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A princess has shared her heartbreak after the tragic death of her husband - just days before she is due to welcome their first child.

Princess Josefa von Hohenzollern took to social media to announce the death of her husband Prince Harald von Hohenzollern - a German aristocrat - who has passed away just nine months after they wed.

Josefa, who is running to be re-elected as mayor of the German town Leonberg, shared a tribute to her husband, 63, with a collage of images of them together. It is believed he died after suffering a heart attack while away working as part of the diamond industry in Windhoek, Namibia.

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In the tribute, she also wrote that she would be taking time away from her campaign trail to grieve, say goodbye and care for her unborn child.

In a heartbreaking post, she wrote: "Dear fellow citizens of Leonberg, today I am writing with a heavy heart. My beloved husband Harald v. Hohenzollern died quite unexpectedly of a sudden cardiac death. This loss hits me very deep.

"I need time to grieve, say goodbye and be there for our unborn child. That's why I will be stepping back from campaigning and social media in the coming days.

"I hope for your understanding during this time off and thank you from the bottom of my heart at this point for your condolences and support."

She later told a local newspaper that she would be continuing with her candidacy in the upcoming election as it would be "in my husband's best interests".

Josefa, 51, became a princess upon marriage to Harald in 2024. They wed in her hometown of Kollnburg in Germany having met two years earlier at a trade fair.

Harald is part of a former German royal dynasty that dates all the way back to 1061, with members hailing from Germany as well as Romania.