Princess Alexandrine
Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and daughters, Princess Alexandrine (left) and Princess Cecilie (right), pictured in 1934
Born(1915-04-07)7 April 1915
Crown Princely Palace, Berlin, Kingdom of Prussia, Empire of Germany
Died2 October 1980(1980-10-02) (aged 65)
Starnberg, Bavaria, West Germany
Burial
Hohenzollern Castle Crypt, Hohenzollern Castle, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany
Names
Alexandrine Irene
HouseHohenzollern
FatherCrown Prince Wilhelm of Germany
MotherDuchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

Princess Alexandrine Irene of Prussia (7 April 1915 – 2 October 1980) was the oldest daughter and fifth child of Wilhelm, German Crown Prince, and Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Her grandparents were Wilhelm II, German Emperor and his wife Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, and Frederick Francis III of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna of Russia. Alexandrine was a member of the House of Hohenzollern.

Early life

Alexandrine was born at the Kronprinzenpalais in Berlin. Her middle name of Irene (Greek for "peace") was likely given due to her birth during the second year of World War I. She followed older brothers Wilhelm, Louis Ferdinand, Hubertus, and Frederick. Alexandrine's only sister, Cecilie, was born in 1917. Alexandrine was known by the nickname of "Adini" within her family.

It became clear shortly after Alexandrine's birth that she was affected with Down syndrome. Unlike other disabled royal children, Alexandrine was not hidden away. She appeared in official family photographs and at events.[1] She was cared for primarily by her nurse, Selma Boese.[2] As a teenager, Alexandrine attended the Trüpersche Sonderschule, a school dedicated to the education of young women with special needs.

Alexandrine was confirmed along with her sister Cecilie in October 1934.

Later life and death

Alexandrine lived most of her later life in Bavaria, first in Pöcking and later near Lake Starnberg. She was visited there regularly by her family, particularly her brother Louis Ferdinand.

Alexandrine died in 1980 and is buried near her parents and brother Frederick at Hohenzollern Castle.

References

  1. ↑ Russell, Gareth (August 6, 2014). The Emperors: How Europe's Rulers Were Destroyed by the First World War. Amberley Publishing Limited. p. 30.
  2. ↑ "Preussen.de - Alexandrine". Preussen.de. Archived from the original on 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2017-05-29.
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