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. By birth he is a member of an ancient House of Ahlefeldt.

Early life

He was born as 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,[2] who was also her husband's third cousin.[3][4] He has one sister, Countess Suzanne Ingrid Jessie Dorthe Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille (b. Svendborg, 4 March 1967),[5] lady-in-waiting to 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] grandson of Prince Erik of Denmark.[7] His father married firstly in Taarnborg Gods, Korsør, on 2 August 1958 and divorced Countess Marianne Moltke af Nør til Kruusesminde (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 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 to Margrethe Kirketerp-Møller (27 March 1965 - aft. 1995) in 1992 and divorced,[14] daughter of Mogens Kirketerp-Møller (12 October 1936), Landlord, and wife (m. 22 February 1963).[15] 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.[16] The couple divorced in 2016[17] 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 Svendborgsund.[18][19]

References

  1. ^ https://krogsgaard.name/pafg296.htm#8572
  2. ^ https://krogsgaard.name/pafg1110.htm#25240
  3. ^ https://krogsgaard.name/pafg1110.htm#8571
  4. ^ "Relationship Calculator: Genealogics".
  5. ^ https://krogsgaard.name/pafg296.htm#8575
  6. ^ https://krogsgaard.name/pafg2170.htm#47391
  7. ^ "Descendancy for Claus, Greve Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille : Genealogics".
  8. ^ https://krogsgaard.name/pafg1112.htm#43818
  9. ^ https://krogsgaard.name/pafg1112.htm#43819
  10. ^ "Tidslinie, Egeskov slot" (in Danish). Egeskov Slot.
  11. ^ "Hofjægermestre" (in Danish). Official website of the Danish monarchy.
  12. ^ "Kammerherrer". Kongehuset (in Danish). 24 November 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  13. ^ Kraks Blå Bog. Denmark: Gads Forlag A/S. 2020. p. 28. ISBN 978-87-12-06083-3.
  14. ^ https://krogsgaard.name/pafg296.htm#9471
  15. ^ https://krogsgaard.name/pafg331.htm#9470
  16. ^ https://krogsgaard.name/pafg3432.htm#13384
  17. ^ "Caroline Søeborg Ohlsen".
  18. ^ (In French) "Mariage royal : La princesse Alexandra a dit oui au comte Michael", PurePeople (PureMédias), 24 May 2019.
  19. ^ "Michael, Greve Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille : Genealogics".