From Her Fathers Political Legacy To Her Own Ascendancy

Ursula von der Leyen: A Family History of Nobility and Politics

From Her Father's Political Legacy to Her Own Ascendancy

In 1986, Ursula von der Leyen, a young Belgian woman, married Heiko von der Leyen, a member of a prominent German family with a rich history in the silk trade and aristocracy. This union marked the beginning of Ursula's own remarkable political journey, which would lead her to become the first woman to serve as President of the European Commission.

Born Ursula Gertrud Albrecht on October 8, 1958, in Brussels, Ursula's family history was deeply intertwined with politics. Her father, Ernst Albrecht, was a former Prime Minister of Lower Saxony and a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Growing up in Brussels and later in Hanover, Ursula witnessed firsthand the challenges and rewards of political life.

Despite her family background, Ursula pursued a career in medicine, graduating from the Hannover Medical School. It wasn't until after she had raised her seven children that she turned her attention to politics. In 2003, she was elected to the German Bundestag, and her political career quickly took off.