Princess Alexandra of Hanover, the Granddaughter of the late Princess Grace of Monaco, Announces Her Engagement

September 11, 2026 Alexandra Leave a comment

Photo courtesy of H.R.H. Princess Alexandra of Hanover/Instagram

In the Principality of Monaco, Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Hanover has announced her engagement to Mr. Ben-Sylvester Strautmann.

Princess Alexandra made the announcement on Friday, September 11th by sharing photographs on Instagram in which she displayed her engagement ring, featuring a yellow diamond.

The engagement follows nearly a decade-long relationship between the Princess and Mr. Strautmann. The couple has regularly appeared together at events in the Principality of Monaco, including the Bal de la Rose, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and other occasions attended by members of the Princely Family.

Born on July 20th, 1999, in Vöcklabruck, Austria, Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Hanover is the only child of Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover, Princess of Monaco and His Royal Highness Prince Ernst August of Hanover.

She is also the granddaughter of the late Prince Rainier III of Monaco and the late Princess Grace of Monaco and the niece of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco and Her Serene Highness Princess Stéphanie of Monaco.

Princess Alexandra spent part of her childhood in France before continuing her education in the Principality of Monaco. She attended the public École Lapierre in Le Mée-sur-Seine, France, and subsequently the Institut catholique François-d’Assise-Nicolas-Barré in Monaco.

The Princess developed an interest in figure skating during her youth and represented Monaco at international youth sporting events. In March 2011, she placed second in her category at the Monaco figure-skating championships. She later represented Monaco at the 2015 European Youth Olympic Winter Festival in Austria.

She subsequently pursued higher education in the United States of America and the French Republic, studying philosophy and literature before completing a master’s degree in history and literature through Columbia University in Paris, France.

In 2026, Princess Alexandra spoke publicly about her interest in literature and her desire to develop a career as a writer independent of her position within the Princely Family.

In 2018, Princess Alexandra converted to the Roman Catholic faith. Her conversion also affected her position in the line of succession to the British throne under the succession rules then in force.

Mr. Ben-Sylvester Strautmann is a German national who has maintained a relatively private public profile. He has a background in basketball and represented the Principality of Monaco at the 2016 FIBA U18 European Championship.

He has also established professional interests in Monaco. According to the official Journal de Monaco, Mr. Strautmann is the manager of EDL Monaco S.A.R.L., a company incorporated in 2024 whose activities include property inspections, studies, analysis, assistance and specialised consultancy in the real-estate sector. The company has its registered office on Avenue Albert II in Monaco.

The couple has maintained a longstanding presence within the social and cultural life of the Principality. In recent years, Mr. Strautmann has accompanied Princess Alexandra to events including the Bal de la Rose, the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and cultural events attended by members of the Princely Family.

Further details regarding the upcoming wedding of Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Mr. Ben-Sylvester Strautmann will be announced in due course.

British Royals

King Charles III of the United Kingdom Clarifies the Obvious: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Are Still Not Working Royals

September 7, 2026 Alexandra Leave a comment

Portraits courtesy of Buckingham Palace/Mr. Misan Harriman
Portraits courtesy of Buckingham Palace/Mr. Misan Harriman

In London, His Majesty King Charles III of the United Kingdom has confirmed what the 2020 Sandringham Agreement already established: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain private citizens and will not carry out official engagements on behalf of the Crown.

The clarification, issued in a letter on the King’s behalf by the Lord Chamberlain, was circulated to government departments, military officials, Lord Lieutenants and the Duke’s representatives.

“It is well known that in January 2020 the Duke and Duchess stepped down from undertaking representative duties on behalf of the Sovereign, and are no longer working Members of the Royal Family,” the letter states. That position, it adds, “will continue to be fully respected,” including the couple’s “personal latitude” over finances and privacy. In short: no half-in, half-out.

The guidance sets out three practical points for officials and organisations:

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex do not represent the Royal Family when attending events. Any engagements are undertaken in a private capacity.
Their charitable work is a personal matter. Questions about reception arrangements, particularly where public funds may be involved, should be directed to Buckingham Palace.
Operational security matters remain a police issue, to be handled through the relevant authorities and the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC).

