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Ekaterina Pavlovna of Russia, Queen of Württemberg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Ekaterina Pavlovna of Russia, Queen of Württemberg – source: Wikipedia

Grand Duchess Ekaterina Pavlovna of Russia was the second wife of King Wilhelm I of Württemberg. She was born at the Catherine Palace, Tsarskoye Selo near St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 10, 1788, the sixth child of Paul I, Emperor of All Russia and his second wife Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg.

Ekaterina had nine siblings:

Ekaterina was particularly close to her eldest brother, the future Emperor Alexander I. They maintained an extensive correspondence throughout their entire lives, and he viewed her as one of his closest confidantes.

Prince Georg of Oldenburg. source: Wikipedia

By 1809, the French Emperor Napoléon had made it known to Emperor Alexander I that he was interested in marrying Ekaterina. He was in the midst of divorcing his childless wife Joséphine, so he could find a wife who could provide him with an heir. He was also desperately hoping to gain an alliance with Russia. But Ekaterina’s family – particularly her mother – would have no part of such an idea, and the Dowager Empress quickly arranged a marriage for her daughter.

On August 3, 1809, Ekaterina married her first cousin, Duke Georg of Oldenburg, the son of Peter I, Grand Duke of Oldenburg and Duchess Friederike of Württemberg. The couple had two sons:

On the day of their marriage, Georg was given the style of Imperial Highness and appointed Governor-General of the province of Tver. Despite being arranged, the marriage was a happy one. Sadly, however, it was short-lived. Georg contracted typhoid and died on December 27, 1812.

Wilhelm of Württemberg. source: Wikipedia

Ekaterina took refuge with her family and often traveled with her brother, Emperor Alexander I of Russia. On a visit to Great Britain in 1814, she first met another first cousin, Crown Prince Wilhelm of Württemberg. He was the son of King Friedrich I of Württemberg and Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. It was love at first sight, even though Wilhelm was married at the time to his first wife, Karoline Augusta of Bavaria. Soon after that first meeting, in August 1814, Wilhelm received a divorce from his wife because the marriage had not been consummated. It had been an arranged marriage, and the two had little in common and little interest in each other. An annulment was granted by the Pope on January 12, 1816. Twelve days later, on January 24, 1816, Ekaterina and Wilhelm were married in St. Petersburg. They had two daughters:

On October 30, 1816, the day she gave birth to her first daughter, Katharina (having taken the German version of her name), also became Queen of Württemberg when her husband succeeded to the throne following his father’s death. She became very active in charity work in her new country, which was in a period of great need due to crop failures and widespread famine. In 1817, Katharina established the Central Charitable Society, which worked to help people in need. She also established the Queen-Katharina-Stift, a school for girls.

The Württemberg Mausoleum, Stuttgart. photo: By Julian Herzog, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43006254

Despite their happy marriage, Wilhelm continued his relationships with numerous mistresses, including the Italian Blanche de la Flèche. When Katharina was made aware of this, she drove to Scharnhausen on January 3, 1819, where she found Wilhelm and his mistress together. She quickly returned to Stuttgart, the Kingdom of Württemberg, now in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, and just six days later, on January 9, 1819, 30-year-old Queen Katharina died of complications from pneumonia. King Wilhelm had the Württemberg Mausoleum built in Rotenberg, Stuttgart, and her remains were interred there in 1824.

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.

Württemberg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Wilhelm I, King of Württemberg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Kingdom of Württemberg: Württemberg was a County, a Duchy, and an Electorate before becoming a Kingdom in 1806. At the end of 1805, in exchange for contributing forces to France’s armies, Napoleon, Emperor of the French recognized Württemberg as a kingdom, with Elector Friedrich formally becoming King Friedrich I  on January 1, 1806. The reign of Wilhelm II, the last King of Württemberg, came to an end in November 1918, after the fall of the German Empire led to the abdications of all the ruling families. Today the land that encompassed the Kingdom of Württemberg is located in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.

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King Wilhelm I of Württemberg; Credit – Wikipedia

King Wilhelm I of Württemberg reigned from 1816 until he died in 1864. He was born Friedrich Wilhelm Karl (known as Fritz) on September 27, 1781, in Lüben, Kingdom of Prussia, now Lubin, Poland, to the future King Friedrich I of Württemberg and his wife Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. He had three siblings:

Fritz’s early years were spent in Russia, where his father served as Governor-General of Eastern Finland. They left Russia in 1786 and eventually took up residence at the Ludwigsburg Palace, where Fritz and his brother received a strict education. In 1797, his father became reigning Duke of Württemberg, and Fritz was the Hereditary Prince. By this time, Fritz’s relationship with his father had grown strained, as Fritz rebelled against his strict upbringing and his father’s domineering manner. He attended the University of Tübingen and served as a volunteer in the Austrian Army. Despite returning to Württemberg in 1801, his relationship with his father continued to deteriorate, compounded by Fritz’s relationship with Therese von Abel, the daughter of a politician. Fritz once again left Württemberg in 1803, settling in Saarburg, where Therese gave birth to twins who died shortly after birth.

