Yearly Archives: 2015

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince Arthur was born on May 1, 1850, at Buckingham Palace in London, England, the third son and the seventh of the nine children of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Arthur had five sisters and three brothers:

Albert, Victoria and their nine children in 1857; Left to right: Alice, Arthur, Albert, Edward, Leopold, Louise, Victoria with Beatrice, Alfred, Victoria, and Helena; Credit – Wikipedia

On June 22, 1850, Arthur was christened Arthur William Patrick Albert in the Private Chapel of Buckingham Palace. His godparents were:

Prince Arthur’s first two names were given in honor of his two godfathers: Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, Commander of the Coalition Army that defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo, and a former Prime Minister (the prince was born on the Duke’s 81st birthday) and Prince Wilhelm of Prussia (later Wilhelm I, German Emperor, King of Prussia). Patrick was chosen to show his parents’ gratitude for the hospitality of the Irish people during their visit the previous year, and Albert, as his father wrote, “…Victoria’s love has always insisted on my name to finish up with.” Arthur’s one godmother, Princess Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, was Ida, the sister of Queen Adelaide (the wife of King William IV), who had died five months before Arthur’s birth. Prince Albert wrote that Princess Ida was chosen “in memory of poor Queen Adelaide, who would certainly have been delighted at this addition to our family.”

A year later, Franz Xaver Winterhalter was commissioned to paint a portrait commemorating Prince Arthur’s first birthday, the eighty-second birthday of the prince’s godfather, the Duke of Wellington, and the opening day of the Great Exhibition, organized by Prince Albert. The painting (below) shows Prince Arthur and his parents, the Duke of Wellington offering a gift to Prince Arthur, and The Crystal Palace, the site of the Great Exhibition in the background.

The First of May 1851 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter; Credit – Wikipedia

Arthur resembled his father in looks and was obedient, conscientious, and disciplined. He was Victoria’s favorite son: “This child is dear, dearer than any of the others put together, [after Albert] the dearest and most precious object to me on earth.” Arthur was educated by private tutors.

NPG x38485; Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn by Maull & Co

Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn by Maull & Co, albumen cabinet card, late 1860s, NPG x38485 © National Portrait Gallery, London

Considering that Arthur was the godson of one of Britain’s most significant military figures, it was not unusual that he had a 40-year military career. During his long military career in the British Army, Arthur participated in many missions in various parts of the British Empire. In 1870, he served during the Red River Rebellion in Canada. In 1882, he took part in the campaign under General Wolseley to put down the Urabi Revolt in Egypt by leading the Guards Brigade in the decisive Battle of Tel el-Kebir. Between 1886 and 1890, Arthur served in India as the Commander-in-Chief of the Bombay Army.

On April 1, 1893, Arthur was promoted to General. He hoped that he would be appointed as Commander-in-Chief of the British Army when his first cousin once removed, Prince George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge, retired in 1895, but instead, he was given command of the southern district of Aldershot. On June 26, 1902, Arthur was appointed Field Marshal. He served as Commander in Chief in Ireland and Commander of the Third Army Corps (1900-1904), Inspector-General of the Forces (1904 and 1907), and Chief of Staff (1904-1907).

Despite being Queen Victoria’s least troublesome and favorite child, Arthur annoyed his mother with his choice of a bride. Princess Luise Margarete of Prussia was born at Marmorpalais (Marble Palace) near Potsdam in the Kingdom of Prussia. Her parents were Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia and Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt.  Queen Victoria considered Louise Margaret a less-than-satisfactory spouse for her son. She was plain-looking and had broken teeth. Her parents were unpleasant, had an unhappy marriage, and lived apart. Queen Victoria wanted to avoid associating her family with a possible scandal. Nevertheless, Arthur and Louise Margaret were married on March 13, 1879, at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.

NPG Ax131371; Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn; Princess Louise, Duchess of Connaught after Unknown photographer

Prince Arthur, 1st Duke of Connaught and Strathearn; Princess Louise, Duchess of Connaught (née Princess of Prussia) after Léon Abraham Marius Joliot, albumen carte-de-visite, 1870s, NPG Ax131371© National Portrait Gallery, London

Arthur and Louise Margaret had one son and two daughters. The Swedish and Danish Royal Families are their descendants. The family resided at their country home, Bagshot Park, and Clarence House, their London residence.

The Duke and Duchess of Connaught with their children; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1899, Arthur’s nephew Prince Alfred of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the only son of Arthur’s older brother Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, died. Arthur was the immediate successor of his brother Alfred, but chose to relinquish his claim and his son’s claim to the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. This caused Prince Carl Edward, Duke of Albany, the posthumous son of Alfred and Arthur’s brother Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, to become Alfred’s heir and successor when he died in 1900.

