Duchess Elisabeth Christina of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Her Highness Duchess Elisabeth Christina Auguste Luise Irene Anna Cecilie Margarete Maria Immakulata Scholastika Katharina Gabriele of Mecklenburg, Princess of Wenden, Schwerin and Ratzeburg, Countess of Schwerin, Lady of the Lands of Rostock and Stargard, was born on 22 March 1949 in Sigmaringen. She is the eldest child of Duke Georg Alexander and his wife Duchess Ilona.

Family Life

Having been born at a time when Germany was partitioned into West and East, Duchess Elisabeth Christina grew up with her family in the West German state of Baden-Wurttemberg in the south of the country.

Duchess Elisabeth Christina was married to Baron Alhard Bussche-Ippenburg Kessell in a civil wedding on 15 November 1974 at Ludenscheid. This was followed by a religiously wedding on 3 May 1975 at Hohenzollern Castle. After their marriage the couple lived at the Neuenhof Palace in Ludenscheid which is the property of the Bussche-Ippenburg family. Duchess Elisabeth Christina and Baron Alhard went on to three children together, two daughters, Ricarda, born 1978 who married Werner Bergen in 2001, and Josina, born 1979, and a son Gabriel, born 1983 who married Camilla in 2014.

Duchess Elisabeth Christina and Baron Alhard divorced on 25 April 1995. She currently lives in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia while her former husband, who has since succeeded to the title Count Bussche-Ippenburg Kessell, continues to live at the Neuenhof Palace with his second wife and their three daughters.

Education and Career

Duchess Elisabeth Christina attended the universities of Bonn and Freiburg where she studied German and English literature and linguistics. She holds a Master of Arts degree and had the option to do a PhD at the University of Bonn having earned a scholarship.

Since 1985 Duchess Eliabeth Christina has worked as a journalist writing about art and culture. Having served an internship at the Wochenkurier newspaper in Hagen she went on to write for the Westfalische Rundschau, the Ludenscheider Nachrichten and Junge Kunst. Duchess Elisabeth Christina currently writes for the General-Anzeiger newspaper in Bonn, she has also authored and contributed to a number of books.

In addition to her work as a journalist Duchess Elisabeth is also a member, and former Chairwoman, of the Board of Trustees of the (Rhine District Community Foundation) which is engaged in charitable and community projects.

Titles

22 March 1947-15 November 1974 Her Highness Duchess Elisabeth Christina Auguste Luise Irene Anna Cecilie Margarete Maria Immakulata Scholastika Katharina Gabriele of Meckleburg, Princess of Wenden, Schwerin and Ratzeburg, Countess of Schwerin, Lady of the Lands of Roctock and Stargard.

15 November 1974-25 April 1995 Baroness Alhard of Bussche-Ippenburg Kessell, Duchess Elisabeth Christina Auguste Luise Irene Cecilie Margarete Maria Immakulata Scholastika Katharina Gabriele of Mecklenburg, Princess of Wenden, Schwerin and Ratzeburg, Countess of Schwerin, Lady of the Lands of Rostock and Stargard

25 April 1995-present Her Highness Duchess Elisabeth Christina Auguste Luise Irene Anna Cecilie Margarete Maria Immakulata Scholastika Katharina of Mecklenburg, Princess of Wenden, Schwerin and Ratzeburg, Countess of Schwerin, Lady of the Lands of Rostock and Stargard

House: Mecklenburg-Strelitz

(https://mecklenburg-strelitz)