[2] Though she was considered "quite lovely" by his family, her Roman Catholic religion barred her from being a suitable consort for the head of the Anglican church.

[2] On 25 April 1867 at St. Hedwig's Cathedral in Berlin, she married Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, second son of King Leopold I of Belgium and Louise-Marie of Orléans.

[1] They had five children: Princess Marie was an accomplished artist, even occasionally exhibiting her paintings at the Brussels Fair.

She had a literary salon, which was the gathering place of many authors as well as a feature of Brussels social life for forty years.

[1] She also demonstrated appreciation for music, on one occasion awarding a gold medal to the Zoellner Quartet after it performed for the Belgian royalty.