Author Archives: Scott

Ida of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, Hereditary Princess of Oldenburg

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Ida of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, Hereditary Princess of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Ida of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym was the second wife of the future Grand Duke August I of Oldenburg. She was born at Schaumburg Castle in the Principality of  Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, now in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany on March 10, 1804, to Victor II, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym and Princess Amalie of Nassau-Weilburg. Ida had three sisters:

August of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

On June 24, 1825, Ida married the then Hereditary Prince August of Oldenburg. He had previously been married to her elder sister, Adelheid, who had died in 1820. In addition to becoming stepmother to her two nieces, Ida and her husband had one son:

Sadly, Hereditary Princess Ida died on March 31, 1828, just three years after her marriage, in Oldenburg, Duchy of Oldenburg, now in Lower Saxony, Germany. She is buried in the Ducal Mausoleum at Saint Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg.

Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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Adelheid of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, 1st wife of Grand Duke August I of Oldenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Adelheid of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Adelheid of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym was the first wife of the future Grand Duke August I of Oldenburg. She was born at Schaumburg Castle in the Principality of  Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, now in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on February 23, 1800, to Victor II, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym and Princess Amalie of Nassau-Weilburg. Adelheid had three sisters:

August of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

On July 24, 1817, Adelheid married the then-Duke August of Oldenburg at Schaumburg Castle. The couple had two daughters:

Duchess Adelheid died suddenly on September 13, 1820, in Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in the German state of Lower Saxony. She was just twenty years old. She is buried in the Ducal Mausoleum at Saint Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg. Five years after her death, her husband married her youngest sister Ida.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

August I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Grand Duchy of Oldenburg: The Counts of Oldenburg died out in 1667, after which Oldenburg became a duchy until 1810, when it was annexed by the First French Empire under Napoleon, Emperor of the French. After the final defeat of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna elevated the Duchy of Oldenburg to a Grand Duchy in 1815. The Grand Duchy of Oldenburg consisted of three widely separated territories – Oldenburg, Eutin, and Birkenfeld – now in the German states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Rhineland-Palatinate. With the fall of the German Empire at the end of World War I, Friedrich August II, the last Grand Duke of Oldenburg was forced to abdicate his throne on November 11, 1918.

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August I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

August I was the first ruler of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg to formally use the title of Grand Duke. He was born Duke Paul Friedrich August of Oldenburg at Schloss Rastede in Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in Lower Saxony, Germany, on July 13, 1783. August was the eldest son of the future Peter I, Duke of Oldenburg and Duchess Friederike of Württemberg. He had one younger brother:

August with his brother Georg, 1790s. Credit: Wikipedia

After being privately educated at home, August and his brother Georg attended the University of Leipzig before taking an extensive trip through England and Scotland from 1805-1807. The following year, August accompanied his father to the Congress of Erfurt, the famed meeting between Napoleon, Emperor of the French and Alexander I, Emperor of All Russia.

In 1810, Oldenburg was annexed by the French Empire, causing August and his father to go into exile in Russia. In 1811, August was appointed Governor of Estonia and served there until returning to Oldenburg in 1816. During this time, he also fought in the Napoleonic Wars (1812-1814).

Adelheid of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym. Credit: Wikipedia

On July 24, 1817, at Schaumburg Castle in the Principality of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, now in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate, August married Princess Adelheid of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, the daughter of Victor II, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym and Princess Amalie of Nassau-Weilburg. Adelheid died suddenly in 1820, after giving birth to two daughters:

Ida of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym. Credit: Wikipedia

On June 24, 1825, August married Princess Ida of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym, the younger sister of his first wife, Adelheid. They had one son before Ida died in 1828:

Cecilia of Sweden. Credit: Wikipedia

August married again on May 5, 1831, in Vienna. His third wife was Princess Cecilia of Sweden, the daughter of the former King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden and Princess Friederike of Baden. The couple had met the previous October while August was visiting Schloss Bruschal, the home of Cecilia’s maternal grandmother, and he proposed after just an hour of conversation.

August and Cecilia had three sons:

  • Duke Alexander (1834-1835) – died in infancy
  • Duke August (1836-1837) – died in infancy
  • Duke Elimar (1844-1895) – married Baroness Natalie Vogel von Friesenhof, had issue

August became Grand Duke of Oldenburg upon his father’s death in May 1829 and was the first ruler to formally use the title of Grand Duke. His reign saw the development of Oldenburg into one of the cultural centers of Germany, with August also promoting social causes along with the arts and sciences. However, he was unwilling to establish a Constitution, despite being obligated by the rules of the German Confederation. It was only in 1849, after the Revolutions of 1848, that he relented.

