According to Viktoria, things between her and Bourke weren’t serious, but her elder sister was known for being quite the gossip. The Emperor’s wife had been made aware of recent events by Viktoria’s very own older sister, Charlotte. Made entirely aware of his mother’s matchmaking machinations from a letter from his wife detailing Viktoria’s infatuation for Bourke, things became rather tense between Viktoria, her brother, and mother. Two such suitors were the Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, the grandson of Queen Victoria’s older half-sister, Feodora and the son of Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo, Captain the Hon. And despite her engagement, she did all she could to introduce Viktoria to other, more suitable men she thought would make for better husbands. Her mother was never convinced of the match. She wrote in her memoirs that there was a mutual attraction between her and Prince Adolph. Prince Adolph of Schaumburg-Lippe proposed to Princess Viktoria on June 11th, 1890. And after over a year of investigating and planning, he finally got his wish. Her brother was determined to get his sister married off. The young princess refused to convert to Catholicism. Viktoria’s brother and emperor, along with Bismarck thought a marriage between Viktoria and the Prince of Portugal would be an excellent union. Queen Victoria encouraged her daughter not to push marriage on Viktoria if that wasn’t something she wished for herself.
Her mother and grandmother showed great concern for her health and wellbeing. She fell into a great depression, starving herself to the point of becoming too thin. In letters to her mother, Victoria expressed her worry for Moretta. On his passing from throat cancer, her brother, Wilhelm II claimed the throne and his sister’s matrimonial fate. All was lost with the death of her father in 1888. For the next seven years, Viktoria and her parents held out hope she could marry her Sandro. They feared a union between Viktoria and Alexander would displease Tsar Alexander III of Russia because the Tsar was unhappy with Alexander’s actions in Bulgaria.Ī nasty war of words transpired between Viktoria’s parents and grandmother and the Emperor. Bismarck’s spies kept him informed of relations between Bulgaria and Russia. Her Grandfather, Emperor Wilhelm I and his Chancellor, Otto Von Bismarck quite opposed the marriage. But not everyone was supportive of the match. With the support and encouragement of her parents and grandmother, Viktoria fell in love with Alexander. Throughout her life, her mother sought to fulfill the role of matchmaker, only wishing for her daughter’s happiness. In 1881, Moretta’s mother invited the Bulgarian sovereign Prince, Alexander of Battenberg, ‘Sandro’ to the Prussian court. She took after her mother in appearance and for her love for English ways. Young Vicky was described as an impetuous, charming and eccentric young woman who was tough to direct, likely from her indulgent father and allowance of freedom. In the end, though, it would only lead to her social and financial ruination and death. Viktoria showed great optimism for this union. Her second marriage was her final hurrah to grab some happiness for herself. She gave up her title, her citizenship and, in the end, her wealth by marrying a man nearly 40 years her junior. Despite bucking against societal convention and her siblings wishes, she committed the ultimate betrayal. She always appeared to be searching for the same romance and true love she’d found as a younger woman. In her later years, she attempted to recapture what had been denied her. The inability to marry a man she’d loved for years seemed to remain with her for the rest of her life, destroying her innocence, bringing on a depression that stayed with her. That favoritism with her family and intervention from them on her behalf wouldn’t save her from future heartbreak and from entering a loveless, unhappy, and childless marriage. Vicksey, Young Vicky, or Moretta, as she was known in private, was very close to her mother and grandmother. She was baptised on her grandmother’s birthday, 24th May. Friederike Amalia Wilhelmine Viktoria was the fifth child and second daughter of Frederick III, Emperor of Germany and Victoria, Princess Royal, first daughter of Queen Victoria. Born on April 12, 1866, in Potsdam Palace. Like the majority of her granddaughters, Princess Viktoria of Prussia was named after both her mother and grandmother.
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