Alexandra of Denmark

Alexandra's family was barely on the map until 1852, when her father was tapped to inherit the Danish throne. At 16 she was selected as the bride for Albert Edward, Queen Victoria's heir, and married him in 1863 — the same year her father became Christian IX and her brother took the Greek crown as George I. She held the Princess of Wales title from 1863 to 1901, setting trends in dress while being frozen out of any real influence; her attempts to lobby for Danish and Greek interests went nowhere. Victoria's death in 1901 made her queen-empress beside Edward VII, a role that lasted until his de…