In 1911, to strengthen the links between the British monarchy and Canada, Arthur was appointed the first Governor-General of Canada, who was a member of the Royal Family. Arthur was accompanied to Canada by his wife and his daughter Patricia. They lived in Rideau Hall in Ottawa and undertook extensive travels in Canada. After the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Arthur and his family remained in Canada. He stressed the need for military training of Canadian troops and gave his name to the Connaught Cup of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, a competition in pistol marksmanship for Canadian recruits. During World War I, Arthur served in various emergency services and visited hospitals, while his wife worked for the Red Cross and other organizations. Arthur’s daughter Princess Patricia gave her name to a newly formed regiment, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

Prince Arthur and group with sleds in Ottawa, Canada; Credit – Wikipedia

After his time in Canada, Arthur returned to the British Army and served for the rest of World War I. Louise Margaret, who had been ill during their stay in Canada, died of influenza and bronchitis on March 14, 1917, at the age of 56. Arthur withdrew from public life in 1928 and died on January 16, 1942, at Bagshot Park in Surrey, England, at the age of 91. His sister Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, also died at the age of 91, making both Arthur and Louise the longest-lived of Victoria and Albert’s children. Arthur was buried at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore in Windsor, England.

Arthur’s only son predeceased him in 1938, and at Arthur’s death, his grandson Alastair became the 2nd Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.  However, Alastair died a year later, and as he was childless, the title Duke of Connaught and Strathearn reverted to the Crown.

 

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Queen Victoria Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein – Source: Wikipedia

Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein was born on August 12, 1872, at Cumberland Lodge, Windsor Great Park in Windsor, England. She was the fourth child and second daughter of Princess Helena of the United Kingdom (third daughter of Queen Victoria) and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. She had four siblings:

The princess was christened Franziska Josepha Louise Augusta Marie Christina Helena on September 18, 1872, but was known as Marie Louise. Her godparents were:

As a child, Louie (as she was known affectionately within the family) enjoyed a quiet family life with her parents and siblings. Educated privately at home, the young princess enjoyed close relationships with many of her cousins, both within the United Kingdom and abroad. The family often spent summer holidays with the Grand Ducal Family of Hesse, and Marie Louise was particularly close to her cousin Alix of Hesse (later Empress of Russia). The two were only two months apart in age, and were, in Marie Louise’s own words, “… more like sisters than cousins.”

From a young age, Marie Louise and her sister were brought up to appreciate the needs and sufferings of those less fortunate. They often accompanied their mother on visits to hospitals and clinics. For the rest of her life, Marie Louise would support various charities in this area, including the Princess Christian’s Nursing Home in Windsor, founded by her mother. Marie Louise and her sister Helena Victoria would be involved with the organization their entire lives.

 

According to her memoirs, Marie Louise met her future husband Prince Aribert of Anhalt at the wedding of her cousin Viktoria of Prussia to Adolph of Schaumberg-Lippe. She states this was in the fall of 1889, but the wedding actually took place in the fall of 1890. It is likely that she simply stated the wrong year in her book. Prince Aribert was a younger son of Friedrich I, Duke of Anhalt and Princess Antoinette of Saxe-Altenburg. He served in the Prussian military and was close friends with Wilhelm II, German Emperor, King of Prussia, Marie Louise’s first cousin. Wilhelm strongly encouraged the relationship, and it was at a family luncheon at his Neues Palais in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia that the engagement of Marie Louise and Aribert was announced in December 1890. The couple married the following July at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, in the presence of Queen Victoria.

Although Marie Louise seemed deeply in love, marital problems quickly appeared. Aribert’s primary focus was his military career and he had little interest in having a life at home. Fortunately for Marie Louise, they spent little time in Anhalt, as Aribert was based primarily in Berlin. This allowed her freedom from the stifling protocol of the Anhalt court. But it soon became obvious that the couple had little, if anything, in common, and they would often go days without seeing each other, even while living in the same home.

Often suffering from ill health in the cold weather, Marie Louise traveled extensively. It was while on one of these trips, to the United States and Canada, that her marriage ended without her knowledge. In December 1900, while in Canada, Marie Louise received a cable from her father-in-law, demanding that she return home immediately. Just an hour later, she received another cable, this time from Queen Victoria – “tell my granddaughter to come home to me. V.R.” Upon arriving back at Cumberland Lodge, she was told her marriage had been dissolved by her father-in-law, at her husband’s insistence. It has been speculated that the marriage was never consummated and that Aribert was homosexual, and had been caught in a delicate situation by either his wife or his father. In her memoirs, Marie Louise states that even though her marriage was annulled, she maintained the vows she had made at her wedding, and would never remarry.

For a while, Marie Louise lived with her aunt Princess Beatrice at Kensington Palace but she soon set up house at 21 Queensberry Place in London, England where she would live until the onset of World War I. Following World War I, Marie Louise returned to Cumberland Lodge and Schomberg House with her mother and sister. She also became very involved in charity work, working with numerous organizations throughout the United Kingdom.

