Prince Alexander of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau (William Alexander Frederick Constantine Nicholas Michael, ; 2 August 1818 – 20 February 1848) was born at Soestdijk Palace, the second son to King William II of The Netherlands and Queen Anna Paulovna, daughter of Tsar Paul I of Russia. He was nicknamed Sasha within his family.

Biography Prince Alexander was born on Sunday, 2 August 1818 at a quarter past ten in the morning. His birth was announced the next day in the Nederlandsche Staatscourant. To commemorate the birth of his second grandson William I of the Netherlands gave his daughter-in-law Anna Pavlovna the Czar Peter House in Zaandam, which had been inhabited by her ancestor Peter I of Russia during his stay in the Dutch Republic. Prince Alexander was christened on the forty-sixth birthday of his grandfather, 24 August 1818, by the Reverend Krieger in The Hague. The young Prince's paternal great-grandmother, Wilhelmina of Prussia, was present for the occasion. Alexander received the names of his father, his paternal uncle Prince Frederick of the Netherlands, and his maternal uncles Alexander I of Russia, Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich of Russia, Nicholas I of Russia and Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich of Russia.

Alexander was educated together with his brother William III of the Netherlands, who was only eighteen months his senior. Their father, the Prince of Orange, thought the physical education of the boys particularly important. As such, they spent much time outdoors. The Prince of Orange actively partook in the upbringing of his children. On 22 October 1822 Anna Pavlovna wrote to her brother Constantine, "the two eldest are big boys and are receiving their first lessons. William started teaching them to read a year ago and now they have been entrusted to the care of a tutor who comes everyday to teach them. Papa teaches them Geography."De Romanov Relaties, p. 58 The Princes William and Alexander later continued their studies at Leiden University, but neither of them showed a particular interest in academics.

Contemporary accounts suggest that Alexander was regarded by his parents as more suitable to rule than his brother William, who was described as difficult to manage from a young age. Emmeline Stuart Wortley, who met Alexander during the falconry season at Het Loo, wrote positively about his character.A visit to Portugal and Madeira, p. 245 Alexander spent extended periods at Het Loo, where he took part in outdoor activities and socialized with an international circle of acquaintances. He maintained cordial relations with members of his family, including William and his sister-in-law Sophie of Wurttemberg, despite Sophie's strained relations with some of her in-laws.

Alexander had a lively, adventurous personality. According to his sister-in-law Sophie, he was tall, strong and rather handsome.Sophie, koningin der Nederlanden, p. 117 He was no intellectual, but he did develop many interests, including numismatics, mechanical engineering, flora and fauna, military science and all kinds of sports. He was also fascinated by new technologies, as proven by the fact he was the first member of the House of Orange to have his photograph taken, and he also the first to own a bicycle.In naam van Oranje 33, p. 788 It is unclear whether he ever really attended a costume ball dressed from head to toe in shining armour, but he did don Highland Dress on several occasions.

Alexander was outdoorsy and lived a very active life. Among the sports he practiced were gymnastics, sailing, fishing, ice skating, dancing, sharp shooting, archery and horse riding. While on a visit to the United Kingdom in 1843 he was introduced to punt gunning, to which he immediately took a fancy. He contacted the then famous sportsman Colonel Peter Hawker, who secured him a gun. According to Hawker’s diary, Alexander killed 35 teal and 12 curlews with his first three shots. “A princely beginning”, Hawker concluded.The Diary of Colonel Peter Hawker 1802-1853, Volume 2, p. 238-240

Alexander and his older brother William were taught to hunt by court physician Pierre Everard when they were teenagers. Both princes became passionate hunters. In 1839, their grandfather the King allowed the reinstatement of the old practice of falconry at Het Loo. The two brothers joined the new Royal Loo Hawking Club, with Alexander serving as chairman. Every year the falconry season drew a crowd of hunting enthusiasts (many of them British) to Het Loo. Apart from hunting the company also engaged in horse racing and shooting contests. Alexander was passionate about racing and he owned many precious racing horses (Queen Anna Pavlovna once gave him a horse brought from England for 4000 Dutch guilderseen jaar aan het hof, p. 85). He eagerly participated in the horse racing as a jockey, despite his 6 foot 4 inch height. A letter to the Prince's father proves how seriously Alexander took his hunting activities, as he explained his absence from The Hague: "I so desire to stay at Het Loo, where the falconry is wonderful this year. You might disapprove of my behaviour and my decision, my dear father, but remember, beloved father, this is my only relaxation and the only pleasure I truly love."In naam van Oranje 30, p. 709 After Alexander's death the expensive sport came under increasing threat. The Royal Loo Hawking Club was rudderless without its enthusiastic chairman and the new king William III, Alexander’s brother, alienated himself from many of the members with his rude behaviour. The Club was finally disbanded in 1855.

