Victoria, Princess Royal Biography

Empress Frederick was the Empress of Germany and Queen of Prussia by marriage to German Emperor Frederick III. Born as Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise and also known as ‘Victoria, Princess Royal’, she became famous as Empress Frederick after her husband’s death. The eldest child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert, she was the heiress to the throne, in line to succeed her mother as queen of the United Kingdom, until the birth of her younger brother. She was a bright young girl and received a good education—she was well versed in different languages and was also taught science, literature, philosophy, and history. She also developed a keen interest in astronomy later on. As was the custom 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. The marriage which took place after a few years was undoubtedly a dynastic alliance, but it also proved to be a happy one for the couple. After the death of her father-in-law, King William I, in 1888, her husband ascended the throne as the Emperor Frederick III (and as King Frederick III of Prussia) and she became The German Empress, Queen of Prussia. However her husband died just months after becoming the king, and upon his death she became known as Empress Frederick