#duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of mecklenburg-schwerin

[queenalexandraofdenmark]

𝙲𝚑𝚘𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚍𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚁𝚘𝚢𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 👑✨🍫

(𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝟹 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝟺)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Queen Alexandra 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚄𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙺𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚍𝚘𝚖, née Princess Alexandra of Denmark.

Princess Beatrice of Battenberg, née Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom.

Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark, née Princess Alice of Battenberg.

Princess Nicholas of Greece and Denmark, née Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna.

Grand Duchess Elisabeth Feodorovna, née Princess Elisabeth of Hesse.

Crown Princess Thyra of Hanover, née Princess Thyra of Denmark.

Princess Olga of Hanover

Princess Clementine of Belgium

Queen Alexandrine of Denmark, née Duchess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

[postcard-from-the-past]

Friedrich Franz Michael IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin with his children: Friedrich Franz, Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Duke Christian-Ludwig of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Duchess Thyra Anastasia Alexandrine Marie-Louise Olga Cecilie Charlotte Elisabeth Emma of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

German vintage postcard

[elsalouisa]

Anna Elisabeth Auguste Alexandrine, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was half sister to Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna of Russia (Grand Duchess Vladimir),  cousin to Victoria, Ella, Irene and Alix of Hesse, and aunt to princess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (future crown princess of Prussia). Anna died when she was 16.

"My grandfather’s second marriage was terminated by the early death of the Grand Duchess, formerly Princess Anna of Hessen-Darmstadt, when her first child, a daughter, was born. Her daughter too died at an early age, when she was only sixteen ; she was worshipped in our family almost like a young saint".

The memoirs of the Crown Princess Cecilie

"...there was one daughter, Anna, who married the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin as his second wife, and died in childbirth. They had only one little girl, Annchen, who died at 16. This was a very delicate and nervous child. We used to play with her when she paid her yearly visit to my grandparents but we were so much more robust than she and so wild that my grandmother used always to forbid us exciting her".

"Recollections: The Memoirs of Victoria Marchioness of Milford Haven".

[loiladadiani]

Grand Duchess Marie Pavlovna (the Elder) (1854–1920)

Marie Alexandrine Elisabeth Eleonore was born a Duchess of the Grand Ducal House of Mecklenburg to Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin - and his first wife, Princess Augusta Reuss of Köstritz (1822–1862)

She married Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, third son of Tzar Alexander II. She was distantly related to Tzar Pavel I and took the patronymic of "Pavlovna" to highlight this relationship. During the reign of Nicholas II, she was a prominent personage, incredibly rich and incredibly fond of jewelry.

She had great taste in jewels. Some of the most beautiful pieces owned by the British Royal Family today (such as the Vladimir Tiara) were made for her (or stones used in those pieces come from jewels originally made for her.)

Although Bolin was the official jeweler of the Russian Court during the time of Nicholas II and Faberge was also greatly esteemed...she developed a relationship with Cartier during her frequent visits to Paris...and became one of his first prominent Russian clients. The pearl choker, with platinum and diamonds, featured above, was one of the pieces he designed and made for her.

[die-greifen]

when: royally fun facts

They may not be fun, but some of them are made-up. Made up facts are in italics.

Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia

(Karolina Augusta's great-great-grandmother)

Is the granddaughter of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia

Is the mother of Alexandrine, Queen Consort of Denmark

Is the mother of Frederick Francis IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Is the mother of Cecilie, Crown Princess of Germany

Following the death of her husband, had a illegitimate son with her personal secretary

Three of her brothers were murdered by the Bolsheviks during the Russian revolution

Princess Karola of Urach

(Karolina Augusta's great-grandmother)

Karola’s father, Wilhelm Karl, 2nd Duke of Urach, was briefly elected as the King of Lithuania in 1918.

Princess Karola of Urach was the first queen consort of Mecklenburg, and also the last Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Karola was the grand-niece of Empress Elisabeth ‘Sisi’ of Austria.

Karola was the half-niece of Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians.

Karola half-first cousins include Leopold III of Belgium, and Marie José, the last Queen Consort of Italy.

Karola and Mary of Teck, Queen of the United Kingdom, both descend from morganatic branches of the House of Württemberg. Karola and Mary were third cousins as great-great-granddaughters of Friedrich II Eugene, Duke of Württemberg.

Karola was a Roman Catholic and retained her faith following her marriage to Heinrich Ludwig, though their children were brought up in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Mecklenburg.

Duchess Thyra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

(Karolina Augusta's grandmother)

Thyra’s father, Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, was overthrown by her father-in-law, King Heinrich Ludwig of Mecklenburg

Thyra was the first Crown Princess of Mecklenburg (1939 - 1954)

Thyra was the second Queen of Mecklenburg (1954 - 1980)

Thyra was the niece of Alexandrine, Queen of Denmark (1912 - 1947)

Thyra was the first cousin of Frederik IX of Denmark (1947 - 1972)

Thyra was the niece of Cecilie, Crown Princess of Germany (1905 - 1951)

Thyra was the first cousin of Louis Ferdinand, Prince of Prussia (1951 - 1994)

Thyra was the niece of Marie Louise, Margravine of Baden (1928 - 1929)

Thyra was the first cousin of Berthold, Margrave of Baden (1929 - 1963), who married Princess Theodora of Greece and Denmark (the older sister of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh)

Thyra was the niece of Ernest Augustus, Duke of Brunswick (1913 - 1918) and head of the House of Hannover (1923 - 1953)

Thyra was the first cousin of Ernst August, Hereditary Prince of Brunswick, Prince of Hanover (1953 - 1987)

Thyra was the first cousin of Frederica, Queen of Greece (1947 - 1964)

Princess Eleonora of Leiningen

(Karolina Augusta's mother)

Descends from all three children of Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld: Carl, 3rd Prince of Leiningen; Princess Feodora of Leiningen; and Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

Queen Karolina Augusta I of Mecklenburg

Is the first female ruler in Mecklenburg’s 900 year history.