After a reign of nearly 24 years, Grand Duke August I died in Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in Lower Saxony, Germany, on February 27, 1853. He is buried in the Ducal Mausoleum in St. Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Friederike of Württemberg, Princess of Holstein-Gottorp

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Friederike of Württemberg, Princess of Holstein-Gottorp; Credit – Wikipedia

Friederike of Württemberg was the wife of the future Grand Duke Peter I of Oldenburg. She was born Duchess Friederike Elisabeth Amalie Auguste on July 27, 1765, in Treptow an der Rega, Pomerania, now Trzebiatów, Poland, the daughter of Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg and Friederike Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Friederike had 11 siblings:

Peter of Holstein-Gottorp, later Peter I Duke of Oldenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

At just 15 years old, Friederike married Prince Peter of Holstein-Gottorp, later Peter I, Duke of Oldenburg, on June 6, 1781. The marriage was promoted by her sister Sophie, who was married to the future Paul I, Emperor of All Russia, and was intended to help strengthen the relationship between Württemberg and Russia. Friederike and Peter had two surviving children:

Ducal Mausoleum, Saint Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg. photo: by Corradox – Own Werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12178691

Friederike died in Vienna, Austria on November 24, 1785, several weeks after having given birth to a stillborn son. She was just twenty years old. Some reports imply that she never recovered from childbirth, while others suggest that she died from breast cancer. Friederike was initially interred in the chapel at Eutin Castle in Eutin, Duchy of Oldenburg, now in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.   In 1790, her remains were moved to the newly built Ducal Mausoleum in Saint Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg, Duchy of Oldenburg, now in the German state of Lower Saxony, Germany.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Peter I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Grand Duchy of Oldenburg: The Counts of Oldenburg died out in 1667, after which Oldenburg became a duchy until 1810, when it was annexed by the First French Empire under Napoleon, Emperor of the French. After the final defeat of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna elevated the Duchy of Oldenburg to a Grand Duchy in 1815. The Grand Duchy of Oldenburg consisted of three widely separated territories – Oldenburg, Eutin, and Birkenfeld – now in the German states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Rhineland-Palatinate. With the fall of the German Empire at the end of World War I, Friedrich August II, the last Grand Duke of Oldenburg was forced to abdicate his throne on November 11, 1918.

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Peter I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg – source: Wikipedia

Peter I was the second Grand Duke of Oldenburg and like his predecessor, he did not formally use the title of Grand Duke. He was born Prince Peter Friedrich Ludwig of Holstein-Gottorp in Riesenberg, Kingdom of Prussia now Prabuty, Poland, on January 17, 1755, to Prince Georg Ludwig of Holstein-Gottorp and Princess Sophie Charlotte of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck. Peter had two older brothers:

  • Friedrich (1751-1752) – died in infancy
  • Wilhelm (1753-1772) – died in his teens

After both parents died in 1763, Peter was raised at the court of his uncle, Friedrich August, Prince-Bishop of Lübeck and later the first Duke of Oldenburg, and later at the court of Catherine II (the Great), Empress of All Russia. He received his initial education privately before studying for four years in Bern and then another four years in Bologna. He also embarked on a military career, serving as an officer during the Russian-Turkish War in 1774.

Duchess Friederike of Württemberg. source: Wikipedia

On June 6, 1781, Peter married Duchess Friederike of Württemberg, the daughter of Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg and Friederike Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Before her death in 1785, Peter and Friederike had two sons:

Friedrich August I, Duke of Oldenburg. source: Wikipedia

In July 1785, Peter’s uncle, Friedrich August I, Duke of Oldenburg, died and was succeeded by his son Wilhelm. However, Wilhelm was mentally incapacitated, and Peter was appointed Regent, as well as Prince-Bishop of Lübeck. As Regent, Peter established one of the first public Savings Banks, which helped to support widows and orphans. In 1803, the Prince-Bishopric of Lübeck was secularized and became the Principality of Lübeck. This new principality was given to Peter and became part of the Duchy of Oldenburg.

Despite having previously agreed to the Sovereignty of Oldenburg in 1807, Napoleon’s forces occupied the Duchy in 1810, sending Peter into exile in Russia. He returned in November 1813 and once again took control of Oldenburg. Two years later, his son oversaw the duchy’s elevation to a Grand Duchy at the Congress of Vienna. Peter established a new government for the Grand Duchy, introduced general conscription, and established the Oldenburg Infantry Regiment. Upon his cousin’s death in 1823, Peter became the reigning Grand Duke of Oldenburg. However, like Wilhelm, he chose not to use the title of Grand Duke and was styled as Duke of Oldenburg.

