Princess Anna of Hesse and by Rhine

Princess Anna of Hesse and by Rhine (Prinzessin Anna von Hessen und bei Rhein; 25 May 1843 – 16 April 1865) was the consort and second wife of Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Early life
Anna, the third child and only daughter of Prince Karl of Hesse and by Rhine, and Princess Elisabeth of Prussia, was born at Bessungen, Grand Duchy of Hesse. Her paternal grandfather was Ludwig II, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine. Her mother was the granddaughter of King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia.

Her eldest brother, Ludwig, married in 1862 to Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, third child and second daughter of Queen Victoria.

Marriage
As a young girl, Anna was considered as a possible bride for the future Edward VII (known as 'Bertie' to his family). While his mother, Victoria, was in favor of Anna, Bertie's elder sister was opposed to the match, as she believed Anna had a "disturbing twitch". As time went by however, Victoria grew increasingly impatient, and tried to ignore her daughter's hints that Anna was not suitable, declaring, "I am much pleased with the account of Princess Anna, (minus the twitching)". In the end, Alexandra of Denmark was chosen instead.

On 4 July 1864 in Darmstadt, Anna married Friedrich Franz II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin son of Paul Friedrich, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. (Friedrich Franz's first wife, Princess Augusta Reuss of Köstritz, had died in 1862). Together, they had one daughter:


 * HH Duchess Anna Elisabeth Auguste Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (7 April 1865 – 8 February 1882)

Death
Anna died of puerperal fever a week after giving birth to her only child. She was buried at the Schwerin Cathedral. Her husband remarried to Princess Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, and was the father of Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, consort of Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.