Prince Ludwig's Marriage: A Bavarian Royal Wedding

Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, the great-great-grandson of the last King of Bavaria, married Sophie-Alexandra Evekink in May 2023. The couple exchanged vows in a religious ceremony at the Theatine Church in Munich, before celebrating with a reception at Nymphenburg Palace.

Prince Ludwig's wedding to Sophie Evekink

Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and Sophie Evekink's wedding was a spectacular royal affair. The couple, who announced their engagement in August 2022, tied the knot on 20 May 2023 in a religious ceremony at the Theatine Church in Munich. The bride, Sophie Evekink, is a dual Dutch-Canadian citizen and a part-time doctoral student in criminology at the University of Oxford. The groom, Prince Ludwig, is the great-great-grandson of the last King of Bavaria, King Ludwig III, and is expected to become the head of the influential family one day.

The wedding ceremony was a grand affair, with well-heeled guests arriving at the church alongside delegates wearing traditional dress. The bride wore a Reem Acra gown with a veil designed by Ukrainian label WONÁ Concept, incorporating elements representing Bavaria, Canada, and the Netherlands. She completed her look with the Bavarian Sapphire Floral Tiara, borrowed from her husband's family. The groom, meanwhile, looked dapper in grey pinstripe trousers and a black suit jacket, with a light grey waistcoat and a blue paisley tie.

The couple exchanged vows in front of the congregation, with Prince Ludwig planting a kiss on his new wife's cheek as they emerged from the church. Following the ceremony, they celebrated with a spectacular royal garden reception before a white-tie ball in the evening. The reception was hosted by the groom's cousin, Franz, Duke of Bavaria, at the breathtaking Nymphenburg Palace.

The wedding reflected the family's strong desire to include regional elements, with traditional delegations from across Bavaria participating in the ceremony and local food and drinks being served. The couple also encouraged donations to humanitarian initiatives in lieu of wedding gifts, in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The bride's father, Dorus Evekink, who works as a lecturer at Maastricht School of Business, walked her down the aisle. The newlyweds were also joined by a large wedding party, including groomsmen and maids of honour, who rushed to the bride's aid when she fainted during the ceremony. She quickly recovered after being given a piece of glucose by Prince Leopold of Bavaria.

Ludwig's ancestry

Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, born on 22 June 1913, is the great-great-grandson of the last King of Bavaria, King Ludwig III, who ruled from 1913 to 1918. His namesake ancestor, King Ludwig III, was the son of Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria, and Archduchess Auguste Ferdinande of Austria, daughter of Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany. King Ludwig III was a descendant of both Louis XIV of France and William the Conqueror.

King Ludwig III's father, Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria, was the third son of King Ludwig I, who was born in the Zweibrücker Hof in Straßburg as Ludwig Karl August von Pfalz-Birkenfeld-Zweibrücken. King Ludwig I was the son of Count Palatine Maximilian Joseph of Zweibrücken (later Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria) and Princess Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt. At the time of his birth, his father was an officer in the French Army, stationed in Strasbourg. King Ludwig I was also the godson and namesake of Louis XVI of France.

King Ludwig I's father, Count Palatine Maximilian Joseph of Zweibrücken, later became King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria. He was married to Princess Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt, and their son, King Ludwig I, married Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.

Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen was the daughter of Frederick, Duke of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Through this lineage, Prince Ludwig of Bavaria is the great-great-grandson of King Ludwig I and, therefore, the great-great-great-grandson of Count Palatine Maximilian Joseph of Zweibrücken and Princess Augusta Wilhelmine of Hesse-Darmstadt.

His career in law and human rights

Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, 41, is the great-great-grandson of the last King of Bavaria, Ludwig III, who ruled from 1913 to 1918. Ludwig is expected to one day become head of the influential Wittelsbach family.

Ludwig studied law in Göttingen, specialising in human rights and international humanitarian law. He has also been trained in estate management at the family seat of Nymphenburg Palace, which he will one day inherit. Since 2011, he has been a board member of the Nymphenburg Aid Association and has overseen its projects in Africa.

Since 2014, Ludwig has spent much of his time in rural Kenya, where he has founded several non-profit organisations, including the Learning Lions and the Start Up Lions, as well as working with other local charities.

Ludwig's wife, Sophie Evekink, previously worked for the United Nations on health and human rights and is currently researching for her doctorate at the Law Faculty at Oxford University.

His work in rural Kenya

Prince Ludwig of Bavaria has spent much of his time since 2014 in rural Kenya, where he has founded several non-profit organisations with partners, the Learning Lions and the Start Up Lions, and other local charities.

Learning Lions, which Prince Ludwig founded in 2015, is a digital empowerment programme that provides opportunities for young adults in rural Kenya to learn, earn and innovate. The organisation's website describes it as a "digital empowerment program, providing opportunities to learn, earn and innovate for young adults in rural Kenya."

Prince Ludwig has also founded other non-profit organisations in rural Kenya, including Start Up Lions, which focuses on providing digital skills and resources to young people in the region.

In addition to his work with these organisations, Prince Ludwig has also been involved with various other projects in Africa through his position as a board member of the Nymphenburg Aid Association.

The prince's work in rural Kenya reflects his commitment to using his position for the betterment of others, and it is expected that he will continue to play an active role in the region even after he becomes head of the House of Bavaria.

His succession to the House of Wittelsbach

Prince Ludwig of Bavaria is the great-great-grandson of the last King of Bavaria, Ludwig III, who ruled from 1913 to 1918. Ludwig III was the eldest son of Luitpold, Prince Regent of Bavaria, and his wife, Archduchess Auguste Ferdinande of Austria. He was a descendant of both Louis XIV of France and William the Conqueror.

Ludwig III's succession to the House of Wittelsbach was marked by the end of the 738-year reign of the family over Bavaria. The House of Wittelsbach was a former Bavarian dynasty, with branches that ruled over territories including the Electorate of Bavaria, the Palatinate, and the Kingdom of Bavaria.

In 1912, Ludwig III's father, Luitpold, became regent and de facto head of state, ruling on behalf of his cousin, Otto. After the Bavarian parliament passed a law, Ludwig III deposed Otto and assumed the throne for himself in 1913. However, his reign was short-lived as he was forced to abdicate during the German Revolution of 1918-1919, which resulted in the dissolution of the German Empire and the abolition of the Bavarian throne, along with the other German state monarchies.

With the end of World War I, the Weimar Republic was established, and the House of Wittelsbach's long rule over Bavaria came to an end. Ludwig III fled to Hungary and later took refuge in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. He eventually returned to Bavaria in 1920 and lived at Wildenwart Castle until his death in 1921.

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