The letter also confirms that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not use the style His/Her Royal Highness in connection with activities in the United Kingdom. Buckingham Palace said the decision to publish the guidance reflected a desire for transparency rather than allowing its contents to emerge through leaks.

What remains unknown is whether representatives of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will issue a response, or whether further guidance will be provided on how their private engagements should be treated by local authorities and host organisations.

After six years, King Charles and Buckingham Palace’s reminder is uncomplicated: the Sandringham Agreement still stands, and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex return as private citizens, not working royals.

Obviously.

Danish Royals, Royal Family of Denmark

Queen Margrethe of Denmark Admitted to the Hospital in Copenhagen and Will Not Attend the Funeral of King Harald V of Norway, Palace Confirms

September 6, 2026 Alexandra Leave a comment

Portrait courtesy of Det Danske Kongehus

In Copenhagen, the Director of Communications for the Royal Household of Denmark, Ms. Nina Z. Munch-Perrin, has announced that Her Majesty Queen Margrethe of Denmark has been admitted to Rigshospitalet after feeling unwell.

According to the Royal Household, a new blood accumulation in the hip region, as well as mild dehydration, has been detected. Both conditions are currently being treated at the hospital.

The Royal Household stated that Queen Margrethe is, under the circumstances, in good spirits and doing well.

Queen Margrethe is expected to remain hospitalized during the coming week for observation and treatment. As a result of her hospitalization, the Queen will unfortunately be unable to attend the funeral of the late King Harald V of Norway, which will take place in Oslo on Wednesday, September 9th.

The Royal Household has stated that further information will be provided when there is an update concerning the Queen’s condition.

Queen Margrethe was admitted to Rigshospitalet on May 25th, 2026, following the discovery of a larger blood accumulation in the hip region resulting from a fall at Fredensborg Slot on September 18th, 2024. She was discharged on May 29th.

On May 14th, 2026, Queen Margrethe was also admitted to Rigshospitalet after suffering a heart attack. The Royal Household confirmed at the time that she had undergone a balloon angioplasty procedure involving one of the coronary arteries of the heart.

Queen Margrethe abdicated the throne on January 14th, 2024, after more than 52 years as Sovereign of the Kingdom of Denmark. Upon her abdication, her eldest son, Frederik, acceded to the throne.

Since her abdication, Queen Margrethe has continued to participate in selected public engagements and cultural patronages, although her public appearances have become increasingly limited in recent years following several health-related absences and medical procedures.

Greek Royal Family

Philippos De Grèce and his wife, Nina, Welcome Their First Child, a Son, Kimon Thomas Konstantinos

September 1, 2026 Alexandra

*Portrait courtesy of Philippos De Grèce/Andreas Megos*

The Private Office of the Greek Royal Family announced the birth of a son to Philippos De Grèce and his wife, Nina.

The couple named their first child Kimon Thomas Konstantinos, who was born on July 27, 2026, in the United States.

Kimon was born with the help of a gestational carrier.

In a statement, Philippos and Nina expressed their sincere gratitude to the surrogate and her family for accompanying them throughout the journey. They also thanked the medical team and other professionals for their care and support.

The couple said they were cherishing their first weeks with Kimon and were “immensely happy” to begin a new chapter in their family’s life.

Kimon’s birth marks the first child of Philippos De Grèce and Nina.

Philippos De Grèce, the youngest child of the late King Constantine II of Greece and Queen Anne-Marie, was born in London in 1986. He was educated in the United States and graduated from Georgetown University before pursuing a career in finance.

Nina, born Nina Nastassja Flohr in Switzerland in 1987, is the daughter of Swiss businessman Thomas Flohr, founder of the private aviation company VistaJet, and Katharina Flohr, a former creative director at Fabergé and magazine editor.

The couple became engaged in 2020 and married in a civil ceremony in St. Moritz, Switzerland, on Dec. 12, 2020. They later celebrated their Greek Orthodox wedding at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens on Oct. 23, 2021.