Perhaps no one in the biography says so many kind words as about Queen Alexandra. She was a very kind, caring, affectionate and beautiful girl - a queen one could only dream of. Having inherited from her mother a taste for music, a graceful figure and facial features, as well as being a sincere person and having a deep Christian faith, Queen Victoria immediately liked her, and therefore became a favorite for the entire British people.
Princess biography: early years
Alexandra Carolina Maria Charlotte Louise Julia was born on the first day of December 1844. She was the daughter of German Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel. According to the biography of Alexandra of Denmark, she appeared in the Yellow Palace of Copenhagen, which is not far from the royal palace complex Amalienborg. She had threebrother and two sisters. Given that they all entered into quite successful marriages with members of the royal families in the future, Christian and Louise were called "the father-in-law and mother-in-law of Europe." Alexandra had eminent relatives, since both her parents were descendants of King Frederick V of Denmark and George II (Britain). The girl got her name in honor of the youngest daughter of Nicholas I and Alexandra Feodorovna - Grand Duchess Alexandra Romanova, the former wife of the mother's brother of the Princess of Denmark and who died 4 months before her birth.
Succession to the Danish throne and life at Bernstorf Palace
The father of Alexandra of Denmark was not the direct heir to the throne of Denmark. He became such only in 1847 at the behest of the then ruling King of Denmark, Christian VIII. He was Louise's uncle. The decision was supported by all the major powers of Europe, and therefore in mid-November 1863 she became Princess Alexandra. Louise, it is worth saying, was a very strong woman and easily experienced any difficulties. Their family was simple, good-natured and exemplary, like all Danes. Queen Louise took care of her family and husband, she instilled in her children a love of music, raised them all excellently, and made good housewives out of the girls, who sewed their own clothes, always cooked and set the table. In general, they did their homework like ordinary children, not princesses and princes.
Education of Alexandra
When the father of the future Queen Alexandra ascended the throne, they were granted Bernstorf Palace. As a child, Alix, what was the nameher loved ones, was not as charming as in adolescence. She was "chubby". Alexandra loved to swim with her sister Dagmar, as well as gymnastics and horseback riding under the supervision of her father. She studied English, French and German, the basics of religion, history and geography. In general, the girl developed in all directions. She loved music very much, she drew well, sewed, sang and played the piano. Together with her mother and younger sisters, she was engaged in gardening. Already a Princess of Wales, Alix ennobled the garden around Sandringham Palace.
Alexandra grew up to be a well-rounded princess. In adolescence, she significantly changed, becoming a sophisticated lady with a beautiful figure and amazing features. And at the end of October 1860, a confirmation ceremony took place in Christiansborg Palace.
Choice of the future British Queen - Alexandra
I sent you a photo of Prince Christian's charming daughter. I have met several people who have seen her - their opinions agree on beauty, charm, good nature, sincere naturalness in behavior and many other excellent traits of her character. I think it is right to tell you that all these qualities are of interest to Bertie, although I, as a Prussian, do not want him to marry her. I know her nanny who told me that she is in excellent he alth and has never been sick… Looking at the photo, I can tell that she is lovely and in Bertie's taste, but again, an alliance with Denmark will be a disaster for us.
This letter was written to Queen Victoria by her daughter,Crown Princess Victoria of Prussia. The mother herself asked to find for Bertie (her son, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales) a suitable wife from among the German princesses. However, the choice of the sister fell on Alexander. Queen Victoria did not even consider Alix until she received her daughter's letter. The fact is that the “grandmother of Europe” knew about the support of the girl’s relatives, who were also part of the British royal family, of the Prussian side in the Schleswig-Holstein issue. And therefore, her candidacy was previously interested in Victoria in the last turn. However, the daughter's letter made the Queen think. As a result, together with their husband, they decided in favor of Alexandra of Denmark. She had a good relationship with the Queen of England in the future, but there were also cases when the daughter-in-law and mother-in-law completely refused to understand each other. However, at the time of the Queen's death, in early 1901, Alix was kneeling before her and holding her hand.
Marriage of Alix and Bertie
The future spouses and their parents met several times, after which the date of the wedding ceremony was determined. Before that, the young, together with Queen Victoria, visited the Royal Mausoleum, where Prince Albert, Bertie's father, rests. There, the "grandmother of Europe" said that he approves of their marriage and blesses. The celebration took place in the spring of 1863 in the chapel of St. George under the leadership of Archbishop Charles Thomas Longley. It is not known how reliable this information is, but it is believed that Bertie and Alix loved each other very much. However, Bertie had a lotmistresses. Alexandra knew about this and quite adequately endured betrayal. This woman had the strength to even maintain an even relationship with each of them.
