From 1872 to 1874 he and his five years older brother, Prince Otto Heinrich, were educated by Hubert Maximilian Ermisch who would later become a wellknown archivist and historian.

Following the death of Prince Woldemar of Lippe on the 20 March 1895 and the ascension of Woldemar's brother Alexander, Adolf was appointed to act as regent of the Principality of Lippe due to Prince Alexander being unable to rule due to a mental illness.

As such, Adolf was a brother-in-law to the last German Emperor, Wilhelm II, as well as a grandson-in-law of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

After the ceremony, the couple held a banquet, at which Emperor Wilhelm feelingly assured the pair of "his protection and friendly care".

[2] After a prolonged honeymoon to several countries, the couple settled in Bonn where they acquired Palais Schaumburg as their residence.