Prince Henry of Prussia.

Heinrich von Preußen Heinrich Albert Wilhelm von Preußen

Born 14 Aug 1862 Berlin, Germany

Died 20 Apr 1929 Hemmelmark, Germany

Citizenship Germany

8 min read

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May 3, 2026

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TL;DR

Grand Admiral Prince Henry of Prussia commanded the East Asia Squadron from 1899 and later the High Seas Fleet 1906-1909. During World War I he led the Baltic Fleet. He was a grandson of Queen Victoria and a brother of Kaiser Wilhelm II.

Identity & family.

KIN · 10

Names, aliases, and relatives of Prince Henry of Prussia — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Heinrich Albert Wilhelm von Preußen

Native Name Heinrich von Preußen

Nicknames Henry

Aliases Prince Heinrich, Prince Heinrich of Prussia, Prinz Heinrich von Preußen

SPOUSES: Princess Irene of Prussia
CHILDREN: Prince Waldemar of Prussia Prince Sigismund of Prussia
SIBLINGS: Princess Charlotte of Prussia Princess Viktoria of Prussia Princess Margaret of Prussia Sophia of Prussia Prince Sigismund of Prussia Prince Waldemar of Prussia Wilhelm II

At a glance.

STATS

Prince Henry of Prussia by the numbers — life, work, and family.

66 Years lived

12 Awards

1 Marriage

2 Children

Who was Prince Henry of Prussia?

BIOGRAPHY

Prince Henry of Prussia — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

On 14 August 1862, Prince Henry of Prussia was born as Heinrich Albert Wilhelm von Preußen in Berlin, Germany. He was the son of Princess Royal Victoria and King Frederick III of Prussia, making him a grandson of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. His first name Albert honored his grandfather, who died shortly before his birth. He attended Friedrichsgymnasium Kassel and later the German Imperial Naval Academy, setting the stage for his naval career.

Career

Prince Henry took command of the East Asia Squadron in 1899. From 1906 to 1909 he led the High Seas Fleet, rising to Grand Admiral. During World War I, he commanded the Baltic Fleet. Among his many honors were the Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece and the Order of the Black Eagle.

Personal life

Prince Henry married his cousin Princess Irene of Prussia. The couple had three sons: Prince Waldemar, Prince Sigismund, and Heinrich. Heinrich died at age four. Their sons Waldemar and Heinrich both had hemophilia. Prince Henry was brother-in-law to King Constantine I of Greece and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia.

Legacy

Prince Henry of Prussia commanded the East Asia Squadron and High Seas Fleet with competence during a period of naval expansion. He received the Royal Victorian Chain and many other high orders. He died from throat cancer on 20 April 1929 at Hemmelmark, Schleswig-Holstein. He is a noted figure in Prussian and German naval history.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 12

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Prince Henry of Prussia — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Black Eagle
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle
Supreme Order of Christ
Order of the Star of Romania
Order of St. Andrew
Royal Victorian Chain
Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
Grand Cross of the Order of the Cross of Liberty
Knight of the Seraphim

Did you know?

FACTS · 11

Little-known facts about Prince Henry of Prussia — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were his grandparents.
Kaiser Wilhelm II was his brother. He commanded the East Asia Squadron from 1899, the High Seas Fleet 1906-1909, and the Baltic Fleet during World War I.
Three sons: Prince Waldemar 1889-1945, Prince Sigismund of Prussia, and Heinrich 1900-1904.
Two sons, Waldemar and Heinrich, had hemophilia.
His first name Albert honored his grandfather Prince Albert, who died before his birth.
Brother-in-law of King Constantine I of Greece and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia.
Uncle of Crown Prince Hohenzollern, Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen, and Viktoria Luise von Preußen.
Cousin of Tsarina Alexandra, Queen Victoria Eugenia, Princess Alice, Prince Albert Victor, Queen Maud of Norway, King George V, and Queen Marie of Romania.
Son of Princess Royal Victoria and King Frederick III of Prussia.
Brother of Princess Charlotte of Prussia.
Uncle of Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 31

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Prince Henry of Prussia.

When was Prince Henry of Prussia born?

Prince Henry of Prussia was born on August 14th, 1862 in Berlin, Germany. He was the second son of Crown Prince Frederick and Princess Victoria, daughter of Queen Victoria.
Where was Prince Henry of Prussia born?

Prince Henry of Prussia was born in Berlin, Germany, the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia. His birthplace is now part of modern-day Germany.
When did Prince Henry of Prussia die?

Prince Henry of Prussia died on April 20th, 1929 at his estate in Hemmelmark, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He was 66 years old.
How old was Prince Henry of Prussia when he died?

Prince Henry of Prussia was 66 years old at the time of his death. He passed away on April 20th, 1929.
Where did Prince Henry of Prussia die?

Prince Henry of Prussia died at his home in Hemmelmark, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Hemmelmark was his estate in the north of Germany.
How did Prince Henry of Prussia die?

