Prince Friedrich was born in Meiningen the second son of Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen and his second wife Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, a descendant of Diego Velázquez.

Although the future William II, German Emperor was a prominent member, Prince Friedrich was not active in the group, rarely attending meetings, instead preferring to shun social life in favour of concentrating on his studies.

[1] With the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Prince Friedrich, despite suffering a broken arm a short while beforehand, returned to active service.

He discovered his father had been struck by shrapnel or machine gun bullets when he left a house he was using as an observation post.

[5] Prince Friedrich and Princess Adelaide had six children who were full members of the Ducal House of Saxe-Meiningen: He received the following orders and decorations:[2]