Princess Viktoria of Prussia

"Princess Victoria of Prussia" redirects here. Not to be confused withVictoria, Princess Royal;Princess Victoria Margaret of Prussia;orPrincess Victoria Louise of Prussia.

Viktoria of Prussia
Princess Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe
Princess Viktoria, c. 1908
Born	(1866-04-12)12 April 1866 New Palace,Potsdam,Kingdom of Prussia
Died	13 November 1929(1929-11-13)(aged 63) Hospital of St. Francis,Bonn,Weimar Republic
Burial	16 November 1929 Schloss Friedrichshof,Kronberg im Taunus
Spouse	Prince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe ​ ​ (m.1890;died1916)​ Alexander Zoubkoff ​ ​ (m.1927;sep.1928)​
Names Friederike Amalia Wilhelmine Viktoria
House	Hohenzollern
Father	Frederick III, German Emperor
Mother	Victoria, Princess Royal

Princess Viktoria of Prussia(Friederike Amalia Wilhelmine Viktoria;12 April 1866 – 13 November 1929) was the second daughter ofFrederick III, German Emperorand his wifeVictoria, Princess Royal,eldest daughter ofQueen Victoria.Born a member of the Prussian royal house ofHohenzollern,she becamePrincess Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippefollowing her first marriage in 1890.

Raised by her mother in a close, liberal, andanglophileenvironment, Viktoria fell in love withAlexander of Battenberg,the Prince ofBulgaria,but there was great opposition to the match and the couple never married. Following the end of her courtship with Alexander, Viktoria suffered from an eating disorder and was unlucky in her search for a suitable husband. She eventually marriedPrince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe.Adolf died during theFirst World War,two years before theGerman Empirecame to an end. In 1927, Viktoria caused a royal scandal by marrying a university student 35 years her junior. She died at the age of 63 inBonn.

Early life

Birth and baptism

Viktoria was born on 12 April 1866 in theNew PalaceinPotsdam,toCrown Prince Frederick WilliamandCrown Princess VictoriaofPrussia.Her father was the only son ofKing Wilhelm I of PrussiaandPrincess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar;her mother, Victoria ( "Vicky" ), was the eldest child ofQueen Victoria of the United Kingdomand her consort,Prince Albert.Viktoria was baptised in the New Palace asFriederike Amalia Wilhelmine Viktoriaon 24 May 1866, the birthday of her grandmother Queen Victoria, who was also one of her godparents. Other sponsors included her grandfather the King of Prussia, andPrincess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.She was called "Moretta"or "little Vicky" by her family.

Following the birth of Princess Viktoria, Queen Victoria wrote a letter to her daughter Crown Princess Victoria, mentioning that she was happy with her granddaughter being named after her:

“I am much pleased & touched that the dear, new baby (& long may she remain the Baby!) is to be called after me,” Victoria wrote Vicky, “as I cannot deny that it pained me very much that 4 children were born without one being called after either of your parents. However I know that you could not help that.”

Youth and education

Viktoria was her parents' fifth child and second daughter. Two months after her birth, on 18 June 1866, Viktoria's nearly two-year-old brother,Sigismund,died of meningitis. Sigismund could not receive the best medical treatment because Dr. Wegner and his colleagues had gone with the army to the front.On June 19, Vicky wrote to her motherQueen Victoria:

"...I wish you to know all, you are so kind, darling Mama, that you will wish to hear all about the last terrible days, I cannot describe them. I am calm now, for Fritz's sake and my little ones', but oh how bitter is this cup..."

Young Viktoria and her sisters, Sophie (left) and Margaret (right).

Following this event, Viktoria's mother chose to raise her younger children herself, as opposed to leaving them in the care of tutors and governesses as she had with her older children,Wilhelm,Charlotte,andHenry.For this reason, Viktoria and her three younger siblings,Waldemar,Sophie,andMargaret,were far closer to their parents. Eleven-year-old Waldemar died ofdiphtheriain 1879, and the tragic event brought the three sisters even closer. Viktoria and her siblings lived at two main residences, the New Palace in Potsdam and theKronprinzenpalaisinBerlin.In 1871, Viktoria's grandfather Wilhelm I became German Emperor, and her parents became Crown Prince and Princess of aunifiedGerman Empire.Still, the Crown Princely couple raised their children away from the Berlin court, which disliked Frederick William and Victoria and their liberal beliefs. The couple hoped to instill these beliefs in their children through an education system similar to the one created by Vicky's father, Prince Albert. Much of Viktoria's childhood care and education was based on that of Vicky's British upbringing, and Viktoria and her younger siblings had British nannies and went on many trips to visit their family in Britain. Raised in a close environment, less strict than that of her elder siblings' childhood, Viktoria was an active and enthusiastic child. She attended weekly dance lessons and enjoyed riding herShetland pony,a gift from Queen Victoria. She also liked to garden and to cook, and at her mother's suggestion went to the palace kitchens for lessons, though her privileged upbringing meant she knew very little about kitchen work.

