Prince Harald dies of sudden cardiac arrest at 63; was on a work trip to Namibia

Prince Harald von Hohenzollern has died of sudden cardiac arrest in Windhoek, Namibia, where the 63‑year‑old German aristocrat was on a work trip to the diamond industry, his family announced on Monday.

Princess Josefa von Hohenzollern , who is eight months pregnant and seeking re‑election as mayor of Leonberg in the German state of Baden‑Württemberg, revealed the news on her Facebook page. “My beloved husband Harald V. Hohenzollern died quite unexpectedly of a sudden cardiac death. This loss hits me very deep,” she wrote, adding that she would suspend her campaign and step back from social media “to grieve, say goodbye and be there for our unborn child.”

The couple married in September 2024 in Josefa’s hometown of Kollnburg after meeting at a trade fair in 2022. Their first child is due in the coming days.

Prince Harald was a member of the former royal House of Hohenzollern, a dynasty that traces its lineage to 1061 and has historic links to Brandenburg, Prussia, Romania and the German Empire.

Known locally as the “singing mayor” for her musical appearances at cultural events, Josefa launched her political career in November 2020, running for Leonberg’s post of financial mayor. After narrowly missing a runoff by one vote, she was elected in May 2021 when the winning candidate withdrew, securing 17 of 33 council votes for an eight‑year term. Her tenure has not been without friction: Leonberg mayor Martin Cohn placed her on leave in June 2023 following months of political conflict.

In her statement, Princess Josefa thanked supporters for their condolences and promised further updates “after this time off.” She shared a series of photographs with Prince Harald, underscoring what she called “the depth of our shared memories.”