Will be the final ruler from the House of Mecklenburg which will eventually bring an end to the House’s status as the longest still reigning house in European history.

Is descended from both Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, and of King Christian IX of Denmark.

Has been the youngest monarch in the world since 1992.

Has 15 godparents:

HRH Princess Cecilie Auguste, Duchess of Ludwigslust (paternal aunt)

HRH Princess Marie Anastasia, Duchess of Grevesmühlen (paternal aunt)

HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark (paternal second cousin once removed)

HRH Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Princess of Leiningen (maternal aunt-by-marriage)

HSH Princess Margarita of Hohenlohe-Oehringen, Princess of Leiningen (maternal aunt-by-marriage)

HM Silvia, Queen of Sweden (family friend)

HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (paternal and maternal second cousin twice removed)

HRH Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (paternal third cousin once removed)

HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (paternal third cousin once removed and family friend)

HRH Prince Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark (paternal third cousin)

HH Prince Harald of Denmark (paternal first cousin once removed)

HSH Prince Hermann Friedrich of Leiningen (maternal first cousin once removed)

HRH Prince Felipe, Prince of Asturias (paternal third cousin)

HH Borwin, Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (distant cousin and family friend)

HSH Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein (distant cousin and family friend)

[princessvictoriamelita]

Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1892.

She was the youngest half-sister of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna "The Elder".

[zitaofaustria]

[widvile-blog]

Alexandrine of Prussia, Duchess William of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (1 February 1842 - 26 March 1906)

[annalaurendet70]

Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna Romanova of Russia (the Elder) in court dress.

Born Duchess Marie Alexandrine Elisabeth Eleonore of Mecklenburg-Schwerin on 2 May 1854 (14 May 1854 N.S.) — 6 September 1920,as the eldest daughter of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin by his first wife, Princess Augusta Reuss of Köstritz.

Marie married Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich Romanov of Russia, the third son of Tsar Alexander II of Russia. Marie and Vladimir married on 28 August 1874. The wedding took place in the chapel of the Winter Palace,St Petersburg.

They had five children who were the paternal first cousins to Tsar Nicholas ll of Russia.

•Grand Duke Alexander Vladimirovich of Russia (31 August 1875 – 16 March 1877)

•Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia (12 October 1876 – 12 October 1938)

•Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich of Russia (24 November 1877 – 9 November 1943)

•Grand Duke Andrei Vladimirovich of Russia (14 May 1879 – 30 October 1956)

•Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna of Russia (17 January 1882 – 13 March 1957); married Prince Nicolaus of Greece and Denmark.

[tiny-librarian]

Royal Birthdays for today, December 24th:

Galba, Roman Emperor, 3 B.C.

John, King of England, 1166

Constance of Austria, Queen of Poland, 1588

Honoré II, Prince of Monaco, 1597

Mariana of Austria, Queen of Spain, 1635

Selim III, Ottoman Sultan, 1761

Elena Pavlovna, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, 1784

Elisabeth, Empress of Austria, 1837

Cristina, Princess of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, 1869

Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Queen of Denmark, 1879

[phfanfic-diekoenigin]

when: narrative

A brief overview of the history of Mecklenburg, from 1890 to 2006.

Means the person is a sole creation of me.

Means the person is non-fictional and important to the history of the family.

Heinrich Ludwig I, King of Mecklenburg, (born 26 January 1890) only child of Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Princess Elisabeth Sybille of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach.

Princess Elisabeth Sybille died in 1908 when Heinrich Ludwig was eighteen years old. His mother was first cousin to Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, making Wilhelmina his maternal first cousin once removed. Wilhelmina married Heinrich Ludwig’s paternal half-uncle, Duke Heinrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, making Queen Juliana of the Netherlands his half-paternal first cousin and his maternal second cousin. The events of WWII solidified the bonds between the House of Mecklenburg and the House of Orange.

Heinrich Ludwig’s father remarried in 1909 to Princess Elisabeth of Stolberg-Rossla, they would have no children and Heinrich Ludwig remained an only child.

Heinrich Ludwig’s father had been the regent for his nephew, Friedrich Franz IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, from 1897 to 1901.

In 1915, aged twenty-five, Heinrich Ludwig, who was fourth in line to inherit the throne, overthrew his cousin, Friedrich Franz IV, along with the support of several family members due to Mecklenburg’s involvement in WWI. Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV abdicated on 3 November 1915 and renounced the succession rights of his two sons. Heinrich Ludwig’s father also renounced his succession rights, this time in favour of his son, who then became the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Heinrich Ludwig recalled his troops and reinforced the border with Prussia. Mecklenburg effectively changed sides and begun supplying Entente troops (with little effect but the gesture was appreciated).

In early 1918, the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz committed suicide and Heinrich Ludwig took control of the grand duchy as the current heir was serving in the Russian Army and would later renounce his claim to the throne (the only surviving male-line was of morganatic descent and ineligible to inherit at the time).

When the German Empire and her allies lost the war in November 1918, Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz celebrated their victory.

Heinrich Ludwig had fallen for the young Princess Karola of Urach prior to the outbreak of WWI and intended to marry her. She was a member of a morganatic branch of the Royal House of Württemberg, but her mother had been a Duchess in Bavaria and Heinrich Ludwig deemed this royal connection to be strong enough to overcome the fact that her immediate family did not rule over a country.

