Timestamps! 0:00 Intro 1:08 New Life 3:31 Apprenticeship 5:09 Aristocracy 7:35 Betrayal 10:00 Possessive 12:15 End of an Era 14:11 Swan Song 15:39 Wishful Thinking Thank you so much for watching my latest video 🙏🏻 Did you miss? Caroline of Brunswick: Injured Queen of England ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DIh5pYloCAg.html See you again soon! Jon 🤴🏻
There was nothing wrong with Alexandra's intelligence or personality. She was vivacious and engaging and she handled her womanising husbands affairs with grace and wisdom. Even his mistresses admired her and enjoyed her company and if lucky, her friendship.
Just want to mention that Prince Christian was not the brother of the childless King Frederick. They were distant cousins. And to be truthful Christian was not the closest in the succession to the throne. But he was the most popular of the possible heirs from the Schleswig-Holstein branch of the house of Oldenburg. He was leapfrogged to the front of the line of succession by his marriage to Louise of Hesse- Kassel whose mother had been born a Princess of Denmark and arguably would have been heiress presumptive had the dynasty not followed male only primogeniture. In any case Louise's mother and all her Louise's siblings abdicated any claim they had in the Danish Succession in Louise's favor once the marriage was settled. To further solidfy Christians position as his heir, Frederick adopted Christian and asked Parliament to formally recognize Christian and Louise, followed by their heirs male, as first in the line of succession. Thus certifying Christain as Crown Prince and reducing any legal challenge from other cousins including Christian's older brothers.
Thank you so much James Hamilton I appreciate the fact you clarified that as a matter of fact it’s an documentary on RU-vid that goes into king Christian life and how he became known as the father in law of Europe
Queen Alexandra even told his mistress's " He loved me the best" he made me Queen 👑 and the mother of the royal children! You go girl! From Ms Diana LaFleur Oakland CA USA 🌹⚜️🇺🇸
I think it's lovely that her grandson George VI was so close to her that he named his eldest daughter, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary (the now Queen Elizabeth II), after Queen Alexandra.
The Kaiser was certainly not the Cousin of Edward VII but of course his nephew. Also, I don't think Victoria hated Alexandra. Alexandra had a very gentle personality and empathised a lot with the widowed and self centred Victoria. She did much to lift the Queen out of her depression and isolation.
If one reads the letters of Alex's first born son, one can read that "Eddie" was not learning disabled. Eddie was an empathetic, kind, thoughtful young man. He was NOT unteachable. Historians now understand that it was a slander that was started by one of his tutors, as similarly as Edward VII had been libeled by one of his tutors.
It was his private life that rendered him unsuitable in the eyes of his family due to his association with ladies of the night and bisexual affairs. These people had the highest of educations.
@@doravernon1511 There is no evidence he was bi or homosexual and his father had dalliances with ladies of the night his whole life, I doubt that because they were of a higher class than the ones Eddy visited made him any more "suitable".
A couple of interesting facts I thought would be mentioned: Alexandra was a style icon, the choker she used to cover a childhood scar became the latest fashion, as well as the rod she used for her limp, all the ladies wanted a rod too. Alice Keppel , mistress to Edward VII is the great grandmother of Camilla, mistress and later wife of Charles Prince of Wales. :)
Yup. The Kaiser was the son of his elder sister Victoria. There was tension at the beginning as Alexandra was firmly on the side of Denmark during its war with Germany while QV was naturally on the side of the Germans. Also Alexandra's modern ways (for the time) confounded the old queen. Eventually QV came to appreciate the grace, dignity and poise of her daughter in law being married to her feckless son, whom she admittedly did not like or get on with.
It appears Alexandra may have been blessed with beauty, however, her life appears more like a Gothic Romantic Novel with the ghost being that of her mother-in-law. How sad she clung to her adult children to fill the void her husband created. She was obviously delusional to think Bertie ever truly loved her, especially considering his long-term affairs with other women. Alexandra was used to produce heirs; that’s it. Surprisingly, her philanthropy likely compensated for Bertie’s apathy and saved the Royal Family. What a tragic figure that became a blessing to the British people. Glad you spotlighted her: I truly enjoyed learning about this amazing lady!
