Background
She was born to colonel noble Henrik Ahlefeldt (d 1765).
She was born to colonel noble Henrik Ahlefeldt (d 1765).
Christine Sophie von Gähler was a leading profile of the royal court of King Christian VII of Denmark, where she attracted attention with her beauty, her vivaciousness, sarcastic wit and humorous temper. Together with the wife of the courtier Bülow and countess Charlotte Elisabeth Henriette Holstein, she became known as one of the Three Graces of the Danish royal court. In connection to the fall of the queen"s lover Struensee, Christine Sophie von Gähler and her spouse were both arrested and imprisoned on the night of 16–17 January 1772.
She was freed and released in May of that year, officially cleared, though she was warned that she was worthy of a punishment for her "foolish and unwise behavior".
They were therefore forced to leave Denmark, and settled in Itzehoe in Germany. One of her admirers, general major J. F. Classen, aided them economically by granting them a yearly income.
She became a widow in 1783. Christine Sophie von Gähler was decorated with the Ordenen de l"Union Parfaite (1765) and the Order of Mathilde, Mathildeordenen (1771).