Alexandra of Hanover and Cumberland (Alexandra Louise Marie Olga Elisabeth Therese Vera; 29 September 1882 – 30 August 1963) was the wife of

Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Frederick Francis IV (Friedrich Franz Michael; 9 April 1882 – 17 November 1945) was the last Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and regent of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He inherited the throne when he was fifteen years old in 1897 and was forced t ...

. As such, she was the last consort of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from their marriage on 7 June 1904 until the Grand Duke abdicated on 14 November 1918, following the German Revolution of 1918. Alexandra was the daughter of

Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover Ernest Augustus, Crown Prince of Hanover, 3rd Duke of Cumberland and Teviotdale (; 21 September 1845 – 14 November 1923), was the eldest child and only son of George V of Hanover and his wife, Marie of Saxe-Altenburg. Ernest Augustus was dep ...

, and

Princess Thyra of Denmark Princess Thyra of Denmark (Thyra Amalie Caroline Charlotte Anna; 29 September 1853 – 26 February 1933) was the youngest daughter and fifth child of Christian IX of Denmark and Louise of Hesse-Kassel. In 1878, she married Ernest Augustus, t ...

Family

Alexandra was the second eldest daughter and third child of

(1845–1923) and

(1853–1933), the youngest daughter of

Christian IX of Denmark Christian IX (8 April 181829 January 1906) was King of Denmark from 15 November 1863 until his death in 1906. From 1863 to 1864, he was concurrently Duke of Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg. A younger son of Frederick William, Duke of Schlesw ...

(1818–1906) and Louise of Hesse-Kassel (1817–1898). Alexandra was a great-great-granddaughter of

George III of the United Kingdom George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Great Britain and Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great ...

(1738–1820) and

Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Sophia Charlotte; 19 May 1744 – 17 November 1818) was List of British royal consorts, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland as the wife of King George III from their marriage on 8 September 1761 until her ...

(1744–1818).

Marriage and issue

Alexandra married on 7 June 1904 in Gmunden, Austria-Hungary to

(1882–1945), son of Frederick Francis III, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and his wife Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia. The bridegroom gave Alexandra a diamond and aquamarine tiara by Faberge. Alexandra and Frederick Francis had five children: * Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (22 April 1910 – 31 July 2001). Married Karin Elisabeth von Schaper, daughter of Walter von Schaper and his wife Baroness Louise von Münchhausen. The couple had no issue. * Duke Christian Louis of Mecklenburg (29 September 1912– 18 July 1996). Married Princess Barbara of Prussia, daughter of Prince Sigismund of Prussia and Princess Charlotte of Saxe-Altenburg.Marlene A. Eilers, Queen Victoria's Descendants, page 169. The couple had issue. *Duchess Olga of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1916–1917). *Duchess Thyra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (18 June 1919 – 27 September 1981). *Duchess Anastasia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1922 – 1979). Married Prince Friedrich Ferdinand of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, son of Prince Albrecht of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and Countess Ortrud of Ysenburg and Büdingen. The couple had issue.

Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

In 1913, a fire broke out at Schwerin Castle while the Grand Duke and Duchess were dining there with guests. Everyone was able to make it out safely, although the grand ducal couple 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.

Later life

After the Grand Duke's forced abdication in 1918, the family briefly went into exile in Denmark, the native country of Alexandra's mother, Princess Thyra. After his death in 1945, the widowed Alexandra retired to the Glucksburg family estates in Schleswig-Holstein.

Honours

Mecklenburg Mecklenburg (; ) is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The largest cities of the region are Rostock, Schwerin, Neubrandenburg, Wismar and Güstrow. ...

: Grand Cross of the Wendish Crown, with Crown in Ore and in Diamonds''Grossherzoglich Mecklenburg-Schwerinscher Staatskalendar'', 1908, p
3
/ref> * : Dame of the Order of Louise, 1st Division

Ancestry

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Alexandra Of Hanover, Princess House of Hanover House of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1882 births 1963 deaths British princesses Hanoverian princesses People from Gmunden Duchesses of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Grand duchesses of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Daughters of British dukes