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	Her family had been relatively obscure until her father was chosen with the consent of the ]s to succeed his distant cousin to the Danish throne. At the age of sixteen she was chosen as the future wife of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, the heir of ], and married him eighteen-months later. As ] from 1863 to 1901, the longest anyone has ever held that title, she won the hearts of the British people and became immensely popular; her style of dress and bearing were copied by fashion-conscious women.		Her family had been relatively obscure until her father was chosen with the consent of the ]s to succeed his distant cousin to the Danish throne. At the age of sixteen she was chosen as the future wife of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, the heir of ], and married him eighteen-months later. As ] from 1863 to 1901, the longest anyone has ever held that title, she won the hearts of the British people and became immensely popular; her style of dress and bearing were copied by fashion-conscious women.

	From 1910, until her death, she was the ], being a queen and the mother of the reigning monarch, ], though she was more generally styled ''Her Majesty'' '''Queen Alexandra'''.		On the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, Albert Edward became King-Emperor as Edward VII, with Alexandra as Queen-Empress Consort. From Edward's death in 1910 until her own death, she was the ], being a queen and the mother of the reigning monarch, ], though she was more generally styled ''Her Majesty'' '''Queen Alexandra'''.

	== Early life ==		== Early life ==
	]		]
	'''Princess Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia''', or "'''Alix'''", as she was known within the family, was born at the ], an 18th-century town house at 18 Amaliegade, right next to the ] complex in ].<ref name="Eilers"/> Her father was ] and her mother was Princess ].<ref name="Royal">Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh - ''Burke's Royal Families of the World, vol.1'', p.70</ref> Although she was of princely blood,<ref>Her mother and father were both great-grandchildren of King ] and great-great-grandchildren of King ].</ref> her family lived a comparatively normal life. They did not possess great wealth; her father's income was about ]800 per year and their house was a rent-free grace and favour property.<ref>Duff, pp.16–17</ref> Occasionally, ] would call and tell the children stories before bedtime.<ref>Duff, p.18</ref>		'''Princess Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia''', or "'''Alix'''", as she was known within the family, was born at the ], an 18th-century town house at 18 Amaliegade, right next to the ] complex in ].<ref name="Eilers"/> Her father was ] and her mother was Princess ].<ref name="Royal">Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh - ''Burke's Royal Families of the World, vol.1'', p.70</ref> Although she was of princely blood,<ref>Her mother and father were both great-grandchildren of King ] and great-great-grandchildren of King ].</ref> her family lived a comparatively normal life. They did not possess great wealth; her father's income was about ]800 per year and their house was a rent-free grace and favour property.<ref>Duff, pp.16–17</ref> Occasionally, ] would call and tell the children stories before bedtime.<ref>Duff, p.18</ref>

	In 1848, the King ] died and his only son, ] ascended the throne. Frederick was childless, had been through two unsuccessful marriages and was assumed to be infertile. A succession crisis arose as Frederick ruled in both ] and ], and the succession rules of each were different. In Holstein, the ] prevented inheritance through the female line, whereas no such restrictions applied in Denmark. Holstein, being predominantly German, proclaimed independence and called in the aid of ]. In 1852, the ] called a conference in ] to discuss the Danish succession. An uneasy peace was agreed, which included the provision that Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg would be Frederick's heir in all his dominions and the prior claims of others (who included Christian's own ], ] and wife) were surrendered.<ref>Battiscombe, p.8</ref><ref>]; Louda, Jiří (1999). ''Lines of Succession'' (London: Little, Brown). ISBN 0-85605-469-1. p.49</ref>		In 1848, the King ] died and his only son, ] ascended the throne. Frederick was childless, had been through two unsuccessful marriages and was assumed to be infertile. A succession crisis arose as Frederick ruled in both ] and ], and the succession rules of each were different. In Holstein, the ] prevented inheritance through the female line, whereas no such restrictions applied in Denmark. Holstein, being predominantly German, proclaimed independence and called in the aid of ]. In 1852, the ] called a conference in ] to discuss the Danish succession. An uneasy peace was agreed, which included the provision that Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg would be Frederick's heir in all his dominions and the prior claims of others (who included Christian's own ], ] and wife) were surrendered.<ref>Battiscombe, p.8</ref><ref>]; Louda, Jiří (1999). ''Lines of Succession'' (London: Little, Brown). ISBN 0-85605-469-1. p.49</ref>

	Prince Christian was given the title Prince of Denmark and his family moved into a new official residence, ]. Although the family's status had risen, there was no or little increase in their income and they did not participate in court life at Copenhagen as they refused to meet Frederick's third wife, ], his former mistress, who had an illegitimate child by a previous lover.<ref>Duff, pp.19–20</ref> Alexandra shared a draughty attic bedroom with her sister, ], made her own clothes and waited at table along with her sisters.<ref name=priestley>Priestley, p.17</ref> At Bernstorff, Alexandra grew into a young woman; she was taught ] by the English chaplain at Copenhagen and was confirmed in ].<ref>Duff, p.21</ref> Alexandra was devout throughout her life, and followed ] beliefs.<ref>Battiscombe, p.125</ref>		Prince Christian was given the title Prince of Denmark and his family moved into a new official residence, ]. Although the family's status had risen, there was no or little increase in their income and they did not participate in court life at Copenhagen as they refused to meet Frederick's third wife, ], his former mistress, who had an illegitimate child by a previous lover.<ref>Duff, pp.19–20</ref> Alexandra shared a draughty attic bedroom with her sister, ], made her own clothes and waited at table along with her sisters.<ref name=priestley>Priestley, p.17</ref> At Bernstorff, Alexandra grew into a young woman; she was taught ] by the English chaplain at Copenhagen and was confirmed in ].<ref>Duff, p.21</ref> Alexandra was devout throughout her life, and followed ] beliefs.<ref>Battiscombe, pp.125 and 176</ref>

	==Marriage and family==		==Marriage and family==
	] and her husband, ], were already concerned with finding a bride for their son and heir, Albert Edward, ], and enlisted the aid of their daughter, ], in seeking a suitable candidate. Although Alexandra ~~of Denmark~~ was not their first choice, since the Danes were at loggerheads with the Prussians over the ] and most of the ]'s relations were German, eventually they settled on her as "the only one to be chosen".<ref>Prince Albert quoted in Duff, p.31</ref>		] and her husband, ], were already concerned with finding a bride for their son and heir, Albert Edward, ], and enlisted the aid of their daughter, ], in seeking a suitable candidate. Although Alexandra was not their first choice, since the Danes were at loggerheads with the Prussians over the ] and most of the ]'s relations were German, eventually they settled on her as "the only one to be chosen".<ref>Prince Albert quoted in Duff, p.31</ref>

