He was the younger son of Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, formerly the Duke of Teck, and a nephew of Queen Mary and King George V. Frederick was born on 24 September 1907 in Vienna, Austria, where his father was the British military attaché.

At the time of his birth, his father was styled Prince Adolphus, Duke of Teck, the eldest son of Francis, Duke of Teck and Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge (a granddaughter of King George III).

He was styled "His Serene Highness Prince Frederick of Teck" from his birth, and was educated at Ludgrove School.

[2] Adolphus was subsequently created Marquess of Cambridge, Earl of Eltham, and Viscount Northallerton in the Peerage of the United Kingdom.

[2] Frederick served as a captain in the Coldstream Guards and was killed in action in Belgium on 15 May 1940.