Princess Eugenia of Hanover has opened up about her royal title, saying it caused her many problems at school.
The German royal, 23, said the title “means nothing” to her as she detailed the struggles she faced as a result of her high-status.
Eugenia, who lives in Vienna, Austria, is the daughter of Prince Heinrich of Hanover, 64, who is the brother of Prince Ernst, the current head of the House of Hanover. Her mother is Princess Thyra von Westernhagern, 51.
The family boasts close ties to the Monegasque royals as Prince Ernst is married to Princess Caroline of Monaco.
But Eugenia claims her royal status has so far proved to be more of an obstacle than an advantage.
“In school, I had some teachers that just didn’t like me because of it, and they also said some comments which were not very nice or reasonable,” the aristocrat told Tatler.
“It also has bad sides, having this name… I am interested in the history of my family, but it doesn’t mean anything in general for living my day-to-day life.”
“In Germany, it is just a name and it actually doesn’t mean anything anymore. For me, it doesn’t mean anything because I don’t see myself as something different to others,” she added.
Eugenia added that she didn’t “really care about school” — and was instead interested in tending to her horses.
Still, the royal pressed on with her education and enrolled at a prestigious institution in Vienna to study medicine.
Her grandfather, Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover, had trod a similar path by becoming an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) professor.
In addition to her studies, the royal has kickstarted a modeling career — much to her parents’ dismay.
Eugenia admitted that while her parents were “apprehensive” over her interests in modeling, they soon came around after her “scared” mom accompanied her to photoshoots.
“Right now I’m very happy about my life. It’s very stable,” she told the outlet. “I think if I only did fashion, then that could mess it up.”
“I only have two more years to be a general doctor, there’s no point leaving now. It wouldn’t be worth it,” she added.