Elke Büdenbender
Elke Büdenbender was born on 14 January 1962. She attended intermediate secondary school in Siegen, Germany, before training as an industrial clerk in the machine building industry there. In 1982, she studied at Siegerland College and worked as a clerk at a logistics company. Büdenbender began studying law at Justus Liebig University in Giessen in 1985, passing her first state law examination in 1991.
Career
Starting in 1987, Büdenbender worked as a student and research assistant at the Chair of Public Law. She completed her practical legal training at Hanover Regional Court in 1994 and passed her second state law examination. Büdenbender served as a judge at the Hanover Administrative Court and since 2000 has been a judge at the Berlin Administrative Court. She is currently on long-term leave to fulfill her duties as Germany’s First Lady.
Other Activities
She is a member of the Board of Trustees for the German-Israeli Future Forum.
Personal Life
Elke Büdenbender married Frank-Walter Steinmeier in 1995, who became the twelfth President of Germany on 19 March 2017. They have one daughter. In 2010, she received a kidney transplant donated by her husband, underscoring their close bond.
Honours
Foreign Honours
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Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (5 December 2023)
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Denmark: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog (19 November 2021)
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Finland: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (17 September 2018)
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Iceland: Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (16 June 2019)
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Italy: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (17 September 2019)
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Latvia: Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars (19 February 2019)
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Netherlands: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (5 July 2021)
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Spain: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (11 October 2022)
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Sweden: Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star (7 September 2021)
- 14 January 1962
- Germany
- President Frank-Walter Steinmeier
- 19 March 2017 – Present
