do that?” one of them said. “First of all, we have got to earn our living.” “Grandfather had a different and stricter education than we have had,” said one of them. “He did not have such a good time as we. We were knocked about a little, but it is no longer as it was in his time.” Then the ex-Crown Princess came into the room. “I have always been with my children,” said she. “Each must be a real man and stand on his own feet. My sons must learn to earn their own living. They must have no illusions that the privileges of the old time will be brought back by a revolution.” In view of the fact that the Hohenzollerns have lately been paid millions by the Prussian Government and are the largest landowners in Germany, their shatter about making both ends meet and earning their own living seems a trifle exaggerated.