Princess Alexandrine of Prussia (1842–1906)

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Princess Alexandrine of Prussia (1842–1906) was a Prussian princess from the House of Hohenzollern. Her full name was Friederike Wilhelmine Luise Elisabeth Alexandrine, and she was often called Addy.

Family and early life
Alexandrine was born on February 1, 1842, in Berlin. She was the youngest child of Prince Albert of Prussia and Princess Marianne of the Netherlands. Her parents’ marriage was troubled, and in 1849 they separated. Alexandrine grew up largely under the care of her childless uncle, King Frederick William IV, and his wife, Queen Elisabeth Ludovika, who treated her as their own daughter.

Marriage prospects and wedding
As a young woman, Alexandrine was briefly considered as a potential bride for Edward, Prince of Wales (the future Edward VII), but it was decided she was not the right match for him. Edward married Alexandra of Denmark instead. Queen Victoria of Prussia thought Alexandrine was a good, respectable girl, and Alexandrine was seen as a wealthy and desirable match because of her mother’s fortune.

On December 9, 1865, Alexandrine married her older cousin, Duke William of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. The wedding took place at Bellevue Palace in Berlin. The marriage was not a love match; Alexandrine reportedly cried during the ceremony. William had a troubled reputation, which surprised many, but the match was approved by Queen Elisabeth, who gave Alexandrine a lavish dowry. Her relatives also gave her valuable jewelry.

Marriage and later life
The couple lived mainly at Bellevue Palace in Berlin and spent little time in Mecklenburg. The marriage was unhappy, and Alexandrine tried to escape its pressures several times. William fought in the Franco-Prussian War and was seriously injured, dying in 1879.

After William’s death, Alexandrine focused on her daughter and led a quiet public life. She died on March 26, 1906, at Schloss Marley near Potsdam, Brandenburg.

Issue
Alexandrine and William had one daughter, Duchess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1868–1944). Charlotte married Henry XVII, Prince Reuss-Köstritz, and later Robert Schmidt. She had three sons from her first marriage.

Ancestry
Alexandrine came from the House of Hohenzollern. Her father was Prince Albert of Prussia and her mother was Princess Marianne of the Netherlands.