	On ], ], ~~Bertie~~'s sister, the ], introduced ~~Bertie~~ and ~~Alix~~ at ], but it was not until ] ] (after his affair with ] and the death of his father), that ~~Bertie~~ proposed to ~~Alix~~ at the ], the home of his uncle, ].<ref>Battiscombe, pp.27–37; Bentley-Cranch, p.44 and Duff, p.43</ref>		On ], ], Albert Edward's sister, the ], introduced Albert Edward and Alexandra at ], but it was not until ] ] (after his affair with ] and the death of his father), that Albert Edward proposed to Alexandra at the ], the home of his uncle, ].<ref>Battiscombe, pp.27–37; Bentley-Cranch, p.44 and Duff, p.43</ref>

	] (], ])]]		] (], ])]]

	A few months later, ~~Alix~~ travelled from Denmark to the United Kingdom aboard the ] for her marriage and arrived in ] on ] ].<ref>, National Portrait Gallery.</ref> ] composed music for her arrival and ], the Poet Laureate, wrote an ode in Alexandra's honour:		A few months later, Alexandra travelled from Denmark to the United Kingdom aboard the ] for her marriage and arrived in ] on ] ].<ref>, National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved on 7 August 2008</ref> ] composed music for her arrival and ], the Poet Laureate, wrote an ode in Alexandra's honour:

	{{cquotetxt\|Sea King's daughter from over the sea,<br />		{{cquotetxt\|Sea King's daughter from over the sea,<br />
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	But all of us Danes in our welcome of thee,<br />		But all of us Danes in our welcome of thee,<br />
	Alexandra!<br />		Alexandra!<br />
	\|''Welcome to Alexandra'', ]~~<ref></ref>~~}}		\|''Welcome to Alexandra'', ]}}

	The couple were married on ] ] at ] by ], the ].<ref>Her bridesmaids were The Ladies ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].</ref> The choice of venue was criticised in the press (as it was outside London large public crowds would not be able to view the spectacle), by prospective guests (it was awkward to get to and, as the venue was small, some people who had expected invitations were not invited) and the Danes (as only Alexandra's closest relations were invited). The court was still in mourning for Prince Albert, so ladies were restricted to wearing grey, lilac or mauve.<ref>Duff, p.48–50</ref> They were seen off on their honeymoon at ] on the ] by the schoolboys of neighbouring ], including ].<ref>Duff, p.60</ref>		The couple were married on ] ] at ] by ], the ].<ref>Her bridesmaids were The Ladies ], ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].</ref> The choice of venue was criticised in the press (as it was outside London large public crowds would not be able to view the spectacle), by prospective guests (it was awkward to get to and, as the venue was small, some people who had expected invitations were not invited) and the Danes (as only Alexandra's closest relations were invited). The court was still in mourning for Prince Albert, so ladies were restricted to wearing grey, lilac or mauve.<ref>Duff, p.48–50</ref> They were seen off on their honeymoon at ] on the ] by the schoolboys of neighbouring ], including ].<ref>Duff, p.60</ref>

	By the end of the following year, her father ascended the throne of Denmark, ] became ], ] was engaged to the ],<ref>He died within a few months of the engagement and she married his brother, ], instead.</ref> and Alexandra gave birth to her first child. Her father's accession gave rise to ]; the ] invaded and Denmark was defeated, reducing the area of Denmark by two-fifths. Alexandra's first child, Albert Victor, was born two months prematurely in early 1864. Alexandra was devoted to her children: "She was in her glory when she could run up to the nursery, put on a flannel apron, wash the children herself and see them asleep in their little beds."<ref>Mrs. Blackburn, the head nurse, quoted in Duff, p.115</ref> Albert Edward and Alexandra had six children in total:		By the end of the following year, her father ascended the throne of Denmark, ] became ], ] was engaged to the ],<ref>He died within a few months of the engagement and she married his brother, ], instead.</ref> and Alexandra gave birth to her first child. Her father's accession gave rise to ]; the ] invaded and Denmark was defeated, reducing the area of Denmark by two-fifths. The ]n conquest of the formerly Danish lands heightened Alexandra's profound dislike of the Germans, a feeling which stayed with her for the rest of her life.

			Alexandra's first child, Albert Victor, was born two months prematurely in early 1864. Alexandra was devoted to her children: "She was in her glory when she could run up to the nursery, put on a flannel apron, wash the children herself and see them asleep in their little beds."<ref>Mrs. Blackburn, the head nurse, quoted in Duff, p.115</ref> Albert Edward and Alexandra had six children in total:
	{\| class="wikitable"		{\| class="wikitable"
	!Name!!Birth!!Death!!Marriage		!Name!!Birth!!Death!!Marriage
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	For eight months over 1875–6, the Prince of Wales was absent from Britain on a tour of India, but to her dismay Alexandra was left behind. The Prince had planned an all-male group and intended to spend much of the time hunting and shooting. During the Prince's tour, one of his friends who was travelling with him, ], was told by his wife that she was going to leave him for another man: ], who was himself married. Aylesford was appalled and decided to seek a divorce. Meanwhile, Lord Blandford's brother, ], persuaded the lovers against an elopement. Now concerned by the threat of divorce, Lady Aylesford sought to dissuade her husband from proceeding but Lord Aylesford was adamant and refused to reconsider. In an attempt to pressure Lord Aylesford to drop his divorce suit, Lady Aylesford and Lord Randolph Churchill called on Alexandra and told her that if the divorce was to proceed they would subpoena her husband as a witness and implicate him in the scandal. Distressed at their threats, and following the advice of ] and ], Alexandra informed the Queen, who then wrote to the Prince of Wales. The Prince was incensed. Eventually, the Blandfords and the Aylesfords both separated privately. Although Lord Randolph Churchill later apologised, for years afterwards the Prince of Wales refused to speak to or see him.<ref>Battiscombe, pp.132–135</ref>		For eight months over 1875–6, the Prince of Wales was absent from Britain on a tour of India, but to her dismay Alexandra was left behind. The Prince had planned an all-male group and intended to spend much of the time hunting and shooting. During the Prince's tour, one of his friends who was travelling with him, ], was told by his wife that she was going to leave him for another man: ], who was himself married. Aylesford was appalled and decided to seek a divorce. Meanwhile, Lord Blandford's brother, ], persuaded the lovers against an elopement. Now concerned by the threat of divorce, Lady Aylesford sought to dissuade her husband from proceeding but Lord Aylesford was adamant and refused to reconsider. In an attempt to pressure Lord Aylesford to drop his divorce suit, Lady Aylesford and Lord Randolph Churchill called on Alexandra and told her that if the divorce was to proceed they would subpoena her husband as a witness and implicate him in the scandal. Distressed at their threats, and following the advice of ] and ], Alexandra informed the Queen, who then wrote to the Prince of Wales. The Prince was incensed. Eventually, the Blandfords and the Aylesfords both separated privately. Although Lord Randolph Churchill later apologised, for years afterwards the Prince of Wales refused to speak to or see him.<ref>Battiscombe, pp.132–135</ref>