Princess Karola was born Catholic and remained a Catholic for the rest of her life. Karola and Heinrich Ludwig married on 2 January 1919.

In the Treaty of Versailles of 1919, the Grand Duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz were joined to create the Kingdom of Mecklenburg. Heinrich Ludwig was now King and Karola his Queen.

The King and Queen now needed an heir, or several. The other men in the family had only daughters and women were not able to inherit.

A son and Crown Prince, Paul Friedrich, was born 10 September 1919, nine months after his parents wedding. A daughter, Marie Elisabeth, was born on 1 November 1921. There would be no further children.

Heinrich Ludwig and his family were popular. They were accommodating to the former Grand Ducal Family, allowing them to remain in their palaces for life, with the intention of inheriting the lands after their deaths. Instead of using Schweriner Schloss or Schloss Ludwigslust as his residence, Heinrich Ludwig had built a grand palace between Bad Doberan and Rostock, having moved the country’s capital to Rostock. He named the palace Euphemiasburg, after his ancestress Euphemia of Sweden.

Mecklenburg flourished in the years between WWI and WWII, they had not been sanctioned as the rest of the former German Empire had been and despite the troubles brought on by the Great Depression, became a minor power in Europe and an important member of central Europe, enjoying close ties with her neighbours and Baltic friends, especially Denmark and Poland.

However, there were groups of people, including governments of foreign countries who were uncomfortable with the existence of the Kingdom of Mecklenburg and her powerful King. Mecklenburg was a constitutional monarchy and had been since 1916, but Heinrich Ludwig I owned half the country as his personal property, had considerable executive powers and used them frequently to intercede with government affairs as an executive monarch and de facto upper house of government.

There were also calls for Mecklenburg to reunite with Germany. This notion became more popular after the rise of the Nazi Party, which attracted a considerable following in Mecklenburg from the early 1930s.

On 1 June 1938, the German Ambassador to Mecklenburg sent word to the King that Germany was mobilising its troops and that Mecklenburg would be occupied by morning on 2 June. The King had his children evacuate to Denmark where the former Grand Duke’s sister was Queen Consort. The former Grand Duke’s eldest daughter, Duchess Thyra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, joined her second cousins in Denmark as she and Paul Friedrich were courting and did not want to be parted.

King Heinrich Ludwig I decided to remain in Mecklenburg to dissuade his cousin the former Grand Duke and his cousins’ sons from seeking the throne of Mecklenburg, or from being used as a puppet by Nazi Germany.

The Kingdom would be occupied by Nazi Germany for nearly seven years. The King and Queen were moved from Euphemiasburg to Schweriner Schloss and lived with the former Grand Duke and Duchess during the occupation. The King’s Government was able to function normally until 1940 when Mecklenburg was officially annexed by Nazi Germany. The country’s capital was moved back to Schwerin in 1940 where it remains to this day.

The former Grand Duke’s eldest son had joined the SS in 1931, and would be among those occupying Denmark from 1940 and disowned in 1943. The former Grand Duke’s second son and youngest daughter remained in Mecklenburg for the duration of the war.

When Great Britain declared war on Germany on 1 September 1939, Paul Friedrich, his sister Marie Elisabeth and Duchess Thyra fled to London as they feared that continental Europe was no longer safe. They remained in England for the rest of the war.

Paul Friedrich and Thyra were married at Windsor Castle on 2 October 1939. King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret were among the guests.

Crown Princess Thyra would give birth to three daughters, also at Windsor Castle, Heinrike Franziska, on 4 June 1940, Elisabeth Mathilde, on 23 January 1942 and Marie Anastasia, on 12 October 1944.

King Heinrich Ludwig and Queen Karola learnt of their ever growing family through weekly BBC broadcasts given by their only son. King Heinrich Ludwig, faced with the possibility that he and his wife would not survive the German occupation, issued a royal decree changing the laws of succession to allow women to inherit the throne by male-preference primogeniture. In addition to this, he granted his children and grandchildren nominal dukedoms in the same way Sweden granted royal dukedoms.

From 1940 to 1945, the line of succession was:

Crown Prince Paul Friedrich, Duke of Rostock, son of King Heinrich Ludwig I

Princess Heinrike Franziska, Duchess of Ratzeburg, first daughter of the Crown Prince

Princess Elisabeth Mathilde, Duchess of Güstrow, second daughter of the Crown Prince

Princess Marie Anastasia, Duchess of Grevesmühlen, third daughter of the Crown Prince

Princess Marie Elisabeth, Duchess of Parchim, daughter of King Heinrich Ludwig I

The strong bond formed between the House of Mecklenburg and the House of Windsor during the War, and the Blitz especially, continues to this day.

After the defeat and surrender of the German forces in early May 1945, Crown Prince Paul Friedrich, Crown Princess Thyra and their children, and Princess Marie Elisabeth returned to Mecklenburg in late May, only days before Heinrike Franziska’s fifth birthday.

The King and Queen were overjoyed to see their children again and meet their grandchildren for the first time. The House of Mecklenburg had survived the war relatively unscathed.

Mecklenburg, however, did not. When the Red Army advanced through central Europe, Mecklenburg grew nervous, worried that they would be left behind by the Allies. However, some of their Baltic ports were deemed important enough to the UK, USA, and France to stand up to Russia and approximately 40% of Mecklenburg was lost to the Soviets in 1945 and the Kingdom would remain split in two until 1990.

