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Alexandrine of Prussia, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Grand Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Schwerin From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Alexandrine of Prussia (Friederike Wilhelmine Alexandrine Marie Helene; 23 February 1803 – 21 April 1892) was Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin by marriage to Grand Duke Paul Frederick. She was the daughter of Frederick William III of Prussia and Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
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Early life
Born on 23 February 1803[1] in Prussia, Alexandrine was the seventh child and fourth daughter of King Frederick William III of Prussia and Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Grand Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
After rejecting a marriage proposal from the future King of Sweden,[citation needed] she married Paul Frederick of Mecklenburg-Schwerin on 25 May 1822.[1] In 1837, Paul Frederick succeeded his grandfather as Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, making Alexandrine the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
The marriage was generally considered unhappy;<[citation needed] Paul Frederick was a military man who had little time for or interest in his wife and family. Alexandrine, by contrast, was a devoted mother who tenderly raised her children and actively cultivated their cultural pursuits. Alexandrine herself was very cultured but was also described as a stereotypically remote German princess. She was not considered an intellectual but attended scholarly lectures and read many books.[citation needed]
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Death and legacy
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On 21 April 1892[1] in Schwerin, Alexandrine died at the age of 89. She was buried at the Schwerin Cathedral.
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At the time of her death, she was the last surviving grandchild of King Frederick William II of Prussia. She outlived all three of her children and would die in the reign of her grandson, Grand Duke Frederick Francis III.
She was described in the memoirs of her great-granddaughter Cecilie:
"She was loyal to the style of the 30s [1830s] until the day she died. [...] At the balls, concerts and dinners at the castle, the Dowager Grand Duchess was always the central figure; she had known the families of the assembled company for generations past and took an active and genuine interest in what happened to everyone. Every day she had a small circle of guests for luncheon; in the mornings she used to receive visitors. [...] She took up residence in her own Alexandrine Cottage. There, the dear old lady held her 'court', which means that there was a daily pilgrimage of everyone who thought it important to be counted among court society to bid goodmorning to the Dowager Grand Duchess. Afterwards, a donkey-cart would be brought out. Then there would begin a happy hour for those grandsons and granddaughters who were privileged to go out for a drive with their great-grandmother. My mother had arranged for the donkey-cart to be provided, when the old lady began to find it difficult to walk."[2]
Issue
- Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1823–1883)
- Luise (1824–1859) married Hugo, 2nd Hereditary Prince of Windisch-Graetz and had issue (Hugo, 3rd Prince of Windisch-Graetz and Princess Marie of Windisch-Graetz)
- Wilhelm (1827–1879) married Princess Alexandrine of Prussia, daughter of Prince Albert of Prussia
Ancestry
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References
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