			Alexandra spent the spring of 1877 in Greece recuperating from a period of ill health and visiting her brother King George of the Hellenes.<ref>Battiscombe, p.136</ref> During the ], Alexandra was clearly partial against Turkey and towards Russia, where her sister was married to the Tsarevitch, and she lobbied for a revision of the border between Greece and Turkey in favour of the Greeks.<ref>Battiscombe, pp.150–152</ref> Alexandra and her two sons spent the next three years largely parted from each other's company as the boys were sent on a worldwide cruise as part of their naval and general education. The farewell was very tearful and, as shown by her regular letters, she missed them dreadfully.<ref>Battiscombe, pp.155–156</ref>
⚫	In 1881, Alexandra and Albert Edward travelled to ] after the assassination of ], so that Alexandra could provide comfort to her sister, who was now the ], and to represent Britain.<ref>Duff, p.131</ref> Alexandra undertook many public duties; in the words of Queen Victoria, "to spare me the strain and fatigue of functions. She opens bazaars, attends concerts, visits hospitals in my place ... she not only never complains, but endeavours to prove that she has enjoyed what to another would be a tiresome duty."<ref>Queen Victoria quoted in Duff, p.146</ref> She took a particular interest in the London Hospital, visiting it regularly. ], the so-called "Elephant Man", was one of the patients whom she visited.<ref>Duff, pp.148–151</ref>

		⚫	In 1881, Alexandra and Albert Edward travelled to ] after the assassination of ], so that Alexandra could provide comfort to her sister, who was now the ], and to represent Britain.<ref>Battiscombe, pp.157–160 and Duff, p.131</ref> Alexandra undertook many public duties; in the words of Queen Victoria, "to spare me the strain and fatigue of functions. She opens bazaars, attends concerts, visits hospitals in my place ... she not only never complains, but endeavours to prove that she has enjoyed what to another would be a tiresome duty."<ref>Queen Victoria quoted in Duff, p.146</ref> She took a particular interest in the London Hospital, visiting it regularly. ], the so-called "Elephant Man", was one of the patients whom she visited.<ref>Duff, pp.148–151</ref>

			Crowds usually cheered Alexandra rapturously,<ref>Battiscombe, p.166</ref> but during a visit to Ireland in 1885, she suffered a rare moment of public hostility when visiting the ]. She, and her husband, were booed by a crowd of two or three thousand people brandishing sticks and black flags. She smiled her way through the ordeal, and the British press still portrayed the visit in a positive light, describing the crowds as "enthusiastic".<ref>'']'' quoted in Battiscombe, p.168</ref> As part of the same visit, she received a Doctorate in Music from ].<ref>Battiscombe, p.167</ref>

			In 1890, Alexandra wrote a memorandum, distributed to senior British ministers and military personnel, warning against the planned exchange of the British ] island of ] for the German colony of ], pointing out the island's strategic significance and that it could be used either by Germany to launch an attack, or by Britain to contain German aggression.<ref>Battiscombe, pp.176–179</ref> Despite this, the exchange went ahead anyway. The Germans fortified the island and, in the words of ] and as Alexandra had predicted, it "became the keystone of Germany's maritime position for offence as well as for defence".<ref>Ensor, p.194</ref>

	The death of her eldest son, ], in 1892 was a serious blow to the tender-hearted Alexandra, and his room and possessions were kept exactly as he had left them, much as those of ] were left after his death in 1861.<ref>Duff, p.184</ref> She said, "I have buried my angel and with him my happiness."<ref>Alexandra quoted in Duff, p.186</ref> In 1894, her brother-in-law, ], died and her nephew, ] became ]. The widowed ], Alexandra's sister, leant heavily on her for support; Alexandra slept, prayed and stayed beside her sister for the next two weeks until Alexander's burial.<ref>Duff, pp.196–197</ref>		The death of her eldest son, ], in 1892 was a serious blow to the tender-hearted Alexandra, and his room and possessions were kept exactly as he had left them, much as those of ] were left after his death in 1861.<ref>Duff, p.184</ref> She said, "I have buried my angel and with him my happiness."<ref>Alexandra quoted in Duff, p.186</ref> Surviving letters between Alexandra and her children indicate that they were mutually devoted.<ref>Battiscombe, pp.141–142</ref> In 1894, her brother-in-law, ], died and her nephew, ] became ]. The widowed ], Alexandra's sister, leant heavily on her for support; Alexandra slept, prayed and stayed beside her sister for the next two weeks until Alexander's burial.<ref>Duff, pp.196–197</ref>

	==Queen Alexandra==		==Queen Alexandra==
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	]		]

	~~As Queen from 1901 to 1910,~~ Alexandra was ~~greatly~~ ~~loved by the British people.<ref>Duff, p.215</ref> During the ], she founded ], which became known as the "Q.A.s". She had a distinct dislike~~ of ~~the~~ Germans~~, a hatred that stemmed from the Prussian conquest of the formerly Danish lands ] and ] during the ] in 1864~~. For this reason, biographers have asserted that she was denied access to the King's briefing papers and excluded from some of the King's foreign tours in order to prevent her meddling in diplomatic matters.<ref>Duff, pp.225–227</ref> The '']'' was outspoken in its condemnation of Alexandra and her sister, Dagmar, Dowager Empress of Russia, saying that the pair were "the centre of the international anti-German conspiracy".<ref>Quoted in Duff, p.234</ref> She despised and distrusted her nephew, ], calling him in 1900 "inwardly our enemy".<ref>Duff, pp.207 and 239</ref>		Alexandra was deeply distrustful of Germans. For this reason, biographers have asserted that she was denied access to the King's briefing papers and excluded from some of the King's foreign tours in order to prevent her meddling in diplomatic matters.<ref>Duff, pp.225–227</ref> The '']'' was outspoken in its condemnation of Alexandra and her sister, Dagmar, Dowager Empress of Russia, saying that the pair were "the centre of the international anti-German conspiracy".<ref>Quoted in Duff, p.234</ref> She despised and distrusted her nephew, ], calling him in 1900 "inwardly our enemy".<ref>Duff, pp.207 and 239</ref>

