Alexandra

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Alexandra, princess of Wales (later queen consort to Edward VII), wearing a diamond and pearl choker known as a “dog collar”

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Alexandra

queen consort of Great Britain

Also known as: Alexandra Caroline Mary Charlotte Louisa Julia, Alexandra, Princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Alexandra, Princess of Wales

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Nov 16, 2024 • Article History

Quick Facts

In full:: Alexandra Caroline Mary Charlotte Louisa Julia

Also called:: (1844–63) Princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, or (1863–1901) Princess of Wales

Born:: Dec. 1, 1844, Copenhagen, Den.

Died:: Nov. 20, 1925, Sandringham, Norfolk, Eng.

Also Known As:: Alexandra, Princess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg; Alexandra, Princess of Wales; Alexandra Caroline Mary Charlotte Louisa Julia

Alexandra (born Dec. 1, 1844, Copenhagen, Den.—died Nov. 20, 1925, Sandringham, Norfolk, Eng.) was the queen consort of King Edward VII of Great Britain.

The eldest daughter of Christian IX of Denmark, Alexandra was married to Edward (then Albert Edward, prince of Wales) in St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, on March 10, 1863. The exceptional beauty and graceful manner of the princess made her an immediate and lasting favourite with the British public. She had six children: Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence; George, Duke of York, afterward King George V; Louise, afterward Duchess of Fife; Victoria; Maud, afterward queen of Norway; and John, who died in infancy.

A serious illness in 1867 left Alexandra lame and accentuated a hereditary deafness. As queen she devoted much of her income and time to the poor and suffering; she founded the Imperial Military Nursing Service in 1902 and started Alexandra Rose Day to raise funds for British hospitals.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Encyclopaedia Britannica.