He was the seventh child, and third son, of George William, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe (1784–1860), and Princess Ida of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1796–1869).

[1] His paternal grandparents were Philip II, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe and Landgravine Juliane of Hesse-Philippsthal.

[2] Several trips with his royal parents had pleasantly interrupted the young prince's years of teaching and service.

Prince William was last in Ratibořitz with his parents and Princesses Ida and his sister, Elisabeth in the summer and autumn of 1853.

Together, they were the parents of eight children: Prince William and his daughter-in-law, Princess Louise of Denmark, died five hours apart at the family castle in Náchod, Bohemia.