Princess Margaret Of Prussia

Margaret of Prussia (German: Margarethe Beatrice Feodora), born on 22 April 1872, was the youngest child of Frederick III, German Emperor, and Victoria, Princess Royal. She was a member of the German imperial family and a granddaughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Her siblings included Emperor Wilhelm II, and she was a first cousin to King George V of the United Kingdom and Empress Alexandra of Russia. She was born at the New Palace in Potsdam, Germany.

Her parents, Frederick III and Victoria, Princess Royal, were married in 1858. Margaret was the eighth of eight children in the family. Her full name was Margarethe Beatrice Feodora. She was nicknamed "Mossy" due to her hair, which was short and moss-like at birth, and she was christened with these names. Her godmother was Crown Princess Margherita of Italy, and her godfather was Emperor Pedro II of Brazil.

Her early life was characterized by the privileges of royal upbringing, and she grew up in a formal environment with her siblings and parents. She was particularly close to her mother and her sisters Viktoria and Sophie, forming a close-knit group that was somewhat distinct from her older siblings William II, Charlotte, and Henry. She maintained strong family ties and was considered popular among her relatives.

In 1893, she married Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse. The wedding took place on 25 January 1893 at the Hohenzollern Stadtschloss in Berlin. Prior to marriage, she was briefly attracted to Prince Maximilian of Baden, but he did not reciprocate her affections. Her marriage to Prince Frederick Charles was a union between second cousins, both being great-grandchildren of King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia.

At the time of her marriage, Frederick Charles was not yet the head of the House of Hesse-Kassel; this position was held by his older brother, Landgrave Alexander Friederich. Frederick Charles later became Landgrave of Hesse in the mid-1920s, after his brother's abdication. Their marriage was considered harmonious, with Margaret described as having a strong personality.

During her marriage, Margaret lived primarily at Schloss Rumpenheim and later inherited Schloss Friedrichshof in 1901 after her mother's death. Her husband was a prominent figure, and their household was notable within royal circles.

Margaret's family faced significant tragedies during World War I, with her sons Friedrich Wilhelm (1893–1916) and Maximilian (1894–1914) both killed in the war. Maximilian was wounded and died shortly afterward, while Friedrich Wilhelm was killed in Romania. Her other sons included Philipp and Christoph, both of whom were involved with the Nazi regime. Philipp married Princess Mafalda of Savoy, and he was later associated with Hitler's personal staff. Christoph was a supporter of the German war effort but became critical of the Nazi leadership, dying in a plane crash in 1943.

The family also suffered during World War II, with the death of Princess Marie Alexandra, wife of Wolfgang (another of Margaret's sons), in a bomb attack in Frankfurt in 1944.

After 1945, she experienced challenges related to the loss of family heirlooms, notably the theft of valuable jewelry from Schloss Friedrichshof, which was later partially recovered. The theft was committed by individuals working within the military occupation.

Margaret died in Kronberg, Germany, on 22 January 1954 at the age of 81. Her papers, including family correspondence, are preserved in the Archive of the House of Hesse at Fasanerie Palace in Eichenzell, Germany.

Her children's names include Friedrich Wilhelm, Maximilian, Philipp (married to Mafalda of Savoy), Wolfgang (married Princess Marie Alexandra of Baden), Richard Wilhelm Leopold, and Christoph. Her descendants include members involved in European royal and noble families.

She received various honors, including the Dame of the Order of Louise and the Red Cross Medal from Prussia, the Dame of the Order of the Golden Lion of Hesse, and the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert from the United Kingdom.