Recently, His Serene Highness Prince Gustav of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg met with a group of young people from the German-American Young Ambassadors Club at the beautiful Schloss Berleburg.
So what was the purpose of their visit to the schloss? To stand in the presence of a German prince. And, boy were they excited. Here is what happened (another craptastic translation, by the way): 
“It sounds like a cliché, but there is some truth to it. At this moment the young Americans will surely remember this for the rest of their lives. They have met a real live prince and actually spoke with him at his castle about his life as a prince without a crown, the Bad Berleburg forest and his family’s 800-year history.
The teenagers and young adults were dressed up and they initially had very healthy respect for her home and host. But, with kind words in fluent English, Prince Gustav visitors from America, the shyness. And his black Labrador bitch [his female dog not Frau Axelsson] Wilma welcomed all guests at least as curious and warm as pets can be.
Prince Gustav apologized to his well-traveled guests for the typical rainy weather in Wittgenstein, but not without a humorous comment, ‘Every drop of rain makes me laugh, because the water goes directly into the ground and into the trees. We live on the trees. ‘
In the entrance hall is where the famous Schloss Berleburg concerts are held, and later in the salon Prince Gustav told the visitors how stupid it was for him as a little boy in the shooting [what?] images. While the friends could play undisturbed, were upon him, the camera lens facing the Danish press photographer.
During the tour Prince Gustav took time for questions including questions regarding the crown: ‘No, a real crown, we do not have one. Princes have only have coat of arms. Which is reserved for royalty.’ He also discussed with the youth about the castle. Because evidently the maintenance costs are extremely high. When asked what kind of work Prince Gustav actually does during the week, he chuckled and said that he works as a forestry agent, ceremonial duties and the nature reserve, which is very important to him and his father Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. ‘You know, we live here in paradise.’ That was the reason why he, in spite of studying and working as a banker in London after a few years, came back to Schloss Berleburg. ’Here I can breathe, go into the forest and enjoy the peace and quiet. This is very different than in the big city.’ “
Source and photo courtesy of: SZ
