Descendants of the last German Emperor are locked in a legal battle with the German state to reclaim thousands of valuable artworks and historical artefacts. They also reportedly want to the right to live in one of their former palaces.

The claims are thought to be led by Georg Friedrich, nominally Prince of Prussia, but officially Mr Georg Friedrich Prinz von Preußen, who is the great-great-grandson of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The demands reportedly include the return of artworks by Lucan Cranach the Elder, Friedrich Tischbein and the “New Cabinet” created by master craftsman David Roentgen. Reports state that they also want to live rent-free in the former royal palace of Cecilienhof, which is perhaps best known as the site of 1945 Potsdam Conference where Europe was divided up after the Second World War. Cecilienhof is currently a museum, and the reception rooms are restored to how they were at the time of the conference, including the table where the world leaders met.