Prince Philip’s nephew and King Charles’ first cousin dies aged 89

King Charles’ first cousin Maximillian, Margrave of Baden, passed away in the early hours of Thursday morning at Selem Castle in Germany aged 89.

The House of Baden confirmed that there will be two memorial services held for the nephew of the late Prince William.

One memorial service will see friends and employees invited and the other will be held for family members and political representatives.

He was the son of Philip's older sister, Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark and was the Head of House at Baden since 1963.

Maximillian, Margrave of Baden with his wife Archduchess Valerie of Austria
Bernd Schwabe

A statement said: "Max Margrave of Baden died in the early morning hours of December 29, 2022 in Salem Castle.

"Since 1963, Max Margrave of Baden was head of the house at the head of the formerly ruling Grand Ducal Baden Princely House, which from 1112 to 1918 provided the sovereigns in the Baden part of today's federal state of Baden-Württemberg.

"His successor as head of the House of Baden is Bernhard Margrave of Baden, the previous hereditary prince."

Max Markgraf von Baden was born in 1933 and was brought up near Lake Constance in Germany.

Similarly, to King Charles and Prince Phillip, he attended Gordonstoun boarding school in Scotland.

In the early 1960s he was engaged to his first cousin Princess Beatrix of Hohenlohe-Langenburg but it was called off in 1961.

He later married Archduchess Valerie of Austria in 1966 and they had four children along with four grandchildren.

Max Markgraf von Baden was King Charles' first cousin and Prince Philip's newphew
Facundo Arrizabalaga

Paying tribute to his work, the House of Baden said: "The Margrave led a modest and reclusive lifestyle.

"He was free from conceit and cultivated good contacts with the people of his homeland.

"He always had an open ear for people in need, for people who asked him for help."