bavarikon4UWinterhalter, Franz Xaver: Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of Prussia (Friedrich III, Emperor of the German Empire as Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of Prussia)
As a liberal in the sense of the pre-March movement, Prince Albert had hoped for a political rapprochement between the two countries through the marriage of his favourite daughter Victoria and the Prussian heir to the throne Friedrich Wilhelm (1831–1888). He wished for a united Germany under the leadership of Prussia, expected to put its monarchy under the control of a constitution based on the British model. In his son-in-law he also found an adequate partner for his plans. But they would end up in a human and political tragedy. Victoria’s life at the Prussian court turned into torture despite a happy marriage and a large brood of children, since as a British woman she was judged extremely critically. Otto von Bismarck was her greatest enemy. Politically, the Crown-Princely couple remained isolated and without any real influence. By the time the long reign of Emperor Wilhelm I ended, Friedrich Wilhelm was already terminally ill. He was known in German history as Friedrich III, emperor for 99 days. Upon his death, Victoria called herself “Empress Friedrich” and withdrew to her widow’s residence Castle Friedrichshof in the Taunus region.