Victoria, Princess Royal Biography

(German Empress and Queen of Prussia (1888))

Birthday: November 21, 1840 (Scorpio)

Born In: London, England


Empress Frederick was the Empress of Germany and Queen of Prussia through her marriage to German Emperor Frederick III. Born as Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise and also known as Victoria, Princess Royal, she became widely known as Empress Frederick after her husband’s death. The eldest child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert, she was initially in line to succeed her mother as queen of the United Kingdom until the birth of her younger brother. A bright young girl, she received an excellent education—she was well-versed in multiple languages and was also taught science, literature, philosophy, and history. Later, she developed a keen interest in astronomy. As was customary in those days, the princess was groomed for marriage from a young age and first met her future husband, Prince Frederick William of Prussia, when she was only 11 years old. Although the marriage, which took place a few years later, was a dynastic alliance, it proved to be a happy union for the couple. After the death of her father-in-law, King William I, in 1888, her husband ascended the throne as Emperor Frederick III (and as King Frederick III of Prussia), and she became the German Empress and Queen of Prussia. However, her husband died just months after becoming emperor, and following his death, she became known as Empress Frederick.

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Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In November, German Celebrities Born In November

Also Known As: Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa

Died At Age: 60

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Frederick III, German Emperor

father: Albert, Prince Consort

mother: Queen Victoria

siblings: Alfred, Duchess of Argyll, Duke of Albany, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Edward VII, Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, Prince Louis of Battenberg, Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, Princess Helena of the United Kingdom, Princess Louise

children: Prince Henry of Prussia, Prince Sigismund of Prussia, Prince Waldemar of Prussia, Princess Charlotte of Prussia, Princess Margaret of Prussia, Princess Viktoria of Prussia, Sophia of Prussia, Wilhelm II

Born Country: England

Empresses & Queens British Women

Died on: August 5, 1901

place of death: Kronberg, Germany

City: London, England

Cause of Death: Breast Cancer

  • 1

    What significant role did Victoria, Princess Royal play in European politics?

    Victoria, Princess Royal played a significant role as the Crown Princess of Prussia and later as the German Empress when her husband became Emperor of Germany. She was known for her influence on politics and her support for liberal causes.
  • 2

    What were Victoria, Princess Royal's interests and pursuits outside of her royal duties?

    Victoria, Princess Royal was known for her love of music and art. She was a talented pianist and had a keen interest in painting and sculpture. She also supported various charitable causes and was involved in philanthropic work.
  • 3

    How did Victoria, Princess Royal contribute to the field of healthcare and medicine?

    Victoria, Princess Royal was passionate about healthcare and was actively involved in promoting nursing as a profession. She supported the development of nursing schools and hospitals, and she played a key role in the establishment of the German Red Cross.
  • 4

    What impact did Victoria, Princess Royal have on the education system in Germany?

    Victoria, Princess Royal was a strong advocate for education reform in Germany. She supported the expansion of schools and universities, as well as the improvement of teacher training programs. Her efforts helped to modernize the education system in Germany.
  • 5

    How did Victoria, Princess Royal use her position to advocate for social reforms?

    Victoria, Princess Royal used her influence to support social reforms such as workers' rights and labor laws. She was known for her progressive views on social issues and worked to improve the living and working conditions of the less fortunate in society.
Childhood & Early Life

She was born Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise on November 21, 1840, at Buckingham Palace, London, as the eldest daughter of England's Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Being the oldest child of the queen, she was regarded as the heiress presumptive to the throne of the United Kingdom before the birth of her younger brother Prince Albert.
In 1841, she was given the honorary title of Princess Royal, a title sometimes conferred on the eldest daughter of the sovereign.
She was an intelligent and curious child and her parents ensured that she received a good education. She learnt to read and write before the age of five and was taught different languages like French and German as she grew older. She was also educated in subjects like science, literature, Latin, politics, philosophy, and history.
From a young age she was groomed for marriage and she was just 11 years old when she first met her future husband, Prince Frederick William of Prussia, when he and his parents were on a visit to London. Frederick was the son of Prince William of Prussia and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar.

The couple became engaged in 1855, when Victoria was just 14 and her future husband was 24; they were married in 1858.

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Later Life
Prince Frederick’s uncle King Frederick William IV of Prussia died in January 1861. Since the king was childless, Prince Frederick’s father ascended the throne as King William I, and Prince Frederick became Crown Prince of Prussia. Victoria therefore became Crown Princess.
From the time of her marriage, Victoria felt that Prussia's standards of living were not up to those found in Great Britain. Also she held liberal and Anglophile views which were shared by her husband, but did not find favor with the Prussian minister-president, Otto von Bismarck.
Victoria also pushed for Prussia to assume a leadership role in the unification of the German states. This unification did occur in 1871, but it happened under von Bismarck's guidance, not Victoria’s. This incident further fuelled the animosity between the two.

On March 9, 1888, King William I died and Prince Frederick ascended the throne as Emperor Frederick III (and as King Frederick III of Prussia) while Victoria adopted the title and style of Her Imperial and Royal Majesty The German Empress, Queen of Prussia.

At the time of his ascension, Frederick was 56 years old and suffering from a debilitating cancer of the larynx. Terminally ill, he ruled for just 99 days before he breathed his last. Upon his death Victoria became known as Her Imperial Majesty The Empress Frederick.
Following the death of Emperor Frederick, the couple’s eldest son succeeded to the throne as Emperor Wilhelm II. Victoria however had strained relations with her son who did not share her liberal views.
She then went on to live a retired life at Castle Friedrichshof, a castle she had built in memory of her late husband in the hills near Kronberg. She was also a patron of the arts and learning and established schools for the higher education of girls and for nurses' training in Berlin.
Awards & Achievements
Empress Frederick was made Dame of the Order of Louise and bestowed with the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert, First Class.
Personal Life & Legacy

Victoria married Prince Frederick William of Prussia at the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace, on January 25, 1858. Theirs was a happy marriage that produced eight children. Frederick died of throat cancer in 1888, and the grief-stricken Victoria dressed in mourning clothing for the rest of her life.

She was diagnosed with inoperable breast cancer in 1899, and the disease soon spread to her spine. She died at Castle Friedrichshof on August 5, 1901, aged 60.

Facts About Victoria, Princess Royal
Victoria, Princess Royal was the eldest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, known for her intelligence and artistic talents.
She had a close relationship with her father, Prince Albert, and was often his companion in intellectual pursuits and cultural events.
Victoria, Princess Royal was an advocate for women's rights and education, supporting initiatives to improve access to learning for girls and women.
She was a talented musician and artist, known for her skill in playing the piano and painting watercolors.

See the events in life of Victoria, Princess Royal in Chronological Order

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Article Title
- Victoria, Princess Royal Biography
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- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
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- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/victoria-princess-royal-6365.php

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