It is a surprise and great luck: Carina and Prince Gustav zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg are expecting a child in their mid-50s.
Bad Berleburg – It is a small sensation that a married couple at the age of 54 can still become parents. Not everyone is lucky enough to have children naturally. Princess Carina and Prince Gustav zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg are now spared the sad fate. They have found a surrogate mother to give birth to their child.
Late childhood happiness for Carina and Gustav zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
“A spokeswoman for Princess Carina and Prince Gustav zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg confirms that Princess Carina and Prince Gustav zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg are expecting a child in early summer,” writes the Danish newspaper Billed Bladet citing a press release from the castle. The baby is carried by a surrogate mother. “Princess Carina and Prince Gustav are very happy and grateful for this opportunity and thank everyone involved who helped to find a legal path,” the press release continues.
Despite all the joy, the decision also raises a number of questions. Surrogacy is forbidden in Germany. However, in countries like Ukraine, the United States and India, having a baby carried by a strange woman is legal. A distinction is also made between unpaid surrogacy (possible in Belgium and the Netherlands) and commercial surrogacy, which is permitted in Ukraine. However, the noble couple kept a low profile about this. The spokeswoman initially did not provide any further information “in the interest and to protect the child”.
Relationship to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (83)
The 54-year-old Gustav zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg is the eldest of three children and the only son of Richard zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (82, † 2017) and his widow Benedikte zu Denmark (78), one of the two sisters Queen Margrethes (83) of Denmark, who is thus Gustav’s aunt.
The civil and church wedding took place on June 3rd and 4th, 2022 at Berleburg Castle. Among the few guests were the Danish heir to the throne, Princess Mary (51) and Prince Frederik (54).
Love has existed for 20 years, the wedding took place only a year ago
Although Carina and Gustav have been in a relationship since 2003, they were only allowed to marry in June last year. Gustav’s grandfather’s sinister will of 1939 required an “Aryan, noble and Protestant” wife for the heir to Schloss Berleburg and the associated lands. The American author Carina Axelsson did not meet the “requirements” with her Swedish-Mexican roots. With a lot of support from his family, Gustav was able to assert his claim to his inheritance after a long legal battle. The way was clear for the wedding with Carina.
With the great love of his parents, the child will also be well off financially. In an inheritance dispute over the Prince’s inheritance, which went down in German legal history, Gustav decided at the age of 51 to inherit his grandfather’s legacy, which is said to consist of 13,000 hectares of forest, Berleburg Castle and various properties with a total value of around 500 million euros itself. The District Court of Bad Berleburg granted him the certificate of inheritance on October 30, 2020. And Aunt Margrethe in Copenhagen should also like the baby news, she celebrated her 83rd birthday at Amalienborg Palace just a few days ago. Sources used: dpa