In July 1917, her first cousin King George V requested that all his extended family relinquish their German titles. Most lost their princely titles and were given peerages in the United Kingdom. Perhaps out of respect for Marie Louise’s father Prince Christian, the only remaining son-in-law of Queen Victoria, the family retained their princely titles and simply stopped using the Schleswig-Holstein designation.

 

One of Marie Louise’s best-known contributions was the creation of Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House. She worked tirelessly with craftsmen and noted artists and authors to create a scaled replica of a royal palace. It was presented to Queen Mary in 1924 and displayed at the British Empire Exhibition of 1924-1925. It is now on display at Windsor Castle, drawing thousands of visitors each year.

After World War II, Marie Louise and her sister Helena Victoria moved to 10 Fitzmaurice Place in Berkeley Square, London, England. She continued participating in most family functions and remained very close to King George VI, his wife Queen Elizabeth, and their two daughters. Following her sister’s death in 1948, one of her last major appearances was the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Then, at the suggestion of Queen Elizabeth II, she began to write her memoirs. My Memories of Six Reigns was published in 1956. Being a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, and having lived to be 84 years old, Marie Louise had experienced a significant amount of history. She had lived during the reigns of six monarchs, attended four coronations and countless family functions throughout Europe, lived through two World Wars, and seen major changes in the Royal Family, particularly in how it interacted with the British people.

Princess Marie Louise at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth Ii, 1953. source: National Portrait Gallery

Princess Marie Louise at the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, 1953. source: National Portrait Gallery

Soon after the book was published, Princess Marie Louise died at her home on Fitzmaurice Place in London, England on December 8, 1956. Her funeral was held at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor and she was buried with her parents and sister in the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore in Windsor, England.

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Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein; source: Wikipedia

Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, born May 3, 1870, at Frogmore House in Windsor, England, was the third child, and eldest daughter, of Princess Helena of the United Kingdom and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. Her given names were Victoria Louise Sophia Augusta Amelia Helena, but she was known formally as Helena Victoria, and informally as ‘Thora’.

The princess was christened in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle on June 20, 1870. Her godparents were:

Thora was the 18th grandchild of Queen Victoria, and because her parents lived near the Queen, she enjoyed a very close relationship with her grandmother. She had four siblings:

  • Prince Christian Victor (1867-1900) – died while serving in the Boer War, unmarried, no issue
  • Prince Albert (1869-1931) – later Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, unmarried, illegitimate issue
  • Princess Marie Louise (1872-1956) – married Prince Aribert of Anhalt (divorced), no issue
  • Prince Harald (born and died 1876)

Thora never married and remained at home until after her mother’s death. In 1894, she was suggested as a potential bride for Ernst of Hohenlohe-Langenburg by her aunt Crown Princess Victoria of Prussia. However, nothing ever came of this, and Ernst ended up marrying Helena’s cousin, Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Following her mother’s example, Thora was involved in many charities and organizations. These included the YMCA, YWCA, and Princess Christian’s Nursing Home in Windsor (established by her mother). She was also, with her sister, an avid supporter of the arts, and often held small concerts and performances at their various homes. Like her mother, she also assisted her aunt Beatrice in serving as an unofficial secretary to Queen Victoria. In the last few months of the Queen’s life, she often dictated her journal to Helena Victoria.

During World War I, Thora and her family remained at Cumberland Lodge, where they typically spent Sundays with King George V and Queen Mary, to whom they were rather close. In 1917, during World War I, King George V requested his family members to relinquish any German titles. Unlike many other members of the extended royal family who lost their princely titles, Thora and her family retained their titles and simply dropped the ‘Schleswig-Holstein’ designation.

 

Following her mother’s death in 1923, Thora and her sister Marie Louise took on many of their mother’s charities and patronages. Thora became President of Princess Helena College, a position her mother had held since 1874, and who had given her name to the school. She also continued her work with the Princess Christian’s Nursing Home. In addition, she often attended the Davis Cup tennis tournament and presented trophies to the winners.

When World War II began, it was deemed unsafe for Thora and her sister to remain at Schomberg House in London. They took a ‘flat’ in the home of Lady Grace Weigall in Englemore, near Ascot, for several years, and then spent the remainder of the war at Brantridge Park, home of their cousin Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, with their aunt Princess Beatrice. Following the war, they gave up Schomberg House, which had suffered significant bombing damage, and took up residence at 10 Fitzmaurice Place, in Berkeley Square.

 

Thora’s last years were spent rather quietly. In 1941, she was named godmother to Prince William of Gloucester, elder son of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, to whom she was quite close. In November 1947, she made her last major public appearance at the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten.

