The Year of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz – The life and death of Prince Albert of Prussia (Part one)

Prince Albert of Prussia was born on 4 October 1809 as the fourth surviving son and youngest child of Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Prussia and King Frederick William III of Prussia. His elder siblings were the future Frederick William IV, King of Prussia; the future William I, German Emperor; Charlotte, the future Empress of Russia; Charles; the future Alexandrine, future Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin; and Princess Louise, future Princess Frederick of the Netherlands.

Queen Louise had been quite ill before the birth, with a fever and pains in her chest. Physicians had feared a miscarriage, but a healthy son was born. However, Louise’s recovery was slow.¹ The family was still in Königsberg, having been forced to flee Berlin in 1806 due to Napoleon’s advancing troops. At the end of 1809, the family could finally return to Berlin. In a letter to her brother, Georg, Louise wondered what would become of her children, especially young Albert, “who just crawled out of the egg.” ² Emperor Alexander I of Russia wrote to congratulate them “on the happy delivery of Her Majesty the Queen.” ³

Queen Louise died the following year at the age of 34, leaving behind her husband and seven young children.

The siblings were placed in the care of Princess Maria Anna of Hesse-Homburg, who was married to their uncle, Prince Wilhelm of Prussia, and who became the senior lady of the Prussian court after their mother’s death. Maria Anna, also known as Marianne, was affectionately called Aunt Minnetrost. Albert was described as suffering from a lack of “maternal nest warmth.” ⁴

At the age of ten, Prince Albert joined the 1st Foot Guards Regiment of the Prussian Army as a second lieutenant. While in training, he also had a tutor named Joseph Maria von Radowitz in mathematics and military science.⁵ He was not known to have had any political influence or interest.⁶ He was, however, a devoted soldier, and he had a love of horses. His father once remarked dryly, “Albert would have been a good stablemaster.” ⁷

After Princess Marianne of the Netherlands’s engagement to Gustav, Prince of Vasa, ended in October 1828, Prince Albert put himself forward as a new suitor. They were first cousins, as Marianne’s mother was a Princess of Prussia.⁸

To make his case, Prince Albert wrote to Marianne’s father with the support of his father. King William I of the Netherlands and Marianne responded positively to Albert’s message.⁹ Marianne wrote to Albert’s brother, Crown Prince Frederick William, “One could not be more satisfied than I am now with the prospects that await me, and I consider myself fortunate to be joining a family that is already mine, one that I hold dear. I flatter myself that I will be well received as a sister, where, as a niece, I have already received so many expressions of friendship on all my trips to Berlin.” ¹⁰ A delighted Albert wrote to his future father-in-law promising to do everything to “show me worthy of my happiness and to promote the happiness of Princess Marianne, and God is witness to the sincerity of my intentions in this regard.” ¹¹

According to Marianne, their love had started early. She once wrote, “Our love is old; it began when we were 13!!!” ¹² Later she wrote, “The cousin whom I thought I loved from the age of six, and to whom I enjoyed all the love so abundantly in my parents’ home, I thought I had to put into practice.” ¹³

By November 1829, the two were formally engaged. An engagement party took place at Noordeinde Palace with a grand gala.¹⁴ The wedding took place at Noordeinde Palace on 14 September 1830 despite the civil unrest happening in Brussels. This meant that, on Albert’s side of the family, only his brother William, his wife, Augusta, and his sister, Louise, who had married Marianne’s brother, Frederick, attended.¹⁵ His brother and Prince Frederick acted as witnesses for Albert.¹⁶

Shortly after the wedding, Marianne’s father wrote to King Frederick William III, “My satisfaction would have been complete if Your Majesty could have witnessed the ceremony and shared in the deep impression it made on my heart and on all present: the sight of the two young spouses who, while imploring the blessing of Heaven, make the promises that bind them together forever.” ¹⁷

Albert’s father wrote back, “This union fulfils all my wishes. I see my son’s happiness assured, and I believe that in the wife of his choice, I will find a daughter who deserves my affection and love in everything.” ¹⁸ In early October, Marianne and Albert left for Berlin to start their new lives. Her mother accompanied her until Arnhem.¹⁹

The newlyweds moved into Schönhausen Palace while a palace in the centre of Berlin was still under construction. Although the couple received a warm welcome in Berlin, there were doubts. Prince Albert was known to be violent, ambitious and dissolute. He was known for dalliances with chambermaids, actresses and dancers. He also threatened whoever crossed him with his fists or his riding crop. Reportedly, Marianne also suffered his wrath.²⁰ During a police investigation in 1833, it was reported that Albert visited brothels, threatened servants with beatings, and reportedly gave Marianne a sexually transmitted disease.²¹

Part two coming soon. 

1. Louise, Queen of Prussia by Constance Wright p.217
2. Luise, königin von Preussen, in ihren briefen p.171
3. Briefwechsel König Friedrich Wilhelm’s III und der Königin Luise mit Kaiser Alexander I p.197
4. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.55
5. Frederick William IV And The Prussian Monarchy 1840-1861 by David E. Barclay p.41
6. Frederick William IV And The Prussian Monarchy 1840-1861 by David E. Barclay p.64
7. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.55
8. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.56
9. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.57
10. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.57-58
11. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.57
12. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.56
13. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.56
14. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.60
15. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.66
16. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.67
17. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.69
18. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.69
19. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.70
20. Koning Willem I by Jeroen Koch p.502-503
21. Koning Willem I by Jeroen Koch p.503