Just short of six years after assuming the throne, Peter suffered a stroke and died in Wiesbaden, Duchy of Nassau, now in Hesse, Germany, on May 21, 1829. He was buried nearly two months later, in the Ducal Mausoleum in St. Gertrude’s Cemetery in Oldenburg, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in Lower Saxony, Germany. He was succeeded by his elder son August who became the first ruler of Oldenburg to use the title of Grand Duke.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Peter Friedrich Wilhelm, Grand Duke of Oldenburg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Grand Duchy of Oldenburg: The Counts of Oldenburg died out in 1667, after which Oldenburg became a duchy until 1810, when it was annexed by the First French Empire under Napoleon, Emperor of the French. After the final defeat of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna elevated the Duchy of Oldenburg to a Grand Duchy in 1815. The Grand Duchy of Oldenburg consisted of three widely separated territories – Oldenburg, Eutin, and Birkenfeld – now in the German states of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Rhineland-Palatinate. With the fall of the German Empire at the end of World War I, Friedrich August II, the last Grand Duke of Oldenburg was forced to abdicate his throne on November 11, 1918.

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Coat of Arms of the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg. source: Wikipedia

Peter Friedrich Wilhelm, Grand Duke of Oldenburg

Peter Friedrich Wilhelm, known as Wilhelm, was the first Grand Duke of Oldenburg, although he never formally used the title. He was born a Prince of Holstein-Gottorp on January 3, 1754, at Eutin Castle in the Principality of Holstein-Gottorp, now in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He was the only son of Friedrich August I, later Duke of Oldenburg, and Princess Ulrike Friederike Wilhelmine of Hesse-Kassel. Wilhelm had two younger sisters:

Wilhelm studied for a year at the University of Kiel before embarking on a grand tour of Europe. In June 1773, the Treaty of Tsarskoye Selo was signed between Russia and Denmark. As part of the agreement, Russia ceded the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein to Denmark, while Denmark ceded control of the County of Oldenburg to Russia. Oldenburg was given to the Prince Bishops of Lübeck, with Wilhelm’s father becoming Count, and later the first Duke of Oldenburg.

By 1777, Wilhelm was suffering from mental illness. An intended engagement to Princess Charlotte of Hesse-Darmstadt was called off, and he lived the remainder of his life in seclusion. King Christian VII of Denmark provided him with Plön Castle, then in Denmark now in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where Wilhelm lived the rest of his life, with a large household.

Upon his father’s death on July 6, 1785, Wilhelm became the reigning Duke of Oldenburg. But due to his illness, it was in name only. Instead, his cousin, Peter, Prince-Bishop of Lübeck, served as Regent during his entire reign. Peter would eventually succeed Wilhelm as Peter I. Thirty years later, as a result of the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Oldenburg was elevated to a Grand Duchy. Although technically now a Grand Duke, Wilhelm never formally used the title.

Plön Castle, c1864. source: Wikipedia

At the age of 69, Grand Duke Wilhelm died at Plön Castle in Plön, Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, now in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, on July 2, 1823. He is buried in the Prince-Bishop’s Mausoleum at Lübeck Cathedral. in the independent free city of Lübeck, now in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Oldenburg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Wedding of King Olav V of Norway and Princess Märtha of Sweden

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Credit – Wikipedia

On March 21, 1929, the future King Olav V of Norway married Princess Märtha of Sweden at Oslo Cathedral in Norway. It was the first royal wedding in Norway in 340 years.

Olav’s Early Life

Olav with his parents, 1913. source: Wikipedia

Olav was born Prince Alexander of Denmark on July 2, 1903, at Appleton House on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England. He was the only child of Prince Carl of Denmark and Princess Maud of Wales. In 1905, his father was elected King of Norway, taking the name Haakon VII. Prince Alexander took the name Olav and became Crown Prince. He attended the Norwegian Military Academy and studied law and economics at Balliol College, Oxford University. Olav also represented Norway in the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam, winning a Gold Medal in sailing. He served in the Norwegian Armed Forces – both the navy and army – attaining the rank of Admiral of the Navy and General of the Army in 1939.