Comparing pictures of Alexandra and her younger sister Dagmar, you can see that Alexandra showed the stress of her husband's philandering; Dagmar being fortunate to being married to a faithful husband (Tsar Alexander III).
I greatly admire this woman for her astounding compassion towards Joseph Merrick. Her visits to his rooms at the Lindon Hospital motivated other aristocrats to meet him, a self-taught, cultured, and gentlemanly soul. It's hard for us now to acknowledge how ignorant and cruel and fearful people can be towards disabled people, but Alexandra demonstrated great character by recognizing Merrick's humanity. I think her behavior with Merrick is analogous to Princess Diana's visits to, and shaking hands with, patients with AIDS. Alexandra was also, apparently, a friend to animals. I recall an anecdote where Alexandra was presented with a large lobster to be cooked for dinner; instead, she adopted as a pet.
@@tfh5575 There is an excellent series/drama on You Tube called Edward V11 staring Timothy West , the excellent Helen Ryan as Alexandra and the incomparable Annette Crosbie as Victoria. Helen played the same role in the movie The Elephant Man
@@pamelaiverson5527 Yes, Helen was spot on there, especially the scenes of Edward's coronation. The wardrobe people did a perfect copy of Alexandra's gown and jewels. When Timothy/Edward bursts into Helen/Alexandra's dressing room to urge her to hurry up, she takes his breath away...just for a few moments, even after all their years of marriage. I like to think that really happened.
Alexandra was a kind compassionate woman Prince John, the youngest son of George V & Queen Mary was epileptic and believed to have been on the autism spectrum. When noble families would institutionalize children with disabilities, George and Mary did not. While John was unable to cope with life at the palace, (there were no controls to reduce seizures then, and his autism would have made him vulnerable to ridicule from his peers) Mary and George had him installed at various properties on the Sandringham estate. He had many friends among the staffs children. Alexandra his grandmother, had him brought to her every week. She created a flower bed for him. He would meticulously plant seeds. When he left she would have the servants plant, plants in full flower, so that when he came the following weekend, he could pick all the flowers and plant more seeds. I found this to be particularly touching. She loved and accepted him just as he was. I saw a fascinating Documentary, with a Very old lady who was actually one of Prince John's playmates, and the neice of a couple who helped look after John. Far from being the abandoned child so frequently portrayed, John had a very happy life While his parents were busy with WWI, they could only visit him once a week, but they did visit him. He did not live with them because his seizures were so violent, it frightened the other children, He did spend holidays with the family. Again in a day when people institutionalized disabled children (in fact the Queen mother, Elizabeth, had two sisters proclaimed dead, that had been institutionalized), I can't help but think Alexandra taught George compassion and acceptance of little Prince John. He died after a severe seizure when only 13 or 14 years old.
The ladies who were institutionalised were the Queen Mother's nieces not sisters and it was her brother's wife who had them proclaimed dead not herself
Sorry: the Kaiser was NOT Edward's COUSIN, rather his nephew. And if Edward didn't like his in-laws, he still managed to go every summer, at least---to Denmark to spend summer with her parents, and all their progeny. Almost single-handedly, they (the Danish family) were able to populate all the remaining empty thrones in Europe.
Great video Jon. She is one of my favourite Queens and had a lot to put up with. On a side note, Wilhelm was Edward’s nephew not cousin. Have a great weekend 😊
Alexandra learned to lip read in English and German. Edward had an appendectomy, one of the first to be performed. Because of this, the surgery began to be used much more often.
Alexander had an hereditary problem with her hearing, which worsened as she grew older, she learnt to lip read from a young age so she could be part of the larger conversation during dining with large parties.
If Alexandra came into royal riches as Queen Consort of England, what could be said of the wealth of her sister Dagmar as the wife of the Emperor of Russia? This sister also caused problems for Alexandra as she convinced her that she should have the same role as Queen Dowager as Maria Feodorova had had as the Empress Dowager of Russia (i.e. taking precedence over the current king's wife). Her daughter Louise's husband was only created Duke of Fife on his wedding day (unlike her aunt Louise marrying the actual heir to - and future - Duke of Argyll).
