Queen alexandra of england biography

Alexandra turned to her children for solace and emotional satisfaction. She continued to fulfil her social obligations and even accompanied her husband on four state visits to Ireland and a foreign tour to Egypt and Greece in — As the years passed, she made several state trips abroad.

Queen alexandra of england biography

She refrained from foreign policy statements unless it involved Denmark or Greece. She fearlessly traveled to St. Meanwhile, Alexandra's children were growing up. In , her eldest daughter, Louise, was married to Alexander, earl of Fife. Alexandra's major concern, however, was finding a suitable bride for Prince Albert Victor, duke of Clarence.

Eddie, as he was called, was very charming but was overly interested in sexual matters and very fickle toward women. Feeling that marriage might be a positive experience for him, Alexandra and Bertie selected Princess Mary of Teck , an Englishwoman by upbringing who was related to the English ruling family. Eddie and Mary became engaged in December but a few weeks before the scheduled wedding, Eddie died of influenza on January 13, His death at the age of 28 was a crushing blow to Alexandra who had held his hand as he died.

Feeling that Mary of Teck had been the ideal wife for one son, it seemed logical to the family that she would be an excellent choice for George, duke of York. The wedding took place in and Alexandra entered a new phase of her life. Still beautiful, although much older, deaf and partially lame, she was now caught in a situation between the elderly Queen Victoria and the young Mary, duchess of York.

Though Alexandra and Bertie were still heirs to the throne, Alexandra withdrew more and more to Sandringham. Bertie continued his profligate and lavish lifestyle while being totally excluded by his mother from national affairs and politics. Princess Royal and duchess of Fife. Princess Royal. Name variations: Victoria Saxe-Coburg. Queen Victoria died on January 22, , with Alexandra, Bertie and the family in attendance.

In one of his first acts as monarch, Edward bestowed upon Alexandra the Order of the Garter. Always interested in charity, improved medical care, and helping the poor, Alexandra doubled her efforts in those matters. She raised large amounts of revenue to help the unemployed workmen during the economic crisis in Alexandra was queen for a very short time.

Edward VII died on May 6, Her devotion to her husband was so complete that she even invited Edward's current mistress, Alice Keppel, to visit him during his fatal illness. Alexandra withdrew into virtual retirement at Sandringham but returned to comfort her people and the wounded soldiers during the First World War. In , the 50th anniversary of her arrival in Britain, "Alexandra Day" was established for the sale of roses to benefit British hospitals.

The last two years of Alexandra's life were quietly passed at Sandringham. It is doubtful that she would have approved of his love affair and abdication for Mrs. Wallis Warfield Simpson duchess of Windsor in Alexandra died suddenly and peacefully of a heart attack at Sandringham on November 20, , and was interred beside her husband in St. George's Chapel at Windsor.

She was solemnly mourned by a nation that remembered her for her charity, beauty, and patience. Fisher, Graham, and Heather Fisher. Bertie and Alix: Anatomy of a Marriage. London: R. Hale, Gernsheim, Alison, and Helmut Gernsheim. London: Muller, Madol, Hans Roger. London: Hutchinson, Phillip E. Alexandra, Dowager Queen of England, who was 81 years of age, and has been in feeble health for the past three years, was seized with a heart attack on Thursday morning about 11 o'clock and passed away at 5.

A high authority states that the first seizure which Queen Alexandra suffered occurred at 11 a. The dangerous nature of the condition was immediately realized. Queen Alexandra had wonderful vitality and met the crisis with all her courage, but was handicapped by her advanced age, coupled with her weak health for the past three years, which enfeebled her.

The seizure followed a slight attack last week, of which the public were not informed. Despite the repeated administration of oxygen to Queen Alexandra, at 4. She had not then realised the worst. She spoke to the King and Queen. Sandringham was shrouded in a thick fog, which darkened the windows, at the time of the Queen's death. The scene in the death chamber was tragically impressive.

Their Majesties, the [her daughter] Queen of Norway age 55 , [her daughter] Princess Victoria age 57 , and the [her daughter] Princess Royal age 58 arrived dressed in black. Prince Henry sat silently waiting and speaking little, though repeatedly questioning the physicians and expressing a hope for improvement. Queen Alexandra was in a most serious condition at 1 o'clock, but she rallied and appeared to recognize the family grouped at her bedside.

