What Richard and Ludwig have in common, however, is their enthusiasm for music. The designated Prince “Royal Highnonsense”has been singing and making music for more than 20 years in the Hot Jazz Boys band. The 44-year-old is certainly very proud that he can be prince in the 250th birthday anniversary year of Beethoven – and the season’s motto “Jötterfunke överall – Ludwig, Bonn un Karneval” (“Rote Funken everywhere – Ludwig, Bonn and carnival”) can be interpreted in many ways according to Recker: “all this promises to be a mad mixture. I am excited and full of anticipation”.

Connoisseurs of the Bonn carnival scene know what roles Richard Recker will take – as Richie from the Little Bönnsch Bandits and as the commentator of the Rose Monday procession for the festival committee.

Katharina Breidenbend, née Kontz took her first carnival steps in Beuel. In 1994 she ruled as a child laundry princess. As a teenager she danced for several years in a showdance group in Königswinter. In the Königshof, the 31-year-old gave an insight into her psyche: “never in my life have I looked forward so much to a carnival season”.

Together with her prince, Catherine III wants to connect people in a touching way – “just as Beethoven did with his music”. The fact that Richard I has a convincing bass and tenor voice does not phase the Bonna: “I will take singing lessons from him”.

The president of the festival committee, Marlies Stockhorst, rated the fact that the Prince lived in Meckenheim and the Bonna in Wachtberg as groundbreaking and unifying: “The region also grows closer together during carnival”.

(Original text: Holger Willcke; translation John Chandler)