His father Prince Timo, who became addicted to morphine after sustaining serious injuries during a spring 1945 bombing raid on Dresden,[6] had a number of failed jobs.
The marriage proved difficult and Rüdiger's mother was in process of divorcing Prince Timo when she found out she was pregnant,[7] later giving birth to a daughter, Iris von Sachsen, on 21 September 1955.
[4] The widowed Prince Timo's difficulties continued as after residing for a time in homeless shelters and dwellings to escape his creditors, the guardianship court had him admitted into a mental hospital in 1958.
[4] After working as a psychologist[2] in 2003, Rüdiger left his home in Westerwald in order to move to Moritzburg, Saxony where he founded the Wettinische Forstverwaltung (Wettin Forest Management) with his eldest son Daniel von Sachsen.
[10][11] In 1997 the Margrave of Meissen proposed his nephew Alexander Afif as heir and drew up a document that was signed by the other male and female members of the Royal House (including previously morganatic spouses of princes who were now treated as dynasts being attributed the style of Royal Highness; Rüdiger, his sons, and sister were not involved) setting out that Alexander Afif would succeed on his death.
[15] Following the death of Maria Emanuel in July 2012, Rüdiger recognised Prince Albert (who died three months later) as the new Margrave of Meissen and head of the Royal House of Saxony.
[16][unreliable source] According to the family website prior to his death Albert determined Rüdiger to be his successor and instituted a clear succession plan[clarification needed].