He was born in Stuttgart, and became head of the formerly reigning royal House of Württemberg on the death of his father on 29 October 1939.

Like many members of ruling houses, Duke Philipp Albrecht nominally entered the army while still a child.

[4] On 16 June 1913, he was placed à la suite of the Royal Prussian Kürassier-Regiment „Herzog Friedrich Eugen von Württemberg“ (Westpreußisches) Nr.

[6] Philipp Albrecht entered World War I with his regiment and was promoted to Rittmeister on 24 December 1914[7] In 1916, he was on his father's staff with the 4th Army.

His first marriage was to Archduchess Helena of Austria, Princess of Tuscany (born 30 October 1903 in Linz; died 8 September 1924 in Tübingen), daughter of Archduke Peter Ferdinand of Austria (younger son of Ferdinand IV, Grand Duke of Tuscany) and Princess Maria Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies (daughter of Prince Alfonso, Count of Caserta), on 24 October 1923 in Altshausen.