The former Grand Duke, Friedrich Franz IV died on 17 November 1945. Heinrich Ludwig and Karola took possession of Schweriner Schloss as their pre-occupation home Euphemiasburg was now only miles from the Eastern German border. The former Grand Duchess took up residence at Schloss Ludwigslust, where she would remain until her death in 1963. She lived to see her son-in-law ascend the throne and for her eldest daughter to become Queen Consort.

Crown Prince Paul Friedrich and Crown Princess Thyra would have several more children.

Another daughter, Cecilie Auguste, Duchess of Ludwigslust, was born on 23 September 1947.

A son, Wilhelm Franz, Duke of Schwerin, was born on 17 July 1949, and was now second in line to inherit the throne after his father.

A fifth daughter, Alexandrine Luise, Duchess of Waren, was born on 18 March 1951.

A second son, Albrecht Gustav, Duke of Bad Doberan, was born on 7 October 1953.

In 1949, the King and Queen’s only daughter, Marie Elisabeth married Prince Gorm of Denmark, a grandson of Christian IX of Denmark, and they would have two children Harald, in 1953 and Feodora in 1955.

The first King of Mecklenburg died on 18 November 1954. His son ascended the throne as Paul Friedrich II of Mecklenburg with Thyra as his Queen Consort.

The new King and Queen would have one final child, Ingrid Sophie, Duchess of Teterow, born on 9 June 1955.

The new King and Queen were coronated at Schwerin Cathedral in 1956.

In 1956, the line of succession was:

Crown Prince Wilhelm Franz, Duke of Schwerin, first son of King Paul Friedrich II

Prince Albrecht Gustav, Duke of Bad Doberan, second son of King Paul Friedrich II

Princess Heinrike Franziska, Duchess of Ratzeburg, first daughter of King Paul Friedrich II

Princess Elisabeth Mathilde, Duchess of Güstrow, second daughter of King Paul Friedrich II

Princess Marie Anastasia, Duchess of Grevesmühlen, third daughter of King Paul Friedrich II

Princess Cecilie Auguste, Duchess of Ludwigslust, fourth daughter of King Paul Friedrich II

Princess Alexandrine Luise, Duchess of Waren, fifth daughter of King Paul Friedrich II

Princess Ingrid Sophie, Duchess of Teterow, sixth daughter of King Paul Friedrich II

Princess Marie Elisabeth, Duchess of Parchim, daughter of late King Heinrich Ludwig I

Prince Harald of Denmark, son of Princess Marie Elisabeth

Princess Feodora of Denmark, daughter of Princess Marie Elisabeth

The line of succession was well secured, and the royal family’s standing within Mecklenburg would be credited with maintaining the stability of the small Kingdom.

The King and Queen enjoyed enormous popularity and a very happy home life. According to the rules of succession, their children were only allowed to marry people from royal or noble families and from the early 1970s, their daughters began marrying foreign born princes and having children of their own.

Queen Karola outlived her husband by several years and was able to see several of her great-grandchildren born before she died in 1980, aged 83.

Unknown to the family at the time, but 1980 was the beginning of several years of loss and difficulty for the family.

Queen Thyra died suddenly on 27 September 1981 following a severe heart attack. The country, still reeling from the death of their beloved Karola, was plunged into mourning once more. King Paul Friedrich II was beside himself with grief and the trouble concerning his youngest son wasn’t doing his health any favours.

In 1981, the Crown Prince, now 32 years old, was still unmarried and his younger brother, Albrecht Gustav, had set his sights on Veronica Doncaster, an American born commoner with Mecklenburgish ancestry. The King disapproved and refused to declare such a marriage dynastic or relax the rules regarding the line of succession. If Albrecht Gustav and Veronica were to marry, the Prince would lose his place in the line of succession for himself and his descendants, and any children would not be able to inherit the many titles used by the Royal House of Mecklenburg.

King Paul Friedrich II of Mecklenburg died 12 January 1982, outliving his wife by only a few months.

His eldest son ascended the throne as King Wilhelm Franz I of Mecklenburg. Albrecht Gustav was now his brother’s heir presumptive.

Wilhelm Franz did not have any problem with members of his family marrying commoners and changed the rules of succession and the house rules to allow unequal marriages. Albrecht Gustav and Veronica were married at Schwerin Cathedral on 29 August 1982. Veronica became a Princess of Mecklenburg and Duchess of Bad Doberan. The public, who had been supportive of their prince marrying a commoner, were thrilled and hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets of Schwerin to celebrate the wedding.

Albrecht Gustav and Veronica became parents on 27 May 1983, when a son, Paul Ludwig was born. They would have another child, Marie Leopoldine, born 3 February 1985, before moving to Canada in August 1985 to serve as Mecklenburg’s Ambassador to Canada. A further two children would be born while living in Canada, Christian Franz, born 7 March 1987 and Marie Josefine, born 27 January 1989.

In 1981, at the wedding of his cousin Prince Harald of Denmark to Duchess Helene of Oldenburg, King Wilhelm Franz I met the bride’s cousin, Princess Eleonora of Leiningen. Eleonora, born 12 May 1961, was almost thirteen years younger than the King, but they began a relationship in late 1981 and became engaged in 1984. When the couple were married in October 1985, the small Kingdom hosted a celebration like none they had seen in decades.

The new Queen settled into her role, supporting her husband and charitable causes in the years leading up to the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The King and Queen welcomed their first child, Karolina Augusta, Duchess of Elde, on 15 September 1988. From the young princess’s birth there was rumblings of changing the laws of succession to allow the eldest child to inherit regardless of gender.

