Ernst August of Hanover arrested at hunting lodge

Ernst August of Hanover was arrested on Monday evening (7 September 2020) at his hunting lodge in Austria.

Although the German nobleman is free again, there are certain conditions he must comply with.

The Guelph prince Ernst August of Hanover, 66, was arrested in Austria on Monday evening (7 September). This was confirmed by the Wels Regional Court. The reason: the nobleman is said to be facing charges of coercion, threat and property damage. The Wels public prosecutor had ordered the prince's arrest, which  was then carried out on Monday. The scandal-ridden prince was held in custody for two days. He is now out again, but must comply with the judge's conditions.

According to the public prosecutor, the great-grandson of the last German emperor Wilhelm II faces up to three years in prison. Until a legally binding conviction, the presumption of innocence applies.

Arrested for coercion and dangerous threat

A complaint has been filed against the Guelph prince by one of his employees. Ernst August of Hanover is alleged to have threatened her and her husband, saying he would set a gang of thugs on them. Because of a «suspicion of coercion» the police were called out on Monday. The official police press release states: «A 66-year-old from the Gmunden district is accused of having verbally and dangerously threatened a married couple several times between 3:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on 7 September 2020. Furthermore, the man is believed to have smashed a window with a road sign.« As the 66-year-old had already attacked a police officer in July, the officers wore bodycams to record the arrest, writes Gala.

Recreational hunter not allowed back to his hunting lodge

Ernst August is now free again, though he must comply with certain conditions. These include a stipulation that the 66-year-old may no longer approach the employees he had threatened. Furthermore, he is prohibited from visiting the scene of the crime. A heavy blow for the Guelph prince, as the incident is said to have taken place in his home. Ernst August of Hanover is therefore, for the time being, no longer allowed to enter his hunting lodge.

According to the newspaper «Österreich», his registered firearms were also confiscated. As the recreational hunter had drawn negative attention several times in recent months, weapons were reportedly already seized in July. Now, according to «Bild», the police are said to have also removed hunting knives and historical weapons from the house. 

Ernst August of Hanover repeatedly causes a stir

The German nobleman has caused a stir several times in recent months. Following the attack on the police, Ernst August of Hanover was briefly committed to a psychiatric institution. Just a week later, he was back in the headlines. Armed with a baseball bat, the husband of Caroline of Hanover, 63, is said to have driven to the Scharnstein police station and threatened to beat officers to death there.