Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (Richard Casimir Karl August Robert Konstantin; born 29 October 1934 in Giessen, Germany) is the head of the House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and husband of Princess Benedikte of Denmark.

Richard Casimir Karl August Robert Konstantin is the eldest son of Gustav Albrecht, 5th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, a highly decorated German army officer declared missing in 1944 yet only legally declared dead in 1969, and Margareta Fouché d'Otrante, a descendant of Napoleonic statesman Joseph Fouché. Richard was raised in Sweden with his maternal grandfather, the Duke of Otrante, at Elghammar Castle. He attended the boarding schools Viggbyholm and Sigtuna.

Having studied forest science at Munich University, Prince Richard obtained his forestry diploma at the University of Göttingen in Hann.-Münden. He took his post-graduate training as Forstreferendar, obtaining a degree as Assessor des Forstdienstes after passing the second forestry examination at the North Rhine Westphalian State Forestry Service.

In July 2003, he underwent surgery for treatment of prostate cancer; previously, he had undergone treatment for skin cancer.

Prince Richard is involved in several conservation programmes. He launched a project to re-introduce European bison into Europe on part of his 30,000 acre estate in North Rhine-Westphalia, credited as a success by Rewilding Europe as part of a larger effort to restore depleted animals across Europe.

Berleburg Castle

Marriage

Richard married Princess Benedikte of Denmark at Fredensborg Palace Church on 3 February 1968. She is the second daughter of Frederick IX of Denmark and Ingrid of Sweden and younger sister of Margrethe II of Denmark. The couple live at Berleburg Castle.

Children and grandchildren

• Gustav, Hereditary Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (born 12 January 1969)
• Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (born 20 November 1970). On 6 June 1998 at Gråsten Palace, she was married to Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth. The couple have two children:
  • Count Richard von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth (born 14 September 1999).
  • Countess Ingrid von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth (born 16 August 2003).
• Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (born 2 May 1975). On 27 May 2010, she was married to Alexander Johannsmann. The couple have two children:
  • Konstantin Johannsmann (born 24 July 2010).
  • Louisa Johannsmann (born 28 January 2015)

The children of Princess Benedikte are styled as Highnesses in Denmark by an Order in Council. Elsewhere they are Serene Highnesses by courtesy.

Titles

His Highness Prince Richard zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

Honours

National Honours

•  Germany: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, 1st Class
•  Denmark: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Elephant (R.E.)
•  Denmark: Recipient of the 50th Anniversary Medal of the Arrival of Queen Ingrid to Denmark
•  Denmark: Recipient of the 50th Birthday Medal of Queen Margrethe II
•  Denmark: Recipient of the Silver Anniversary Medal of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik
•  Denmark: Recipient of the Silver Jubilee Medal of Queen Margrethe II
•  Denmark: Recipient of the 100th Anniversary Medal of the Birth of King Frederik IX
•  Denmark: Recipient of the Queen Ingrid Commemorative Medal
•  Denmark: Recipient of the 75th Birthday Medal of Prince Henrik
•  Denmark: Recipient of the 70th Birthday Medal of Queen Margrethe II
•  Denmark: Recipient of the Ruby Jubilee Medal of Queen Margrethe II

Foreign Honours

•  Sweden: Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star
•  Spain:Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
•  Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown

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