@@pedanticradiator1491 the Earls of Fife were not British Peers until 1885 when Queen Victoria created it. When Alexander married Louise he was elevated to Duke of Fife. Confusing af.
@@dylanthepickle6428 but what I am saying they were still peers of the realm wether the title was Irish or British, the only difference at the time was that an Irish peerage did not guarantee a seat in the House of Lords and actually the Irish title was Earl Fife (not of).
First time I have seen a video for this channel. The algorithm does get it right sometimes. The narrator has a beautiful voice, great diction and perfect pacing. Subscribed.
7:28 despite being very careful its clear during this painting she was incredibly messy , those eyes were not even saying trauma, its the war within her she finding very difficult to battle with. 17:54 her last days- gracious oh fragile queen , she truly justified her empty hollow eyes by saying 'Now I am breaking up' .Childhood trauma, scars, negligence, insecurity from own family and people do not always make people vulnerable to take drugs or commit suicide- it also makes a queen hide behind the glare of precious diamonds and pearls so that we only can see the crown jewels and she gets to keep her darkness safe far away from misunderstanding 'common' people, Take my respect and love , her majesty! you will remain as the most iconic and beautiful Queen of all time.
The Kaiser was Edward’s nephew. Edwards sister, Vicky was his mother. Alexandra’s nephew, the Tsar and his whole family was murdered. The Tsar was the son of Alexandra’s sister, Dagmar.
Alexandras son, later George V and Dagmars son, the last czar resembled each other so much that they were able to fool people during their childhood. People who did not see them every day.
Very interesting Jon, thank you. You always put a lot of effort into your video's. Another personality I knew nothing about. She was beautiful, but didn't seem happy. Have a good weekend 😁
There is an incredible 6 part documentary you can see on RU-vid called “A Royal Family” that follows each of Christian IX children and their descendants and where they are now. It’s so good.
Thank you Jon! Thoroughly enjoyable and informative 👍💕🙏 I felt sorry for Alexandra being married to such a brute of a man and having Victoria as a mother-in-law but it seems their insufferable and selfish personality traits rubbed off on Alexandra later on when she became a mother. She seems a model Queen and wife of the times when women had to shut their eyes and endure when it came to their husband's infidelities. Although the party lifestyle, wealth and jewels helped I'm sure, Alexandra enjoyed that side of Royal life anyway! She also appears to have been a model Queen in the way she threw herself into charity work and travel. The story of her frequently visiting the Elephant man was indeed touching.
I felt sorry for Edward he never had much love from his mum and and hes always compared to his wonderful father No wonder he went looking for love and different places
True for his youth, but Alexandra was devoted to him so there was no excuse after he married her. He did not even try to be discreet to save her feelings either.
@@peachygal4153 He married her because he was forced to, in the beginning they had the freedom of society, after her illness she didn't want to go out as much. He was a social animal and since his ghastly mother wasn't going to let him help her he led a hedonist lifestyle and being the Prince of Wales was never short of women. At that time it was how the aristocracy lived.
Not only that, but she reportedly greeted him with a handshake and a dazzling smile at their first meeting, and at it's conclusion presented him with a framed daguerrotype of herself. Poor John Merrick, unused to beautiful women treating him kindly, was reportedly so overwhelmed by this gesture that he cried. He kept the picture on his dresser, and regarded it as an almost sacred object, refusing to let anyone else even touch it. When his carer, Dr Treves, suggested that he ought to write to the princess to thank her, Merrick composed a letter that began "My dear princess," and the rest of the letter was reportedly written in breathlessly affectionate terms that "the most elegant courtier might have envied." Staff at London Hospital, horrified by Merrick's familiarity, urged Dr Treves to edit the letter. Treves refused, and insisted on dispatching it exactly as it was. I hope Alexandra liked the letter - I like to think she did.
@@carolannemckenzie3849 Just always keep in mind that "The Elephant Man" play and film have a lot of inaccuracies and fiction in them, some for the sake of drama, and some because they were based on limited information. I would like to see a more factual dramatization of Joseph Merrick's experiences, because I do not believe that we need to see him being hounded and abused so much (even by characters who actually treated him well) in order to feel sympathy for him and want him to triumph. It would be nice to "spend time" with him, dramatically, seeing him reading the types of books from which he drew inferences about what life was like for the fortunate upper classes, or as he took his nighttime walks about the hospital grounds and had quiet time to think about his past and present, and to inagine a better future, even as he struggled just to get about. Pathos without so much cruelty and violence.