On 15 September 1989, Karolina Augusta’s first birthday, the King granted his daughter the title Duchess of Rostock (a title previously held by her grandfather, King Paul Friedrich II) and announced his intention to change the laws of succession from 1 January 1990 among his descendants to absolute primogeniture and thus his daughter would become Crown Princess and the heiress apparent.

So, on 1 January 1990, King Wilhelm Franz I issued a royal decree changing the laws of succession and his daughter became the Crown Princess of Mecklenburg and the first heiress apparent in the country’s almost 900 year history.

Following the fall of the Soviet Union, the former lands of Mecklenburg were reunited and a referendum held on 14 October 1990 led to the incorporation of the lands of Vorpommern, almost doubling the size of the Kingdom of Mecklenburg. On 15 October, King Wilhelm Franz I announced that to honour Vorpommern he had changed his eldest daughter’s surname from von und zu Mecklenburg to von und zu Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Karolina Augusta was now the head and founder of the House of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, designated as a branch of the House of Mecklenburg.

From late 1990, the King and Queen started the long and arduous task of rebuilding their nation and welcoming their new subjects into a thoroughly western nation after decades of Soviet rule.

During an annual ski holiday to Switzerland, the King died following a skiing accident on 20 January 1992. Wilhelm Franz was only forty-two years old and had reigned for just over ten years.

His only child ascended the throne as Queen Karolina Augusta I of Mecklenburg. She was three and a half years old.

Queen Eleonora, who was seven months pregnant, was declared regent on 21 January 1992 by the Council of the Royal House and Family of Mecklenburg. The late King’s younger brother, Albrecht Gustav, who had been serving as the Mecklenburgish Ambassador to Canada, attempted to have himself declared regent, but was unsuccessful. Albrecht Gustav became resentful and refused to return to Mecklenburg once his term as Ambassador to Canada finished in 1993.

Queen Eleonora, now aged thirty-one, gave birth to a son, Klaus Wilhelm, Duke of Havel, on 12 March 1992.

The regency would last over fourteen years, until Karolina Augusta turned eighteen on 15 September 2006.

The rules regarding the line of succession where changed further in late 2006, to overturn the rule only allowing Protestants. This allowed the Catholic children of Princess Feodora into the line of succession.

The line of succession was now:

Prince Klaus Wilhelm, Duke of Havel

Prince Albrecht Gustav, Duke of Bad Doberan

Prince Paul Ludwig of Mecklenburg

Prince Christian Franz of Mecklenburg

Princess Marie Leopoldine of Mecklenburg

Princess Marie Josefine of Mecklenburg

Princess Heinrike Franziska, Duchess of Ratzeburg

Princess Elisabeth Mathilde, Duchess of Güstrow

Prince Ludwig of Hohenlohe-Langenburg

Princess Juliana of Hohenlohe-Langenburg

Princess Lucinda of Hohenlohe-Langenburg

Prince Konstantin of Hohenlohe-Langenburg

Princess Marie Anastasia, Duchess of Grevesmühlen

Prince Karl Viktor of Hesse-Kassel

Prince Otto of Hesse-Kassel

Prince Ernst Albert of Hesse-Kassel

Prince Nikolaus Emmanuel of Hesse-Kassel

Princess Cecilie Auguste, Duchess of Ludwigslust

Prince Friedrich Magnus of Schwarzburg

Princess Anne Therese of Schwarzburg

Princess Alexandrine Luise, Duchess of Waren

Princess Ingeborg of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

Princess Sigrid of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg

Princess Ingrid Sophie, Duchess of Teterow

Princess Marie Elisabeth, Duchess of Parchim

Prince Harald of Denmark

Prince Oskar of Denmark

Prince Axel of Denmark

Princess Louisa of Denmark

Princess Feodora of Liechtenstein

Prince Adam Karl of Liechtenstein

Prince Peter Gregor of Liechtenstein

Princess Bernadette Sophia of Liechtenstein

Princess Johanna Eleonore of Liechtenstein

[postcard-from-the-past]

Duchess Thyra Anastasia Alexandrine Marie-Louise Olga Cecilie Charlotte Elisabeth Emma of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

German vintage postcard

[die-greifen]

where: official residences

SCHWERINER SCHLOSS

Schweriner Schloss is the official residence of the monarch of Mecklenburg. It is currently the official residence of Karolina Augusta I and her mother, Queen Eleonora.

SCHLOSS NEUSTRELITZ

Formerly the official residence of the Grand Dukes of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the building burnt down in 1945 and was later demolished by the Soviets. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, King Wilhelm Franz I bought the land and surrounding estate and began plans to rebuild the Schloss. After some delays, rebuilding was completed in 2008. Since 2012, it has been the official residence of the Queen’s younger brother, Prince Klaus Wilhelm, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Havel.

ALTE BURG NEUSTADT-GLEWE

One of the oldest castles in the country, the Alte Burg (Old Castle) has been the official residence of Princess Feodora of Denmark, a granddaughter of King Heinrich Ludwig I, since 1980. The castle is also used by her husband, Prince Karl Emmeran of Liechtenstein and their four children.

ALTE BURG PENZLIN

Also one of the oldest castles in the country, the Alte Burg and the surrounding land was purchased by King Wilhelm Franz I in 1991. Restoration was completed in 1999. Since then, it has been the official residence of the daughter of King Heinrich Ludwig I: Princess Marie Elisabeth, Duchess of Parchim, and her son, Prince Harald of Denmark. The residence is also used by Harald’s wife, Helene, and their three children.

SCHLOSS BÜLOW

The Schloss and its surrounding land was purchased by Queen Eleonora in 2004 when the estate was put up for sale. The property was restored and served as a museum and function centre from 2007 to 2012, when it became the official residence of Karolina Augusta’s cousin, Prince Paul Ludwig of Mecklenburg and his wife, Evelyn.

