She was the only daughter of Emperor Alexander II and his Empress and as such was used to being in the centre of all attention. Taking into account the Crimean War had been fought less than twenty years before, together with Queen Victoria's distrust of Russia, it was remarkable that Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna was chosen as bride for Queen Victoria's second son, Prince Alfred. 
Prince Alfred went to St. Petersburg where, on 23 January 1874, they were married to become the parents of one son and four daughters. With her came a huge dowry, an immense annual income, magnificent jewels and a Russian priest. However, she, the only daughter of an Emperor, indignantly had to give precedence to the Princess of Wales as well as the five daughters of Queen Victoria. She demanded precedence after the Queen but Queen Victoria refused. Even though the 
matter was eventually resolved she never enjoyed living in England. As Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, was pursuing a naval career, Maria and her children saw very little of him and it was left to Maria to bring up her children. In 1893 Alfred succeeded his uncle to become a ruling monarch as Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Maria loved being number one but Alfred bitterly missed the navy.

Their son, also named Alfred, grew up very lonely, separate from his sisters, with a father frequently absent and a mother who was unable to show her feelings. According to his sister, Marie, his health broke down; others maintained consumption while The Times announced his death to be caused by a tumor; but it seems to have been that he shot himself. 
Not yet twenty-five years old and in the midst of festivities for Maria and Alfred's twentyfifth wedding anniversary, he tried to commit suicide. Severely wounded, he survived. Maria, embarrassed with so many family members present, decided to have her son moved to Meran 
for recuperation. However, the journey was too much for him and he died alone except for a doctor and a servant. 
Maria and Alfred were devastated with the loss of their only son and their daughter, Marie, was astonished to see her mother break down and sink sobbing to her knees when young Alfred's coffin was brought to Gotha. After the death of their son, Alfred began to drink more and more and this was virtually the end of their marriage. It was even rumoured that he wanted to abdicate as Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. However, he died of cancer of the throat on 30 July 1900. Maria lived on until 1920. Shortly before her death, however, she received from the socialist German government an envelope containing her voting papers; it was addressed to "Frau Coburg". 
 

Source: Leo van de Pas