Princess Helena Victoria died four months later, on March 13, 1948, at the age of 77. Following a funeral held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, she was buried beside her parents in the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore in Windsor, England.

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Prince Albert, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Duchy of Schleswig-Holstein: In November 1863, Prince Friedrich of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg claimed the twin duchies as Friedrich VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein after the death without a male heir of King Frederick VII of Denmark, who was also the Duke of Schleswig and the Duke of Holstein.  In 1864, following the Second Schleswig War, the Duchy of Holstein and the Duchy of Schleswig became occupied territories of the German Confederation and two years later, following the Austro-Prussian War, part of the new Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein. However, Prussia recognized the head of the House of Oldenburg as the *mediatized duke of these two duchies, with the rank and all the titles. The Duchy of Schleswig and the Duchy of Holstein are now the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.

*mediatize – to annex (a principality) to another state, while allowing certain rights to its former sovereign

*********************

Prince Albert, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein – source: Wikipedia

Prince Albert, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (Albert John Charles Frederick Arthur George) was the second son of Princess Helena of the United Kingdom and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. He was born on February 26, 1869, at Frogmore House in Windsor, England.

He was christened Albert John Charles Frederick Arthur George in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle on March 31, 1869. His godparents were:

Albert had four siblings:

Princess Helena with her sons Christian Victor and Albert, c. 1875. source: National Portrait Gallery. NPG x95876

Princess Helena with her sons Christian Victor (l) and Albert (r), 1875. source: National Portrait Gallery; half-plate glass negative, by Alexander Bassano (NPG x95876)

Like his elder brother Christian Victor, Albert attended Lambrook and was destined for a military career. However, unlike his brother, Albert joined the Prussian Army, eventually reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. This meant that Albert was separated from his family during World War I. Because he refused to fight against the British, Albert’s cousin, Wilhelm II, German Emperor and King of Prussia, excused him from active service, and he spent the war years serving on the staff of the Governor of Berlin.

By the end of the war, Albert was the heir apparent to his childless cousin, the Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, the brother of the German Empress Augusta Viktoria. He succeeded to the Dukedom in 1921, also becoming head of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg. The title was merely in pretense, as the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein had been annexed by Prussia following the Austro-Prussian War in 1866.

Albert never married, but just before his death, he acknowledged an illegitimate daughter born in 1900. The child, Valerie Marie, had been quickly given up and was raised by a Jewish family. Albert wrote to her just weeks before he passed away, acknowledging that he was her father. He also informed his two sisters, although he never disclosed the name of Valerie’s mother. Some years later, when Valerie was planning to marry the Duke of Arenberg, this acknowledgment would become very important. At the time, because of her perceived Jewish heritage, she was not permitted to marry the Duke. Fortunately, Albert’s sisters attested to her true parentage, and the wedding was then permitted. Valerie died, by apparent suicide, in 1953.

Prince Albert, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein died on April 27, 1931, in Primkenau, Germany (now Przemków, Poland). He is buried near the church in Primkenau.

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Schleswig-Holstein Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein. source: Wikipedia

A grandson of Queen Victoria, Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein (Christian Victor Albert Louis Ernst Anton) was the eldest child of Princess Helena of the United Kingdom (the third daughter of Queen Victoria), and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. He was born on April 14, 1867, at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England.

Prince Christian Victor was christened on May 21, 1867, in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle. His godparents were:

Christian Victor had four siblings:

Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein. source: Wikipedia

“Christle”, as he was known within the family, became the first member of the British Royal Family to attend school, enrolling at Lambrook, Wellington College and Magdalen College at the University of Oxford, before entering the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He showed a high level of skill at cricket, and served as captain of the cricket teams at Wellington, Magdalen, and Sandhurst, and even played for I Zingari (cricket club) in 1887.

Upon leaving Sandhurst in 1888, he became a subaltern in the King’s Royal Rifles. He participated in the Hazara and Miranzi expeditions in 1891, the Isazi expedition in 1892, and the Ashanti expedition in 1895. Upon his return, he was elevated to the rank of Major and then served under Lord Kitchener in the Battle of Omdurman in 1898. The following year, he saw duty in the Second Boer War, participating in the Relief of Ladysmith under General Sir Redvers Buller and then in Pretoria under Lord Roberts.

“Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig Holstein Church Street Cemetery in Pretoria 056” by PHParsons – Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Prince Christian Victor died of enteric fever in Pretoria, South African Republic, also known as the Transvaal Republic, now in South Africa, on October 29, 1900, having also fallen ill with malaria. He was just 33 years old. His death shocked his family, and in particular, his grandmother Queen Victoria, with whom he had been very close. Although preparations were made to return his body to the United Kingdom, he was buried in a soldier’s grave in Pretoria, now in South Africa, at the wishes of his grandmother.

