Denmark’s Princess Elisabeth Turns 80

Princess Elisabeth, first cousin of Queen Margrethe II, today celebrates her 80th birthday.

She was born in Copenhagen in 1935 to Prince Knud of Denmark and his wife Caroline-Mathilde, and was first grandchild of King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine. Her full name is Elisabeth Caroline-Mathilde Alexandrine Helena Olga Thyra Feodora Estrid Margarethe Désirée. Two brothers, Ingolf and Christian, joined the family in 1940 and 1942.

King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine of Denmark with their six grandchildren, Christmas 1946. Princess Elisabeth is standing on the back left.

The Princess was educated in Denmark before spending a year at the Brillantmont School in Lausanne, Switzerland. She then spent two years the fashion and design Margrethe School in Copenhagen.

Elisabeth made her career in the Danish Foreign Ministry, where she began working in 1956. The Princess was assigned to the Danish Embassy in Washington, D.C. twice: 1973-1976 and 1981-1985, as well as the Danish UN Mission in Geneva between 1989 and 1993.

Princess Elisabeth during the celebrations around Crown Prince Frederik’s wedding to Mary Donaldson, May 2004.

Princess Elisabeth is the last person in the line of succession to the Danish throne. She never married, but had a long-term relationship with Claus Hermansen until his death in 1997.

A photo gallery of the Princess’s life can be found here.

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Tagged Birthday, Princess Elisabeth of Denmark.

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