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.