For more information about Olav see:

Märtha’s Early Life

Princess Martha (right) with her mother and sisters, c1910. source: Wikipedia

Princess Märtha was born on March 28, 1901, at the Hereditary Prince’s Palace in Stockholm, Sweden. She was the second child of Prince Carl of Sweden and Princess Ingeborg of Denmark. Her siblings included an elder sister Margaretha (later Princess Axel of Denmark); a younger sister Astrid (later Queen of the Belgians); and a younger brother Carl (later Prince Carl Bernadotte). Interestingly, at birth, she was also a Princess of Norway, as Sweden and Norway were in a personal union under the Swedish sovereigns. This union ended in 1905, just before her future husband’s father was elected as the new King of Norway.

Märtha never became Queen of Norway. She died from cancer before Olav became King of Norway.

For more information about Märtha see:

The Engagement

Official engagement photo. photo: Axel Malström, The Royal Court Photo Archives

As first cousins, Olav and Märtha had known each other since childhood, and in the late 1920s, they began a romantic relationship. They managed to keep the relationship private, with Olav often traveling to Sweden in disguise to see his future bride. While both were in Amsterdam in 1928 for the Summer Olympic Games (in which Olav was competing), they became secretly engaged. The following January, after Olav again traveled to Sweden under an assumed name, the engagement was officially announced on January 14, 1929. The announcement was met with great support and excitement in both Norway and Sweden.

Pre-Wedding Festivities

Princess Märtha being greeted by Crown Prince Olav upon her arrival in Oslo. photo: Brødrene Halvorsen, The Royal Court Photo Archives

In the weeks before the wedding, Olav traveled to Sweden where he and Märtha were guests of honor at several functions. Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf hosted a ball at the Royal Palace, and the city of Stockholm hosted a reception at the Stockholm Town Hall. On the Monday before the wedding, King Gustav V hosted a State Banquet at the palace, after which the couple, along with the bride’s family, left to make their way to Norway. Prince Olav took a separate train so that he could already be in Oslo to welcome Märtha and her parents upon their arrival the following day. After they arrived, the couple traveled by carriage through the streets of Oslo on their way to the Royal Palace, where they appeared on the balcony to greet the crowds of well-wishers who had gathered in the Palace Square. King Haakon VII hosted a ball at the palace that evening, and the following night, a gala performance was held at the National Theatre.

The Wedding Attendants

The Bride and Groom with their bridal party. photo: The Royal Court Photo Archives

The Duke of York (the future King George VI of the United Kingdom), a first cousin of Crown Prince Olav and second cousin of Princess Märtha, served as the groom’s best man. The bride had eight bridesmaids, four from Sweden and four from Norway. They were led by the bride’s first cousin once removed, Princess Ingrid of Sweden, and Miss Irmelin Nansen, the daughter of famed Norwegian explorer and humanitarian, Professor Fridtjof Nansen. The rest were daughters of prominent families associated with the Swedish and Norwegian courts. The bride’s nephews, Prince George and Prince Flemming of Denmark, served as her train bearers.

The Wedding Attire

The official wedding portrait. photo: E. Rude, The Royal Court Photo Archives

The bride wore a gown of white silver lamé, made in Paris, which was a gift from her uncle, King Gustav V of Sweden. The gown had a four-meter train that was embroidered with lilies and embellished with pearls and sequins. Her veil – of Brussels lace – extended nearly the full length of her train. She held her veil in place with a tiara of orange blossoms topped with a wreath of myrtle. She carried a large bouquet of white lilies.

The groom wore a full military uniform, adorned with the Collar and Star of the Norwegian Order of Saint Olav, the Sash and Star of the Swedish Order of the Seraphim, along with numerous medals and other decorations.

The Duke of York wore full uniform adorned with the Collar and Star of the Norwegian Order of Saint Olav, the Sash and Star of the British Order of the Garter, and the Necklet of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem.

The bridesmaids wore white tea-length dresses and carried large bouquets of white flowers.

The Ceremony

photo: The Royal Court Photo Archives

Conducted by the Bishop of Oslo, Johan Lunde, the ceremony took place at 12:00 noon on March 21, 1929, at Olso Cathedral in Oslo, Norway. The 1,600 wedding guests included many government officials, foreign diplomats, and prominent citizens from both Norway and Sweden, along with numerous relatives and friends of the couple. Surprisingly, other than the Swedish and Danish royal families, there was not a large number of foreign royalty in attendance. The most prominent guests were The Duke and Duchess of York, representing King George V of the United Kingdom.

Following the groom’s arrival, the immediate members of the royal families processed into the church to the Norwegian Student Choral Society singing Stenhammar’s “Sverige”. The bride then entered with her father, followed by her bridesmaids. The ceremony was simple and traditional, with the Bishop having stated that the royal couple would have the same marriage service as any other Norwegian citizen. Loudspeakers had been set up outside the cathedral for the crowds gathered there, and there were loud cheers when the couple gave their “I Do’s”. The service ended with Händel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”, and two 21-gun salutes fired from Akershus Fortress. The couple led the carriage process back to the Royal Palace.

