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. 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. Since 19 May 1998, Alexandra has been a Danish citizen.

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. 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)

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. The couple announced their intention to divorce in May 2017.

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. 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.

Ancestry

References

1. Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
2. Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
3. Gustav, 7th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
4. Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
5. Princess Benedikte of Denmark
6. Princess Alexandra
7. Succession to the Danish throne
8. Wedding of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, and Mary Donaldson
9. Princess Alexandra of Denmark (disambiguation)
10. Monarchy of Denmark
11. Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille
12. Maud Angelica Behn
13. Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth
14. Death and funeral of Constantine II of Greece
15. Wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling
16. Countess Athena of Monpezat
17. Princess Mafalda of Savoy
18. Wedding of Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway, and Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby
19. Wedding of Infanta Elena and Jaime de Marichalar
20. Sønderborg Castle