He was born at Stadthagen, the fourth son of Georg, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe and his wife, Princess Marie Anne of Saxe-Altenburg (1864–1918).

He succeeded his brother Prince Adolf II as head of the Princely House following his death in a plane crash in Mexico on 26 March 1936.

Following his death at Hanover, he was succeeded as head of the Princely House by his second son, Philipp-Ernst.

He was married at Simbach am Inn in April 1925 to his second cousin, Princess Bathildis of Schaumburg-Lippe (1903–1983), only daughter of Prince Albert of Schaumburg-Lippe and Duchess Elsa of Württemberg.

They had four children: This article related to German royalty (1871–1919) is a stub.