[citation needed] Franz Joseph was the eldest son of Albert, 8th Prince of Thurn and Taxis and his wife Archduchess Margarethe Klementine of Austria.

[citation needed] One of his brothers was Prince Max Emanuel of Thurn and Taxis (1902–1994), a member of the Order of Saint Benedict known as Pater Emmeram.

Subsequently, Franz Joseph was a crew chief stationed in France for two and a half years until he was dismissed due to a decree from Adolf Hitler on the "inability of the German Defense nobility" retroactive to 31 March 1944 by Generalfeldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel of the Army.

In addition to managing the family estate, he dedicated himself increasingly to the preservation of the history of Regensburg and the former St. Emmeram's Abbey, the residence of the Princely House of Thurn and Taxis.

On 21 December 1963, Franz Joseph was made an Honorary Citizen of the City of Regensburg "in appreciation of the high contribution to the economic, social and cultural issues."