Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (1844-1900) and Grand Duchess Marie (1853-1920)

[CyrilVladisla]

Upon her marriage to Prince Alfred, Marie had the double style of Her Imperial and Royal Highness. When she resided in England, is this the style she would have been addressed by?

Prince Alfred was a collector of glass and ceramic ware. Upon his demise in 1900, his collection was valued at half a million marks.

[Curryong]

There was a huge row about her rank and precedence at Victoria's court between the Queen and the Tsar after the marriage, when Marie found she had to give precedence to Alexandra (from insignificant Denmark!) and some of the Queen's daughters. Queen Victoria said she could be called Her Imperial Highness all she liked, but the Royal (the HRH) styling had to come first!

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Curryong

Royals just never divorced in those days. It was very, very rare and considered a complete disgrace.

I think Ducky and Ernie of Hesse's divorce was the first among Victoria's children/grandchildren/family to divorce ever and they waited until after she died. If any of her children had contemplated divorce they would have faced the wrath of Khan! Anyway, Marie liked being Duchess of Coburg too much. She would never have participated in anything like a divorce.

No, thtere was IIRC a divorce of Princess Marie Louise.. she and her husband didn't get on and I beleive the marriage was not consummated becuase he was possibly homosexual? He as a ruling prince coudl "give himself a divorce"..
As far as I can remember Victoria was sympathetic over that, becauase she felt it wasn't ML's fault..
But generally speaking yes of course your're right, divorces just didn't happen. Even among upper class people it was very rare unless there had been a big scandal wtih very public infidelity... or serious cruelty...
Royals and upper class couples who didn't get on, just led separate lives..

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Curryong

Princess Alexandra enchanted just about everyone, including Alfred, when she first arrived in England and then married Bertie, Prince of Wales. She was only 18, young and beautiful and she and Bertie's lifestyle as a young married couple at Marlborough House was a great deal more exciting than hanging around a bereaved and sorrowing Mama at Osborne and Windsor.


A than the others.

True that Alix was very charming, but I think that Affie did have a crush on her.. ab it more than just finding her charming like everyone did. BUt I am sure it meant nothing.. He just found her attractive and enjoyed being with her and it was all quite harmless. No way would he have ever indulged in anything with his sister in law and Alix hersef was a religious woman and newly married and in love with Bertie..
But I think that Vic under Albert's influence had become a terrible prude and thought it was more serious than it realy was.

[Curryong]

Marie Louise's marriage to Prince Aribert of Anhalt was annulled by her father in law, the Grand Duke. It was done by Royal decree, so it was as if the marriage had never been.

At least Ernie and Duckie of Hesse used the courts of Darmstadt and got a proper divorce decree. However they were both young and wanted to marry again. Aribert wasn't interested (so many rumours about the circumstances surrounding the end of the marriage which apparently wasn't consummated,) and it was against Marie Louise's religious principles to marry again, as she considered her marriage vows binding, poor woman!

[Denville]

Originally Posted by Curryong

Marie Louise's marriage to Prince Aribert of Anhalt was annulled by her father in law, the Grand Duke. It was done by Royal decree, so it was as if the marriage had never been.

At least Ernie and Duckie of Hesse used the courts of Darmstadt and got a p!

Well i think that it was still unusual.. even if they didn't marry again, it was still rathter scandalous to get one's marriage ended.. and IIRC it was't a short marriage? But clearly ML still felt it wasnt right for her to remarry, and she was I think afraid of Q Vic's reaction, but the queen was sympathetic..
Vic was capable fo being flexible at times...and I think that mabye without Albert's influence she might have become more tolerant.
As I recall she siad to P Louise that while generaly speaking ti was wrong to live together without marriage, she believed that there were times when it wasnt' possible for a couple to marry but that it wasnt morally wrong...

But Ernest and Duicky had had a proper marriage and had had 2 children, oen still born and one who died in childhood. So I think that an annulment wasnt on.
Perhaps Q Vic might have understood and tolerated a divorce with Ern and VM.. but yes generaly most people just did not get divorces because they were unhappy, only if there was a very serious reason

[Jay Bush]

Hello;
My GrandMum was Lady Irene FitzGerald-Bush.
If you would like any information on her please email me @ jaybushcomposer@laserdog.com.
I will be happy to veryify any information you would like.
Marelenes' comment that it is not true I can verify for.
I welcome your response.
Regards;
Jay Tyler Bush

[Jay Bush]

Hello again.
All the information you stated in your post is accurate.
Again I will confirm & give you all the information you like.
It is true Prince Alfred did have this daughter with Marie FitzGerald.
Regards;
Jay Tyler Bush

[CyrilVladisla]

The marriage of Prince Alfred and Marie Alexandrovna

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eibcEXBjJhw

[Durham]

Originally Posted by CyrilVladisla

The marriage of Prince Alfred and Marie Alexandrovna

Very interesting. The couple had an Anglican service immediately after the Orthodox one of course. Just to keep everyone happy!

[CyrilVladisla]

H.R.H. The Duchess of Edinburgh 1874 Artist: Faustin
http://www.alamy.com/hrh-the-duchess...262788918.html

[Blog Real]

Duke of Edinburgh, Alfred Ernest Albert, Sydney, ca. 1868, by Montagu Scott.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...tagu_Scott.jpg

Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia in her youth.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped..._her_youth.png

[SirGyamfi1]

Grand Duchess Maria made British aristocratic women and even Queen Victoria jealous of her dowry and jewels.

[CyrilVladisla]

Hand-coloured albumen photographic print of The Duchess of Kent and Prince Alfred
http://www.rct.uk/collection/search#...ce-alfred-1860

[CyrilVladisla]

Prince Alfred Alexander of Edinburgh in 1876
http://www.rct.uk/collection/2903060...vol-21-1875-77

[SirGyamfi1]

Really a marriage of convenience on both ends, Marie wanted to leave her family after her father’s affair with his mistress and was more in love with Alfred than he was with her and on Alfred’s part, Marie’s dowry paid off his debts and gave a good private income.