Princess Benedikte of Denmark
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Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, RE, SKmd (born Princess Benedikte Astrid Ingeborg Ingrid of Denmark), (born 29 April 1944), is the second daughter of King Frederick IX of Denmark and Ingrid of Sweden. She is the younger sister of the reigning Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, and the older sister of Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.
Biography
Her godparents were The King and Queen of Denmark, Prince Gustav of Denmark, The King of Sweden, Count Sigvard Bernadotte af Wisborg, Sir Alexander Ramsay, The Queen of the United Kingdom, Princess Caroline-Mathilde of Denmark, Princess Margaret of Denmark, and Princess Ingeborg of Sweden.
Marriage
Benedikte was married on 3 February 1968 at Fredensborg Palace Church to Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, born in Giessen on 29 October 1934. He is the son of Prince Gustav Albrecht, 5th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1907–1944) and his wife, Margareta Fouché (1909–2005). The King decreed that her children would need to be raised in Denmark in order to have succession rights. Since the condition was not met, Princess Benedikte's three children are not in line to succeed to the throne
Princess Benedikte is very much involved in the scout/guide organization in Denmark as well as internationally. When she was a child, a special scout unit was created, so that she could join the guides. Now her involvement is more at the organisational level as she is chairman for Pigespejdernes fællesråd (Joint Committee of Girl Guides in Denmark). She is protector for De grønne pigespejdere (The Green Girl Guides, Denmark) and Det Danske Spejderkorps (The Danish Guide and Scout Association). In addition she is patron of the Olave Baden Powell Society (OB-PS), a support organisation for the international girl guide/scout organisation WAGGGS. She is an honorary member of the St Georges Guilds in Denmark. In 2007 she was awarded with a prize of honour by this Scout association for adults.
Children and grandchildren
- Gustav Frederik Philip Richard, Hereditary Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, born 12 January 1969
- Princess
Alexandra Rosemarie Ingrid Benedikte, born 20 November 1970. She
was married on 6 June 1998 at Gråsten Palace to Count
Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth born 12 July 1967. They have two
children:
- Count Friedrich Richard Oscar Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth, born 14 September 1999
- Countess Ingrid Alexandra Irma Astrid Benedikte von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth, born 16 August 2003
- Princess
Nathalie Xenia Margarete Benedikte, born 2 May 1975. She married on
27 May 2010 to Alexander Johannsmann. They have one child:
- Konstantin Gustav Heinrich Richard Johannsmann, born 24 July 2010
The children of Princess Benedikte are styled as Highnesses in Denmark by order-in-council. Elsewhere they are Serene Highnesses by courtesy.
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Titles, styles, honours and arms
- Her Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark (1944–1947)
- Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark (1947–1968)
- Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (since 1968)
Mr Bjarne Erbo Grønfeldt, Deputy Private Secretary to HM The Queen, confirms that HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark's coat of arms consists of a shield of her late father's coat of arms supported by two savages holding clubs, surrounded by the Order of the Elephant, all under a canopy ensigned with a crown of
her rank.
Ancestry
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Princess Benedikte of Denmark
Cadet branch of the House of
Oldenburg Born:
29 April 1944 | ||
| Danish royalty | ||
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| Preceded by Prince Henrik of Denmark |
Line
of succession to the Danish throne 10th position |
Succeeded by Princess Elisabeth of Denmark |
| Line of succession to the British throne | Succeeded by The Hereditary Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg | |
