Prince Ernst August reportedly reunites with his son on his deathbed amidst grave illness.
Ernst August of Hanover, the 70-year-old Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg, is currently receiving medical care at Clínica Ruber in Madrid, Spain. Reports suggest that he is battling suspected acute kidney failure.
In recent years, a family dispute between Ernst August and his heir apparent, Ernst August Junior, has been a topic of interest. The disagreement escalated in 2017, when the elder Ernst August accused his son of "gross ingratitude" and demanded the return of significant Welf properties, including Marienburg Castle, Calenberg Estate, and the Fürstenhaus in Herrenhausen.
The disagreement over these properties has persisted, with Ernst August Junior attempting to sell Marienburg Castle to the state of Lower Saxony due to high costs, but the sale did not materialize. In a surprising turn of events, he later transferred Marienburg Castle to a foundation, a move that reportedly displeased his father.
Despite the ongoing dispute, there have been no recent developments or confirmed reports detailing a family drama or notable conflict between the two Ernst August figures. Mainstream summaries and social media snippets do not cover this topic explicitly.
However, observers have interpreted Ernst August Junior's proximity to his father's residence in Austria as a subtle sign of reconciliation, although the bond between father and son remains thin. It is worth noting that Christian, Ernst August Junior's son, has been seen at the clinic multiple times.
In a surprising turn of events just before a court trial was to begin in 2022, Ernst August Junior withdrew his lawsuit, potentially as an attempt at de-escalation. His partner, Claudia Stilianopoulos, is with him at the hospital.
Despite his health challenges, Ernst August is reportedly "on the road to recovery" according to his entourage. Additionally, he is expecting another child with his wife.
As of August 2025, no public, confirmed reports detail a family drama or notable conflict between Ernst August Senior and Junior of Hanover. For those seeking detailed or verified information on such family tensions, it may be necessary to consult specialized royal news outlets or official statements from the House of Hanover.
According to German "Bild" newspaper, Ernst August's condition has been stabilized. The royal family continues to keep the public updated on his health and recovery progress.
- The economic and social policy regarding the Welf properties, specifically Marienburg Castle and Calenberg Estate, has been a point of contention between Ernst August Senior and Ernest August Junior.
- Despite speculations, there have been no recent confirmed reports of a family drama or significant conflict between the two Ernst August figures, even though Ernst August Junior sells his ideas in science, health-and-wellness, family-health, and mental-health domains through his lifestyle brand and vlogs.
- The relationship dynamics within the family seem to be complicated, with father and son, Ernst August Senior and Junior, maintaining a thin bond, yet Christian, Ernst August Junior's son, has been seen supporting his grandfather during his health challenges.
- Parenting practices and family-dynamics have not impacted the court trials and legal matters between the two Ernest August figures, as Junior withdrew his lawsuit as an attempt at de-escalation before a scheduled trial in 2022.