Background
On 26 May 1827 in Charlottenburg, he married Princess Marie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, a daughter of Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and his wife Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia.
On 26 May 1827 in Charlottenburg, he married Princess Marie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, a daughter of Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and his wife Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia.
Although he served as a Prussian general for much of his adult life, Prince Charles is often remembered for his vast patronage and collections of art and armor and as the first Herrenmeister (Grand Master) of the Order of Saint John after its restoration as a chivalric order. Marriage and issue Army career Prince Charles entered the Prussian army in 1811 at the age of ten, with the rank of lieutenant in a regiment of the guards. In 1820, he became a major in the First Regiment of Foot Guards.
In 1822 he became colonel of the 12th Infantry Regiment, and in 1824 he was promoted to major general.
In 1830, he commanded the 2nd Guards Division. He was further promoted to lieutenant-general in 1832 and general of infantry in 1844.
He served as Inspector-General (1848) and as Generalfeldzeugmeister and chief of the artillery (1854). Charles served as Governor of Mainz from 1864–1866.
In 1852, he became Herrenmeister of the Order of Saint John (Bailiwick of Brandenburg).
Death In 1882, Prince Charles" foot slipped while he was getting up from dinner, and consequently he fractured his left thighbone. As he had already been in delicate health from his advanced age, sources reported that survival was unlikely. He died the following year, on 21 January 1883, in Berlin.
In 1819, he became a member of the Prussian Staatsrat.