The Wedding Banquet and Honeymoon

photo: A.B. Wilse, The Royal Court Photo Archives

Following the ceremony, a luncheon for 200 guests was held at the Royal Palace. That evening, Olav and Märtha left Oslo and made their way to Sassnitz, Rugen Island, Prussia. From there, they made an unaccompanied trip by car through Europe to the French Riviera for the remainder of their honeymoon. Upon their return, they took up residence at the Skaugum Estate which had recently been purchased by Crown Prince Olav. Since then, the property has been the traditional residence of the Norwegian Crown Prince and his family.

Children

Olav and Märtha had three children; Credit – Wikipedia

Olav and Märtha had three children:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom and Princess Alexandra of Denmark

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2018

Credit – Wikipedia

On March 10, 1863, the future King Edward VII of the United Kingdom married Princess Alexandra of Denmark, at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. It would be the first royal wedding held at St. George’s.

Edward’s Early Life

Prince Albert Edward was born at Buckingham Palace on November 9, 1841, the second child and eldest son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. As the eldest son and heir, he was titled Duke of Cornwall from birth and created Prince of Wales just a month later. Known within the family as Bertie, his education began with a strict program created by his father, but he was not a very good student. He later studied at the University of Edinburgh, Christ Church, Oxford, and Trinity College, Cambridge. His hopes for a military career were denied by Queen Victoria, however, he did hold several honorary commissions.

For more about Edward see:
Unofficial Royalty: King Edward VII of the United Kingdom

 

Alexandra’s Early Life

Alexandra (far right) with her parents and siblings, 1862; Credit – Wikipedia

Alexandra was born December 1, 1844, at the Yellow Palace in Copenhagen, the second child and eldest daughter of the future King Christian IX of Denmark and Princess Luise of Hesse-Kassel. Her siblings were the future King Frederik VIII of Denmark, King George I of the Hellenes, The Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia, The Crown Princess of Hanover, and Prince Valdemar of Denmark. At the time of her birth, she was a Princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. However, in 1853, her father was named as heir to the Danish throne and Alexandra became a Princess of Denmark. At that time, the family moved to Bernstorff Palace where, despite their royal status, Alexandra and her siblings received a very simple upbringing. Educated privately at home, Alexandra became fluent in English at a young age.

For more about Alexandra see:
Unofficial Royalty: Princess Alexandra of Denmark

The Engagement

Credit – Wikipedia

By 1860, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were already searching for an appropriate bride for the future King. With the help of Bertie’s older sister Vicky – by then the Crown Princess of Prussia – Queen Victoria developed a list of prospective brides. Princess Alexandra of Denmark was fifth on the list, but Vicky found her to be the perfect match for Bertie. And his father agreed that Alexandra was “the only one to be chosen.” The couple first met at Speyer Cathedral in Germany, on September 24, 1861, in a meeting arranged by Vicky. The following year, on September 9, 1862, Bertie and Alexandra became engaged at the Royal Palace of Laeken in Belgium, the home of Bertie’s great-uncle, King Leopold I of the Belgians. Bertie presented Alexandra with a ring featuring six precious stones – purposely selected so that their names would spell out ‘Bertie’ — Beryl, Emerald, Ruby, Turquoise, Jacynth, and Emerald.

The Marriage Treaty was signed in January 1863 and ratified three months later. It established that the marriage would take place in Britain, in a Church of England ceremony, and also provided financial arrangements for the future Princess of Wales. Under the terms, she would receive £10,000 annually for her sole use. And if she were to become widowed, she would receive £30,000 annually in lieu of any dower. Parliament agreed to the terms of the treaty, granting them a total of £50,000 per year (£10k of which was for the bride).

Pre-Wedding Festivities

Princess Alexandra’s arrival procession passing the Mansion House. painting by Robert Dudley; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Alexandra arrived in England on March 7, 1863, having sailed from Denmark aboard the British Royal yacht Victoria and Albert II. She was greeted upon her arrival in Gravesend, Kent the Prince of Wales, and large crowds who welcomed their future Queen to her new homeland. The couple, along with the bride’s family, traveled by Royal Train to London, where they processed by carriage through the streets of the city. Making their way to Paddington Station, they again boarded the train to make their way to Windsor. Disembarking at Slough, they began another carriage procession to Windsor Castle. Bad weather forced the use of closed carriages, much to the dismay of the vast crowds gathered along the route, hoping to catch a glimpse of Alexandra. Upon their arrival, at 6:30 in the evening, they were greeted by a very anxious Queen Victoria, who had been patiently waiting to welcome her new daughter-in-law and her family.

