Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Princess Alexandra Victoria has arrived in Berlin

October 21, 1908

Princess Alexandra Viktoria of Schleswig-Holstein arrived in Berlin today, one day before her marriage to Kaiser Wilhelm II's fourth son, Prince August Wilhelm. She was "received at the railroad station with a brilliant escort, composed of retainers of the household." The princess was helped into a carriage that brought her to the palace. The streets were lined with "immense crowds" of people who cheered the princess as she was driven through the streets of Berlin.
When she reached the palace, Alexandra Viktoria was welcomed by the Kaiser and Kaiserin, and 50 visiting princes and princesses. The princess and her fiance were the guests of honor at a family dinner, which preceded the signing of the marriage contract.
Prince August Wilhelm, 21, is a 1st Lieutenant of the First Regiments of the Foot Guards. Princess Alexandra is three months younger than her future husband.

Alexandra Viktoria is the second daughter of Duke Friedrich Ferdinand of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and Princess Karoline Mathilde of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenberg.
The bride and groom are first cousins as their mothers are sisters. Another of Alexandra's maternal aunts, Luise Sophie, is married to Prince Friedrich Leopold of Prussia.
Alexandra Viktoria's older sister, Viktoria Adelheid, is married to the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

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