Fritz returned to Württemberg in 1805, and although his father did not include him in the affairs of state, he set up his own court. The following year, Württemberg became a Kingdom but was soon defeated after joining the coalition against Napoléon. The French Emperor, wanting to establish close dynastic ties to Württemberg, arranged for the marriage of his brother Jérôme, to Fritz’s sister Catherina.

Princess Karoline Auguste of Bavaria. source: Wikipedia

To avoid being forced into a marriage by Napoleon, Fritz quickly negotiated to marry Princess Karoline Auguste of Bavaria., the daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and Augusta Wilhelmina of Hesse-Darmstadt. The couple was married in Munich, Kingdom of Bavaria, now in the German state of Bavaria, on June 8, 1808. Fritz had no interest in his wife, they had no children, and his marriage would be relatively short-lived. Soon after his marriage, Fritz met his brother-in-law Jérôme’s former mistress Blanche La Flèche, and began an affair that would continue for much of his life. However, Fritz also fell in love with someone else.

Grand Duchess Ekaterina Pavlovna. source: Wikipedia

While in London in 1814, Fritz met and fell in love with his first cousin Grand Duchess Ekaterina Pavlovna of Russia. Ekaterina was the daughter of Paul I, Emperor of All Russia and his second wife Princess Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg, and was the widow of Duke Georg of Oldenburg. With Napoleon no longer in power, Fritz quickly sought a divorce from Karoline Auguste. After she quickly agreed, and with the consent of both of their fathers, a divorce was granted in August 1814. However, the Pope did not issue an annulment until January 1816. Later that year, Fritz’s first wife Karoline Auguste married Emperor Franz I of Austria, as his fourth wife.

Twelve days after the annulment was granted, Fritz married Ekaterina in St. Petersburg on January 24, 1816. During their short marriage, the couple had two daughters:

Fritz became King of Württemberg upon his father’s death on October 30, 1816. As a way of distancing himself from his father’s reign, he dropped his first name and chose to reign as King Wilhelm I. He came to the throne during a difficult time in Württemberg, with 1816 being known as the Year Without A Summer. However, Wilhelm and his wife are credited with making great strides to alleviate the suffering and establishing policies and reforms that helped the people of Württemberg, regardless of social class. The king arranged for food and livestock to be imported, and established an Agricultural Academy to help promote the growth of crops and better general nutrition amongst his people. The Queen established numerous charities to help the poor and was behind the establishment of the Württemberg State Savings Bank in 1818.

Duchess Pauline of Württemberg. source: Wikipedia

Sadly, the Queen died on January 9, 1819, leaving Wilhelm a widower with two young daughters. To find a stepmother for his children, and hopefully, to provide a male heir, Wilhelm again set out to find a bride. On April 15, 1820, in Stuttgart, Wilhelm married another first cousin, Duchess Pauline of Württemberg. She was the daughter of Duke Ludwig of Württemberg and Princess Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg.

The couple had three children:

King Wilhelm with Queen Pauline and his children – Karl; Sophie and Marie (center); Katherina and Augusta (bottom). source: Wikipedia

Despite the public perception that the marriage was happy, it was far from it. The King had maintained his affair with Blanche La Flèche, and in 1828, began a relationship with a German actress Amalie von Stubenrauch, which would last until his death.

Wilhelm’s reign saw the economic boom of the 1830s, the expansion of roads and shipping routes, and a healthy and prosperous economy. But by the mid-1840s, several years of poor harvests had led to a rise in famine and calls for a more democratic government. Protests in 1848, and another revolution in France, led to Wilhelm conceding many of the demands being made – reinstating freedom of the press, and agreeing to form a liberal government.

King Wilhelm I, c1860. source: Wikipedia

In his later years, King Wilhelm’s health deteriorated, and he had little contact with his family, instead, spending all of his time in the company of his mistress Amalie von Stubenrauch. Knowing his death was approaching, he had all of his letters and journals destroyed. King Wilhelm I died on June 25, 1864, at Schloss Rosenstein in Stuttgart, Kingdom of Württemberg, now in Baden-of Württemberg, Germany. He was buried in the Württemberg Mausoleum in Stuttgart, next to his second wife. In his will, he left bequests to two of his mistresses and excluded his last wife Queen Pauline.

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.