After a day to rest, the festivities continued on March 9, with numerous delegations being presented to the couple, and presenting wedding gifts. These included the Lord Mayor of London and other officials, who presented the bride with a necklace and earrings of Golconda diamonds, which had previously been approved by the Prince Consort before his death. After receiving numerous guests, the couple took a carriage ride through the park, where they were greeted by the students of Eton – among them a young Randolph Churchill. That evening, a dinner party was held at the Castle followed by a fireworks display in the Home Park.

Wedding Guests

Despite the fact that this was the marriage of the future King of the United Kingdom, the guest list was kept rather small, with only a few foreign royals and members of the British aristocracy in attendance. As the British Court was still in mourning for Prince Albert, the ladies’ dresses were limited to grey, lilac, or mauve.

The Groom’s Immediate Family
Queen Victoria
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Prussia
Prince Wilhelm of Prussia
Prince and Princess Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine
Princess Louise
Princess Helena
Prince Arthur
Prince Leopold
Princess Beatrice

The Bride’s Immediate Family
Prince and Princess Christian of Denmark
Prince Frederik of Denmark
Prince Vilhelm of Denmark
Princess Dagmar of Denmark
Princess Thyra of Denmark

Other Royal Guests
The Duke of Cambridge
The Duchess of Cambridge
Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge
King Leopold I of the Belgians
The Count of Flanders
The Duchess of Brabant
Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Ernst Leopold, 4th Prince of Leiningen
Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach
Maharajah Duleep Singh
The Duke of Holstein
Prince Friedrich of Hesse-Kassel
Count and Countess Gleichen

Some Other Notable Guests
The Prime Minister, Viscount Palmerston
William Gladstone (future Prime Minister)
Benjamin Disraeli (future Prime Minister)
Charles Dickens
William Makepeace Thackeray
Alfred Tennyson
Charles Kingsley
Jenny Lind

The Wedding Attendants and Supporters

The bridesmaids of Alexandra of Denmark by an unknown photographer. source: National Portrait Gallery, NPG x33255

For the ceremony, the bride was supported by her father, Prince Christian of Denmark, and The Duke of Cambridge. The groom was supported by his brother-in-law, Crown Prince Friedrich of Prussia, and his uncle, Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

In addition, the bride had eight bridesmaids, all of whom were unmarried daughters of British Dukes and Earls:

  • Lady Diana Beauclerk, daughter of the Duke of St. Albans
  • Lady Elma Bruce, daughter of the Earl of Elgin
  • Lady Eleanor Hare, daughter of the Earl of Listowel
  • Lady Victoria Howard, daughter of the Earl of Suffolk
  • Lady Victoria Montagu Douglas Scott, daughter of the Duke of Buccleuch
  • Lady Emily Villiers, daughter of the Earl of Clarendon
  • Lady Feodore Wellesley, daughter of the Earl Cowley
  • Lady Agenta Yorke, daughter of the Earl of Hardwicke

 

The Wedding Attire

Credit – Wikipedia

The bride’s dress – a gift from King Leopold I of the Belgians – was made of white silk trimmed with orange blossoms and myrtle and was overlaid with flounces of tulle and Honiton lace. The train, 21-feet in length, was of silver moiré also trimmed in orange blossoms. Her veil, trimmed with the same lace as her gown, featured English roses, Irish shamrocks, and Scottish thistles, and was held in place by a wreath of orange blossoms and myrtle atop her head.

Alexandra’s jewels were all wedding gifts. She wore a pearl necklace, earrings, and brooch given to her by The Prince of Wales, an opal and diamond bracelet from Queen Victoria, another opal and diamond bracelet from the Ladies of Manchester, and a diamond bracelet from the Ladies of Leeds.

She carried a bouquet of orange blossoms, white rosebuds, lily of the valley, orchids, and myrtle. The flowers were held in a “bouquet holder of carved crystal adorned with pearls and coral. The stem features a band of emeralds and diamonds with a jeweled coronet; the foot is formed of a ball of crystal with rubies and diamonds. By turning the ball, the foot springs open into four supports, in each of which is a plume and cipher. Attached to the holder is a chain of gold and pearls and a hoop ring of eight pearls.” The flower and bouquet holder were a gift from the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh.  (source: An Historical Record of the Marriage of The Prince of Wales and Princess Alexandra of Denmark, published by Darton and Hodge, London)

The groom was resplendent in the full dress uniform of a British General beneath his Garter Robes.