	In 1907, Alexandra and Dagmar purchased a villa north of Copenhagen, Hvidore, as a private getaway.<ref>Duff, pp.239–240</ref> In 1910, Alexandra was visiting her brother, George I of Greece, in ] when she received news that the King was seriously ill. Alexandra returned at once and arrived just the day before her husband died. In his last hours, she personally administered him oxygen from a gas cylinder to help him breathe.<ref>Duff, pp.249–250</ref> She told ], "I feel as if I had been turned into stone, unable to cry, unable to grasp the meaning of it all."<ref>Ponsonby's memoirs quoted in Duff, p.251</ref> Later that year, she moved out of ] to ], but she retained possession of Sandringham;<ref>Windsor, p.77</ref> she did not attend her son's coronation in 1911 but otherwise continued the public side of her life, devoting time to her charitable causes, one of the most notable being ], where artificial roses made by the disabled were sold in aid of hospitals by women volunteers.<ref>Duff, pp.251–257 and 260</ref>		In 1907, Alexandra and Dagmar purchased a villa north of Copenhagen, Hvidore, as a private getaway.<ref>Duff, pp.239–240</ref> In 1910, Alexandra was visiting her brother, George I of Greece, in ] when she received news that the King was seriously ill. Alexandra returned at once and arrived just the day before her husband died. In his last hours, she personally administered him oxygen from a gas cylinder to help him breathe.<ref>Duff, pp.249–250</ref> She told ], "I feel as if I had been turned into stone, unable to cry, unable to grasp the meaning of it all."<ref>Ponsonby's memoirs quoted in Duff, p.251</ref> Later that year, she moved out of ] to ], but she retained possession of Sandringham;<ref>Windsor, p.77</ref> she did not attend her son's coronation in 1911 but otherwise continued the public side of her life, devoting time to her charitable causes, one of the most notable being ], where artificial roses made by the disabled were sold in aid of hospitals by women volunteers.<ref>Duff, pp.251–257 and 260</ref>
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	==Legacy==		==Legacy==
	]		]
	Alexandra was highly popular with the public.<ref name=priestley /><ref>Battiscombe, pp.66–68, 85 and 120</ref> Unlike her husband and mother-in-law, she was not castigated by the press.<ref>Duff, pp.113, 163 and 192</ref> Funds that she helped to collect were used to ~~fit out~~ a ~~hospital~~ ~~ship~~ to ~~bring~~ ~~back~~ wounded ~~from~~ the ~~Boer~~ War, ~~which~~ ~~was~~ named ''The Princess of Wales'' in ~~her~~ ~~honour~~.<ref>Duff, p.206</ref> ] in ], the ] in ], the original ] in ] and ] in ] are named after her.		Alexandra was highly popular with the British public.<ref name=priestley /><ref>Battiscombe, pp.66–68, 85 and 120, and Duff, p.215</ref> Unlike her husband and mother-in-law, she was not castigated by the press.<ref>Duff, pp.113, 163 and 192</ref> Funds that she helped to collect were used to buy a river launch, called ''Alexandra'', to ferry the wounded during the ],<ref>Battiscombe, p.169</ref> and to fit out a hospital ship, named ''The Princess of Wales'', to bring back wounded from the ].<ref>Duff, p.206</ref> Also during the Boer War, she founded ], which became known as the "Q.A.s". ] in ], the ] in ], the original ] in ] and ] in ] are named after her.

	Alexandra hid a small scar on her neck, which was likely the result of a childhood operation,<ref>], who was a doctor, quoted in Duff, p.37</ref> by wearing ] necklaces and high necklines, setting fashions which were adopted for fifty years.<ref>Battiscombe, pp.24–25</ref> Alexandra's effect on fashion was so profound that society ladies even copied her limping gait after her serious illness in 1867 left her with a stiff leg.<ref>Battiscombe, p.92</ref>		Alexandra hid a small scar on her neck, which was likely the result of a childhood operation,<ref>], who was a doctor, quoted in Duff, p.37</ref> by wearing ] necklaces and high necklines, setting fashions which were adopted for fifty years.<ref>Battiscombe, pp.24–25</ref> Alexandra's effect on fashion was so profound that society ladies even copied her limping gait after her serious illness in 1867 left her with a stiff leg.<ref>Battiscombe, p.92</ref>
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	{{infobox consortstyles\|royal name=Queen Alexandra\|image=]\|dipstyle=Her Majesty\|offstyle=Your Majesty\|altstyle=Ma'am}}		{{infobox consortstyles\|royal name=Queen Alexandra\|image=]\|dipstyle=Her Majesty\|offstyle=Your Majesty\|altstyle=Ma'am}}
	===Titles and styles===		===Titles and styles===
	*'''] ] – ] ]<ref></ref>''': ''Her Serene Highness'' Princess Alexandra of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg		*'''] ] – ] ] <ref name=bp>] (1977). Burke's Royal Families of the World, Volume 1. London: ]. ISBN 0-220-66222-3. p.69</ref>''': ''Her Serene Highness'' Princess Alexandra of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
	*'''] ] – ] ]<ref>~~{{cite~~ ~~book~~		*'''] ] – ] ]<ref name=bp/>''': ''Her Highness'' Princess Alexandra of Denmark
	\| editor = Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh
	\| title = Burke's Royal Families of the World, Volume 1
	\| publisher = ]
	\| location = ]
	\| year = 1977
	\| id = ISBN 0-220-66222-3
	}}</ref>''': ''Her Highness'' Princess Alexandra of Denmark
	*'''] ] – ] ]''': ''Her Royal Highness'' Princess Alexandra of Denmark		*'''] ] – ] ]''': ''Her Royal Highness'' Princess Alexandra of Denmark
	*'''] ] – ] ]''': ''Her Royal Highness'' The Princess of Wales		*'''] ] – ] ]''': ''Her Royal Highness'' The Princess of Wales
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	*{{cite book\|last=Bentley-Cranch\|first=Dana\|title=Edward VII: Image of an Era 1841-1910\|publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office\|location=London\|year=1992\|isbn=0-112-90508-0}}		*{{cite book\|last=Bentley-Cranch\|first=Dana\|title=Edward VII: Image of an Era 1841-1910\|publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office\|location=London\|year=1992\|isbn=0-112-90508-0}}
	*{{cite book\|author=Duff, David\|title=Alexandra: Princess and Queen\|location=London\|publisher=Collins\|year=1980\|isbn=0-002-16667-4}}		*{{cite book\|author=Duff, David\|title=Alexandra: Princess and Queen\|location=London\|publisher=Collins\|year=1980\|isbn=0-002-16667-4}}
	*{{cite book\|last=~~Priestley~~\|first=J. B.\|authorlink=~~J. B.~~ ~~Priestley~~\|title=~~The~~ ~~Edwardians~~\|publisher=~~Heinemann\|location=London\|year=1970\|isbn=434-60332-5~~}}		*{{cite book\|last=Ensor\|first=R. C. K.\|authorlink=Robert Ensor\|year=1936\|title=England 1870–1914\|publisher=Oxford University Press}}
			*{{cite book\|last=Priestley\|first=J. B.\|authorlink=J. B. Priestley\|title=The Edwardians\|publisher=Heinemann\|location=London\|year=1970\|isbn=0-434-60332-5}}
	*{{cite book\|last=Windsor\|first=The Duke of\|authorlink=Edward VIII of the United Kingdom\|title=A King's Story: The Memoirs of H.R.H. The Duke of Windsor K.G.\|location=London\|publisher=Cassell and Co\|year=1951}}		*{{cite book\|last=Windsor\|first=The Duke of\|authorlink=Edward VIII of the United Kingdom\|title=A King's Story: The Memoirs of H.R.H. The Duke of Windsor K.G.\|location=London\|publisher=Cassell and Co\|year=1951}}

Revision as of 07:18, 8 August 2008

This page is about the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom. For the article about the ex-wife of Prince Joachim of Denmark, see Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg.