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Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein source: Wikipedia

Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (Friedrich Christian Karl August) was the husband of Princess Helena, the third daughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. He was born on January 22, 1831, at Augustenborg Palace in Augustenborg, Denmark, the sixth of seven children of Christian August II, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg and his wife, Countess Louise Sophie of Danneskiold-Samsøe.

Christian had six siblings:

While attending the University of Bonn, Christian became close friends with the future German Emperor Friedrich III. This friendship would serve him well in later years, as Friedrich’s wife Victoria, Princess Royal was the elder sister of Christian’s future wife. The German couple would fully support Christian’s marriage to Helena, despite significant opposition from other members of Helena’s family.

 

It was on a visit to Coburg in the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in May 1865 that Christian and Helena’s romance began. Despite the fifteen-year age difference, they were drawn to each other. With the support of, and perhaps some prodding by Queen Victoria, the couple’s engagement was announced in December of the same year. Part of the agreement with Queen Victoria was that the couple would live in the United Kingdom, close to The Queen. As Christian had no specific career or ambitions, this was quickly agreed to. Just before the wedding, The Queen raised Christian’s style to ‘Royal Highness’, although this only applied in the United Kingdom. They married in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle on July 5, 1866, and settled at nearby Frogmore House.

Christian and Helena had five children:

A favorite of Queen Victoria, Christian was created a Knight of the Garter and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, as well as an Aide-de-Camp to both Queen Victoria and King Edward VII. In 1866, The Queen appointed him Ranger of Windsor Great Park. In 1872, with the impending birth of their fourth child, Christian and his family moved from Frogmore House and took up residence at Cumberland Lodge, the traditional home of the Ranger of Windsor Park. During Queen Victoria’s reign, the family would stay at Buckingham Palace when they needed lodgings in London.

Not having any particular job or military career, Prince Christian was perfectly content being at Queen Victoria’s beck and call. With his wife assuming much of the role of unofficial secretary to Her Majesty, Christian also assisted with paperwork, primarily dealing with the family, and would often be called to read to The Queen or handle any other matters she saw fit to pass along to him. The Queen intended to fully utilize Helena and Christian until Princess Beatrice was old enough to take over the role.

In December 1891, while out on a shoot with his brother-in-law, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, Arthur accidentally shot Christian in the face. One eye was completely shot out, with some minor damage to the other. Christian, in his usual unprepossessing manner, made the best of the situation. He amassed a significant collection of glass eyes in various shades and colors. He would amuse, and sometimes shock, guests by appearing with two different colored eyes, even having some made to appear bloodshot should he need to match his good eye following a late night.

Following Queen Victoria’s death in 1901, Christian and his family were given the former De Vesci House at 77-78 Pall Mall as their London home. Later known as Schomberg House, it would remain in Christian’s family until the late 1940s. Despite his advancing age, he often represented his brother-in-law King Edward VII at foreign functions. Notable amongst these was the silver anniversary celebration of Wilhelm II, German Emperor and Augusta Viktoria, German Empress in 1906. Christian and Helena were aunt and uncle to both of them, as the  Emperor was the son of Helena’s eldest sister and Empress was the daughter of Christian’s brother.

The last few years of Christian’s life saw some major events. In 1916, he and Helena celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, the first in the British royal family since King George III and Queen Charlotte. Then, in July 1917, Christian and his family gave up their German titles, at the request of King George V. While many other relatives lost their Princely titles completely, Christian retained his, simply dropping the ‘of Schleswig-Holstein’ designation.

“Schleswig-Holstein plot at Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore” by Peter symonds – Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Wikimedia Commons.

Just three months later, Prince Christian died on October 28, 1917, at Schomberg House in London, England. Following his funeral at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, his remains were placed in the Royal Crypt there. In 1928, along with the remains of his wife and their son Harald, Christian was re-interred in the newly established Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore in Windsor, England.

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Cindy Ritter

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Messages to her family may be left at her online obituary.
Cynthia Arwood Ritter Obituary

Princess Helena of the United Kingdom, Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Princess Helena of the United Kingdom; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Helena was the fifth child, and third daughter, of Queen Victoria of The United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. She was born at Buckingham Palace in London, England on May 25, 1846. Two months later, on July 25, 1846 she was christened in the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace with the names Helena Augusta Victoria. Her godparents were:

Helena had eight siblings:

Princess Helena and her brother Prince Alfred by Franz Xaver Winterhalter; Credit – Wikipedia

Known within the family as Lenchen, Helena’s childhood was spent at her mother’s various homes, in the care of nurses and nannies. An accomplished artist and pianist from a young age, she was often overshadowed in life by her siblings. She was closest to her brother Alfred, and the two remained so for their entire lives. Helena’s life would change drastically in 1861, with the death of her beloved father. She began helping her sister Alice who became an unofficial secretary to their mother. After Alice’s marriage, Helena would continue in this role, along with her younger sister Louise, before the role was primarily taken by her youngest sister, Beatrice.

Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein; Credit – Wikipedia

Helena had a brief romance with Carl Ruland, who had served as her father’s librarian. Of course, when Queen Victoria discovered her daughter’s interest in one of the servants, Ruland was quickly dispatched back to Germany. Victoria then began a quest to find Helena an appropriate husband. It was in May 1865 while visiting Coburg that Helena met her future husband, Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, the son of Christian August, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, and Countess Louise Sophie af Danneskiold-Samsøe. After receiving formal consent from Queen Victoria and agreeing that they would live in the United Kingdom, their engagement was announced on December 5, 1865. As she had done with her other children, Queen Victoria arranged for Parliament to grant Helena an annuity of £6000 per year and a £30,000 dower. She also personally gave the couple £100,000, which provided them an income of about £4000 per year.

The engagement was not met with unanimous approval within the royal family. The Princess of Wales (formerly Princess Alexandra of Denmark) could not countenance a marriage to someone who, she felt, took the Schleswig and Holstein duchies away from her father King Christian IX of Denmark. The Prince of Wales supported his wife in this. Another of Helena’s sisters, Alice, disapproved as she felt her mother was pushing Helena into this marriage to ensure that Helena would remain near her side. The fact that Christian was fifteen years older than Helena certainly did not help that suggestion. However, Helena was truly in love with Christian and was determined to marry him for her own happiness.

Princess Helena and Prince Christian; Credit – Royal Collection Trust

Despite the misgivings of some of her siblings, Helena had the full support and blessing of her mother and the wedding went on as planned. Helena and Christian married on July 5, 1866, in the Private Chapel in Windsor Castle in Windsor, England. Following a brief stay at Osborne House, they set off on a honeymoon in Paris, Interlaken, and Genoa.

Upon returning from their honeymoon, the couple settled at Frogmore House in Windsor, England, and over the next eleven  years, had five children:

In 1872, Helena and her family moved from Frogmore House to Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park. Cumberland Lodge was the traditional home of the Ranger of Windsor Great Park, a position to which Prince Christian had been appointed in 1867. She took a very active role in royal duties and engagements when this was not nearly as common as it is today. Helena was very involved in charity work, particularly nursing. She served as president of the Royal British Nurses Association and was one of the founding members of the British Red Cross.  She was also the founding president of the Royal School of Needlework.

In the late 1870s, Helena suffered several losses.  Her young son, Prince Harald, died just 8 days old in 1876, and the following year she would give birth to a stillborn son.  The next year, her sister Alice died from diphtheria.  Despite their strained relationship at the time of Helena’s marriage, Helena recognized that Alice was looking out for her happiness, and she was devastated by her death.  Helena later wrote a forward for a book of letters from Alice to Queen Victoria.  The second edition, published in 1885, was titled “Memories of Princess Alice by her Sister, Princess Christian.”

More tragedy would come at the turn of the century.  Her favorite brother Alfred died in July 1900, and in October, her oldest son, Christian Victor, died of malaria in South Africa while serving in the Boer War.  The year 1901 would bring the death of her mother Queen Victoria and eldest sister Victoria, The Dowager German Empress.

Following Queen Victoria’s death, Helena continued to support the monarchy, although she was not very close with her brother King Edward VII. With King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra now residing at Buckingham Palace, Helena needed a new home in London. Unlike many of her siblings, Helena did not have a separate London home and stayed in the Belgian Suite at Buckingham Palace when she was in London. In August 1902, King Edward VII gave her use of the former De Vesci House at 77-78 Pall Mall in London, England, which had recently been given to the Crown. It soon became known as Schomberg House, and Helena would live there for the rest of her life. Schomberg House would then become the home of Helena’s two daughters until 1947.

Princess Helena in 1910; Credit – Wikipedia

Helena and Christian celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1916, the first in the family since King George III and Queen Charlotte in 1811. In July 1917, Helena’s nephew King George V asked his family to relinquish their German titles. Helena’s family dropped the ‘of Schleswig-Holstein’ designation from their titles, and Helena officially became just Princess Christian. Unofficially, she was most often known simply as Princess Helena. Just a few months later, on October 8, 1917, Helena’s husband died at Schomberg House.

Princess Helena died on June 9, 1923, at Schomberg House in London, England at the age of 77. She was survived by three of her children and three of her siblings. Following her funeral on June 15, 1923, held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in Windsor, England,  she was interred in the Royal Crypt at St. George’s Chapel. In 1928, her remains, along with those of her husband and son Harald were moved to the newly established Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore in Windsor, England.

