Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
A steadfast queen who became a symbol of national resilience during Denmark's darkest hours of occupation.
1879–1952 (age 73)·Queen of Denmark and Iceland·Birthday: December 24·The Gilded Age
Biography
Born into German nobility, Alexandrine married the Danish Crown Prince Christian in 1898, a union that would place her at the heart of a nation's twentieth-century trials. As Queen from 1912, her public role was initially traditional, but it was during the Nazi occupation of Denmark from 1940 to 1945 that her character became indelible. While King Christian X became the focal point of passive resistance, Alexandrine provided a bedrock of stoic calm, her visible presence in Copenhagen a quiet act of defiance. She was deeply involved in charitable work, particularly for children and the arts, and her decision to learn Danish fluently and embrace her adopted country completely earned her profound public affection. Her tenure, which also made her the last Queen of Iceland before its republic, spanned two world wars and the dawn of the modern welfare state, leaving a legacy of dignified fortitude.
The Gilded Age
1860–1882
Born during or after the Civil War, they built industrial America — the railroads, the steel mills, the first skyscrapers. An era of massive wealth, massive inequality, and the belief that the future belonged to whoever could build it fastest.
Alexandrine was born in 1879, placing them squarely in The Gilded Age. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alexandrine Was Born
The biggest hits of 1879
Alexandrine's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1879Born
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
1884Started school
President: Chester A. Arthur
1892Became a teenager
President: Benjamin Harrison
1895Could drive
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1897Could vote
President: William McKinley
1900Turned 21
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1909Turned 30
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1919Turned 40
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1929Turned 50
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1939Turned 60
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1949Turned 70
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1952Died at 73
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
Key Achievements
- Served as Queen of Denmark for 35 years, through both World Wars and the Nazi occupation.
- Was the Queen of Iceland from 1918 until the country dissolved its monarchy and became a republic in 1944.
- Became a powerful symbol of Danish resilience and continuity during the German occupation of World War II.
- Patronized numerous charitable organizations, with a lasting focus on supporting children and the arts in Denmark.
Did You Know?
She was an accomplished equestrian and a dedicated gardener, famously involved with the gardens at the Marselisborg Palace.
Despite her German birth, she was overwhelmingly popular in Denmark, especially for her opposition to the Nazi regime.
She was the maternal grandmother of the current Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II.
A bridge connecting Copenhagen to the island of Amager is named the Queen Alexandrine Bridge in her honor.
“My duty is to my new country, and I will stand with it in silence.”