An official portrait of the young Princess Viktoria of Prussia.

Young adult years

Alexander of Battenberg

In 1881,Alexander, Prince of Bulgaria,born Prince Alexander of Battenberg, who had been the sovereign of thePrincipality of Bulgariasince 1879, visited thePrussian courtat the behest of Viktoria's mother.As her mother and Queen Victoria recommended Alexander as a possible match, 16-year-old Viktoria quickly caught their enthusiasm and by the time of Sandro's next visit the following spring, she had fallen in love with the attractive prince.

Though her parents wanted the couple to marry, much of Viktoria's Prussian family was opposed. Her elder siblings, paternal grandparentsEmperor Wilhelm IandEmpress Augusta,andGerman chancellorOtto von Bismarckwere opposed to the match. Alexander of Battenberg's actions in Bulgaria irritated the Russian tsar, and it was feared that if Viktoria married Alexander,Tsar Alexander IIIwould be offended, even though Alexander of Battenberg and Tsar Alexander III were first cousins. Furthermore, Alexander was born of amorganatic marriage,and his position as Prince of Bulgaria was unstable; he had more to gain than Viktoria through marriage to a daughter of the future German emperor. By 1888, pushback from Wilhelm I and Bismarck all but forced Viktoria and her parents to give up on the marriage.

Depression and changing life

Viktoria of Prussia, 1885.

As Viktoria was losing hope of marrying Sandro, her grandfather Emperor Wilhelm I and her father Crown Prince Frederick William were both ailing, and her sister Sophie was preparing to move toAthensin order to marry theCrown Prince of Greece.The Emperor died on 9 March 1888, and Frederick William and Victoria became the new emperor and empress. Frederick, however, was dying of throat cancer, and reigned for only 99 days before succumbing to his illness on 15 June. Viktoria's eldest brother, now Emperor Wilhelm II, despised his parents and, though Frederick had requested in his will that Wilhelm allow Viktoria to marry Sandro, the new emperor instead wrote to Sandro to definitively end the couple's courtship. Sandro returned to Viktoria all the letters and gifts she had sent to him, and wrote her a farewell note.Viktoria, now 22, worried she might end up aspinster.Not considered an attractive girl – especially by herself – Viktoria tried to improve her appearance by dieting "maniacally" to the point of starving herself. Wrote her mother to Queen Victoria in 1889:

You would indeed make me most happy and do me the greatest favour, if you could induce Moretta not to be so foolish about her food! Her one craze is to be thinǃ She starves completely, touches no milk, no sugar, no bread, no sweets, no soup, no butter, nothing but a scrap piece of meat and apples, wh. is not enough! She will ruin her health and she has a fine strong constitution. She goes to Bed too late, and takes almost too much exercise, I have begged and prayed, ordered and threatened, all to no effect. She is quite fanatical on the subject! Her pretty figure is quite spoilt from being too thin!!

Viktoria likely had some form of disordered eating.Subtly pushed out of the Berlin social sphere by Wilhelm, she lived with her mother and younger sister Margaret atSchloss FriedrichshofinHesse.Vicky sent the depressed Viktoria to Britain, to recover and spend time with her British relatives.

Further suitors

Following the collapse of Viktoria's plans to marry Sandro, her mother (now known as "Empress Frederick" ) and grandmother, Queen Victoria, continued to look for possible suitors, and enlisted the help of theDuchess of EdinburghandPrincess of Leiningen.Though she was not thought of as exceedingly attractive, Viktoria was described as having "immense charm".Prince Carl of Sweden, Duke of Västergötland,"refused to consider marrying her"; this news worsened Viktoria's disordered eating.In 1889,Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich of Russiawas proposed, but ultimately turned down the offer; his cousinGrand Duke Peter Nikolaevichwas also considered. Another suitor wasErnest,the future Prince ofHohenlohe-Langenburg;he later married Viktoria's first cousinAlexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.Crown Prince Carlos of Portugalwas proposed by Otto von Bismarck, but Viktoria refused toconverttoCatholicism.Even commoners were suggested: the British Captain the Hon.Maurice Bourke,a younger son ofRichard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo,was proposed by Queen Victoria; he was seriously considered.As her elder sister, Charlotte, began gossiping about her love life at court, Viktoria became convinced she would never marry, and told her grandmother she was no longer interested in marriage.