SCHLOSS GRIEBENOW

The Schloss and the surrounding estate was purchased by Queen Eleonora in 1993. Restoration was completed in 1999 and since then has been shared between Prince Albrecht Gustav and his wife Princess Veronica, Duke and Duchess of Bad Doberan, and his older sister, Princess Alexandrine Luise, Duchess of Waren and her husband Prince Alexander of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Duke of Waren. The children of the Duke and Duchess of Bad Doberan and the Duchess and Duke of Waren also make use of the residence.

SCHLOSS IVENACK

Another Schloss that fell into disrepair during the Soviet occupation of eastern Mecklenburg, the building and the land surrounding it where purchased by King Wilhelm Franz I in 1991. Restoration of the building was completed in 1998 and since then has been the official residence of Princess Marie Anastasia, Duchess of Grevesmühlen and her children, and Princess Marie Anastasia’s youngest sister, Princess Ingrid Sophie, Duchess of Teterow.

SCHLOSS KUMMEROW

After falling into disrepair during the Soviet occupation, Queen Eleonora purchased the Schloss in 1993 and restoration was completed in 2000. Since then it has been the official residence of Princess Elisabeth Mathilde, Duchess of Güstrow. The Schloss is also used by her two sons.

SCHLOSS NEETZOW

Unlike most other palaces, mansions and castles in Soviet occupied Mecklenburg, Schloss Neetzow remained in constant use and in good condition. King Wilhelm Franz I purchased the estate in 1991 and after light restoration became the official residence of his elder sister, Princess Cecilie Auguste, Duchess of Ludwigslust, and her husband, Prince Michael, Hereditary Prince of Schwarzburg and their two children.

SCHLOSS GÜSTROW

Located in the town of Güstrow, south of Rostock, Schloss Güstrow was also lucky to escape harm during the Soviet occupation. After the fall of the Soviets, the Schloss returned to the ownership of King Wilhelm Franz I and after light restoration became the official residence of his eldest sister, Princess Heinrike Franziska, Duchess of Ratzeburg. The Duchess has been on diplomatic postings throughout the world for much of her adult life and only uses a small portion of the Schloss. The remainder of the building is open to the public as a museum of the House of Mecklenburg.

Photos taken from Wikipedia and Google Images.

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what: royal family orders

The Royal Family Order is an order awarded by the sovereign of a monarchy to female members of the royal family, as female members of the royal family typically do not wear the commemorative medals that men wear. The order is more of a personal memento rather than a state decoration although it can be worn during state occasions. The only way to know who the order has been given to is to see the recipient wearing it. The same practice is in place in the United Kingdom as is in the royal families of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Tonga. 

Source: wikipedia.

Royal Family Orders have been used by the monarch’s of Mecklenburg since the first king, Heinrich Ludwig I, established the practice in 1921. The Order is issued to female members of the family, or collaterals (such as cousins or in-laws). Since 2006, the Order is now issued to male members of the family.

The ribbon’s colour changes with each monarch and is only issued during the life of each monarch. There is only one class of the royal family order. Each order is a miniature portrait with the monarch’s monogram on the back, surrounded by diamonds, suspended from a coloured ribbon. Female wearers wear the ribbon as a badge, while male wearers wear the ribbon as a medal.

THE ROYAL FAMILY ORDER OF HEINRICH LUDWIG I

Portrait: Coronation portrait from 1919 painted onto ivory Ribbon: Blue Years active: 1921 - 1954

Wearers:

Princess Elisabeth of Stolberg-Rossla, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (step-mother)

Princess Karola of Urach, Queen Consort of Mecklenburg (wife)

Princess Marie Elisabeth, Duchess of Parchim (daughter)

Duchess Thyra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Queen Consort of Mecklenburg (daughter-in-law)

Princess Heinrike Franziska, Duchess of Ratzeburg (granddaughter)

Princess Elisabeth Mathilde, Duchess of Güstrow (granddaughter)

Princess Marie Anastasia, Duchess of Grevesmühlen (granddaughter)

Princess Cecilie Auguste, Duchess of Ludwigslust (granddaughter)

Princess Alexandrine Luise, Duchess of Waren (granddaughter)

THE ROYAL FAMILY ORDER OF PAUL FRIEDRICH II

Portrait: Coronation portrait from 1955 painted onto ivory Ribbon: Yellow Years active: 1954-1982

Wearers:

Princess Elisabeth of Stolberg-Rossla, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (step-grandmother)

Princess Karola of Urach, Queen Consort of Mecklenburg (mother)

Duchess Thyra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Queen Consort of Mecklenburg (wife)

Princess Heinrike Franziska, Duchess of Ratzeburg (daughter)

Princess Elisabeth Mathilde, Duchess of Güstrow (daughter)

Princess Marie Anastasia, Duchess of Grevesmühlen (daughter)

Princess Cecilie Auguste, Duchess of Ludwigslust (daughter)

Princess Alexandrine Luise, Duchess of Waren (daughter)

Princess Ingrid Sophie, Duchess of Teterow (daughter)

Princess Marie Elisabeth, Duchess of Parchim (sister)

Princess Feodora of Denmark (niece)

Duchess Helene of Oldenburg, Princess of Denmark (nephew’s wife)

Princess Barbara of Prussia, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (brother-in-law’s wife)

Duchess Anastasia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (sister-in-law)

THE ROYAL FAMILY ORDER OF WILHELM FRANZ I

Portrait: Coronation portrait from 1983 painted onto enamel Ribbon: Red Years active: 1982-1992