The bridesmaids wore dresses of white glacé silk trimmed with tulle and roses, and wreaths of roses on their heads.

The Ceremony

Wedding at St. George’s Chapel, painting by William Frith, circa 1865; Credit – Wikipedi

Despite her perpetual mourning for the late Prince Consort, Queen Victoria decreed that the Prince of Wales should be married with “the utmost magnificence”, and chose St. George’s Chapel, Windsor as the site of the ceremony. This would be the first of many royal weddings at St. George’s, a tradition that continues to this day for many members of the Royal Family.

Guests began to arrive at the Chapel at 10:30 on the morning of March 10, 1863, and by 11:30 the more prominent attendees were escorted to their seats. The Knights of the Order of the Garter were led in procession by Lord Palmerston, the Prime Minister. They were followed by the Lord Chancellor, carrying the Great Seal, and the Lord Chief Justice of all England. Next came the clergy – the Archbishop of Canterbury, followed by the Bishops of London, Oxford, Winchester, and Chester, and the Dean of Windsor. The Diplomatic Corps was the last to take their seats before the royal processions began.

Carriage processions began from Windsor Castle at 11:30, beginning with the royal guests and the bride’s family, followed by members of the British Royal Family, and then the groom and his supporters. The last procession was the bride. The Queen, still in mourning, made her way privately to the chapel, and did not take part in the carriage procession.

Just before noon, Queen Victoria, escorted by the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, made her way to the Catherine of Aragon Closet, a room with an oriel window overlooking the left side of the altar. Dressed in a black silk dress with white collar and cuffs, along with her widow’s cap, she took her seat largely out of view of the guests in the chapel, along with Lady Augusta Bruce – her Lady of the Bedchamber. (She can be seen in the upper right of the picture above)

At 12:00, the procession began, with the royal guests and family members making their way up the aisle, each offering a bow or curtsy to The Queen before taking their seats. Next came The Prince of Wales, accompanied by his brother-in-law and uncle, who processed to The Wedding March. They too stopped to bow to The Queen, who had now stood and come to the front of the balcony to receive their homage. Last to process was the bride, accompanied by her father and the Duke of Cambridge both in full uniform and decorations. After she reached the altar and curtseyed to The Queen, the choir sang a chant that had been written by The Prince Consort. Overcome with emotion, The Queen was seen to cry and step back, out of view from those gathered below.

The ceremony was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It began with the couple taking their vows, followed by a brief service of readings, prayers, and a homily from the Archbishop. Following the benediction, the couple joined hands, turned to bow and curtsy to The Queen, and began their procession out of the chapel. At this point, The Queen made her way quietly back to the castle.

The Witnesses

As is traditional at British royal weddings, many of the royal guests served as witnesses for the marriage register. These included the groom’s mother, Queen Victoria, his siblings and their spouses, the bride’s parents and her siblings. Other signers included the Danish Minister, church dignitaries, the Lord Chancellor and other ministers of the Crown.

The Wedding Banquet

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State Dining Room where the royal guests had luncheon

Following the wedding, the bride and groom, and their royal guests processed back to Windsor Castle by carriage, arriving at the Grand Entrance where Edward and Alexandra were met by Queen Victoria. They made their way to the Green Drawing Room and then the White Drawing Room, where the marriage register was signed. Lunch was then served in the State Dining Room for the royal guests, and in St. George’s Hall for the Diplomatic Corps, members of the royal households, and the more prominent guests at the wedding – nearly 400 people.

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St. George’s Hall, circa 1845

There were two wedding cakes, one in each venue. The cake in the State Dining Room was octagonal, featuring a square altar at the center, and a Cupid on each angle holding a piece of wedding cake. The cake in St. George’s Hall weighed nearly 80 pounds. It was octagonal in shape and displayed the arms of the Prince of Wales, the new Princess of Wales, Great Britain and Denmark alternately on each side. It was decorated with orange blossoms and jasmine and surmounted by a vase filled with a jasmine bouquet.

At 4 pm, the newly married couple took leave of their guests and traveled by open carriage, accompanied by a guard of honor from the Coldstream Guards, to Paddington Station where they boarded a train that took them to Osborne House on the Isle of Wight for their honeymoon.

Children

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Bertie and Alexandra had six children:

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Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin; Credit – Wikipedia

Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland was the last Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, as the wife of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV. Princess Alexandra Luise Marie Olga Elisabeth Therese Vera was born at Schloss Ort in Gmunden, Austria on September 29, 1882, the daughter of Ernst August, Crown Prince of Hanover and Princess Thyra of Denmark.