Alexandra of Denmark

Queen Consort of the United Kingdom
Empress consort of India

Tenure

22 January 1901 – 6 May 1910

Coronation

9 August 1902

Burial

28 November 1925
St George's Chapel, Windsor

Spouse

Edward VII

Issue

Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence
George V
Louise, Princess Royal
Princess Victoria Alexandra
Maud of Wales
Prince Alexander John

Names
Alexandra Carolina Marie Charlotte Louise Julia

House

House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
House of Oldenburg

Father

Christian IX of Denmark

Mother

Louise of Hesse-Cassel

Alexandra of Denmark (Alexandra Carolina Marie Charlotte Louise Julia; 1 December 1844 – 20 November 1925) was Queen Consort to Edward VII of the United Kingdom and thus Empress of India during her husband's reign, 1901 to 1910.

Her family had been relatively obscure until her father was chosen with the consent of the Great powers to succeed his distant cousin to the Danish throne. At the age of sixteen she was chosen as the future wife of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, the heir of Queen Victoria, and married him eighteen-months later. As Princess of Wales from 1863 to 1901, the longest anyone has ever held that title, she won the hearts of the British people and became immensely popular; her style of dress and bearing were copied by fashion-conscious women.

On the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, Albert Edward became King-Emperor as Edward VII, with Alexandra as Queen-Empress Consort. From Edward's death in 1910 until her own death, she was the Queen Mother, being a queen and the mother of the reigning monarch, George V of the United Kingdom, though she was more generally styled Her Majesty Queen Alexandra.

Early life

Princess Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia, or "Alix", as she was known within the family, was born at the Yellow Palace, an 18th-century town house at 18 Amaliegade, right next to the Amalienborg Palace complex in Copenhagen. Her father was Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and her mother was Princess Louise of Hesse-Cassel. Although she was of princely blood, her family lived a comparatively normal life. They did not possess great wealth; her father's income was about £800 per year and their house was a rent-free grace and favour property. Occasionally, Hans Christian Andersen would call and tell the children stories before bedtime.

In 1848, the King Christian VIII of Denmark died and his only son, Frederick ascended the throne. Frederick was childless, had been through two unsuccessful marriages and was assumed to be infertile. A succession crisis arose as Frederick ruled in both Denmark and Schleswig-Holstein, and the succession rules of each were different. In Holstein, the Salic law prevented inheritance through the female line, whereas no such restrictions applied in Denmark. Holstein, being predominantly German, proclaimed independence and called in the aid of Prussia. In 1852, the Great Powers called a conference in London to discuss the Danish succession. An uneasy peace was agreed, which included the provision that Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg would be Frederick's heir in all his dominions and the prior claims of others (who included Christian's own mother-in-law, brother-in-law and wife) were surrendered.

Prince Christian was given the title Prince of Denmark and his family moved into a new official residence, Bernstorff Palace. Although the family's status had risen, there was no or little increase in their income and they did not participate in court life at Copenhagen as they refused to meet Frederick's third wife, Louise Rasmussen, his former mistress, who had an illegitimate child by a previous lover. Alexandra shared a draughty attic bedroom with her sister, Dagmar, made her own clothes and waited at table along with her sisters. At Bernstorff, Alexandra grew into a young woman; she was taught English by the English chaplain at Copenhagen and was confirmed in Christiansborg Palace. Alexandra was devout throughout her life, and followed High Church beliefs.

Marriage and family

Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and her husband, Prince Albert, were already concerned with finding a bride for their son and heir, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, and enlisted the aid of their daughter, Crown Princess Victoria of Prussia, in seeking a suitable candidate. Although Alexandra was not their first choice, since the Danes were at loggerheads with the Prussians over the Schleswig-Holstein Question and most of the British royal family's relations were German, eventually they settled on her as "the only one to be chosen".

On 24 September, 1861, Albert Edward's sister, the Crown Princess of Prussia, introduced Albert Edward and Alexandra at Speyer, but it was not until 9 September 1862 (after his affair with Nellie Clifden and the death of his father), that Albert Edward proposed to Alexandra at the Royal Castle of Laeken, the home of his uncle, Leopold I of Belgium.

*The Landing of H.R.H. the Princess Alexandra at Gravesend, March 7 1863*, by Henry Nelson O'Neil (1864, National Maritime Museum)

A few months later, Alexandra travelled from Denmark to the United Kingdom aboard the HMY Victoria and Albert II for her marriage and arrived in Gravesend, Kent on 7 March 1863. Sir Arthur Sullivan composed music for her arrival and Alfred Tennyson, the Poet Laureate, wrote an ode in Alexandra's honour:

Sea King's daughter from over the sea,

Alexandra!
Saxon and Norman and Dane are we,
But all of us Danes in our welcome of thee,
Alexandra!

— Welcome to Alexandra, Alfred Tennyson

The couple were married on 10 March 1863 at St George's Chapel, Windsor by Thomas Longley, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The choice of venue was criticised in the press (as it was outside London large public crowds would not be able to view the spectacle), by prospective guests (it was awkward to get to and, as the venue was small, some people who had expected invitations were not invited) and the Danes (as only Alexandra's closest relations were invited). The court was still in mourning for Prince Albert, so ladies were restricted to wearing grey, lilac or mauve. They were seen off on their honeymoon at Osborne on the Isle of Wight by the schoolboys of neighbouring Eton College, including Lord Randolph Churchill.

By the end of the following year, her father ascended the throne of Denmark, her brother became King of the Hellenes, her sister was engaged to the Tsarevitch of Russia, and Alexandra gave birth to her first child. Her father's accession gave rise to further conflict over the fate of Schleswig-Holstein; the German Confederation invaded and Denmark was defeated, reducing the area of Denmark by two-fifths. The Prussian conquest of the formerly Danish lands heightened Alexandra's profound dislike of the Germans, a feeling which stayed with her for the rest of her life.