She smiled sweetly and then an expression charged with poignant meaning illuminated her pale face. She immediately sank into unconscious ness, in which she died. An official bulletin states that the [her son] King age 60 and [her daughter-in-law] Queen age 58 and members of the family were at the bedside. Queen Alexandra died at 5. The railway station master at Sandringham broke the news of Queen Alexandra's death to the [her grandson] Prince of Wales age 31 and the [her grandson] Duke of York age 29 , who arrived there at 6.

Fog delayed the train carrying the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York, who were stunned on learning the news in the station waiting room. Their faces showed the intensity of their grief. They entered a motor car, which crept slowly through the fog to Sandringham. Lady Charlote Knollys age 90 , the lady in waiting; was lying ill in another; wing of the House, was among the first to be informed of Queen Alexandra's death.

She has repeatedly expressed a wish to see Queen Alexandra. If is understood that Queen Alexandra will be buried in the vault alongside her husband and the Duke of Clarence in St. George's Chapel, Windsor, which has been the Boyal family's burial place' for years. The funeral arrangements have not yet fceen decided, pending the King's wishes but a state funeral in London is certain.

The King sent this message to the Lord Mayor:— 'I regret to inform you that my beloved mother has passed away. The death of your illustrious mother removes a much revered and universally beloved public personality. In any other walk of life she would have been known as an ideal mother. The rheumatic fever threatened her life and left her with a permanent limp.

Sandringham House, purchased by Queen Victoria for Bertie and Alix, is still a privately owned residence of the British monarch. She was destined to spend her life attending her mother who would ring a bell at all hours of the day and night to summon Victoria to her side. Originally scheduled for June 26, it had to be postponed because the new king developed appendicitis.

During his marriage, Bertie had many mistresses. She did not attend the coronation of her son and daughter-in-law in since it was not customary for a crowned queen to attend the coronation of another king or queen, but otherwise continued the public side of her life, devoting time to her charitable causes. One such cause was Alexandra Rose Day , where artificial roses made by people with disabilities were sold in aid of hospitals by women volunteers.

Alexandra joined calls to "have down those hateful German banners". In Russia, her nephew Tsar Nicholas II was overthrown and he, his wife and their children were killed by revolutionaries. Alexandra retained a youthful appearance into her senior years, [ 69 ] but during the war her age caught up with her. In , a blood vessel in her eye burst, leaving her with temporary partial blindness.

Alexandra was highly popular with the British public. Alexandra had little understanding of money. Whenever she received a letter soliciting money, a cheque would be sent by the next post, regardless of the authenticity of the mendicant and without having the case investigated. Alexandra hid a small scar on her neck, which was probably the result of a childhood operation, [ 84 ] by wearing choker necklaces and high necklines, setting fashions which were adopted for fifty years.

The venue was named after her, after a patent letter was granted by the King, her husband Edward VII. She was the first woman since to be made a Lady of the Garter. Queen Alexandra's arms upon the accession of her husband in were the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom impaled with the arms of her father, the King of Denmark. Contents move to sidebar hide.

Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikidata item. Queen of the United Kingdom from to Several terms redirect here. For other uses, see Queen Alexandra disambiguation , Princess Alexandra of Denmark disambiguation , and Alexandra of the United Kingdom disambiguation.

Portrait by W. Downey , Edward VII. Early life [ edit ]. Marriage and family [ edit ]. See also: Wedding dress of Princess Alexandra of Denmark. Princess of Wales [ edit ]. Queen and empress consort [ edit ]. Queen mother [ edit ]. Last years and death [ edit ]. Main article: Death and funeral of Alexandra of Denmark. Legacy [ edit ]. Honours [ edit ].

Arms [ edit ]. Issue [ edit ]. Ancestry [ edit ]. Ancestors of Alexandra of Denmark 8. Countess Friederike von Schlieben [ ] 2. Christian IX of Denmark Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel [ ] 5. Princess Louise Caroline of Hesse-Kassel Princess Louise of Denmark [ ] 1. Princess Alexandra of Denmark Prince Frederick of Hesse-Kassel 6. Prince William of Hesse-Kassel [ ] Princess Caroline of Nassau-Usingen 3.

Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel Frederick, Hereditary Prince of Denmark [ ] 7. Princess Charlotte of Denmark Princess Sophia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin [ ]. See also [ edit ]. Notes [ edit ]. References [ edit ]. Burke's Royal Families of the World , Volume 1.