First marriage and adult life

Engagement and wedding

In June 1890, Viktoria, with her mother and sisterMargaret,visited their cousinMarie of Nassau,the widowed Princess ofWied.Among the other guests wasPrince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe,a younger son ofAdolf I, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe.Adolf and Viktoria spent time together and, during the same visit, Adolf proposed on 11 June. Viktoria's mother had previously considered Adolf as a marriage candidate, but had considered him unworthy of her daughter; she wept at the news of the couple's engagement. Although Viktoria said in her memoirs that she had loved Adolf at first sight, she wrote to her mother that she had only married him out of "desperation from fear at withering on the vine."When Queen Victoria inspected Adolf, she approved of him, but did not believe that Viktoria was entirely happy, nor did Vicky. Furthermore, Adolf held only the style ofSerene Highness,while Viktoria was aRoyal Highnessand the daughter of an Emperor. The widowed Empress continued to suggest other suitors, but was thwarted, especially by Wilhelm II, who was highly in favour of the match. In the months leading up to the wedding, Viktoria remained depressed.

The wedding festivities began two days before the ceremony. The wedding party and the couple's families attended the opera, and the next day Viktoria's mother held a banquet for the guests. Viktoria and Adolf married on 19 November 1890 in aLutheranceremony, in the chapel of Berlin'sAlte Schloss.Much of Viktoria's extended family made up the nearly sixty royal guests, as well as the large wedding party. Viktoria's brother Wilhelm gave the toast. Viktoria wore a wedding gown of "cream satin, brocaded and trimmed with wild roses and silver", and a veil "of tulle interwoven with silver and surmounted with a wreath of orange blossoms and myrtles".Much of the ceremony was curtailed; there was no Fackeltanz, or torchlight dance.

Engagement photo of Princess Viktoria of Prussia and Prince Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe

Viktoria and Adolf had a long honeymoon, during which they travelled throughout Europe and the Mediterranean, stopping in Greece to visit Viktoria's sister Sophie. They were forced to cut this final visit short in order to return to Germany for medical care, as Viktoria had suffered an early miscarriage. The couple did not conceive again and the marriage remained childless. Viktoria and Adolf had a peaceful marriage, and mutually respected one another.However, Viktoria did not love her husband, and in the later years of her marriage considered divorcing Adolf to marry one of his nephews.Adolf died in 1916.

Princess Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe

Adolf purchased from a cloth manufacturer aneoclassicalpalace that would become thePalais Schaumburg,inBonn.Viktoria was often alone there, as Adolf was busy with his military duties. Viktoria lived a quiet life in Bonn, and continued to frequently visit members of her large family. Often lonely due to Adolf's frequent absences, she enjoyed decorating and other hobbies. Adolf installed tennis courts at their home upon Viktoria's request, and encouraged her love of gardening. Soon, however, Viktoria admitted she was bored and unhappy.She seems to have fallen into another bout of depression, and resumed her drastic dieting. Her disordered eating became so severe members of her family again became worried for her. In 1893, she was treated foranemiain Hesse.

From 1895 to 1897, Adolf wasregentof thePrincipality of Lippeduring the first two years of the reign ofAlexander, Prince of Lippe,who was mentally handicapped. Viktoria and Adolf entered Lippe's capital,Detmold,on 4 May 1895 and remained there until Adolf's term as regent ended.During this time, Viktoria enjoyed her new public responsibilities as wife of the principality's regent, and her mental health improved. Queen Victoria was upset when, in September 1895, Adolf requested that Viktoria end her visit to her widowed and lonely mother. Adolf was later passed over as regent and prince, despite being told by Alexander's predecessor that he was next in line.

In 1898, Viktoria's mother Vicky was diagnosed withbreast cancer,which spread to her spine and weakened her. Viktoria was thrown from her carriage in 1901 while out driving in Bonn, but she was not seriously injured. That year, between the deaths of Queen Victoria and Vicky, she celebrated her 35th birthday with family at Friedrichshof. Vicky died on 5 August 1901, and was buried next to her husband.

Later life

Widowhood and First World War

Princess Viktoria of Prussia, c. 1915

In 1914, Germany entered theFirst World War.For Viktoria, who adored her mother's British homeland, the war was doubly stressful. Despite being the sister of the Kaiser of Germany, Viktoria was very sympathetic to the British cause. In 1915, the 49-year-old "but very wealthy and young looking" Viktoria left Berlin and moved into a "luxuriously furnished" castle inBonn.The war years threw Viktoria's life into chaos: Adolf died in July 1916, after nearly thirty years of marriage; in 1917, Viktoria's brother-in-law theKing of the Hellenes,who married her sisterQueen Sophia of Greecein 1890, was deposed; and in 1918, her brother Wilhelm II was forced toabdicateand the German nobles and royals legally lost their titles under the newWeimar Republic.After the war, she met her first cousin once removed, the futureKing George VI of the United Kingdom,and expressed the wish that they "would all be friends again soon". George told her he did not think this would be possible for a great many years and "the sooner she knows the real feeling of bitterness which exists here against her country the better".

