Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

In 1994, Princess Nathalie began training on the Swedish stud Flyinge with her trainer Kyra Kyrklund, former world champion in dressage. After four years, during which she won the bronze medal at the European Championship with the Danish team, she had to change coaches as Kyrklund moved to England. She teamed up with Klaus Balkenhol, coach of the German dressage team.

Nathalie gained a place in the 2000 Olympic team as reserve rider, and afterward participated in the European Championship of 2001, winning a bronze medal and the World Championship 2002 (where she was placed fourth) with the Danish team. She was a member of the Team Denmark dressage team in the 2008 Summer Olympics and was awarded a bronze medal.

She was part of the Danish equestrian team in the London 2012 Olympics, competing in the team and individual dressage events on her horse Digby. She finished 12th in the individual event and helped Denmark to a 4th-place team finish.[1]

In addition to riding she also breeds horses, as does her mother. In autumn 2005, she opened her own stud farm, which is based in Bad Berleburg.

On 4 January 2010, Princess Nathalie's engagement to German horse breeder Alexander Johannsmann, (b. 6 December 1977), son of showjumper Heinrich-Wilhelm Johannsmann, was announced.[2] The couple married civilly 27 May 2010 and religiously the following year, on 18 June 2011 at the protestant Stadtkirche, Berleburg in Germany.[3]

Princess Nathalie gave birth to a son, Konstantin Gustav Heinrich Richard on 24 July 2010.[4][5] He is named Konstantin for his maternal grandfather, whose middle name is Konstantin, and for his maternal grand-uncle, King Constantine II of Greece; Gustav for his maternal uncle and godfather; Heinrich for his paternal grandfather; and Richard for his maternal grandfather.[6] Konstantin's godparents were Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, his aunt Ann-Kathrin Johannsmann, and his uncle Prince Gustav.[7] On 13 August 2014, it was announced that Princess Nathalie was expecting her second child in February 2015.[8] She gave birth to a daughter, Louisa Margareta Benedikte Hanna, on 28 January at Bad Berleburg, Germany.[9]