Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille
Danish count and landowner (born 1965)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michael Preben, Count Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille (Danish: Michael Preben Greve Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille; born 26 February 1965)[1] is a Danish Count and a landowner.
Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 February 1965 Svendborg, Denmark |
| Noble family | Ahlefeldt |
| Spouse | |
| Father | Claus Christian Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille |
| Mother | Merete-Anette von Lüttichau |
Early life
By birth, he is a member of the ancient German House of Ahlefeldt. He was born as the only son of Count Claus Christian Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille (Copenhagen, 6 March 1932 – 2014), landlord of Havnø Gods, Hadsund, and his second wife, Countess Merete-Anette von Lüttichau, née Ahlefeldt-Laurvig (born in Rudkøbing, 1 April 1943), a trained nurse. The couple married at Tranekær Kirke, Tranekær, on 21 September 1963 and divorced in 1971. His mother, Countess Merete-Anette was also her husband's third cousin.[2][3][4]
He has one sister, Countess Suzanne Ingrid Jessie Dorthe Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille (b. Svendborg, 4 March 1967),[5] lady-in-waiting to former Princess Alexandra, who married in Mahé, Seychelles, on 15 February 1993 Erik Ove Carl John Emil Vind til Sanderumgaard (b. Hellerup, 5 May 1954),[6] the grandson of Prince Erik of Denmark.[7]
His father married firstly in Taarnborg Gods, Korsør, on 2 August 1958 and divorced Countess Marianne Moltke (b. Kruusesminde Gods, Korsør, 18 October 1936), Landlady in Kruusesminde Gods, Korsør,[8] married thirdly on 9 September 1976 and divorced in 1995 Baroness Louisa of Wedell-Wedellsborg (b. San Francisco, California, 8 June 1939)[9] and married fourthly in 2002 Bente Skipper.
Biography
In 1992, he assumed ownership of the family's residence Egeskov Castle near Kværndrup, from his father Count Claus Christian.[10] Under his ownership, Egeskov Castle has been turned into one of Funen's major tourist attractions. He was awarded the title of Hofjægermester[11] (hunting master of the court) in 2006 and the title of Kammerherre[12] (chamberlain) in 2015.[13]
Personal life
Michael married firstly in 1992 to Margrethe Kirketerp-Møller (27 March 1965 - aft. 1995), the daughter of Mogens Kirketerp-Møller (12 October 1936 - 25 February 2018), landlord and owner of Sandholt castle, and his wife Lisbeth Clausen (m. 22 February 1963).[14][15] The couple later divorced.[16] They have a son and a daughter:
- Countess Marie-Sophie Elisabeth Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille (born 2 April 1993)
- Count Gregers Carl Preben Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille (born 31 May 1995), a godson of the King of Denmark
He married secondly Caroline Søeborg-Ohlsen (b. 1968) on 26 August 2006.[17] She is the daughter of cellist Bertel Søeborg Ohlsen and his wife, Anette Faaborg (b. 1942), a pianist.[18] The couple divorced in 2016 and have two children:
- Count Julius Søeborg Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille (born 2007), a godson of Prince Joachim of Denmark
- Countess Iselin Kristine Søeborg Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille (born 2009)
On 18 May 2019, he married Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, niece of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, at Sankt Jørgens Kirke in Svendborg.[19][20] They currently live at Egeskov Castle, ancestral home and a country residence of the Counts of Ahlefeldt, which is managed by Count Michael Preben, while Princess Alexandra engages herself in drawing, garden designing and art history.[21]