Victoria, Princess Royal Biography

Empress Frederick was the Empress of Germany and Queen of Prussia through her marriage to German Emperor Frederick III. Born as Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise and also known as Victoria, Princess Royal, she became widely known as Empress Frederick after her husband’s death. The eldest child of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert, she was initially in line to succeed her mother as queen of the United Kingdom until the birth of her younger brother. A bright young girl, she received an excellent education—she was well-versed in multiple languages and was also taught science, literature, philosophy, and history. Later, she developed a keen interest in astronomy. As was customary in those days, the princess was groomed for marriage from a young age and first met her future husband, Prince Frederick William of Prussia, when she was only 11 years old. Although the marriage, which took place a few years later, was a dynastic alliance, it proved to be a happy union for the couple. After the death of her father-in-law, King William I, in 1888, her husband ascended the throne as Emperor Frederick III (and as King Frederick III of Prussia), and she became the German Empress and Queen of Prussia. However, her husband died just months after becoming emperor, and following his death, she became known as Empress Frederick.