Wow... Queen Elizabeth's great grandma died only 5 months before she was born. Alexandra of Denmark saw her son, George V, become king... It's so sad that her husband mistreated her messing with all those ladies. Then she took care of him before he died. She was a very kind lady...
If you want to think of something else consider Alexandra successor as consort Queen Mary who lived through 6 reigns - Victoria, Albert, George, Edward, George and Elizabeth. She died at 85, anyone dying now at 85 would have lived under two monarchs!
One of my favorite women, except for her treatment of her daughters, who had to cope with her overbearing and controlling behavior towards them. And also her refusal to forgive her husband Edward VII regarding his sexual immorality, and quite possibly his greed for food and alcohol plus the constant cigarette and cigar smoking! Something that I avoid like the plague. I have to feel compassion for her in the end 💔. Thank you again for yet another interesting and educational video, I have learned a lot today about this particular Queen of England 🇬🇧.
It’s like Queen Charlotte. She had 6 daughters and none of them were allowed to get married while they were young. I wonder If had they been able to marry young would there would there be a different King or Queen on the throne today.
I am surprised by this rather unflattering biography of Alexandra.i always thought she was popular with the people. Especially in comparison to her successor, Mary of Teck.
No, you're correct. Queen Alexandra was extremely popular, so much so that when she got sick & developed a permanent limp, women across the nation mimicked her limp, making it a trend of sorts. 🙃
Her husbands sexual dalliances were nothing that hadn’t happened over the previous centuries. It was only the women who had to remain pure, for the continuation of the male line.
11;09 =... It is indeed a trend... My mother was often disregarded by my father... Every time we leave the house without permission or against propriety, my mother would end up having asthma attacks...
Actually both King Christian and Queen Louise of Denmark were descendants of George II. King Christian descends from two of his daughters, Louise and Mary. Also, King Fredrick VI of Denmark gave Christian the Yellow Palace.
I belive you forgot to mention the relationship between Queen Alexandra and her sister Dowager Empress Maria of Russia. Although they may have had a few quarrels, it was Alexandra who persuaded her son King George V, to send a ship to rescue Maria from the Bolsheviks and bring her to England and that they bought a villa together in Denmark, where Empress Maria ended up with living until her death in 1928.
@@doravernon1511 Actually her full name was Marie Sophie Frederikke Dagmar, but was called Dagmar. But that of cause was before she became a Russian Grand Duchess, then Empress and finally Dowager Empress Maria Fjodorovna.
Alexandria, without doubt, one of the best Royals ever. No comment on her husband. Thank you for the upload, I learned quite a lot, something never taught at school, or ever knew about. As from quite a lot of YT videos, I have learned more in the past 5 years than the previous 55 years.
Correction: Prince Chriatian (Chr. lX) was NOT the brother of childless Fr. Vll. He was a distant relative to the Danish kings. However his wife, Louise of Hessen- Kassel was the niece of King Chr. Vlll and her heirloom to the Danish throne was transferred to her husband.
Watching this and listening to her relationship with her children, all I can think about is how she may have learned how to be so controlling of her children from Queen Victoria
At 2:08 there is a painting labelled as "Albert & Edward", which, I think, must be a tiny mistake. As Albert is the first name of the later King Edward VII, who is known as "Bertie", a nickname for Albert, in his family, the painting should probably be "Alfred & Edward" or "Albert & Alfred"
Amazing video 👍👍👍😁, i sub immedicty. Wil you please make a video about king bouduin ( 1930-1993) he was amazing king and there are not many video about hem. He really care about his belgish people. He had endure many trauma's; lost his grantfather and his father become king and year later his mother died....at yong age, than wwi begon and he had to be king at 18years because belgish people did't not want his father to be king. Etc.... he olso has heath probleme. .. he was maried but there has not childeren 😔. You can see and feel that king bouduin endure many traumas. So wil you please 🙏 make video about my king bouduin 🇧🇪 . I born in belguim ( been dutch, sorry for my writingsfault ) i have so much respect for king bouduin because he caring karather and what he did for my country.
