Alexandrine of Prussia, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Alexandrine of Prussia
Portrait c. 1825 by Friedrich Wilhelm Schadow of the Grand Duchess and two of her children, Frederick Francis and Louise
Grand Duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Tenure	1 February 1837 – 7 March 1842
Born	(1803-02-23)23 February 1803 Berlin, Prussia
Died	21 April 1892(1892-04-21) (aged 89) Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Spouse	Paul Frederick, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Issue	Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Louise, Hereditary Princess of Windisch-Graetz Duke William
Names Friederike Wilhelmine Alexandrine Marie Helene
House	Hohenzollern
Father	Frederick William III of Prussia
Mother	Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

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.

Biography

Early life

Born on 23 February 1803 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

On 25 May 1822, after rejecting a marriage proposal from the future King of Sweden, she married Paul Frederick of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. 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;< 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.

Death

On 21 April 1892 in Schwerin, Alexandrine died at the age of 89. She was buried at the Schwerin Cathedral.

Alexandrine in 1862

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.

Legacy

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."

Issue

• Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1823–1883)
• Luise (1824–1859) married Hugo, Hereditary Prince of Windisch-Graetz and had issue (Princess Marie of Windisch-Graetz)
• Wilhelm (1827–1879) married Princess Alexandrine of Prussia, daughter of Prince Albert of Prussia

Ancestry

Ancestors of Alexandrine of Prussia, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

8. Prince Augustus William of Prussia 4. Frederick William II of Prussia 9. Duchess Luise of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 2. Frederick William III of Prussia 10. Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt 5. Princess Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt 11. Countess Palatine Caroline of Zweibrücken 1. Princess Alexandrine of Prussia 12. Duke Charles Louis Frederick of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 6. Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 13. Princess Elisabeth Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen 3. Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 14. Prince George William of Hesse-Darmstadt 7. Princess Friederike of Hesse-Darmstadt 15. Countess Maria Louise Albertine of Leiningen-Falkenburg-Dagsburg