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

Read part one here.

Caroline von Rochow, a lady-in-waiting, commented on Albert’s marriage, “He had consistently displayed a kind of childlike love for his cheerful cousin, and he seized the opportunity of her broken engagement to the Prince of Vasa to ask his father for permission to take his place. The King was fond of marriage in general and believed that an early marriage could protect one from all kinds of errors in life. And in this way, one hardly wondered whether such a young husband was capable of leading a lively little being raised in great freedom.” ¹

Albert and Marianne’s first child was born on 21 June 1831 at Schönhausen Palace. It was a daughter who was named Charlotte. Albert was disappointed to learn it was a girl, saying she was of no use to the army.²

In 1832, the couple moved into their newly renovated palace in Berlin, which was named Prinz Albert Palais. For Albert, who loved horses, an indoor riding hall was installed.³ Marianne’s second pregnancy ended in the birth of a stillborn son on 4 December 1832.⁴ The following year, Albert was promoted to Major General and Commander of the 6th cavalry brigade. He often brought home fellow officers.⁵ Marianne’s mother had once described their home as more like barracks.⁶

In January 1835, Albert’s brother William wrote about him, “…For some time now, very bad rumours have been circulating here about Charles and Albert, concerning their immoral behaviour and their visits to unnamed houses. People claimed to have recognised them there, and the landladies even named them when questioned. Butt and I were already debating how we should deal with them, to extricate them from this mire. Then, a conversation with Butt the day before yesterday gave us the opportunity to tell them what was being said about them. Both swear up and down that it’s all slander, and Albert, who was the most vehement, went straight to Rochow [the Minister of Police, who had received the complaint] and to Papa to declare it all slander. We are very glad that the matter has resolved itself in this way. But a thorough investigation must be conducted to find out who misused their names.” ⁷

On 8 May 1837, a healthy son was born, and he was named Albert. He was baptised in their palace on 7 June with his grandfather, King Frederick William III, standing as one of the godparents. ⁸ That same year, Marianne’s mother died, and Marianne travelled to the Netherlands, where she was to spend some time. Albert, meanwhile, would spend the winter with his father. By then, there was tension in the marriage.⁹ Albert was a well-known womaniser, although rumours about Marianne’s own behaviour had begun to circulate. Nevertheless, Marianne proclaimed her innocence to her brothers and said, “I have the energy of a boy, and that is my misfortune.” ¹⁰

Nevertheless, Marianne and Albert managed to reconcile, at least long enough for Marianne to become pregnant again. On 27 August 1840, a daughter named Elisabeth was born at the new Kamieniec Ząbkowicki Palace. Tragically, the little girl died on 9 October 1840 of a “cruel disease.” ¹¹ Finally, on 1 February 1842, Marianne gave birth to her final child with Albert, a daughter named Alexandrine.¹²

However, by then her marriage was almost completely over. One observer noted, “I don’t know which of the two spouses found this tedious at first; soon a restless, tormented nature began to develop within this domestic life, with the death of the late King [King Frederick William III, who died in 1840], the last holdout disappeared, and separation became inevitable.” ¹³

In August 1842, Marianne and Albert had a bitter row about Albert’s mistress, Rosalie von Rauch. She was also Marianne’s lady-in-waiting. Albert was quite open about his relationship with Rosalie, and even paraded her in front of his wife and children, much to Marianne’s humiliation. In the best interest of the children, Marianne offered Albert an official separation – not a divorce – if she received full custody of the children.¹⁴ He appeared to be receptive to the idea and said he would discuss it with her father. However, two weeks later, he accused her of adultery, likely intended to distract from his own adulterous relationship.¹⁵

Marianne wrote to Queen Elisabeth, “What I feel for my husband is sincere pity that he could sink so low, by accusing his wife, the mother of his children and for whom?” […] If there were the slightest truth in this accusation, I would be the most shameless wife alive; but thank God, I have the audacity of virtue. […] If I now insist more than ever on a separation, I wish to prove that he has no right whatever to demand the dissolution of the marriage, which I will never consent to for the sake of the children. I commend them to you, dear Elise, these poor, unhappy creatures whose fate is sad because of the discord between their parents.” ¹⁶

Albert’s brother, King Frederick William IV of Prussia (who had succeeded his father in 1840), was very concerned about the whole matter. One observer wrote, “The prince had already left his wife in the summer and demanded a divorce from the marriage. The princess, supported by her father, protested against her husband’s actions. Now her father, and immediately thereafter she herself, had arrived in Berlin. […] Upon news of her arrival, the prince had left Berlin hastily and had since been in Glienicke, with Prince Charles.” ¹⁷ The King sent Albert away on a trip to Egypt from February until August 1843 while Marianne waited.¹⁸ During this trip, he also visited Jerusalem, and he ended up travelling incognito to avoid being refused royal honours such as a salute.¹⁹

Their reunion in August was not a happy one, and Marianne departed for Italy on account of her health.²⁰ She and Albert’s children were sent into the custody of King Frederick William IV and Queen Elisabeth. To her brother-in-law, William, Marianne wrote that she wanted to prevent a scandal but “I no longer want to be a slave.” ²¹ Meanwhile, the King worked on an arrangement that would prove beneficial for both Albert and Marianne.

Part three coming soon.

1. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.74
2. Koning Willem I by Jeroen Koch p.503
3. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.85
4. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.86
5. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.86
6. Koning Willem I by Jeroen Koch p.503
7. Prinz Wilhelm von Preußen an Charlotte : Briefe 1817-1860 p.178
8. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.88
9. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.91
10. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.91-92
11. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.92
12. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.92
13. Marianne van Preuβen by Annette Dopatka p.25-26
14. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.99
15. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.100
16. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.101
17. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.102
18. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.100
19. Zion before Zionism, 1838-1880 by Arnold Blumberg p.49
20. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.104
21. Prinses Marianne by Arnout van Cruyningen p.104