Alexandra's first child, Albert Victor, was born two months prematurely in early 1864. Alexandra was devoted to her children: "She was in her glory when she could run up to the nursery, put on a flannel apron, wash the children herself and see them asleep in their little beds." Albert Edward and Alexandra had six children in total:

Name	Birth	Death	Marriage
Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence	8 January 1864	14 January 1892	No issue.
King George V	3 June 1865	20 January 1936	Mary of Teck (26 May 1867 – 24 March 1953) Had issue.
Princess Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife	20 February 1867	4 January 1931	Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife (10 November 1849 – 12 January 1912) Had issue.
Princess Victoria Alexandra	6 July 1868	3 December, 1935	No issue.
Princess Maud	26 November, 1869	20 November 1938	Prince Carl of Denmark, later King Haakon VII of Norway (3 August 1872 – 21 September 1957) Had issue.
Prince Alexander John	6 April 1871	7 April 1871

In public Alexandra was dignified and charming, and in private affectionate and jolly. She enjoyed many social activities, including dancing and ice-skating, and was an expert horsewoman and tandem driver. Even after the birth of her first child, she continued to behave much as before, which led to some friction between the Queen and the young couple, exacerbated by Alexandra's loathing of Germans and the Queen's partiality towards them. All of Alexandra's children were born prematurely; during the birth of her third child in 1867 the added complication of a bout of rheumatic fever threatened her life and she was left with a permanent limp. An increasing degree of deafness, caused by hereditary otosclerosis, led to social isolation; Alexandra spent more time at home with her children and pets. Her sixth and final pregnancy ended in tragedy when her infant son died after only a day of life. Despite Alexandra's pleas for privacy, Queen Victoria insisted on announcing a period of court mourning, which led to unsympathetic elements of the press to describe the birth as "a wretched abortion" and the funeral arrangements as "sickening mummery".

Princess of Wales

Albert Edward and Alexandra visited Ireland in April 1868. After her illness the previous year, she had only just begun to walk again without the aid of two walking sticks, and was already pregnant with her fourth child. They undertook a six-month tour taking in Austria, Egypt and Greece over 1868–9, which included visits to her brother, George I of Greece and, for her only, to the harem of the Khedive Ismail. In Turkey she became the first woman to sit down to dinner with the Sultan Abdul-Aziz. Later, the royal party visited the Crimean battlefields.

Albert Edward and Alexandra made Sandringham House their preferred residence. Biographers are agreed that their marriage was in many ways a happy one, however, some have asserted that Albert Edward did not give his wife or children as much attention as she would have liked, and that they gradually became estranged, until his attack of typhoid fever (the disease which was believed to have killed his father) in late 1871 brought about a reconciliation. This is disputed by others, who point out Alexandra's frequent pregnancies throughout this period and use family letters to deny the existence of any serious rift. Nevertheless, throughout their marriage Albert Edward continued to keep company with other women, among them the actress Lillie Langtry; Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick; humanitarian Agnes Keyser; and society matron Alice Keppel. Most of these were with the full knowledge of Alexandra, who later invited Alice Keppel to be with the King as he lay dying. Alexandra herself remained faithful throughout her marriage.

For eight months over 1875–6, the Prince of Wales was absent from Britain on a tour of India, but to her dismay Alexandra was left behind. The Prince had planned an all-male group and intended to spend much of the time hunting and shooting. During the Prince's tour, one of his friends who was travelling with him, Lord Aylesford, was told by his wife that she was going to leave him for another man: Lord Blandford, who was himself married. Aylesford was appalled and decided to seek a divorce. Meanwhile, Lord Blandford's brother, Lord Randolph Churchill, persuaded the lovers against an elopement. Now concerned by the threat of divorce, Lady Aylesford sought to dissuade her husband from proceeding but Lord Aylesford was adamant and refused to reconsider. In an attempt to pressure Lord Aylesford to drop his divorce suit, Lady Aylesford and Lord Randolph Churchill called on Alexandra and told her that if the divorce was to proceed they would subpoena her husband as a witness and implicate him in the scandal. Distressed at their threats, and following the advice of Sir William Knollys and the Duchess of Teck, Alexandra informed the Queen, who then wrote to the Prince of Wales. The Prince was incensed. Eventually, the Blandfords and the Aylesfords both separated privately. Although Lord Randolph Churchill later apologised, for years afterwards the Prince of Wales refused to speak to or see him.

Alexandra spent the spring of 1877 in Greece recuperating from a period of ill health and visiting her brother King George of the Hellenes. During the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), Alexandra was clearly partial against Turkey and towards Russia, where her sister was married to the Tsarevitch, and she lobbied for a revision of the border between Greece and Turkey in favour of the Greeks. Alexandra and her two sons spent the next three years largely parted from each other's company as the boys were sent on a worldwide cruise as part of their naval and general education. The farewell was very tearful and, as shown by her regular letters, she missed them dreadfully.

In 1881, Alexandra and Albert Edward travelled to Saint Petersburg after the assassination of Alexander II of Russia, so that Alexandra could provide comfort to her sister, who was now the Tsarina, and to represent Britain. Alexandra undertook many public duties; in the words of Queen Victoria, "to spare me the strain and fatigue of functions. She opens bazaars, attends concerts, visits hospitals in my place ... she not only never complains, but endeavours to prove that she has enjoyed what to another would be a tiresome duty." She took a particular interest in the London Hospital, visiting it regularly. Joseph Merrick, the so-called "Elephant Man", was one of the patients whom she visited.

Crowds usually cheered Alexandra rapturously, but during a visit to Ireland in 1885, she suffered a rare moment of public hostility when visiting the City of Cork. She, and her husband, were booed by a crowd of two or three thousand people brandishing sticks and black flags. She smiled her way through the ordeal, and the British press still portrayed the visit in a positive light, describing the crowds as "enthusiastic". As part of the same visit, she received a Doctorate in Music from Trinity College, Dublin.

In 1890, Alexandra wrote a memorandum, distributed to senior British ministers and military personnel, warning against the planned exchange of the British North Sea island of Heligoland for the German colony of Zanzibar, pointing out the island's strategic significance and that it could be used either by Germany to launch an attack, or by Britain to contain German aggression. Despite this, the exchange went ahead anyway. The Germans fortified the island and, in the words of Robert Ensor and as Alexandra had predicted, it "became the keystone of Germany's maritime position for offence as well as for defence".

The death of her eldest son, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, in 1892 was a serious blow to the tender-hearted Alexandra, and his room and possessions were kept exactly as he had left them, much as those of Prince Albert were left after his death in 1861. She said, "I have buried my angel and with him my happiness." Surviving letters between Alexandra and her children indicate that they were mutually devoted. In 1894, her brother-in-law, Alexander III of Russia, died and her nephew, Nicholas II of Russia became Tsar. The widowed Dagmar, Alexandra's sister, leant heavily on her for support; Alexandra slept, prayed and stayed beside her sister for the next two weeks until Alexander's burial.

