The life of Princess Alexandra of Edinburgh

Born at Schloss Rosenau in Coburg on 1st September 1878, Princess Alexandra was the fourth child of Prince Alfred and his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. While much isn’t known about Alexandra, join me in todays blog as I look at the life of this little known princess.

A month after she was born, the baby was christened on 2nd October at Palais Edinburg in Coburg. she was given the names Alexandra Louise Olga Victoria, although she was affectionately known as ‘Sandra’ amongst her close family. As her father perused his naval career, Alexandra and her siblings often travelled the world, living in Britain, Cyprus, Malta and Coburg, where the family finally settled in 1893. With her father busy working, Alexandra spent much of her time in her mothers company. Together, along with her siblings, they shared a lifelong bond. However unfortunately for Alexandra, she was often overshadowed by her only brother and sisters, who were considered much more beautiful in comparison to herself.

Believing it important to marry her daughters off young, in 1895 Maria arranged the engagement between Princess Alexandra and Ernst, Hereditary Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (grandson of Princess Feodora, sister of Queen Victoria). Prince Alfred was strongly against the match, believing Ernsts rank to be too low in comparison to his daughter. Where as, Queen Victoria believed that her seventeen year old granddaughter was much too young to be married. Despite their concerns, Maria was adamant that the wedding would still go ahead. Just a few months later, on 20th April 1896, the two were married at Schloss Ehrenburg in Coburg. Just eleven months later, the Alexandra gave birth to the couples first of five children.

Although we don’t know much, it is believed that the two had a happy marriage in Germany. Following Prince Alfred’s death in 1900, Ernst acted as regent for Alfred’s his successor, Prince Charles Edward (son of Prince Leopold), who was aged just sixteen. Alexandra spent much of her time visiting her mother and siblings in Coburg and through the First World War worked as a nurse for the Red Cross. Upon her mothers death on 24th October 1920, Alexandra and her siblings inherited Palais Edinburg and in the 1930s she rented Schloss Rosenau from the state. On 1st May 1837, Alexandra, Ernst and some of their children joined the Nazi Party as some of its earliest supporters. Princess Alexandra died aged 63 at Schwäbisch Hall, Württemberg, on 16th April 1942. She was later buried at the family cemetery at Schloss-Langenburg.

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