Not to be pedantic, but the photo at 2:15 is actually Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, who was Edward VII's younger brother. Otherwise, thank you for the fascinating video.
Kaiser Willhelm was not a cousin of King Edward...Willhelm was a Nephew of King Edward. Wilhelm's mother, Princess Victoria was King Edwards's older Sister.
Funny that Edward was getting tired of waiting. Of course, he never knew that in the future, there will be Charles who will wait almost forever and we still don't know when he will be king if he will outlive his mom since accidents and other stuff can happen as well as a sudden fatal illness.
Okay your video was good, but it had some flaws in it! Queen Victoria did not die in June of 1901 it was January of 1901 instead. But other then that it was good
Does anyone else see any parallels with Edward and Victoria with Charles and Elizabeth II? I see so many. Lizzy is hanging on by her fingernails to ensure that Charles has the shortest reign possible for she knows he is unsuitable as was Edward. The Royal family is in as dodgy position now as it was in Victoria’s reign.
@@HistoryRoadshow Well, I wouldn't agree that it is "apparent" that they were friends. Like Jerald Baxter, I too have never heard this. Neither have I read it in any historical accounts whatsoever. It is undisputed that she invited Mrs. Keppel to his bedside as he lay dying, but I would surely be interested to know the source of the information that they were close friends, or friends at all, during the time of the King's affair with her.
Nothing at all wrong with her intelligence. She grew increasingly deaf from an inherited issue which caused her to withdraw from large groups of people. But everyone said what a wonderful woman she was if they did meet her. She also did alot of appearances for Queen Victoria who had a self imposed long mourning period. She was England's first deaf queen, albeit later in her life.
According to later historians, Albert Victor was not as dumb as Victorian historians & his brother, George V, let on... I thought she had 6 kids including the youngest, Alexander John, who died a few days after birth...
3:23 - Alexandra WAS a German girl: though born a Princess of Denmark, both her parents were ethnic Germans (as was her husband-to-be, the future Edward VII of Great Britain). They were all Germans.
All of you saying Alexandra was German and the BRF is German has forgotten or either has no clue that the German house of Hanover descended from the house of You're, Tudor, Stuart, Lancaster, plantagenet and so on. Alexandra also had British ancestry. So stop saying they're Germans.
Lots of mistakes. Wilhelm was Edwards newphew not cousin, Maud was queen consort never a wueen in her own right, Alexandra despised Mrs Kepple and had her thrown out the minute Edward died etc. And so on.
I always enjoy hearing any take on this part of the Royal family's history. In this instance you have the relationship between QV & the then Princess of Wales, Alexandra. QV was quite smitten (all were esp. by her style,grace & beauty). The r'ship between Ev11 & QA was one of tolerance and mutual tolerance. What followed we all know.
There's a documentary called Queen Victoria's Children. If what's stated in it is true, then she was a cruel, almost heartless mother. I had trouble finishing it since I was so disturbed by it.
I have watched Itv's Victoria and in that quite popular show they show us that Albert was more hard on Edward in his childhood than Victoria was; as he felt pressured to prepare the future heir of England and Edward was probably dyslexic and couldn't cope with his education. That tv show tells us that Queen Victoria was far nicer to him than Albert was and was the more loving parent towards him.
Contrary to the hype she was not popular with the public and there were several attempts on her life, probably one reason for her self-imposed seclusion.
Sometimes it is hard for me to imagine a prince and his household being poor, as in poor. Yes, many European aristocrats became house or castle poor so they had to marry American heiresses for their money, but I just can't imagine them being truly poor.
Thank you for an interesting video. I always feel sorry for Queen Alexander and, in some ways for King Edward too Just a couple of points (sorry to nit pick) but Queen Victoria dies in January 1901 not June and Queen Adelaide was the wife of William IV not William III
This was the expectation on Diana, that she too would turn her eyes away from Charles' mistresses and get on with the husband's chetings. She didn't. And now expect one of the mistresses to be Queen in the future.
