Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Countess Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille (Alexandra Rosemarie Ingrid Benedikte; born 20 November 1970), is the first daughter and second of three children of Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Benedikte of Denmark.[1] [2] Under the succession rules set by King Frederik IX, since Princess Benedikte and her children, including Princess Alexandra, have not taken up permanent residence in Denmark, they have effectively waived their place in the line of succession to the Danish throne.[3] Since 19 May 1998, Alexandra has been a Danish citizen.
Princess Alexandra | |||||
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Countess Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille | |||||
Born | Copenhagen, Denmark | 20 November 1970||||
Spouse | |||||
Issue | Count Richard von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth Countess Ingrid von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth | ||||
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House | Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (by birth) Ahlefeldt (by marriage) | ||||
Father | Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg | ||||
Mother | Princess Benedikte of Denmark |
First marriage and children
Alexandra was married on 6 June 1998 at Gråsten Palace to Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth. Jefferson and Alexandra are distantly related, as both have descended from Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau.[4] The couple has two children:
- Count Friedrich Richard Oscar Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth (born 14 September 1999 at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen)
- Countess Ingrid Alexandra Irma Astrid Benedikte von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth (born 16 August 2003 at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen)[5]
The family lived in Paris, where Count Jefferson was a managing director of the local branch of the bank Sal. Oppenheim and where she worked at UNESCO's World Heritage Centre. Beginning in 2013, the couple lived in Heidesheim Castle, Germany, near Mainz.[6] The couple announced their intention to divorce in May 2017.[7]
Second marriage
On 18 May 2019, Alexandra married Count Michael of Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille at Sankt Jørgens Kirke in Svendborgsund. He is a member of an ancient House of Ahlefeldt of German and Danish descent.[8] They live at Egeskov Castle, ancestral home of Counts of Ahlefeldt.
Career
Princess Alexandra worked for UNESCO World Heritage Centre until 2013, in charge of preserving the cultural heritage of countries in the Middle East and South Asia.[9]
Titles, styles and honours
Styles of Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg | |
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Reference style | Her Highness |
Spoken style | Your Highness |
Titles
- 20 November 1970 – 6 June 1998: Her Highness[10] Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
- 6 June 1998 – May 2017: Her Highness Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Countess of Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth
- May 2017 - 18 May 2019: Her Highness Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
- 18 May 2019 – present: Her Highness Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Countess Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille
National honours
- Denmark: Recipient of the Silver Anniversary Medal of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik
- Denmark: Recipient of the Silver Jubilee Medal of Queen Margrethe II
- Denmark: Recipient of the 100th Anniversary Medal of the Birth of King Frederik IX
- Denmark: Recipient of the Queen Ingrid Commemorative Medal
- Denmark: Recipient of the 70th Birthday Medal of Queen Margrethe II
- Denmark: Recipient of the Ruby Jubilee Medal of Queen Margrethe II
Foreign honours
- Sweden: Recipient of the 50th Birthday Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf
Ancestry
References
- "Sponheim 10".
- "HRH Princess Benedikte - The Danish Monarchy". Kongehuset. 3 June 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-06-03. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- "The Royal House - The Danish Monarchy". www.kongehuset.dk. Danish Royal Court. Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
The throne is inherited in King Christian 10. and Queen Alexandrine's posterity.
- "Relationship Calculator: Genealogics".
- "Alexandra, Prinzessin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg: Genealogics".
- Article http://www.allgemeine-zeitung.de/region/mainz/vg-heidesheim/heidesheim/13418333.htm Allgemeine Zeitung
- Endnu en skilsmisse rammer det danske kongehus BT.dk, 17 May 2017
- (In French) "Mariage royal : La princesse Alexandra a dit oui au comte Michael", PurePeople (PureMédias), 24 May 2019.
- "National heritage: Danish princess visits to review Unesco's work". 11 May 2012.
- "HRH Princess Benedikte". The Danish Monarchy - Front Page. 7 April 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2020.