Princess Elisabeth of Denmark

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

Her Highness Princess Elisabeth Caroline-Mathilde Alexandrine Helena Olga Thyra Feodora Estrid Margrethe Désirée of Denmark was born May 8, 1935, at Sorgenfri Palace in Kongens Lyngby, Denmark. She was the only daughter and the eldest of the three children of Prince Knud of Denmark, the younger son of King Christian X of Denmark, and Princess Caroline-Mathilde of Denmark, the daughter of Prince Harald of Denmark who was the third son of King Frederik VIII of Denmark.

King Christian X with his wife and grandchildren – Standing in back, from left to right: Princess Elisabeth, Prince Ingolf, Princess Margrethe (later Queen Margrethe II), Front, from left to right: Prince Christian, Queen Alexandrine holding Princess Anne-Marie (later Queen Consort of Greece), Princess Benedikte, King Christian X

 

Princess Elisabeth had two younger brothers:

  • Count Ingolf of Rosenborg, born Prince Ingolf of Denmark (born 1940), married (1) Inge Terney, no children; Ingolf married without consent and therefore lost his royal style and title and his succession rights  (2) Sussie Hjorhøy, no children
  • Count Christian of Rosenborg, born Prince Christian of Denmark (1942 – 2013), married Anne Dorte Maltoft-Nielsen, had three daughters who are not in the line of succession; Christian married without consent and therefore lost his royal style and title and his succession rights

Elisabeth on the left and her family; Credit –danishroyalmediawatch.blogspot.com

At the time of her birth, her father was second in line to the Danish throne, behind his elder brother, the future King Frederik IX. However, Elisabeth was not in the line of succession as women were barred from the throne. This would all change when Elisabeth was 18. Her uncle had become King in 1947 and only had three daughters. It was expected that the throne would then pass to Elisabeth’s father Knud, and then his eldest son. However, King Frederik had the laws changed in 1953, allowing women to succeed to the throne. This moved Prince Knud down to 4th in line, but it also put Elisabeth on the list (following her elder brothers). Both of her brothers lost their succession rights, and royal status, upon marriage to commoners.

Following her secondary education, Princess Elisabeth attended Brillantmont International College in Switzerland and Suhr’s School of Home Economics. She also attended the Scandinavian Academy of International Fashion and Design for two years and took courses at the Tempo Type School in Copenhagen. Not receiving an appanage from the State, she took a job with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1956. Several times she was posted abroad – twice at the Danish Embassy in Washington DC and once at the Danish United Nations Mission in Geneva, Switzerland. She retired in 2001 after 45 years of employment.

 

Princess Elisabeth never married, perhaps to retain her position within the Danish Royal Family. Until her death, she was the last person in the line of succession to the Danish throne. Elisabeth had a long-term relationship with Claus Hermansen, a videographer, until his death in 1997. The couple lived at the Princess’ villa in Holte, north of Copenhagen. She served as Patron of several organizations in Denmark and was usually seen at most State events.  In 2015, she returned to her childhood home, Sorgenfri Palace, where she took up residence in a detached wing of the palace called Damebygningen.

Princess Elisabeth died on June 19, 2018, after a lengthy illness at the age of 83.  Her funeral service was held at the Lyngby Church in Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality in the northern suburbs of Copenhagen, Denmark where she was laid to rest beside Claus Hermansen.

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