[January 26] George Alexander, titular grand duke of Mecklenburg

Parents: George, grand duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and Irina Mikhailovna Raievskaya

Date of Birth: 21 August 1921

Royal House: Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Spouse: Ilona, daughter of Joseph Francis of Austria and Anna of Saxony

Reign: 1963 – 1996

Predecessor: George

Summary: George Alexander never ruled Mecklenburg-Strelitz. He was a titular ruler reigning 45 years after the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was dissolved in the aftermath of World War I. Unlike most other deposed dynasties, the pretenders to Mecklenburg-Strelitz were permitted to live in Germany. During World War II, this meant they were constantly under suspicion by the Gestapo and George Alexander and his father were briefly held by them during the war. However, both were released and, after the war, George Alexander went to study law at Freiburg. For most of his professional life, he worked for an advertising company.

On July 6th, 1963, George Alexander became grand duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Since this title had no actual function other than royal prestige, little changed for George Alexander. Nonetheless, George Alexander moved back the Mecklenburg and was able to get an apartment in his ancestral ducal residence or Mirow Castle, and he spent much of the remainder of his life in its reconstruction. In his personal life, George Alexander married Ilona of Austria, the descendant of a minor branch of the Habsburg-Lorraine family. The couple had four children, three daughter and a son, before divorcing in 1974. George Alexander was succeeded by his son, Borwin, as titular grand duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. In 2001, Borwin became the head of the unified (though still titular) Duchy of Mecklenburg as its only known male descendant, except for his two sons.

Date of Death: 26 January 1996

Successor: Borwin