Württemberg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Princess Friedrich of Württemberg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, Princess Friedrich of Württemberg; Credit – Wikipedia

Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel was the first wife of the future King Friedrich I of Württemberg. She was born August Caroline Friederike Luise (known in the family as Zelmira) on December 3, 1764, in Brunswick, Duchy of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, now in Lower Saxony, Germany. Her parents were Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel and Princess Augusta of Great Britain, a sister of King George III. Augusta had six siblings:

Friedrich of Württemberg. source: Wikipedia

On October 15, 1780, in Brunswick, Augusta married Prince Friedrich of Württemberg (later King Friedrich I). He was the son of Friedrich Eugen, Duke of Württemberg and Margravine Friederike of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Despite an unhappy marriage, Augusta and Friedrich had four children:

Koluvere Castle. photo: By MinuHiiumaa – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 ee, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35791062

The marriage was a disaster from the start, with Augusta wanting to leave her husband as early as her first pregnancy. However, they remained married for several years. In 1782, Friedrich had impressed Catherine II (the Great), Empress of All Russia while visiting Russia, and she made him Governor-General of Eastern Finland. Four years later, while they were visiting the Empress in St. Petersburg, Augusta asked Catherine for protection from her husband. She claimed that Friedrich was abusive to her, and was having affairs with several men. The Empress took Augusta in and told Friedrich to leave the country. Augusta hoped to obtain a divorce, but her father would not permit it. So the Empress provided Augusta with a home at Koluvere Castle in Estonia, along with a custodian, Wilhelm von Pohlmann. Soon, Augusta and von Pohlmann began an affair and she became pregnant.

Augusta’s tomb in the Kullamaa Church. photo: By Avjoska – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16334954

On September 27, 1788, Augusta went into premature labor. Fearing that their affair would become known, von Pohlmann refused to call for a doctor and Augusta died of blood loss. She was quickly buried in an unmarked grave in the nearby Kullamaa Church. To avoid a scandal, both Empress Catherine II and Augusta’s father were told that she had died suddenly, with a broken blood vessel as the cause of death. The truth did not come out until many years later when her son had her body exhumed and the details of her death investigated.

Württemberg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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.

Friedrich I, King of Württemberg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Kingdom of Württemberg: Württemberg was a County, a Duchy, and an Electorate before becoming a Kingdom in 1806. At the end of 1805, in exchange for contributing forces to France’s armies, Napoleon, Emperor of the French recognized Württemberg as a kingdom, with Elector Friedrich formally becoming King Friedrich I  on January 1, 1806. The reign of Wilhelm II, the last King of Württemberg, came to an end in November 1918, after the fall of the German Empire led to the abdications of all the ruling families. Today the land that encompassed the Kingdom of Württemberg is located in the German state Baden-Württemberg.

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Friedrich I, King of Württemberg – source: Wikipedia

King Friedrich I was the first King of Württemberg, reigning from 1805 to 1816. He was born Friedrich Wilhelm Karl, on November 6, 1754, at the Treptow Palace in Treptow an der Rega, Pomerania (now Trzebiatów, Poland), the eldest child of Friedrich II Eugen, Duke of Württemberg and Margravine Friederike of Brandenburg-Schwedt. Friedrich had eleven siblings:

At the time of his birth, Friedrich was fourth in line to become Duke of Württemberg, behind his grandfather (the reigning Duke), his two childless uncles, and his father. However, his grandfather did not include any of his family in the government of the dukedom, so Freidrich set out on a military career in the Prussian court of King Friedrich II (the Great) of Prussia. He entered the Prussian Army in June 1774 and fought in the War of the Bavarian Succession.

Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. source: Wikipedia

On October 15, 1780, in Brunswick, Friedrich married Augusta of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. She was the daughter of Carl Wilhelm Ferdinand, Duke of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, and Princess Augusta of Great Britain. Her younger sister Caroline later married the future King George IV of the United Kingdom. Friedrich and Augusta had four children:

Catherine the Great. source: Wikipedia

In 1781, Friedrich resigned from the Prussian Army and joined his sister Sophie and her husband in Russia. The Russian Empress Catherine the Great was intrigued with Friedrich and named him Governor-General of Eastern Finland.

Despite a quickly expanding family, Friedrich’s marriage to Augusta was not happy. While visiting St. Petersburg in 1786, Augusta sought refuge from Catherine the Great, claiming that Friedrich was violent to her and was having physical relationships with several men. The Empress took Augusta in and strongly suggested to Friedrich that he leave the country. After Augusta’s father refused to permit a divorce, Empress Catherine gave her refuge at Koluvere Castle in Estonia. The Empress also provided a caretaker, with whom Augusta soon began an affair and became pregnant. Just after giving birth prematurely in September 1788, Augusta died as a result of complications from the birth.

