Paul-Philippe Hohenzollern, the grandson of former Romanian King Carol II, was detained in Paris on Monday morning. French police placed him under house arrest at the request of Romanian authorities. Romania has accused him of serious crimes, including corruption, money laundering, and fraud involving land that once belonged to the royal family.
The 76-year-old royal descendant was taken into custody quietly at his home in the French capital. Romanian officials are now working to have him extradited, which means they want France to send him back so he can face trial and serve a prison sentence handed down years ago. For now, he is not allowed to leave his house and is under strict surveillance in France.
Royal Roots and Legal Troubles
Paul-Philippe Hohenzollern is a descendant of the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen dynasty, which ruled Romania until the monarchy was abolished in 1947. He is the son of Carol Lambrino, the first son of King Carol II. Because of this connection, Paul-Philippe claims he is the rightful head of the Romanian royal family.
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In 2012, Romania’s Supreme Court of Cassation ruled that Paul-Philippe had the right to carry the Hohenzollern surname and confirmed his legal status as a royal descendant. This decision gave him formal recognition of his royal roots, something he had been fighting for in court for many years.
However, his royal background did not protect him from the law. In 2020, the same Romanian court found him guilty of being part of a corruption network. He was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for his role in illegal deals involving real estate, including land that once belonged to the monarchy. But when the ruling came down, Paul-Philippe was not in Romania—he had already left the country.
In early 2024, he was arrested in Malta. He was briefly jailed there but later released on bail. The court in Malta refused to send him back to Romania, citing his age and importance as a historical figure. Now, after his recent arrest in France, the Romanian authorities are again trying to bring him home to serve his sentence and face further charges.
Claims of Political Targeting
Paul-Philippe’s lawyers argue that the charges against him are not just about crime—they say it’s about politics. They believe the Romanian government is using the legal system to attack him because of his royal claims, especially with elections in Romania taking place at the end of 2024.
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According to his legal team, the case is a way to damage his reputation and to silence the royal line he represents. Paul-Philippe himself has denied all the charges. He says that the accusations are false and are being used as political weapons to pressure him and the royal family. He maintains that he has done nothing wrong and that he is being unfairly targeted because of who he is.
Despite these claims, Romania is continuing its efforts to bring Paul-Philippe back. The authorities are determined to see him serve the prison sentence he received and face new allegations linked to property fraud. The case has drawn wide attention because it involves a high-profile figure from Romania’s royal past, accusations of political interference, and international legal battles.
As of now, Paul-Philippe Hohenzollern remains under house arrest in Paris, awaiting the next steps in what has become a complex and controversial case.