Queen Alexandra

Alexandra was deeply distrustful of Germans. For this reason, biographers have asserted that she was denied access to the King's briefing papers and excluded from some of the King's foreign tours in order to prevent her meddling in diplomatic matters. The Frankfurter Zeitung was outspoken in its condemnation of Alexandra and her sister, Dagmar, Dowager Empress of Russia, saying that the pair were "the centre of the international anti-German conspiracy". She despised and distrusted her nephew, William II of Germany, calling him in 1900 "inwardly our enemy".

In 1907, Alexandra and Dagmar purchased a villa north of Copenhagen, Hvidore, as a private getaway. In 1910, Alexandra was visiting her brother, George I of Greece, in Corfu when she received news that the King was seriously ill. Alexandra returned at once and arrived just the day before her husband died. In his last hours, she personally administered him oxygen from a gas cylinder to help him breathe. She told Frederick Ponsonby, "I feel as if I had been turned into stone, unable to cry, unable to grasp the meaning of it all." Later that year, she moved out of Buckingham Palace to Marlborough House, but she retained possession of Sandringham; she did not attend her son's coronation in 1911 but otherwise continued the public side of her life, devoting time to her charitable causes, one of the most notable being Alexandra Rose Day, where artificial roses made by the disabled were sold in aid of hospitals by women volunteers.

During the First World War, it is said that her son, George V, ordered all the Order of the Garter arms of those who fought for Germany removed from St. George's Chapel, Windsor at her insistence. A further reason for expelling the Germans from the Order of the Garter was that a Knight of the Garter swears an oath never to take up arms against the British Sovereign. During the First and Second World Wars, this became an embarrassing mockery, and the German members of the Order were expelled therefrom in 1915 in a solemn ceremony at St. George's Chapel. During the Second World War, Hirohito, the Emperor of Japan, was also expelled from the Order. Today, the Order of the Garter, the bestowing of which is the exclusive gift and prerogative of the Sovereign, is awarded much more sparingly. In Russia, Tsar Nicholas II was overthrown and he, his wife and children were killed by revolutionaries. The Dowager Empress, Dagmar, Alexandra's sister, was rescued from Russia in 1919 by HMS Marlborough and brought to England where she lived for some time with her sister.

Queen Alexandra had little understanding of money. The management of her finances was left in the hands of her loyal Comptroller, Sir Dighton Probyn VC, who had a similar role when her husband was Prince of Wales and later as King Edward VII. In the words of her grandson, Edward VIII (later the Duke of Windsor), "Her generosity was a source of embarrassment to her financial advisers. 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 remained youthful looking into her senior years, though she did wear elaborate veils and heavy makeup, which was described by gossipy women as having her face "enamelled". She died on 20 November 1925 at Sandringham after suffering a heart attack and was buried in an elaborate tomb next to her husband in St.George's Chapel at Windsor.

Legacy

Alexandra was highly popular with the British public. Unlike her husband and mother-in-law, she was not castigated by the press. Funds that she helped to collect were used to buy a river launch, called Alexandra, to ferry the wounded during the Sudan campaign, and to fit out a hospital ship, named The Princess of Wales, to bring back wounded from the Boer War. Also during the Boer War, she founded Queen Alexandra's Nursing Corps, which became known as the "Q.A.s". Alexandra Palace in North London, the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, the original Alexandra Suspension Bridge in British Columbia and Queen Alexandra Bridge in Sunderland are named after her.

Alexandra hid a small scar on her neck, which was likely the result of a childhood operation, by wearing choker necklaces and high necklines, setting fashions which were adopted for fifty years. Alexandra's effect on fashion was so profound that society ladies even copied her limping gait after her serious illness in 1867 left her with a stiff leg.

Queen Alexandra was portrayed by Maggie Smith in the BBC television film All the King's Men.

The Alexandra Rose Day fund still exists; its patron is Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy, Alexandra's great-granddaughter.

The Queen Alexandra Memorial by Alfred Gilbert was unveiled on 8 June 1932 (Alexandra Rose Day) at Marlborough Gate, London. An ode in her memory, "So many true princesses who have gone", composed by the then Master of the King's Musick (Sir Edward Elgar) to words by the Poet Laureate (John Masefield), was sung at the unveiling and conducted by the composer.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Styles of Queen Alexandra as consort

Reference style	Her Majesty
Spoken style	Your Majesty
Alternative style	Ma'am

Titles and styles

1 December 1844 – 31 July 1853 : Her Serene Highness Princess Alexandra of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg
31 July 1853 – 21 December 1858: Her Highness Princess Alexandra of Denmark
21 December 1858 – 10 March 1863: Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Denmark
10 March 1863 – 22 January 1901: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales
22 January 1901 – 6 May 1910: Her Majesty The Queen (Her Imperial Majesty The Empress of India)
6 May 1910 – 20 November 1925: Her Majesty Queen Alexandra

Honours

In 1901, she became the first woman to be made a Lady of the Garter since 1495.

Arms

Queen Alexandra's arms were the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom impaled with the arms of her father, Christian IX of Denmark