Charlotte, Princess Royal. source: Wikipedia

The following year, on May 18, 1797, at St. James’s Palace in London, England, Friedrich married again to Charlotte, Princess Royal. She was the eldest daughter of King George III of the United Kingdom and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. They had one stillborn daughter born in 1798.

Upon his father’s death in December 1797, Friedrich became Duke of Württemberg. Two years later, Friedrich and his family fled to Vienna when the French forces occupied Württemberg. When the empire was reorganized following France’s annexation of the west bank of the Rhine, Württemberg was raised to an Electorate and Friedrich became Elector on February 25, 1803.

In exchange for providing France with a large armed force, Napoleon allowed Friedrich to raise Württemberg to a kingdom in 1805. He formally became King of Württemberg on January 1, 1806, and was crowned that day in Stuttgart. Friedrich quickly left the Holy Roman Empire and joined the Confederation of the Rhine. To recognize the new alliance between Friedrich and Napoleon, a marriage was arranged between Friedrich’s daughter Catharina and Napoleon’s younger brother Jérôme Bonaparte. Despite being on opposite sides from his father-in-law, King George III of the United Kingdom, Friedrich used his family connections to serve as a mediator between Britain and other foreign powers.

Friedrich changed his alliance during the 1813 War of Liberation and sided with the Allies, capitalizing on his close relationship with the British and Russian rulers. His position as King of Württemberg was confirmed at the Congress of Vienna, after which he joined the newly formed German Confederation.

In the fall of 1816, King Friedrich developed pneumonia and died in Stuttgart on October 30, 1816. He was buried in the Royal Crypt in the Palace Chapel at Ludwigsburg Palace in Ludwigsburg, Kingdom of Württemberg, now in Baden-Württemberg, 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.

Württemberg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

When The British Monarch Dies: Royal Titles and Arms

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Letters Patent creating Prince Charles as Prince of Wales, 1958

Royal Titles

As already discussed, when the Monarch dies, the heir apparent immediately takes the throne. This includes all of the titles and trappings of the monarchy. The titles of the Monarch remained relatively unchanged from the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837 to the accession of Queen Elizabeth II in 1952 (with the exception of the title Emperor/Empress of India, which was held from 1876 until 1947). Currently, the British monarch is also the monarch of 14 other realms and is titled differently in each one. Barbados became a republic on November 30, 2021, and the British monarch ceased to be the monarch of Barbados.  The titles of the Monarch remain the same following the accession of King Charles III in 2002.

United Kingdom
His Majesty Charles III, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of His other Realms and Territories, King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith

Antigua and Barbuda
His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Antigua and Barbuda and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth

Australia
His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Australia and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth

The Bahamas
His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth

Belize
His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Belize and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth

Canada
His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith

Grenada
His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Grenada and His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth

Jamaica
His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Jamaica and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth

New Zealand
His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of New Zealand and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith

Papua New Guinea
His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Papua New Guinea and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth

Saint Kitts and Nevis
His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Saint Christopher and Nevis and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth

Saint Lucia
His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Saint Lucia and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth

Solomon Islands
His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Solomon Islands and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth

Tuvalu
His Majesty Charles the Third, by the Grace of God, King of Tuvalu and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth

The monarch also immediately becomes Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces, and Sovereign of all of the Honours and Orders of Chivalry both in Britain and the other realms.  It is expected that the titles will remain the same, with the possible exception of ‘Head of the Commonwealth’. In 1949, King George VI became the first Head of the Commonwealth, and the role and title passed to his daughter Queen Elizabeth II upon her accession. When the Commonwealth was formally established, the Declaration states that the King will serve as Head of the Commonwealth. In keeping with that sense of heredity, when Prince Charles was created Prince of Wales in 1958, the Letters Patent issued stated that he, and his heirs, will serve as Heads of the Commonwealth. However, there are those who feel that, when the current reign ends, the various members of the Commonwealth should collectively determine who will succeed in the role.  In 2018, Commonwealth leaders agreed that Charles would become Head of the Commonwealth upon his accession, while acknowledging that the position was non-hereditary.  The new King Charles III became Head of the Commonwealth in September 2022.

Upon becoming monarch, any and all titles held by that person revert to the Crown, meaning that they cease to exist. For example, Prince Charles ceased being Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, etc., the moment he became King. Some of his previous titles will pass automatically to the new heir apparent, and others must be specifically granted. You can read more about those titles in our previous article – When The Monarch Dies: Immediately and Automatically.

