Prince Friedrich was born on 23 August 1891 at Grünholz Manor in Schleswig-Holstein, Prussia as the fifth child and only son of Frederick Ferdinand, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderbug-Glücksburg and his wife Princess Karoline Mathilde of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg. Prince Friedrich"s father was the eldest son of Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and a nephew of Christian IX of Denmark.
Upon the death of his father in 1885, he had succeeded to the headship of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg and the title of duke. When the Head of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg Albert, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein died on 27 April 1931, Friedrich"s father Friedrich Ferdinand became the Head of the House of Oldenburg and inherited the title of Duke of Schleswig-Holstein. On 21 January 1934, Duke Friedrich Ferdinand died, and Friedrich became head of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg.
Duke Friedrich died on 10 February 1965 in Coburg, Bavaria, West Germany.
HH Hans Albrecht, Hereditary Prince of Schleswig-Holstein (12 May 1917 – 10 August 1944) HH Prince Wilhelm Alfred Ferdinand of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg (24 September 1919 – 17 June 1926) HH Friedrich Ernst Peter, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (30 April 1922 – 30 September 1980) HH Princess Marie Alexandra of Schleswig-Holstein (9 July 1927 – 14 December 2000) Titles and styles 23 August 1891 – 27 April 1931: His Highness The Hereditary Prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg 27 April 1931 – 21 January 1934: His Highness The Hereditary Prince of Schleswig-Holstein 21 January 1934 – 10 February 1965: His Highness The Duke of Schleswig-Holstein.