Ancestors

8. Friedrich Karl Ludwig, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck

4. Friedrich Wilhelm, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

9. Countess Friederike von Schlieben

2. Christian IX of Denmark

10. Charles of Hesse

5. Louise Caroline of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel)

11. Princess Louise of Denmark and Norway

1. Alexandra of Denmark

12. Prince Frederick of Hesse

6. Prince William of Hesse

13. Caroline of Nassau-Usingen

3. Louise of Hesse-Kassel (or Hesse-Cassel)

14. Hereditary Prince Frederick of Denmark and Norway

7. Princess Louise Charlotte of Denmark

15. Sophia Frederica of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Notes

^ Eilers, Marlene A. - Queen Victoria's Descendants, p.171
Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh - Burke's Royal Families of the World, vol.1, p.70
Her mother and father were both great-grandchildren of King Frederick V of Denmark and great-great-grandchildren of King George II of Great Britain.
Duff, pp.16–17
Duff, p.18
Battiscombe, p.8
Maclagan, Michael; Louda, Jiří (1999). Lines of Succession (London: Little, Brown). ISBN 0-85605-469-1. p.49
Duff, pp.19–20
^ Priestley, p.17
Duff, p.21
Battiscombe, pp.125 and 176
Prince Albert quoted in Duff, p.31
Battiscombe, pp.27–37; Bentley-Cranch, p.44 and Duff, p.43
The Landing of HRH The Princess Alexandra at Gravesend, 7th March 1863, National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved on 7 August 2008
Her bridesmaids were The Ladies Diana Beauclerk, Victoria Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Victoria Howard, Elma Bruce, Agneta Yorke, Emily Villiers, Eleanor Hare and Feodora Wellesley.
Duff, p.48–50
Duff, p.60
He died within a few months of the engagement and she married his brother, Alexander, instead.
Mrs. Blackburn, the head nurse, quoted in Duff, p.115
Battiscombe, p.127
Duff, p.143
Battiscombe, pp.82–86 and Duff, pp.73 and 81
Battiscombe, p.88 and Duff, p.82
Duff, p.85
Battiscombe, p.94
Duff, pp.93–100
Duff, p.111 and Philip Magnus quoted in Battiscombe, pp.109–110
Battiscombe, p.110
Priestley, p.18 and 180
Battiscombe, pp.100–101
Battiscombe, pp.132–135
Battiscombe, p.136
Battiscombe, pp.150–152
Battiscombe, pp.155–156
Battiscombe, pp.157–160 and Duff, p.131
Queen Victoria quoted in Duff, p.146
Duff, pp.148–151
Battiscombe, p.166
Daily Telegraph quoted in Battiscombe, p.168
Battiscombe, p.167
Battiscombe, pp.176–179
Ensor, p.194
Duff, p.184
Alexandra quoted in Duff, p.186
Battiscombe, pp.141–142
Duff, pp.196–197
Duff, pp.225–227
Quoted in Duff, p.234
Duff, pp.207 and 239
Duff, pp.239–240
Duff, pp.249–250
Ponsonby's memoirs quoted in Duff, p.251
Windsor, p.77
Duff, pp.251–257 and 260
A. Michie, God Save The Queen, published in 1952.
Duff, pp.285–286
Battiscombe, p.72
Windsor, pp.85–86
Battiscombe, pp.66–68, 85 and 120, and Duff, p.215
Duff, pp.113, 163 and 192
Battiscombe, p.169
Duff, p.206
Baron Stockmar, who was a doctor, quoted in Duff, p.37
Battiscombe, pp.24–25
Battiscombe, p.92
Dorment, Richard. (January 1980). "Alfred Gilbert's Memorial to Queen Alexandra" The Burlington Magazine vol.CXXII p.47–54
"Alexandra The Rose Queen" The Times, 9 June 1932 p.13 col.F
^ Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh (ed.) (1977). Burke's Royal Families of the World, Volume 1. London: Burke's Peerage. ISBN 0-220-66222-3. p.69
Duff, pp.215–216
Weir, Alison - Britain's Royal Family: A Complete Genealogy, p.319

References

Battiscombe, Georgina. Queen Alexandra. London: Constable. ISBN 09-456560-0. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: length (help)
Bentley-Cranch, Dana (1992). Edward VII: Image of an Era 1841-1910. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 0-112-90508-0.
Duff, David (1980). Alexandra: Princess and Queen. London: Collins. ISBN 0-002-16667-4.
Ensor, R. C. K. (1936). England 1870–1914. Oxford University Press.
Priestley, J. B. (1970). The Edwardians. London: Heinemann. ISBN 0-434-60332-5.
Windsor, The Duke of (1951). A King's Story: The Memoirs of H.R.H. The Duke of Windsor K.G. London: Cassell and Co.

External links

"Archival material relating to Alexandra of Denmark". UK National Archives.

British royalty
Alexandra of Denmark House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-GlücksburgCadet branch of the House of OldenburgBorn: 1 December 1844 Died: 20 November 1925
VacantTitle last held byAlbert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha as Prince consort	Queen-consort of the United Kingdom 1901–1910	Succeeded byMary of Teck
VacantNo living consort at creation of title	Empress-consort of India 1901 – 1910
VacantTitle last held byHenrietta Maria of France	Queen mother 1910 – 1925
Peerage of the United Kingdom
VacantTitle last held byCaroline of Brunswick	Princess of Wales 1863 – 1901	Succeeded byMary of Teck

English, Scottish and British royal consorts

Royal consorts in England until 1603

Royal consorts in Scotland until 1603

Royal consorts in England and Scotland after the Union of the Crowns from 1603
Anne of Denmark Henrietta Maria of France Catherine of Braganza Mary of Modena George of Denmark and Norway

British royal consorts after the Acts of Union 1707
George of Denmark and Norway Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Caroline of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Alexandra of Denmark Mary of Teck Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Philip of Greece and Denmark Camilla Shand

Spouses of debatable or disputed rulers are in italics

v t e Princesses of Wales and Duchesses of Cornwall
Joan, Countess of Kent (1361–1376) Lady Cecily Neville (1460; disputed) Lady Anne Neville (1470–1471) Infanta Catherine of Aragon (1501–1502) Princess Caroline of Ansbach (1714–1727) Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1736–1751) Princess Caroline of Brunswick (1795–1820) Princess Alexandra of Denmark (1863–1901) Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (1901–1910) Lady Diana Spencer (1981–1996) Camilla Shand* (2005–2022) Catherine Middleton (2022–present)
* Though legally Princess of Wales, she did not use the title

Princesses of Wales and Duchesses of Cornwall

Joan, Countess of Kent (1361–1376)
Lady Cecily Neville (1460; disputed)
Lady Anne Neville (1470–1471)
Infanta Catherine of Aragon (1501–1502)
Princess Caroline of Ansbach (1714–1727)
Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1736–1751)
Princess Caroline of Brunswick (1795–1820)
Princess Alexandra of Denmark (1863–1901)
Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (1901–1910)
Lady Diana Spencer (1981–1996)
Camilla Shand* (2005–2022)
Catherine Middleton (2022–present)

* Though legally Princess of Wales, she did not use the title

v t e British princesses by marriage
The generations include wives of princes descended from George I, who formalised the use of the titles prince and princess for members of the British royal family.
1st generation	Princess Caroline of Brandenburg-Ansbach
2nd generation	Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg
3rd generation	Maria Walpole Anne Luttrell
4th generation	Duchess Caroline of Brunswick Princess Frederica Charlotte of Prussia Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld Duchess Frederica of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel The Princess Mary*
5th generation	Princess Marie of Saxe-Altenburg
6th generation	Princess Alexandra of Denmark Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia Princess Helen of Waldeck and Pyrmont Princess Thyra of Denmark
7th generation	Princess Victoria Mary of Teck Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife* Princess Victoria Adelaide of Schleswig-Holstein Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia
8th generation	Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark
9th generation	Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen Katharine Worsley Baroness Marie-Christine von Reibnitz
10th generation	Lady Diana Spencer Camilla Shand Sarah Ferguson Sophie Rhys-Jones
11th generation	Catherine Middleton Meghan Markle
also a British princess in her own right Princesses whose titles were removed due to loss of husband's eligibility or divorce are shown in italics*.

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