Alexander was born in 1969 in Mogadishu, Somalia, to Joachim, Count von Schönburg-Glauchau, and his first wife, Countess Beatrix Széchenyi de Sárvár et Felsővidék (b.
Following the reunification of Germany in 1990, Alexander's father reclaimed the family's possessions in Saxony which had been taken from them after World War II.
He has authored several books in German, including the 2005 best seller Die Kunst des stilvollen Verarmens ("The Art of Growing Poor Stylishly"), in which he discussed the lessons of dearth after years of decadence.
As a member of the comital branch of the House of Schönburg, Alexander is historically entitled to the style of address Illustrious Highness.
[3] Although German law ceased recognition of the status or styles of noble houses in 1919, historical titles henceforth became their legal surnames.
The new Countess of Schönburg-Glauchau was born Princess Irina, the second child of Prince Karl Adolf Andreas of Hesse (b.
1937, Berlin) and his Hungarian wife, Countess Yvonne Szapáry von Muraszombath, Széchysziget und Szapár (b.