Background
Adelaide was born on 22 June 1870 to Ernest II, Count of Lippe-Biesterfeld and his wife Countess Karoline of Wartensleben.
Adelaide was born on 22 June 1870 to Ernest II, Count of Lippe-Biesterfeld and his wife Countess Karoline of Wartensleben.
Though Woldemar"s younger brother Alexander succeeded, he was incapable of ruling due to a mental illness. Consequently, two branches of the House of Lippe argued over rights to a regency. Prince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe, a brother-in-law of Wilhelm II, German Emperor was chosen, but another settlement allowed Ernest to become the regent of Lippe-Detmold on 17 July 1897.
Two branches of the House of Lippe debated over rights to the principality of Lippe-Detmold.
This claim threatened the succession to Saxe-Meiningen, as Adelaide was married to the Duke of Saxe-Meiningen"s heir apparent. Were her father deemed a lesser royal status, it might be thought that her own claim was not equal enough for her husband"s family.
Titles and styles 22 June 1870 – 24 April 1889: Her Highness Countess Adelaide of Lippe-Biesterfeld 24 April 1889 – 3 September 1948: Her Highness Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen.
As Adelaide"s great-grandmother was a member of the petite noblesse, her family"s claim to full royalty was challenged.