Princess Alexandra of Hanover (1882–1963)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
For other people called Princess Alexandra of Hanover, see Princess Alexandra of Hanover.
Princess Alexandra
GrandDuchessAlexandra.jpg
Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Tenure 7 June 1904 – 14 November 1918
Born (1882-09-29)29 September 1882
Schloss Cumberland, Gmunden, Austria-Hungary
Died 30 August 1963(1963-08-30) (aged 80)
Glücksburg Castle, Schleswig-Holstein, West Germany
Spouse Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Issue Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Duke Christian Ludwig
Duchess Olga
Duchess Thyra
Anastasia, Princess Frederick Ferdinand of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
Full name
Alexandra Louise Marie Olga Elisabeth Therese Vera
German: Alexandra Luise Marie Olga Elisabeth Therese Vera
House House of Hanover
House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Father Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover
Mother Princess Thyra of Denmark

Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland (German: Alexandra Louise Marie Olga Elisabeth Therese Vera Prinzessin von Hannover und Cumberland), Princess of Great Britain and Ireland, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg (29 September 1882, Schloss Ort, Gmunden, Upper Austria, Austria-Hungary – 30 August 1963, Glücksburg Castle, Glücksburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany).

Family[edit]

Alexandra was the second eldest daughter of Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover (1845–1923) and Princess Thyra of Denmark (1853–1933), the youngest daughter of Christian IX of Denmark (1818–1906) and Louise of Hesse-Kassel (1817–1898). Alexandra was a great-great-granddaughter of George III of the United Kingdom (1738–1820) and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744–1818).

Marriage and issue[edit]

Alexandra married on 7 June 1904 in Gmunden, Austria-Hungary to Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1882–1945), son of Frederick Francis III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and his wife Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia. Alexandra and Frederick Francis had five children:

  • Duchess Olga of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1916–1917).
  • Duchess Thyra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (18 June 1919 – 27 September 1981).

In 1913, a fire broke out at Schwerin Castle while the Duke, Duchess, and guests were dining there.[1] Everyone was able to make it out safely, although the Duke and Duchess had to apparently rush through flying sparks when making their escape. There were a reported $750,000 in damages, in which countless works of art, as well as important rooms were utterly destroyed. Certain reports blamed the fire on a vengeful servant, although an official court announcement stated it was merely an electrical issue.[1]

Titles, styles, honours and arms[edit]

Titles and styles[edit]

  • 29 September 1882 – 7 June 1904: Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland
  • 7 June 1904 – 17 November 1945: Her Royal Highness The Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
  • 17 November 1945 – 30 August 1963: Her Royal Highness The Dowager Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Ancestry[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Transatlantic, Marconi (16 December 1913), "Schwerin Treasures Burn", The New York Times (Berlin) 
Princess Alexandra of Hanover (1882–1963)
Cadet branch of the House of Welf
Born: 29 September 1882 Died: 30 August 1963
German royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia
Grand Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
7 June 1904 – 14 November 1918
Monarchy abolished
Titles in pretence
Loss of title
Monarchy abolished
— TITULAR —
Grand Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
14 November 1918 – 17 November 1945
Reason for succession failure:
Grand Duchy abolished in 1918
Succeeded by
Karin Elisabeth von Schaper