“Pleasant-Looking but not Beautiful”: The Life of Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland, the Last Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Alexandra, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (left) and Friedrich Franz IV, the last Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. (Images from Wikimedia Commons)

Alexandra Louise Marie Olga Elisabeth Therese Vera Prinzessin von Hannover und Cumberland was born on September 29, 1882 at the Schloss Ort in Gmunden, Austria, the second daughter and third of six children of Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover and 3rd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale, and his wife, Princess Thyra of Denmark. She was named after her mother’s eldest sister, the future Queen Alexandra of Great Britain, who was Princess of Wales when she was born.

Described as a "tall, pleasant-looking girl, but not particularly beautiful”, rumor had it that Kaiser Wilhelm II wanted Alexandra to marry his eldest son, Crown Prince Wilhelm, a proposal that was supposed to be discussed during the Kaiser’s official visit to Copenhagen. The Crown Prince of Hanover, however, still resentful of Prussia’s aggrandizement toward Hanover, left Copenhagen before the Kaiser arrived, this despite Alexandra’s willingness to marry into the Prussian royal family.

Alexandra was later engaged to Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin on December 20, 1903 in Gmunden. On March 7, 1904, the princess received permission to marry from King Edward VII of United Kingdom, a requisite for the descendants of King George III under the Royal Marriages Act of 1772.  Three days before the wedding, Alexandra’s aunt, Princess Mary of Hannover, passed away. The marriage, nevertheless, pushed through, "but the illuminations and processions were canceled and the street decorations were removed”. Alexandra and Frederick wedded on June 7, 1904 in Gmunden.

To the princess’ amazement, Frederick gave Alexandra a diamond and aquamarine tiara from The House of Fabergé. The grand duke’s mother, Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia, was an ardent collector of the Russian jewelry firm’s designs. The tiara did not arrive until a month after the wedding as Frederick reportedly had a hard time choosing the gem stones he wanted, and the sketches also went missing.

The union produced five children:  Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1910-2001), who married Karin Elisabeth von Schaper (the marriage was childless); Duke Christian Louis of Mecklenburg (1912–1996), who married Princess Barbara of Prussia, and had children; Duchess Olga of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1916–1917); Duchess Thyra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1919 –1981); and Duchess Anastasia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1923 –1979), whose husband was Prince Friedrich Ferdinand of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. The death of her daughter Olga at just six weeks old prompted Alexandra to advocate for the improvement of medical care for children by setting up the Olga Foundation, which raised funds for the education and training of nurses and midwives.

In 1913, the couple were hosting a dinner at Schwerin Castle when a fire broke out. Everyone made it out safely but the fire devastated the castle, razing the family’s priceless treasures, including works of art. When the smoke cleared, damages totaled $ 750,000. Others blamed the incident on a vengeful servant, however official court announcement confirmed it as merely an electrical issue.

After Alexandra’s husband abdicated on November 14, 1918, the family travelled to Denmark upon the invitation of the grand duke’s sister, Queen Alexandrine. They resided at the Sorgenfri Palace for a year. A year later, they were allowed to return to Mecklenburg to regain possession of their properties. They settled at Gelbensande hunting lodge before moving back to Ludwigslust Palace. The threat of the Red Army in 1945 at the height of World War II yet again forced Alexandra’s family to leave Mecklenburg. This time, they decided to live at their youngest daughter’s residence, the Glücksburg Castle. Frederick would die there, and Alexandra would survive him by nearly 18 years.

Dowager Grand Duchess Alexandra died at the Glücksburg Castle on August 30, 1963. She was 80 years old. She was buried beside her husband in Glücksburg’s New Cemetery.