Adolf was born in Stadthagen, the only other town in the principality apart from the capital Bückeburg, to the then hereditary Prince Georg (1846–1911) and Princess Marie Anne of Saxe-Altenburg (1864–1918).
Adolf was born in Stadthagen, the only other town within the principality apart from its capital, Bückeburg, to Prince Georg (1846–1911) and Princess Marie Anne of Saxe-Altenburg (1864–1918), who would later become his parents.