Princess Alexandra of Hanover, the granddaughter of Hollywood legend Grace Kelly and daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco, is engaged to her longtime boyfriend Ben-Sylvester Strautmann after nearly a decade together.Alexandra, 27, announced her engagement on Friday, sharing photographs with Strautmann on Instagram. The couple have been together since their teenage years and have maintained a relatively private relationship despite their connection to Monaco’s royal family.Alexandra is the youngest child of Princess Caroline of Monaco and her third husband, Ernst August, Prince of Hanover. She is also the niece of Monaco’s reigning monarch, Prince Albert II.For those familiar with Monaco’s royal family, Alexandra is part of the next generation of a dynasty that has long attracted global attention. Her grandmother was Grace Kelly, the American film star who married Monaco’s Prince Rainier III in 1956 and became Princess Grace of Monaco.Alexandra was born in Austria and grew up between Monaco and other parts of Europe. She studied history and literature in Paris and has also been involved in figure skating. As a member of Monaco’s extended royal family, she regularly appears at major events in the principality and has attended fashion shows and high-profile social occasions.
Who is Ben-Sylvester Strautmann?
Unlike his fiancée, Strautmann is not a member of a royal family. The 27-year-old German has largely kept a low profile despite dating Alexandra for almost 10 years.He grew up in Monaco after moving there with his family as a child and has a background in business. He was also a competitive basketball player in his younger years.Strautmann comes from a wealthy German family with business interests, but he has generally stayed away from the spotlight surrounding Monaco’s royals.His relationship with Alexandra first became public around 2017, when the pair were still teenagers. Since then, they have increasingly been seen together at events connected to Monaco’s royal and social circles.The couple have attended the Monaco Grand Prix, the Monte-Carlo Masters and the principality’s famous Rose Ball together. Despite their high-profile surroundings, they have largely avoided turning their relationship into a public spectacle.
A royal romance that lasted a decade
Alexandra and Strautmann’s relationship has stood out partly because of its longevity. They have been together through Alexandra’s university years and into adulthood, while continuing to make occasional appearances together at major events.Their engagement now adds another royal wedding to the European social calendar.For Alexandra, the marriage will mark a new chapter for a royal who occupies a unique place in Monaco’s family tree — the granddaughter of Grace Kelly, daughter of Princess Caroline and niece of Prince Albert II.The couple has yet to announce details of their wedding date or venue.