Titles and Styles of the Descendants of the Monarch

For the most part, the titles and styles of a Monarch’s descendants are determined by the Letters Patent issued by King George V in 1917. Under these Letters Patents, the style of ‘Royal Highness’ and title of ‘Prince/Princess’ is granted to:

  • children of the monarch
  • grandchildren in the male line
  • the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales

Several additional LPs have been issued since then, which make some alterations to the original LPs:

  • 1948 – King George VI issued LPs declaring that all children of then-Princess Elizabeth would be styled as HRH and titled as Prince/Princess. Without these LPs, Charles and Anne would not have become HRH until The Queen’s accession in 1952. Instead, they would have been styled as children of a Duke. Charles would have been Charles Mountbatten, Earl of Merioneth (using his father’s most senior subsidiary title by courtesy), and Anne would have been Lady Anne Mountbatten.
  • 1957 – Queen Elizabeth II issued LPs creating her husband a Prince of the United Kingdom. Until that point, he was merely HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and not ‘Prince Philip’ as the media often referred to him.
  • 2012 – Queen Elizabeth II issued LPs declaring that all children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales would be styled as HRH, with the title Prince/Princess. While this had no effect on Prince George, who was already entitled as the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, it did affect his younger sister Princess Charlotte. Were it not for these LPs, Charlotte would be styled Lady Charlotte Mountbatten-Windsor until her grandfather became King.

Children of the Monarch

Upon the accession of a new monarch, two changes take place when it comes to the titles and styles of the monarch’s children. Children of a sovereign are formally styled with the article ‘The’ preceding their names. They also cease using any territorial designation. For example, Prince George of Wales, (the son of Prince William, Prince of Wales) upon his father’s accession, will become The Prince George. Should he have a peerage by that point, he would continue to be formally styled as such – ‘HRH The Duke/Earl of XXX’.  These changes remain in place, even after that monarch has passed away.  For example, the younger daughter of King George VI became The Princess Margaret upon her father’s accession in 1936 and remained so for the rest of her life.  That style did not end upon her father’s death.

Based on the assumption that the current line of succession remains unchanged, the following changes will occur with the next reign: Prince William will become HM The King, and Prince George will automatically become HRH The Duke of Cornwall. It would then be expected that Prince George would at some point be created Prince of Wales. At that time, any children of Prince George would take ‘of Wales’ as their territorial designation.

Here is a great article that explains further – Unofficial Royalty: What’s In a Title: The Changing Royal Style

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Royal Arms

The Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom. photo: By Sodacan – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21101265

The Royal Arms have remained unchanged since Queen Victoria’s accession in 1837. On the shield, they feature the three gold lions in the 1st and 4th quarter (representing England), the red rampant lion in the second quarter (representing Scotland), and the gold harp in the 3rd quarter (representing Ireland).  There is also a second version used in Scotland which features the Scottish emblem in the 1st and 4th quarter, with the English in the 2nd.

Arms of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught (son of Queen Victoria), featuring the Arms of Saxony. photo: By SodacanThis vector image was created with Inkscape. – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11758689

Until 1917, when King George V changed the name to the House of Windsor and removed all German styles and titles, the arms of male-line descendants of Queen Victoria also featured in inescutcheon of the Arms of Saxony in recognition of their descent from Prince Albert (who was a Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and a Duke of Saxony).

Children and grandchildren of the monarch, in the male line, are typically granted their own coats of arms around the time they reach the age of 18, and all are based on the Royal Arms. They are made unique by the use of a label – with three points for children of a monarch (and the eldest son of the Prince of Wales), and five points for grandchildren.

Arms of The Prince of Wales; Credit – By Sodacan – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=122806074

The arms of the Prince of Wales feature a plain three-point label and also feature an inescutcheon of the traditional arms of the Principality of Wales. As Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, he also has a different coat of arms (here).

The labels on the arms of children and grandchildren of the monarch also feature a mark of cadence on one or more of the points. This makes each coat of arms unique to that person. For example, Prince Harry’s arms – granted on his 18th birthday – featured a five-point label (as a grandchild of the monarch), with a red scallop shell on the first, third and fifth point. These are taken from the Spencer arms, used by his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. Similar marks of cadence appear on all of the arms granted to children and grandchildren of the monarch.

These arms are granted for the person’s lifetime and do not pass to their children. They do, however, change slightly when there is a new monarch. A grandchild who now becomes a child of the monarch will see their label change from five points to three. (Example: the arms of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, changed to a three-point label, with red scallop shells on each point).  And the new heir apparent – once created Prince of Wales – will assume the arms of the Prince of Wales.

Arms of the Duchess of Cambridge. photo: By SodacanThis vector image was created with Inkscape. – Own work, Based on: BBC News and Official website, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14960090

Wives traditionally use their husband’s arms impaled with their own (or their father’s) arms. Such is the case with the arms of the Duchess of Cambridge seen above. They feature the Duke of Cambridge’s arms on the left and the arms of her father on the right.  Upon the accession of her father-in-law, King Charles III, the now-Princess of Wales’s arms will change to reflect her husband’s new coat of arms as Prince of Wales.

