Her Highness Princess Alexandra of Denmark, Countess of Frederiksborg, before her divorce known as Her Royal Highness, née Alexandra Christina Manley, was born in Hong Kong on 30 June 1964. She is the daughter of Richard Nigel Manley (born in Shanghai in 1924) and Christa Maria Manley (born Nowotny, Austria in 1933).
Early life and marriage
Alexandra Manley was christened at the Cathedral of Saint John, Hong Kong. The princess, who originally belonged to the Anglican Church, received instruction in the Evangelical Lutheran faith and was confirmed prior to her wedding in 1995.
On 18 November 1995, His Royal Highness Prince Joachim of Denmark married Alexandra Christina Manley, who in connection with the marriage became Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Denmark. The wedding ceremony was conducted by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark's Chaplain-in-Ordinary and took place in the Chapel of Frederiksborg Castle at Hillerød. The wedding festivities were held at Fredensborg Palace. Before she wed Prince Joachim, however, she had to renounce her British Citizenship, change her religion, and give up her career as an investor.
Life as a princess
Princess Alexandra quickly became popular with the Danish people. Known for her dress style and charity work, she was dubbed the Diana of the North. She learned Danish, known to be a hard language for English speakers, quickly and within a few years she spoke it without an accent; further endearing her to the Danes.
With Prince Joachim, Princess Alexandra has two children: His Highness Prince Nikolai William Alexander Frederik, born on 28 August 1999; and His Highness Prince Felix Henrik Valdemar Christian, born on 22 July 2002.
Separation
By the summer of 2004, rumours were circulating throughout Denmark and neighbouring Sweden and Norway that her marriage to Prince Joachim had gone sour. The rumours proved to be true and in September of 2004, Princess Alexandra and Prince Joachim announced their separation and eventual intention to divorce; newspaper reports speculating on the reasons for the marital rupture soon followed, noting the Prince's increased interest in late-night partying and race-car driving.
Divorce
Eventually, in true fashion of being the Diana of the North, she divorced Joachim on April 8, 2005, and Alexandra is now known as Her Highness Princess Alexandra of Denmark.
Many Danish people favor Alexandra's new style. Rather than being stripped of royal titles, she was simply demoted to the style of Highness from Royal Highness. This is viewed by many as a better solution than what was done with Princess Diana, who was stripped of royal title completely and went from Her Royal Highness The Princess Charles, Princess of Wales to Diana, Princess of Wales.
On 16 April 2005 it was announced that HM The Queen had bestowed upon HH Princess Alexandra the title and name of grevinde af Frederiksborg (Countess of Frederiksborg), in addition to her current title of Princess of Denmark. Unlike the latter, the title of Countess of Frederiksborg will continue after any future marriage. According to the palace, her shorthand style will be HH Princess Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg. [1]
Titles from birth
Here is a list of styles that Princess Alexandra bore from birth in chronological order:
- Miss Alexandra Manley (1964-1995)
- Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Denmark (1995-2005)
- Her Highness Princess Alexandra of Denmark (2005)
- Her Highness Princess Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg (2005-)
