German royals marry with pomp

Berlin - Prince Georg Friedrich Ferdinand of Prussia, great-great-grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II, married Princess Sophie of Isenburg on Saturday, a royal wedding that has rekindled German interest in the nation's long-defunct royals.

The couple were married in a church in Potsdam, outside Berlin, the former seat of the prince's family that ruled much of Germany until the monarchy was abolished in 1918.

After Saturday's ceremony, the couple travelled by horse-drawn carriage to Sanssouci Palace for a dinner and ball. Several hundred onlookers lined the streets outside of the church to see the couple, who were relatively unknown until the announcement of the wedding. Both work as consultants in Berlin.

The 33-year-old bride wore a dress designed by Wolfgang Joop, and a diamond tiara belonging to her family. The 35-year-old groom was dressed in a top hat and tails.

The event was broadcast live on local public TV, sparking protest from members of the former communist Left party, and was splashed across the pages of newspapers and glossy magazines. The couple held a civil ceremony on Friday.

From 1871, the Kings of Prussia also served as German Emperors, with Wilhelm II being the last. He abdicated in 1918, following World War I, and the German monarchy was dismantled.

Descendants of German royal families still carry their titles, although they have no meaning and are legally considered part of their names.

Germans view their own aristocrats sceptically, but many ardently follow the royal houses of their European neighbours. Both this year's major royal weddings, in London and Monaco, were broadcast live on German TV, attracting millions of viewers.