Franz Wilhelm Prince of Prussia was born in Grünberg, Silesia, as the son of Prince Karl Franz of Prussia and his first wife Princess Henriette von Schönaich-Carolath.

][4] He had a twin brother, Prince Friedrich Christian, who died three weeks after his birth.

[6] In 2004, with financing from a group of investors, he purchased the Royal Porcelain Manufactury Berlin, saving it from insolvency.

[7] Franz Wilhelm married his third cousin once removed, Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia, great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, civilly on 4 September 1976 at Dinard and religiously on 22 September at the Russian Orthodox Chapel in Madrid.

[5][9][10] Franz Wilhelm and Grand Duchess Maria had one son before divorcing on 19 June 1985 (they separated in 1982), at which point he reverted to his previous title.