“Schleswig-Holstein plot at Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore” by Peter symonds – Own work. Licensed under GFDL via Wikimedia Commons.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Recommended Books:

  • Helena: A  Princess Reclaimed – S. Chomet
  • Helena: Queen Victoria’s Third Daughter – John Van der Kiste and Bee Jordaan

Queen Victoria Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Prince Friedrich Karl, Landgrave of Hesse

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Prince Friedrich Karl, Landgrave of Hesse; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince Friedrich Karl of Hesse (Friedrich Karl Ludwig Konstantin), husband of Queen Victoria’s granddaughter Princess Margarete of Prussia, was born on May 1, 1869, at his family’s estate Gut Panker, in Plön, Holstein, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He was the fourth of the six children of Friedrich Wilhelm, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and his second wife Princess Anna of Prussia. Friedrich Wilhelm’s first wife Grand Duchess Alexandra Nikolaevna of Russia, the youngest daughter of Nicholas I, Emperor of All Russia, had died in childbirth at the age of 19 after giving birth to a premature son who also died.

Prince Friedrich Karl, known as Fischy, grew up in a home where his father never recovered from the loss of his first wife and treated his second wife politely, but in a distant manner. Fischy’s mother Anna was intelligent and a classically trained pianist who supported many musicians and composers, including Johannes Brahms, Clara Schumann, and Anton Rubinstein.

Fischy had two brothers and three sisters:

Prince Friedrich Karl, 1892; Credit – Wikipedia

In the summer of 1892, Fischy became engaged to Princess Margarete of Prussia (known as Mossy), the youngest child of Friedrich III, German Emperor and Victoria, Princess Royal. As a younger son, Fischy was not wealthy and did not own property, and it was with great reluctance that Mossy’s brother Wilhelm II, German Emperor gave the marriage his approval, telling his sister that he did so because “she was so unimportant.”

Prince Friedrich Karl and Princess Margarete in 1893; Credit – Wikipedia

Fischy and Mossy were married at the Friedenskirche in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany, on January 25, 1893, the wedding anniversary of Mossy’s parents, which was bittersweet for Mossy’s widowed mother. Fischy and Mossy had six sons, including two sets of twins. Two of their sons were killed in action during World War I, and one was killed in action during World War II.

Hesse-Kassel sons

Hesse-Kassel sons; Photo Credit – pinterest.com

Fischy and Mossy’s marriage was a happy one, and in the early years of their marriage, they lived at Schloss Rumpenheim in Offenbach am Main, Hesse, Germany. Upon the death of her mother in 1901, Mossy inherited Schloss Friedrichshof in Kronberg im Taunus, Hesse, Germany, the home her mother had built between 1889 and 1893 in honor of her late husband Friedrich III, German Emperor. Mossy was committed to retaining her mother’s home, so the family moved to Schloss Friedrichshof. The extensive art collection and the financial resources Mossy inherited along with Schloss Friedrichshof helped with the upkeep of her mother’s home. Today, Schloss Friedrichshof, known as Schlosshotel Kronberg, is a five-star hotel that belongs to the House of Hesse.

Mossy and Fischy’s quiet life was interrupted in 1918. After becoming independent from Russia, the Finnish Parliament elected Fischy King of Finland on October 9, 1918. However, with the end of World War I, because of his German birth and the abdication of his brother-in-law, Wilhelm III, German Emperor, and the ending of the monarchies in Germany, Fischy renounced the throne on December 14, 1918.

On March 16, 1925, Fischy’s brother abdicated as the head of the House of Hesse and was succeeded by Fischy. Even though Germany had done away with royal titles, Fischy was styled as Landgrave of Hesse. Fischy died on May 28, 1940, at the age of 72, and was buried at the family cemetery of the House of Hesse at the Schloss Kronberg (formerly Schloss Friedrichshof) in Taunus, Hesse, Germany. Mossy survived her husband by nearly fourteen years, dying on January 22, 1954, at the age of 81, and was buried beside him.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Princess Margarete of Prussia, Landgravine of Hesse

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Princess Margarete of Prussia, Landgravine of Hesse; Credit – Wikipedia

A granddaughter of Queen Victoria, Princess Margarete of Prussia (Margarete Beatrice Feodora) was born on April 22, 1872, at the Neues Palais in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, now in Brandenburg, Germany. She was given the name Margarete in honor of one of her godparents, Crown Princess Margherita of Italy, born Margherita of Savoy, the wife of the future King Umberto I of Italy. The youngest of the eight children of Friedrich III, German Emperor and Victoria, Princess Royal, the infant princess’ head was covered with short, moss-like hair, and therefore, her family name was Mossy. Her mother was particularly close to her three youngest daughters and called them “my three sweet girls.” Mossy had four brothers and three sisters.

