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, sister of two Queens, Margrethe II and Anne-Marie of Greece.[3] [4]
| Princess Alexandra | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Countess Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille | |||||
| Born | 20 November 1970 Copenhagen, Denmark | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue | Count Richard von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth Countess Ingrid von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth | ||||
| |||||
| House | Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (by birth) Ahlefeldt (by marriage) | ||||
| Father | Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg | ||||
| Mother | Princess Benedikte of Denmark | ||||
| Styles of Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | Her Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Highness |
Succession rights in Denmark
editUnder the succession rules set by King Frederik IX, since Princess Benedikte and her children, Prince Gustav, Princess Nathalie and 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.[5] Since 19 May 1998, Alexandra has been a Danish citizen.
First marriage and children
editAlexandra was married on 6 June 1998 at Gråsten Palace to Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth. Jefferson and Alexandra are distantly related, both descending from Leopold III, Duke of Anhalt-Dessau.[6] 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)[7]
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, Alexandra and Jefferson lived in Heidesheim Castle, Germany, near Mainz.[8] The couple announced their intention to divorce in May 2017.[9]
Second marriage
editOn 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.[10] Count Michael Preben the only son of Count Claus Christian Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille (Copenhagen, 6 March 1932 - 2014), Landlord in Havnø Gods, Hadsund, and his second wife (m. Tranekær Kirke, Tranekær, 21 September 1963, divorced in 1971) Countess Merete-Anette von Lüttichau, née Ahlefeldt-Laurvig (b. Rudkøbing, 1 April 1943), nurse, who was also her husband's third cousin.[11][12][13] She has one sister-in-law, Countess Suzanne Ingrid Jessie Dorthe Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille (b. Svendborg, 4 March 1967),[14] lady-in-waiting to Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg, who married her third cousin once removed, Erik Ove Carl John Emil Vind til Sanderumgaard (b. Hellerup, 5 May 1954),[15] the grandson of Prince Erik of Denmark.[16] They currently live at Egeskov Castle, ancestral home and an estate of the Counts of Ahlefeldt, which is managed by Count Michael Preben, while Princess Alexandra engages herself in drawing, garden designing and art history.[17]
Career
editPrincess 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.[18]
Ancestry
editThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (November 2021) |
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References
edit- ^ "Prinzessin Alexandra lässt sich scheiden". 19 May 2017.
- ^ "Prinsessens haver".
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Selected Families/Individuals - pafg1110 - Generated by Personal Ancestral File".
- ^ "Relationship Calculator: Genealogics".
- ^ "Selected Families/Individuals - pafg1110 - Generated by Personal Ancestral File".
- ^ "Selected Families/Individuals - pafg296 - Generated by Personal Ancestral File".
- ^ "Selected Families/Individuals - pafg2170 - Generated by Personal Ancestral File".
- ^ "Relationship Calculator: Genealogics".
- ^ "Alexandra (Til Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg) - lex.dk". 25 January 2024.
- ^ "National heritage: Danish princess visits to review Unesco's work". 11 May 2012.
- ^ "Pedigree Chart for Alexandra, Prinzessin zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg : Genealogics".