Maria Christina was the only surviving child of Prince Charles of Saxony, Duke of Courland, himself son of King Augustus III of Poland, and his wife, Countess Franciszka Korwin-Krasińska.

She learned philosophy, geography, literature, music, dance, and was taught several languages (German, Italian, French, Polish, and English).

In Turin on 24 October 1797, she married Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Carignano (died 1800).

They had two children: Three years after his marriage Charles Emmanuel died in a French prison.

They had five children, one son and four daughters: In 1824 Maria Christina and her second husband bought and restored the Schloss Wilhelminenberg in the district of Gallitzinberg.