NPG x95907; Group photo of three sisters of Prussia. Margarete, Victoria and Sophie. by Alexander Bassano

Group photo of three sisters of Prussia. Margarete, Victoria, and Sophie. by Alexander Bassano, half-plate glass negative, circa 1887 NPG x95907 © National Portrait Gallery, London

Mossy’s father died in 1888, and since the marriage of her sister Victoria (Moretta) in 1890, she had been her mother’s constant companion. However, Mossy’s mother would not dream of insisting her youngest daughter and her husband make their home with her as her mother Queen Victoria had insisted her youngest daughter Beatrice do. There was talk of Mossy marrying Tsarevich Nicholas of Russia (the future Nicholas II, Emperor of All Russia) and her cousin Prince Eddy (Albert Victor of Wales). At the time of these discussions, Mossy was infatuated with Prince Max of Baden, who did not reciprocate. In the summer of 1892, Mossy became engaged to Prince Friedrich Karl of Hesse (Fischy), the third son of Friedrich Wilhelm of Hesse, Landgrave of Hesse. As the third son, Fischy was not wealthy and did not own property, it was with great reluctance that Mossy’s brother Wilhelm II, German Emperor gave the marriage his approval, telling his sister that he did so because “she was so unimportant.”

Princess Margarete and Prince Friedrich Karl of Hesse in 1893; Credit – Wikipedia

Mossy and Fischy were married at the Friedenskirche in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, on January 25, 1893, on the wedding anniversary of Mossy’s parents, which was bittersweet for Mossy’s widowed mother. Mossy and Fischy had six sons, including two sets of twins. Two of their sons were killed in action during World War I, and one was killed in action during World War II.

Hesse-Kassel sons

Hesse-Kassel sons; Photo Credit – pinterest.com

Mossy, who lived until 1954, had a number of family tragedies to endure:

  • Prince Maximilian of Hesse-Kassel: second child, killed in action during World War I on October 13, 1914.  See Unofficial Royalty: October 1914 – Royalty and World War I
  • Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Hesse-Kassel: eldest child, killed in action during World War I on September 12, 1916.  See Unofficial Royalty: September 1916 – Royalty and World War I
  • Princess Mafalda of Savoy: wife of her son Prince Philipp of Hesse-Kassel, daughter of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, died in Buchenwald concentration camp on August 27, 1944, during World War II. Philipp was also imprisoned in concentration camps after his fallout with Hitler
  • Prince Christoph of Hesse-Kassel: youngest child, killed in action during World War II on October 7, 1943
  • Princess Marie Alexandra of Baden: wife of her son Prince Wolfgang of Hesse-Kassel, killed during an American air raid on Frankfurt am Main on January 29, 1944, during World War II. Marie Alexandra and seven other women, who were all aid workers, were killed when the cellar, in which they had taken refuge, collapsed under the weight of the building

Mossy and Fischy’s marriage was a happy one, and in the early years of their marriage, they lived at Schloss Rumpenheim in Offenbach am Main, Hesse, Germany. When her mother in 1901, Mossy inherited Schloss Friedrichshof in Kronberg im Taunus, Hesse, Germany, the home her mother had built between 1889 and 1893 in honor of her late husband Friedrich III, German Emperor. Mossy was committed to retaining her mother’s home, so her family moved to Schloss Friedrichshof. The extensive art collection and the financial resources Mossy inherited along with Schloss Friedrichshof helped with the upkeep of her mother’s home. Today, Schloss Friedrichshof, known as Schlosshotel Kronberg, is a five-star hotel that belongs to the House of Hesse.
Official Website: Schlosshotel Kronberg

Schlosshotel Kronberg, 2007; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Mossy and Fischy’s quiet life was interrupted in 1918. After becoming independent from Russia, the Finnish Parliament elected Fischy King of Finland on October 9, 1918. However, with the end of World War I, because of his German birth and the abdication of brother-in-law, Wilhelm III, German Emperor, and the ending of the monarchies in Germany, Fischy renounced the throne on December 14, 1918.

On March 16, 1925, Fischy’s brother abdicated as the head of the House of Hesse and was succeeded by Fischy. Even though Germany had done away with royal titles, Fischy was styled as Landgrave of Hesse, and Mossy was styled as Landgravine of Hesse. Fischy died on May 28, 1940, at the age of 72.

In 1945, at the end of World War II, Schloss Friedrichshof was occupied by American troops, and Mossy took refuge in a cottage on the grounds. Her extensive jewel collection, largely inherited from the mother, had been hidden in Schloss Friedrichshof. The jewels were found and smuggled out of Germany by three American officers. The thieves were not imprisoned until August 1951. Only 10% of the stolen jewels were recovered and returned to the Hesse family.

Mossy died on January 22, 1954, at the age of 81, at her home. She was buried with her husband at the family cemetery of the House of Hesse at the Schloss Kronberg (formerly Schloss Friedrichshof) in Taunus, Hesse, Germany.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.