Prince Henry of Prussia died from throat cancer. He had been ill for some time before his death on April 20th, 1929.
What is Prince Henry of Prussia's real name?

Prince Henry of Prussia’s real name is Heinrich Albert Wilhelm von Preußen. He was commonly known as Prince Henry in English.
What is Prince Henry of Prussia's name in his native language?

In his native language, German, Prince Henry of Prussia is known as Heinrich von Preußen. He was called Heinrich within the family.
What nationality was Prince Henry of Prussia?

Prince Henry of Prussia was German. He was a member of the House of Hohenzollern, the ruling dynasty of Prussia and later the German Empire.
Who was Prince Henry of Prussia married to?

Prince Henry of Prussia was married to Princess Irene of Prussia. Irene was his cousin and also a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
Did Prince Henry of Prussia have children?

Yes, Prince Henry of Prussia had three sons: Prince Waldemar 1889-1945, Prince Sigismund of Prussia, and Heinrich 1900-1904. The youngest died at age four.
How many siblings did Prince Henry of Prussia have?

Prince Henry of Prussia had seven siblings, including Kaiser Wilhelm II, Princess Charlotte, Princess Viktoria, Princess Margaret, Sophia, Prince Sigismund, and Prince Waldemar.
Where did Prince Henry of Prussia go to school?

Prince Henry of Prussia attended the Friedrichsgymnasium Kassel and later the German Imperial Naval Academy. He was educated for a naval career.
What awards did Prince Henry of Prussia receive?

Prince Henry of Prussia received many high honors, including the Order of the Black Eagle and the Royal Victorian Chain. He was also a Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece.
How many major awards did Prince Henry of Prussia receive?

Prince Henry of Prussia received twelve major awards from various nations, including the Supreme Order of Christ and the Order of St. Andrew.
What is the origin of Prince Henry's nickname 'Henry'?

Prince Henry’s nickname Henry is the anglicized version of his German name Heinrich. He was known as Henry in English-speaking circles, particularly among his British royal relatives.
Why did Prince Henry of Prussia use the alias 'Prince Heinrich'?

Prince Henry of Prussia used the alias Prince Heinrich in German contexts. He was also known as Prinz Heinrich von Preußen, reflecting his Germanic heritage.
What was Prince Henry's full name and title?

Prince Henry of Prussia’s full name was Heinrich Albert Wilhelm von Preußen. He held the title Prince of Prussia as a member of the royal family.
Who were Prince Henry's parents?

Prince Henry’s parents were Princess Royal Victoria, the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, and King Frederick III of Prussia, who was German Emperor for 99 days.
What was Prince Henry's naval career?

Prince Henry had a distinguished naval career, commanding the East Asia Squadron from 1899 and the High Seas Fleet from 1906 to 1909. He reached the rank of Grand Admiral.
What was Prince Henry's role in the East Asia Squadron?

Prince Henry was commander of the German Empire’s East Asia Squadron beginning in 1899. He oversaw German naval interests in the Pacific and East Asia.
What was Prince Henry's role in the High Seas Fleet?

Prince Henry served as commander of the High Seas Fleet from 1906 to 1909. He was responsible for the main battle fleet of the Imperial German Navy.
What was Prince Henry's relationship with his brother Kaiser Wilhelm II?

Prince Henry was the younger brother of Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor. Despite their close family ties, Henry focused on naval command while Wilhelm was the monarch.
Did Prince Henry have hemophilia?

Prince Henry himself did not have hemophilia, but two of his sons, Waldemar and Heinrich, suffered from the condition. It was inherited through the female line.
What is Prince Henry's cause of death?

Prince Henry died from throat cancer on April 20, 1929. He had been treated for the disease in his final years.
What honors did Prince Henry receive from other countries?

Prince Henry received honors from many countries, including the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath United Kingdom and the Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum Japan.
How many children did Prince Henry have?

Prince Henry had three children, all sons: Prince Waldemar born 1889, Prince Sigismund born 1896, and Heinrich born 1900. The youngest died in 1904.
What was the name of Prince Henry's estate?

Prince Henry’s estate was called Hemmelmark, located in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He died there on April 20, 1929.
Was Prince Henry involved in any political activities?

Prince Henry’s primary role was in the navy, and he did not engage in major political activities. However, as a prince of the blood, he had ceremonial and diplomatic duties.
What is Prince Henry's legacy?

Prince Henry is remembered as a competent naval commander and a loyal member of the House of Hohenzollern. His service in the Imperial Navy is a highlight of his career.
Who were Prince Henry's famous relatives?

Prince Henry was related to many European royals, including Queen Victoria grandmother, King George V cousin, and Tsarina Alexandra of Russia cousin.

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If something's wrong in a profile, Daniel will find it. With 7 years of research experience, he's developed an almost unreasonable eye for inaccurate career timelines, misattributed credits, and dates that don't quite add up. He doesn't publish anything he can't verify. The profiles on Famousy are as accurate as they are largely because of work you'll never see his name on.

Published on May 3, 2026

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