Within a few years after the wedding, Alexandra of Denmark and Edward VII had six children. Meanwhile, for the first 6 years they travelled. For example, in 1864 they went to the countries of the Scandinavian Peninsula, and in 1868 to Ireland. By this time, already pregnant for the third time, Alix began to suffer from pain associated with rheumatism, limped heavily and mostly walked with crutches. But this did not stop her from bearing a fourth child. From 1868 to 1869 the heirs to the royal throne visited Compiegne (Emperor Napoleon III), Paris, and then went to Denmark. After spending the Christmas holidays with Alix's parents, her brothers and sisters, they went to Hamburg, and from there they returned to Britain. Then they visited Berlin, Vienna, Egyptian Alexandria, Luxor and Thebes. In the latter city, the princess took under her protection a Nubian orphan who was baptized on his arrival in England in 1869. Before that, they also managed to visit Cairo, Istanbul, Crimea, Greece, and then arrived home through France.
Ascension to the throne of Great Britain
Queen Alexandra and King Edward VII became British monarchs in August 1902. The coronation ceremony took place at Westminster Abbey in London. At that time, Alix was already 56 years old, and Bertie was 59. Their adult children started their own families and gave the queen and king grandchildren. In honor of themreign was named an entire era - Edwardian.
King Edward VII died in 1910. His wife became Queen Mother under George V, her second son. Having become a widow, she bought a house in Sandringham and lived there in seclusion for several months, allowing only her closest relatives and faithful servants to visit her. She did not participate in public events, she did not even come to her son's coronation. Having recovered a little after the loss of her beloved husband, Alexandra returned to business. Her responsibilities included education, philanthropy, he alth, and nursing. The reign of Alexandra - Queen of Great Britain and Ireland - falls 1901-1910
Children of Alexandra and Eduard
I buried my angel, and with him my happiness.
The British monarchs Alexandra and Edward VII had six children. Albert Victor Christian Edward (1864-1892) was the first to be born. He was supposed to become a British monarch after his father, but died long before that, and his younger brother, who was born next, took the throne. This is George Frederick Ernest Albert (1865-1936). He had five sons and one daughter. Among his children, George VI is the father of the current Queen Elizabeth II. The third, fourth and fifth children were long-awaited daughters - Louise Victoria Alexandra Dagmar (1867-1931), Victoria Alexandra Olga Maria (1868-1935) and Maud Charlotte Maria Victoria (1869-1938). The sixth of the children of Queen Alexandra and Edward VII was again a boy. Alexander John was born on April 6, 1871 and died the next day.
The texts that the mother wrote were preservedto your children and their responses. They testify that Alexandra was madly in love with each of them - in fact, like they did her. The family had very warm relations. Therefore, when her eldest son died in 1892, she suffered this loss very hard. And these lines in the quote were dedicated specifically to Albert Victor. She ordered to leave everything in the prince's room in the same form as it was during his lifetime.
Last years of the Queen's life
Alexandra has experienced many losses in her life. These were people whom she loved very much. And because of old age began to look much worse. And in general, her he alth condition left much to be desired. In recent years, she practically did not hear, due to a burst vessel in her eye, she began to see poorly, suffered from amnesia and had speech problems. But until the end of her days, the Queen was interested in politics, in particular, everything that concerned her native Denmark. Alexandra liked to visit the church near her house. Sometimes she was there accompanied by her son. Did not leave the mother and Princess Victoria, the middle daughter. There is an opinion that it was precisely because of Alexandra's unwillingness to let go of her child that the princess never married and, accordingly, had no children.
The Queen died at the end of November 1925 at the age of 80 in the arms of her younger sister Dagmar. Alexandra was buried next to her husband in St. George's Chapel on November 28.
Her Majesty Queen Alexandra in cinema
The British monarch wasfeatured in several films. Among them:
- "Eduard the Seventh" (1975);
- "Lilly" (1978);
- The Elephant Man (1980);
- "Mrs. Brown" (1997);
- "All the King's Men" (1999);
- "Passion" (1999);
- The Lost Prince (2003).
It is safe to say that Alexandra did not live in vain. She herself was excellently raised by her mother, and gave a quality education to her children. She was married to a man whom she loved immensely. Throughout her life, she maintained warm relations with all members of her family. She tried to be the perfect daughter-in-law for Queen Victoria. Alix was always ready to help, including the common people, and she did not consider it shameful to visit the hospital during the First World War to learn how to help the wounded and the nurses. This is a man with a capital letter, devoted to his native Denmark and Britain until the end of his days.