Alexandra (standing, front-right) with her parents and siblings; Credit – Wikipedia

Alexandra had five siblings:

Alexandra and Franz Friedrich following their wedding; Credit – Wikipedia

On July 7, 1904, at Schloss Cumberland (link in German) in Gmunden, Austria, Alexandra married Friedrich Franz IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. They went on to have five children:

Because of the death of her daughter Olga at just six weeks old, Grand Duchess Alexandra worked to improve medical care for children in the Grand Duchy. She established the Olga Foundation, which raised money for education and training for nurses and midwives.

Following her husband’s abdication on November 14, 1918, the family was forced to leave the Grand Duchy. They traveled to Denmark at the invitation of Queen Alexandrine, Friedrich Franz’s sister, and stayed for a year at Sorgenfri Palace. The following year, they were permitted to return to Mecklenburg and recovered several of their properties. For the next two years, they lived at the Gelbensande hunting lodge (link in German) before returning to Ludwigslust Palace in 1921. They also began spending their summers at the Alexandrinen Cottage (link in German) in Heiligendamm.

Glücksburg Castle. photo: By Wolfgang Pehlemann – Own work, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21693722

At the end of World War II, with the Red Army approaching Mecklenburg, the family was again forced to flee in 1945. Intending to return to Denmark, they traveled to Glücksburg Castle, in Glücksburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, the home of their youngest daughter. While there, the Grand Duke died. The Dowager Grand Duchess Alexandra also died there, on August 30, 1963, having survived her husband by nearly 18 years. She is buried beside him in the New Cemetery in Glücksburg.

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Mecklenburg-Schwerin Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Friedrich Franz IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2018

Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin: The Duchy of Mecklenburg was divided and partitioned a number of times over the centuries.  In 1701, the last division created the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. In 1815, the Congress of Vienna recognized both Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz as grand duchies. Friedrich Franz I, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin became the first Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. On November 14, 1918, at the end of World War I, Friedrich Franz IV was forced to abdicate as Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Today the territory encompassing the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin is in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

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Friedrich Franz IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin; Credit – Wikipedia

Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV was the last reigning Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. He was born in Palermo, Italy on April 9, 1882, the only son of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia. He had two sisters:

He also had a half-brother – Alexis Louis de Wenden – his mother’s illegitimate son, born in 1902.

Friedrich Franz with his mother and sisters, circa 1890; Credit – Wikipedia

Friedrich Franz attended the Vitzthum Gymnasium in Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony, and then studied law at the University of Bonn. He became Grand Duke upon his father’s death in April 1897. Because he was still a minor, his uncle Duke Johann Albrecht, served as regent until Friedrich Franz came of age in 1901. Once he had taken control of his government, the young Grand Duke attempted to reform the Mecklenburg constitution. However, his efforts failed when the government of Mecklenburg-Strelitz refused to agree to his ideas.

Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland; Credit – Wikipedia

Encouraged to marry young by his mother, Friedrich Franz married Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland in Gmunden, Austria on June 7, 1904. She was the daughter of Ernst August, Crown Prince of Hanover and Princess Thyra of Denmark. The couple had five children:

In February 1918, Friedrich Franz IV began to serve as Regent for the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The reigning Grand Duke, Adolf Friedrich VI, had died by suicide, and the heir presumptive was serving with the Russian military and had made it known that he wished to renounce his rights of succession. The regency lasted only nine months because in 1918, after the end of World War I, Friedrich Franz IV was forced to abdicate as Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, as well as the Regent in Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Forced to leave the grand duchy, Friedrich Franz and his family traveled to Denmark at the invitation of his sister Queen Alexandrine. There, they lived at Sorgenfri Palace for a year, before being permitted to return to Mecklenburg, Germany, and recovering several of the family’s properties. They lived for two years at the Gelbensande hunting lodge (link in German), and then in 1921, took up residence at Ludwigslust Palace in Ludwigslust, Germany. They also spent their summers at the Alexandrine Cottage (link in German) in Heiligendamm, Germany.

At the end of World War II, with the advance of the Soviet Union’s Red Army, Friedrich Franz, along with his wife and son Christian Ludwig, fled to Glücksburg Castle, in Glücksburg, Germany, the home of his youngest daughter and her husband, with the intention of returning to Denmark. However, the Grand Duke became ill, and while under house arrest at the Castle, he died there on November 17, 1945. He is buried in the New Cemetery in Glücksburg, Germany.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Mecklenburg-Schwerin Resources at Unofficial Royalty