Up until 1975, none of these individual grants of arms were heritable. But in 1975, The Queen issued a Royal Warrant declaring that the arms of grandsons of a monarch (other than the eldest son of the Prince of Wales) are heritable with appropriate differentiation. This means that the arms of the current Dukes of Gloucester and Kent, as well as Prince Michael of Kent, will pass on to their eldest sons.

British Monarchy: Coat of Arms
Wikipedia: Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom
Unofficial Royalty: English Royal Heraldry

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.

When The British Monarch Dies: Royal Wills and Inheritance

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

While wills are typically public records, those of members of the royal family are traditionally sealed. This goes back to the death of Queen Mary’s younger brother, Prince Francis of Teck, in October 1910. (One very notable exception is the will of Diana, Princess of Wales, which was made public after her death in 1997. You can read her will here.)

 

Born in 1870, Prince Francis was the third of four children of Francis, Duke of Teck, and Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge. In addition to being a career military officer, Frank – as he was known – was also known for his love of gambling and women. He never married but had a long affair with The Countess of Kilmorey (née Ellen Constance Baldock), a former mistress of King Edward VII.

When Francis died suddenly of pneumonia in 1910, he left a large collection of emeralds to The Countess of Kilmorey in his will. These emeralds, known as the Cambridge Emeralds, had a very interesting history. Years earlier, Francis’s grandmother, The Duchess of Cambridge (née Princess Augusta of Hesse-Kassel), had won a box of emeralds in a charity lottery during a visit to Frankfort. Believed to be between 30-40 cabochon emeralds, they passed to Francis’s mother in 1889, and upon her death in 1897, they passed to Francis.

 

Mary – who had become Queen several months before Francis’s death, and was due to be crowned several months later – was mortified that the jewels would be passing out of the family, and to a mistress no less! She quickly set out to get the emeralds back and ended up purchasing them from The Countess for £10,000. Queen Mary was also very aware that the details of the will, and Francis’s affair, would cause a public scandal and could potentially tarnish the monarchy, so she successfully petitioned The High Court to have her brother’s will sealed. (Queen Mary later used the emeralds in creating some of the jewelry for the Delhi Durbar in 1911. To read more about the emeralds and the jewelry that was created, check out this great article from our friends at From Her Majesty’s Jewel Vault — CLICK HERE!)

 

Even though the wills are sealed, there are several clear traditions for how some assets are passed from one generation to the next. By tradition, Balmoral Castle and Sandringham House – both of which are personal property – pass from monarch to monarch. For the most part, this has been a smooth transition. However, when King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936, the properties remained his personal property, and the new King George VI was forced to purchase them from his elder brother.

The Queen Mother wearing the Oriental Circlet and crown rubies

A similar tradition applies to some of the more important pieces of jewelry. When Queen Victoria died in 1901, she designated several items as jewels of the Crown – meaning that they pass automatically from monarch to monarch. Some of these include the Coronation necklace and earrings, the Oriental Circlet, and Queen Victoria’s ruby necklace and earrings.

We must remember that many of the monarch’s assets are technically not his or hers to give away, but are instead simply held by the monarch in trust for the nation. These include the royal palaces, the Crown Jewels, and much of the Royal Collection. These belong to the Sovereign, although not to the individual who holds the title.

As for personal property, the majority is usually left to the new monarch. A 1993 agreement with the government allows for bequests from monarch to monarch (or consort to monarch) to be free from inheritance tax. This arrangement avoids the need to sell assets in order to pay the nearly 40% inheritance tax when a monarch or consort dies. Sadly, many other royals have been forced to sell jewels and other assets in order to pay the tax bill, and historic pieces have left the family.

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Sir Angus Ogilvy, Husband of Princess Alexandra of Kent

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Sir Angus Ogilvy; Credit – Wikipedia

Sir Angus Ogilvy was the husband of Princess Alexandra of Kent, and an active member of the British Royal Family for many years. He was born The Honourable Angus James Bruce Ogilvy in London, England on September 14, 1928, the fourth child and second son of David Ogilvy, 12th Earl of Airlie, and Lady Alexandra Coke, daughter of Thomas Coke, 3rd Earl of Leicester.

