Friedrich Wilhelm (Paul Leopold) (January 4, 1785 - February 17, 1831), was the first Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and founder of a line that includes the Royal Houses of Denmark, Greece and Norway. He is a great-grandfather to Alexandra of Denmark, and subsequently is an ancestor to the present-day British royal family, including Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and her husband, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

He was born in Lindenau on January 4, 1785 to Friedrich Karl Ludwig, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (August 20, 1757 - March 25, 1816) and Countess Friederike von Schlieben (February 28, 1757 - December 17, 1827). He was the third and last child of the couple.

He became heir to his father due to the principle of Agnatic primogeniture though he had two older sisters:

• Elisabeth Friederike Sophie Amelie Charlotte of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (December 13, 1780 - January 19, 1862), later married to Samuel Freiherr von Richthofen. (Freiherr is equivalent to the title of Baron).
• Maria Dorothea Henriette Luise of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck (September 28, 1783 - November 24, 1803), later by marriage Duchess of Anhalt-Köthen.

On January 26, 1810 he married Luise Caroline, Princess of Hesse-Kassel (September 28, 1789 - March 13, 1867), a granddaughter of King Frederik V of Denmark. They had ten children:

• Luise Marie Friederike of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (October 23, 1810 - May 11, 1869).
• Friederike Karoline Juliane of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (October 9, 1811 - July 10, 1902).
• Karl, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (September 30, 1813 - October 24, 1878).
• Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (October 23, 1814 - November 27, 1885).
• Wilhelm of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (April 10, 1816 - September 5, 1893).
• Christian IX of Denmark (April 8, 1818 - January 29, 1906).
• Luise, Abbess of Itzehoe (November 18, 1820 - November 30, 1894).
• Julius of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (October 14, 1824 - June 1, 1903).
• Johann of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (December 5, 1825 - May 27, 1911).
• Nikolaus of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (December 22, 1828 - August 18, 1849).

On March 25, 1816, Friedrich Wilhelm succeeded his father as Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sønderborg-Beck. On July 6, 1825 he became Duke of Glücksburg and changed his title to Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg. He died on February 17, 1831.

His grandchildren include among others Frederick VIII of Denmark, Alexandra of Denmark, George I of Greece and Dagmar of Denmark.

External links

• A pedigree of the Oldenburg dynasty