Elizabeth was the second daughter of Duke Wilhelm Karl of Urach (1864–1928) and his first wife Duchess Amalie in Bavaria (1865–1912).

After the death of her mother in May 1912, she managed the housekeeping of her father's home and looked after the education of her younger siblings.

[1] Prince Joachim of Prussia (1890–1920), the youngest son of Emperor Wilhelm II courted her in vain.

During World War I Elizabeth corresponded with her father, who had the rank of a lieutenant general and was commander of the 26th Division in France, Russia and Serbia.

Prince Karl Aloys was Imperial and Royal Cavalry Master (Rittmeister) until the end of the monarchy of Austria-Hungary[1] and from 13 December 1918 to 15 September 1920 temporarily Prime Minister (Landesverweser) of the Principality of Liechtenstein.