Wearers:

Princess Eleonora of Leiningen, Queen Consort of Mecklenburg (wife)

Karolina Augusta I, Queen Regnant of Mecklenburg, Duchess of Rostock and Elde (daughter)

Princess Veronica, Duchess of Bad Doberan (sister-in-law)

Princess Heinrike Franziska, Duchess of Ratzeburg (sister)

Princess Elisabeth Mathilde, Duchess of Güstrow (sister)

Princess Marie Anastasia, Duchess of Grevesmühlen (sister)

Princess Cecilie Auguste, Duchess of Ludwigslust (sister)

Princess Alexandrine Luise, Duchess of Waren (sister)

Princess Ingrid Sophie, Duchess of Teterow (sister)

Princess Marie Elisabeth, Duchess of Parchim (aunt)

Princess Feodora of Denmark, Princess of Liechtenstein (cousin)

Duchess Helene of Oldenburg, Princess of Denmark (cousin’s wife)

Princess Barbara of Prussia, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (aunt by marriage)

Duchess Eilika of Oldenburg, Princess of Leiningen (mother-in-law)

Princess Melita of Leiningen (sister-in-law)

Princess Stephanie of Leiningen (sister-in-law)

HSH Princess Margarita of Hohenlohe-Oehringen, Princess of Leiningen (brother-in-law’s wife)

Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Princess of Leiningen (brother-in-law’s wife)

THE ROYAL FAMILY ORDER OF KAROLINA AUGUSTA I

Portrait: Coronation portrait from 2006 painted onto enamel Ribbon: White, as a badge for women, as a medal for men Years active: 2006-Present

Female Wearers: 

Queen Eleonora of Mecklenburg, Princess of Leiningen (mother)

Princess Veronica, Duchess of Bad Doberan (aunt by marriage)

Princess Evelyn of Mecklenburg (cousin by marriage)

Princess Heinrike Franziska, Duchess of Ratzeburg (aunt)

Princess Elisabeth Mathilde, Duchess of Güstrow (aunt)

Princess Marie Anastasia, Duchess of Grevesmühlen (aunt)

Princess Cecilie Auguste, Duchess of Ludwigslust (aunt)

Princess Alexandrine Luise, Duchess of Waren (aunt)

Princess Ingrid Sophie, Duchess of Teterow (aunt)

Princess Marie Elisabeth, Duchess of Parchim (great-aunt)

Princess Feodora of Denmark, Princess of Liechtenstein (first cousin once removed)

Duchess Helene of Oldenburg, Princess of Denmark (first cousin once removed)

Duchess Eilika of Oldenburg, Princess of Leiningen (grandmother)

Princess Melita of Leiningen (aunt)

Princess Stephanie of Leiningen (aunt)

Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Princess of Leiningen (aunt by marriage)

Male Wearers:

Prince Klaus Wilhelm, Duke of Havel and Mecklenburg-Schwerin (brother)

Prince Albrecht Gustav, Duke of Bad Doberan (uncle)

Prince Paul Ludwig of Mecklenburg (cousin)

Prince Michael of Schwarzburg, Duke of Ludwigslust (uncle-by-marriage)

Prince Alexander of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Duke of Waren (uncle-by-marriage)

Prince Harald of Denmark (first cousin once removed)

Prince Karl Emmeran of Liechtenstein (first cousin once removed by marriage)

Andreas, Prince of Leiningen (uncle)

Horst Legrum (uncle-by-marriage)

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who: mecklenburgish line of succession

The line was succession to the Mecklenburgish throne was changed from agnatic primogeniture to male preference primogeniture on 1 January 1930 upon the descendants of Heinrich Ludwig I.

The line of succession was changed from male preference primogeniture to absolute primogeniture for the descendants of Wilhelm Franz I on 1 January 1990, male preference primogeniture continues for the rest of Heinrich Ludwig I’s descendants.

Conditions of eligibility until 2006

Legitimate descendant of Heinrich Ludwig I (legitimised children are not applicable)

Raised protestant

Marries with the consent of the Monarch

Conditions of eligibility from 2006

Legitimate descendant of Heinrich Ludwig I (legitimised children are not applicable)

Consent to marry is required for the first seven in line to remain eligible

Prior to 1982, all people in the line of succession had to make marriages to members of ruling royal houses, former ruling royal houses or noble families to remain in the line of succession.