After Adolf's death, Viktoria asked her brother for permission to marry one of Adolf's nephews; Wilhelm refused. Following the war, though she did not lose her home, Viktoria's finances began to dwindle. In the mid-1920s, she was offered the paid opportunity to write a memoir of her life. Her memoirs, which were published in 1929, moderately distorted some facts, probably to generate greater profit.

Second marriage

In 1927, Viktoria held a party for university students at her castle in Bonn. One of the students in attendance was Alexander Anatolievitch Zoubkoff (Russian:Aleksandr Anatolyevich Zoubkov), a Russian immigrant who was studying law at theUniversity of Bonn.Zoubkoff told Viktoria that he had fled theRussian Revolutionand that he had been a baron.Infatuated with Zoubkoff, Viktoria provided the young student – 35 years her junior – with lavish gifts; he, in turn, proposed marriage.Without asking permission from the former Emperor Wilhelm, Viktoria renounced her titles and married Zoubkoff first at the town hall in Bonn, then in a Greek Orthodox ceremony at which none of her family was in attendance. The couple were married on 19 November 1927, which would have been Viktoria and Adolf's 37th wedding anniversary. She wore the lace bridal veil worn by her mother in 1858. Viktoria was 61, while Alexander was only 27. The two had known one another for only two months, and their wedding was a royal andsocietyscandal.

Princess Viktoria of Prussia with her second husband, Alexander Zoubkoff, 1927

Soon after the wedding, Alexander Zoubkoff, whom Viktoria called "Sascha", began spending large amounts of Viktoria's dwindling fortune.Alexander's financial troubles, combined with his public misconduct, led to his deportation from Germany not long after. He went to Luxembourg and worked there as a waiter. The restaurant advertised with a sign that read: "The Emperor's brother-in-law is serving you here". Although she had at first stood by her husband, in 1928, Viktoria separated from him, considering his antics too much.

Her own financial struggles caught up to her, and Viktoria was forced to auction off nearly all of her belongings. The sale, conducted by the Cologne auctioneersM. Lempertz,attracted far less interest than had been anticipated, and it was estimated that the proceeds from the auction would have covered only one-third of her debts (which were reported to have been 900,000 marks, or £45,000 sterling).Viktoria was forced to move into a single rented room in the suburbs of Bonn. That same year Viktoria caused another scandal by filing for divorce from Zoubkoff after less than two years of marriage, on the grounds that his behaviour had resulted in his expulsion from Germany, he was unable to maintain her, and that "conjugal relations did not exist".

Before they could be divorced, or her siblings could have their marriageannulled,Viktoria came down with a fever and was taken to the Hospital of St Francis, in Bonn, where she was diagnosed withpneumonia.In the hours before her death, her brother Wilhelm and sister Margaret attempted to contact her, but were not allowed. Viktoria died on 13 November 1929, "penniless, lonely, loveless, and without her family's forgiveness".She was buried atSchloss Friedrichshof,the home of her sister Margaret. She was 63.

Archives

Viktoria's letters to her sister Margaret are preserved in the Archive of the House of Hesse, which is kept in Fasanerie Palace inEichenzell,Germany.

Titles and styles

• 12 April 1866 – 19 November 1890:Her Royal HighnessPrincess Viktoria of Prussia
• 19 November 1890 – 9 July 1927:Her Royal HighnessPrincess Adolf of Schaumburg-Lippe
• 9 July 1927 – 13 November 1929: Mrs Viktoria Zoubkoff

Ancestry

Ancestors of Princess Viktoria of Prussia

8.Frederick William III of Prussia 4.William I, German Emperor 9.Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 2.Frederick III, German Emperor 10.Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach 5.Princess Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach 11.Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia 1.Princess Viktoria of Prussia 12.Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha 6.Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha 13.Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg 3.Victoria, Princess Royal 14.Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn 7.Victoria of the United Kingdom 15.Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld

Sources

• Pakula, Hannah (1995).An Uncommon Woman The Empress Frederick: Daughter of Queen Victoria, Wife of the Crown Prince of Prussia, Mother of Kaiser Wilhelm.New York: Simon & Schuster.ISBN0-684-84216-5.
• Van der Kiste, John.The Prussian Princesses,2014

External links

• Portraits of Princess Viktoria of Prussiaat theNational Portrait Gallery, London