Angus had five siblings:

  • Lady Victoria Ogilvy (1918 – 2004) – married Alexander Lloyd, 2nd Baron Lloyd, had issue
  • Lady Margaret Ogilvy (1920 – 2014) – married Sir Iain Tennant, had issue
  • Lady Griselda Ogilvy (1924 – 1977) – married Major Peter Balfour, had issue
  • David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie (1926 – 2023) – married Virginia Ryan, had issue
  • The Hon. James Ogilvy (1934 – 2024) – married (1) Magdalen Ducas, had issue, divorced; (2) Lady Caroline Child-Villiers, no issue

The Ogilvy family had close ties with the British Royal Family. Angus’s grandmother Mabell Ogilvy, Countess of Airlie was a lifelong friend of Queen Mary and served as one of her ladies-in-waiting for over 50 years.  His father served as a Lord-in-Waiting to King George V and then as Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother from 1937-1965. An uncle served as an equerry to the future King Edward VIII while he was Prince of Wales. His elder brother David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie served as Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth II from 1984 -1997 and his sister-in-law Virginia Ogilvy, Countess of Airlie was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth II from  1973 until The Queen died in 2022.

Angus attended the Heatherdown School near Ascot, and then Eton College. He was commissioned as an officer in the Scots Guards, and in 1950 he graduated from Trinity College, Oxford, with a BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Following his education, he began working with the Drayton Group, a large group of trusts headed by financier Harold Drayton. In 1956, he became a Director of the Drayton Group and served as director for over fifty other companies. One of the Drayton Group’s organizations was the London and Rhodesia Mining and Land Company (Lonrho). Ogilvy brought in RW “Tiny” Rowland to run Lonhro, and over the next few years, Rowland expanded the organization into a large conglomerate of businesses, including newspapers and hotels.

In 1955, at a ball at Luton Hoo, Angus met Princess Alexandra of Kent and was instantly smitten. She was the daughter of the late Prince George, Duke of Kent and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. Eight years later, on April 24, 1963, the couple married at Westminster Abbey in London, England. Queen Elizabeth II offered Angus an Earldom but he graciously declined. He also refused a grace-and-favor residence, instead taking the lease on Thatched House Lodge in Richmond Park, owned by the Crown Estate. After Sir Angus’ death, Princess Alexandra continued to live there and had apartments at St. James’s Palace in London.

Sir Angus and Princess Alexandra had two children:

  • James Robert Bruce Ogilvy (1964), married Julia Rawlinson, had two children
    • Flora Alexandra Ogilvy (born 1994)
    • Alexander Charles Ogilvy (born 1996)
  • Marina Victoria Alexandra Ogilvy (1966), married and divorced Paul Mowatt, had two children
    • Zenouska May Mowatt (born 1990)
    • Christian Alexander Mowatt (born 1993)

By 1973, RW “Tiny” Rowland’s management style, and accusations of concealed financial records led to several of Lonrho’s directors calling for his dismissal (which Rowland managed to avoid). After public criticism from the Prime Minister and further criticism in a report from the Department of Trade in 1976, Angus resigned his directorship of Lonrho and his other directorships with businesses in London.

Although Angus had been cleared of all wrongdoing, the damage to his reputation had been done. He increased his focus on charity work, which he would continue for the remainder of his life. Among his many charities, he served in leading roles with the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Youth Clubs UK, Arthritis Care, National Children’s Homes, and the Leeds Castle Foundation. He also served as Chairman of the Advisory Council for The Prince’s Trust. For his charity work, and continued support of the monarchy, he was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in 1988, and in 1997 was made a member of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.

In 2002 he was diagnosed with throat cancer and canceled all of his public engagements. Despite his failing health, he participated in The Queen’s Golden Jubilee festivities in June 2002 and accompanied his wife on an official visit to Thailand in February 2003. His final public appearances were at the Garter Service (pictured above) and Royal Ascot in June 2004. Sir Angus Ogilvy died on December 26, 2004, at the Kingston Hospital in Kingston upon Thames, London. Following a private funeral held at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, on January 5, 2005, he was buried at the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore in Windsor, England.

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Prince Alexander of Sweden, Duke of Södermanland

by Scott Mehl

Prince Alexander sitting on his father’s lap; Photo: Victor Ericsson, The Royal Court of Sweden, 2020

Prince Alexander of Sweden, Duke of Södermanland, is the first child of Prince Carl Philip and the former Sofia Hellqvist. He was born April 19, 2016, at 6:25 pm at the Danderyd Hospital in Danderyd, Sweden. He weighed 3595 grams and was 49 centimeters long. Prince Alexander is 5th in the line of succession to the Swedish throne.

photo: Erika Gerdemark, Swedish Royal Court

At a cabinet meeting held at The Royal Palace of Stockholm two days later, King Carl XVI Gustaf announced the names and titles of his newest grandson – His Royal Highness Prince Alexander Erik Hubertus Bertil of Sweden, Duke of Södermanland.