During his short life, Alexander travelled extensively. This included two visits to the United Kingdom and long journeys to Italy and his mother's native country. On 23 July 1839, Alexander went to Russia to visit his maternal uncle, Tsar Nicholas I, accompanied by his mentor, Major Rigot de Begnins. He made a favourable impression on his uncle, who wrote to Anna Pavlovna: “I was pleased to meet your Alexander, who is really a very handsome boy, with such an excellent and decent appearance. I think he is more fortunate than his brothers, as far as his appearance is concerned.”Rusland en Oranje, 174 On 7 September (O.S. 26 August) 1839, at a ceremony commemorating the anniversary of the Battle of Borodino, the Tsar named Alexander Chief of the Novorossiysk Dragoon Regiment. Anna Pavlovna was thrilled to see her son so well received at her brother’s court. On 3 October she wrote to Tsar Nicholas thanking him for his kindness to Alexander: "How I should thank you, dear friend, for the gifts you have bestowed upon my son Alexander and for the flattering honour you so mercifully bestowed upon him by making him the head of a regiment of your army. May he once deserve the honour to be taken up in the ranks of such an army! May he be worth it!" De Romanov Relaties, p. 186 Like his father, Alexander occasionally appeared at court in Russian uniform.

In 1843, at the invitation of his friend, the Duke of Leeds, Alexander spent several months in England and Scotland. After the obligatory visit to Queen Victoria, he extensively toured the Scottish Highlands, where he greatly enjoyed his freedom and the relaxed, casual atmosphere.Onze Sasja is niet meer, p. 77 Once described as “one of the best sportsmen of the present day”,Planet, 24-12-1843 he actively engaged in outdoor pursuits such as riding, shooting, hiking and fishing. During the Highland Games at Inverness Alexander placed third in the sharpshooting contest, his best shot from 25 yards only missing the target by a quarter of an inch. Both at the Highland Games and at several balls, Alexander appeared in full Highland Dress. According to a contemporary newspaper “his erect figure and handsome limbs did no discredit to the garb of "Old Gael".Pictorial Times, volume 2, p. 136 While in Britain he also stayed at the country estates of the Duke of Richmond, the Duke of Northumberland and Queen Adelaide.

In 1846, Alexander had received another invitation for a lengthy stay in Scotland. However, he was forced to accompany his mother on her journey to Italy. Alexander much resented this, complaining he was being dragged on a stupid trip like a monkey in a cage.Onze Sasja is niet meer, p. 76 The company left Rotterdam on 26 August 1846 and arrived at Domodossola on 11 September. At the end of the month they reached Genoa where Prince Henry's ship lay moored. The travel journal Alexander kept (which ended up in the Weimar state archives and for a long time has been incorrectly attributed to his sister Sophie), shows he had great difficulty putting up with Anna Pavlovna’s foul moods and capriciousness. One of the things mother and son seem to have strongly disagreed about, was Alexander’s amorous attachment to Anna Pavlovna’s lady-in-waiting Otheline van Tuyll van Serooskerken. Alexander spent his time in Italy going sightseeing at a killer pace. He greatly desired to continue on to Rome, but his mother was reluctant and only agreed after a lot of persuading. On 9 October the company reached the eternal city. They visited Pope Pius IX, whom both Alexander and his mother found very pleasant. Alexander returned to The Netherlands in November 1847, shortly before he fell fatally ill.Onze Sasja is niet meer, p. 76-77

As an adult, Prince Alexander lived rather modestly. Aide-de-camp Eliza Pieter Matthes in 1842 described the prince's home behind the Kloosterkerk as "rather small for a prince", but the interior was "charming."Een jaar aan het hof, p. 36 In 1844, King William II bought a more suitable accommodation for his son. He chose the Villa Boschlust, just outside The Hague, which had sat empty since the death of its builder Johannes van den Bosch. Alexander relocated to villa Boschlust in 1845, but stayed for only two years, until his departure to Madeira. After his death the villa was inherited by his parents. Anna Pavlovna stayed at Boschlust for a short time after the death of her husband, because she could no longer bear living at her former home, Kneuterdijk Palace, without him. After the Queen dowager had left Boschlust, the estate was sold to a Rotterdam wine merchant in March 1851. Villa Boschlust and the large park surrounding it were demolished shortly after 1888 in favour of a residential area.

Career

As the Prince of Orange's second son, Alexander was destined for a career in the army. On 2 August 1828, his tenth birthday, he received the rank of colonel by Royal Order. That same day his father gifted him his first horse. Alexander would prove to be a great horse lover and an expert horseman. As such, he was marked out for a career as a cavalry officer. He started his training at 20 years old in 1839 and spent part of it with the dragoons in Tilburg.Het leven van den generaal Frederik v. Gagern van 1813-1848 in Nederlandsche dienst, volume 2, p. 183-184 That same year his grandfather William I assigned him the rank of Major General and placed him at the head of the brigade of heavy cavalry stationed in Leiden. Alexander stayed in Leiden for one year only, until his father ascended the throne, promoted him to Lieutenant-General and assigned him the purely ceremonial role of Inspector-General of Cavalry. The Prince was very unhappy with this decision and for years to come would lament his inability to earn his stripes and be in real contact with the troops whose uniforms he was forced to wear.Onze Sasja is niet meer, p. 73-74 Alexander never saw any action as a soldier.