Henriette Ellermann-Kingombe

Henriette Ellermann-Kingombe (born 21 March 1970) is a Danish civil servant and courtier, who is the current Private Secretary and lady-in-waiting to Queen Mary of Denmark, since 2021.

A career diplomat, she has previously served in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the Prime Minister’s Office, where she held senior roles in departments dealing with multilateral cooperation, climate policy, green growth, and international development. Her responsibilities included policy coordination with international organizations such as the United Nations and development banks, as well as administrative support to government ministers.

In 2021, she was appointed to the Royal Household of Denmark as private secretary and lady-in-waiting to the Crown Princess. Upon the accession of King Frederik X in 2024, she became a member of the Court's leadership , where she oversees official engagements, correspondence, and protocol matters on behalf of Queen Mary.

Early life and education Henriette Ellermann-Kingombe was born on 21 March 1970 in Randers.

She earned a Master’s degree in political science (cand.scient.pol.) from the University of Copenhagen, completing her studies in 1998. In 2009, she completed an executive leadership program at the Danish School of Public Administration , a course that included training in leadership, coaching, and conflict management.

Ellermann-Kingombe has been involved in academia alongside her civil service career. In the late 1990s, she served as an instructor at the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Political Science, teaching introductory courses to first-year political science students. She later returned to the department as an external lecturer in 2013, teaching a graduate-level course on the European Union and diplomacy. She became the principal private secretary to the Crown Princess, responsible for managing the Crown Princess’s official agenda and providing counsel on matters of protocol and public engagements. Her duties include coordinating royal events and travel, handling official correspondence, and advising the Crown Princess on organizational and policy-related matters connected to patronages and initiatives. As a lady-in-waiting, she also accompanies the Crown Princess (now Queen) at ceremonies and engagements.

In January 2024, Crown Princess Mary became Queen consort upon the accession of King Frederik X. Ellermann-Kingombe continued in her role, now serving as private secretary to Queen Mary.

Personal life Henriette Ellermann-Kingombe is married to Jean-Charles Ellermann-Kingombe, a Danish diplomat and government official. Jean-Charles has held several prominent positions, including serving as the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at the Danish Prime Minister’s Office and later as a senior official at NATO. The couple reside in Hellerup, an area near Copenhagen, and have two children.

Honours and decorations Ellermann-Kingombe has received the following honours and decorations:

National

Foreign