He succeeded as Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe following the death of his father, Prince Georg Wilhelm on 21 November 1860. In 1866, Schaumburg-Lippe signed a military treaty with Prussia, and in 1867 entered a military union, where Schaumburgers served in the Prussian military. Also in 1867, Schaumburg-Lippe became a member of the North German Confederation, and later in 1871 became a member state of the German Empire on its founding. He died at Bückeburg and was succeeded by his son Georg.
Marriage and children
On 25 October 1844 at Arolsen, Adolf was married to his cousin, Princess Hermine of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1827–1910), a daughter of George II, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont. His mother was a sister of her father. The couple had eight children:
Prince Otto Heinrich of Schaumburg-Lippe (1854–1935); married Anna von Köppen (1860–1932), created Countess von Hagenburg, daughter or relative of Carl Köppen.