LINE OF SUCCESSION ON 1 DECEMBER 2014

HM Heinrich Ludwig I (b. 1890 d. 1954) …..HM Paul Friedrich II (b. 1919 d. 1982) ……….HM King Wilhelm Franz I (b. 1949 d. 1992) ……………HM Queen Karolina Augusta I (b. 1988) ……………(1) HRH Prince Klaus Wilhelm, Duke of Havel and Mecklenburg-Schwerin (b. 1992) ……….(2) HRH Prince Albrecht Gustav, Duke of Bad Doberan (9. 1953) ……………(3) HRH Prince Paul Ludwig of Mecklenburg (b. 1983) ……………(4) HRH Prince Christian Franz of Mecklenburg (b. 1987) ……………(5) HRH Princess Marie Leopoldine of Mecklenburg (b. 1985) ……………(6) HRH Princess Marie Josefine of Mecklenburg (b. 1989) ……….(7) HRH Princess Heinrike Franziska, Duchess of Ratzeburg (b. 1940) ……….(8) HRH Princess Elisabeth Mathilde, Duchess of Güstrow (b. 1942) ……………(9) HSH Prince Ludwig of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (b. 1973) ………………..(10) HSH Princess Juliana of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (b. 2005) ………………..(11) HSH Princess Lucinda of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (b. 2006) ……………(12) HSH Prince Konstantin of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (b. 1976) ………………..(13) HSH Prince Rupprecht of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (b. 2012) ………………..(14) HSH Prince Samuel of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (b. 2014) ……….(15) HRH Princess Marie Anastasia, Duchess of Grevesmühlen (b. 1944) ……………(16) HH Prince Karl Viktor of Hesse-Kassel (b. 1973) ………………..(17) HH Prince Otto of Hesse-Kassel (b. 2005) ………………..(18) HH Princess Mafalda of Hesse-Kassel (b. 2008) ………………..(19) HH Princess Pauline of Hesse-Kassel (b. 2010) ……………(20) HH Prince Ernst Albert of Hesse-Kassel (b. 1974) ……………(21) HH Prince Nikolaus Emmanuel of Hesse-Kassel (b. 1975) ………………..(22) HH Prince Daniel of Hesse-Kassel (b. 2008) ………………..(23) HH Prince Peter of Hesse-Kassel (b. 2010) ………………..(24) HH Princess Milena of Hesse-Kassel (.b 2013) ……….(25) HRH Princess Cecilie Auguste, Duchess of Ludwigslust (b. 1947) ……………(26) HSH Prince Friedrich Magnus of Schwarzburg (b. 1977) ………………..(27) HSH Prince Bernhard of Schwarzburg (b. 2009) ………………..(28) HSH Prince Joachim of Schwarzburg (b. 2011) ………………..(29) HSH Princess Theresia of Schwarzburg (b. 2007) ………………..(30) HSH Princess Antoinette of Schwarzburg (b. 2013) ……………(31) HSH Princess Anne Therese of Schwarzburg (b. 1980) ……….(32) HRH Princess Alexandrine Luise, Duchess of Waren (b. 1951) ……………(33) HH Princess Ingeborg, Marchioness of Bowmont and Cessford (b. 1982) ……………(34) HH Princess Sigrid of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (b. 1983) ……….HRH Princess Ingrid Sophie, Duchess of Teterow (b. 1955 d. 2012) …..(35) HRH Princess Marie Elisabeth, Duchess of Parchim (b. 1921) ……….(36) HH Prince Harald of Denmark (b. 1953) ……………(37) HH Prince Oskar of Denmark (b. 1983) ……………(38) HH Prince Axel of Denmark (b. 1985) ……………(39) HH Princess Louisa of Denmark (b. 1982) ……….(40) HH Princess Feodora of Liechtenstein (b. 1955) ……………(41) HSH Prince Adam Karl of Liechtenstein (b. 1986) ……………(42) HSH Prince Peter Gregor of Liechtenstein (b. 1991) ……………(43) HSH Princess Bernadette Sophia of Liechtenstein (b. 1984) ……………(44) HSH Princess Johanna Eleonore of Liechtenstein (b. 1988)

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who: royal duchies of mecklenburg

Since 1930 various members of the Royal House of Mecklenburg have been awarded dukedoms similar to the current practice in Sweden.

The first two dukedoms were awarded to the children of King Heinrich Ludwig I on 1 January 1930 when the King changed the rules of succession to allow women to inherit. Since 1930, dukedoms have been awarded upon birth, with the exception of Heinrich Ludwig’s three eldest granddaughters who were born in London during WWII. The three princesses were retroactively granted their titles once word of their births had reached the King in Mecklenburg.

These titles are only nominal and non-hereditary, though they are transferrable to any spouse of the original holder of the title. The dukedoms are granted without rank but are placed above all other titles (except for monarchical titles and the crown princely title of the heir/ess apparent). Unlike Sweden, the monarch continues to use their dukedom title after ascending the throne.

Dukedoms’ names are taken from major cities and towns in Mecklenburg, along with significant landmarks.

Below is a list of dukedoms in the order they were granted:

Paul Friedrich II, Duke of Rostock, 1930-1982

Marie Elisabeth, Duchess of Parchim, 1930-present

Heinrike Franziska, Duchess of Ratzeburg, 1940-present

Elisabeth Mathilde, Duchess of Güstrow, 1942-present

Marie Anastasia, Duchess of Grevesmühlen, 1944-present

Cecilie Auguste, Duchess of Ludwigslust, 1947-present

Wilhelm Franz I, Duke of Schwerin, 1949-1992

Alexandrine Luise, Duchess of Waren, 1951-present

Albrecht Gustav, Duke of Bad Doberan, 1953-present

Ingrid Sophie, Duchess of Teterow, 1955-2012

Karolina Augusta I, Duchess of Elde, 1988-present

Karolina Augusta I, Duchess of Rostock, 1989-present

Klaus Wilhelm, Duke of Havel, 1992-present

The spouses of the above also held or hold the titles by virtue of their marriage:

Thyra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Duchess of Rostock, 1939-1981

Gorm of Denmark, Duke of Parchim, 1949-1991

Rupprecht of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, Duke of Güstrow, 1970-1978

Heinrich of Hesse-Kassel, Duke of Grevesmühlen, 1972-1999

Michael, Hereditary Prince of Schwarzburg, Duke of Ludwigslust, 1975-present

Alexander of Schleswig-Holstein, Duke of Waren, 1980-present

Veronica Doncaster, Duchess of Bad Doberan, 1982-present

Eleonora of Leiningen, Duchess of Schwerin, 1985-present

While there are no rules regarding who can and cannot be awarded dukedoms, it is the intention for the titles to be limited to the children of the monarch and the children of the heir or heiress apparent.