Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Prince Alfred of the United Kingdom, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Duke of Edinburgh (born 6 August 1844 and died 30 July 1900), was the second son and fourth child of Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. He was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Kent and Earl of Ulster in the peerage of the United Kingdom on 24 May 1866. He succeeded his paternal uncle Ernst as the reigning Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in the German Empire on 23 August 1893.

Marriage and Family Life

On 23 January 1874, the Duke of Edinburgh married Her Imperial Highness The Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia, the only daughter of Tsar Alexander II of Russia and his wife Marie of Hesse and by Rhine, daughter of Ludwig II, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and Wilhelmine of Baden, at the Winter Palace, St. Petersburg. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh made their public entry into London on 12 March. The marriage, however, was not a happy one, and the bride was thought haughty by London society. The Duke and Duchess had six children:

Related Topics:
23 January - 1874 - Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia - Tsar Alexander II of Russia - Marie of Hesse and by Rhine - Ludwig II, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine - Wilhelmine of Baden - Winter Palace - St. Petersburg - 12 March

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• Prince Alfred ("Young Affie") (15 October 1874-6 February 1899), Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from 22 August 1893.
• Princess Marie (29 October 1875-18 July 1938; married 10 January 1893 King Ferdinand I of Romania (1865-1927); and had issue.
• Princess Victoria Melita ("Ducky") (25 November 1876 - 2 March 1936; married (1) 19 April 1894 (divored 21 December 1901) her paternal first cousin Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine (1868-1937), and had issue; (2) 8 October 1905 her maternal first cousin the Grand Duke Cyril of Russia (1876-1938), and had issue.
• Princess Alexandra (1 September 1878 - 16 April 1942; married 20 April 1896 Prince Ernst of Hohenloe-Langenburg (1863-1950), and had issue.
• An unnamed son (13 October 1879, stillborn).
• Princess Beatrice (20 April 1884 - 13 July 1966; married 15 July 1909, Don Alfonso, Infante of Spain, 3rd Duke of Galliera (1886-1975), and had issue.