  • Alexander – a name liked by his parents
  • Erik – for his maternal grandfather, Erik Hellqvist, and a name of several Swedish kings
  • Hubertus – for his paternal grandfather, King Carl Gustaf (Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus)
  • Bertil – for Prince Bertil of Sweden, an uncle of the King and one of Prince Carl Philip’s godparents

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On October 7, 2019, the Swedish Royal Court announced that King Carl XVI Gustaf had decided to make changes regarding the children of his son Prince Carl Philip and his daughter Princess Madeleine. Their children would no longer be members of The Royal House but would continue to be members of The Royal Family. Prince Alexander, Prince Gabriel, Princess Leonore, Prince Nicolas, and Princess Adrienne would no longer enjoy the style of Royal Highness but they would retain their titles of Duke and Duchess previously granted by King Carl XVI Gustaf. They will remain in the line of succession to the Swedish throne. In the future, they will not be expected to perform any royal duties. As a result, Alexander will be styled Prince Alexander, Duke of Södermanland.

photo: Jonas Ekströmer / TT

Prince Alexander was christened on September 9, 2016, in the Royal Chapel at Drottningholm Palace. His godparents are:

  • Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden – his paternal aunt
  • Lina Frejd – his maternal aunt
  • Victor Magnuson – his father’s paternal cousin
  • Jan-Åke Hansson – a close friend of his father
  • Cajsa Larsson – a close friend of his mother

Prince Alexander with his parents and godparents. photo: Mattias Edwall, Swedish Royal Court

At the christening, Prince Alexander wore the christening gown first worn by his great-grandfather, Prince Gustaf Adolf (father of the current King), in 1906. Since then, all members of the Swedish Royal Family have worn the gown at their christenings, and each child’s name is embroidered on it. The young prince was also invested with the Order of the Seraphim, Sweden’s senior, and most prestigious order of chivalry.

Prince Alexander became an older brother when Prince Gabriel Carl Walther, Duke of Dalarna was born on August 31, 2017.

Prince Alexander with his parents and baby brother in September 2017; Photo: Erika Gerdemark, The Royal Court, Sweden

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Edwina Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2022

Edwina Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma – source: Wikipedia

Edwina Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, was the wife of Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, a member of the extended British Royal Family. She was born Edwina Cynthia Annette Ashley on November 28, 1901, at Broadlands, her family’s home in Romsey, Hampshire. Her parents were Wilfrid Ashley, (later 1st Baron Mount Temple) and Amalia “Maudie” Cassel. Through her father, she was a great-granddaughter of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury and a great-great-granddaughter of Henry Somerset, 6th Duke of Beaufort. Through her mother, she was the granddaughter of Sir Ernest Cassel.

Edwina had one younger sister:

After her mother’s death, and her father’s remarriage, Edwina went off to boarding school, first at The Links in Eastbourne and then Alde House in Suffolk. Not being a good student, and not enjoying life in boarding school, the problem was solved when her grandfather invited her to live with him at his London residence, Brook House. Sir Ernest Cassel was a successful financier and capitalist who had become one of the richest men in Europe. He had been a close friend and advisor of King Edward VII who had bestowed several honors on him during his reign. Upon his death, he left an estate valued at over £6 million (approx. £240 million today), a large portion of which went to Edwina.

Edwina quickly became a prominent member of London society, and through those connections, met her future husband, then Lord Louis Mountbatten, in 1920. Louis was the younger son of Louis Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Milford Haven (formerly Prince Ludwig of Battenberg) and Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. A romance quickly began, and the two were engaged in India on Valentine’s Day 1922. They married on July 18, 1922, at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster, in the presence of King George V and Queen Mary and numerous royals from other European countries. The Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VIII, served as best man. Following a honeymoon in North America, they settled at Brook House in London and went on to have two daughters:

Edwina’s grandfather had died the previous year, leaving Edwina a very wealthy woman. In addition to £2 million (£80 million today), she also inherited several properties including Brook House in London, Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket, Suffolk, and Branksome Dene (now Zetland Court) in Bournemouth, Dorset.

She later inherited two properties from her father, upon his death in 1939. These were Broadlands, and Classiebawn Castle, in County Sligo, Ireland. The family still owns Broadlands, but Classiebawn Castle was sold in 1991. It was while at Classiebawn that Edwina’s husband was assassinated by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in 1979.

Edwina’s wealth allowed her to pursue a life of leisure and indulge in anything she wanted to. She often set off on travels around the world, sometimes completely out of contact with her family. However, she was also quick to lend financial support to friends and relatives and was often the primary source of income for several members of her husband’s family. It was during World War II that this selfless willingness to help others developed into a life of service. She served as President of the London Division of the British Red Cross and was named Superintendent-in-Chief of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in 1942. During her husband’s time as Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command, she traveled extensively to the Allied prisoner-of-war camps and assisted in repatriating the prisoners.

In August 1946, her husband Louis Mountbatten was created Viscount Mountbatten of Burma. The following year, Louis was appointed to serve as the last Viceroy of India, charged with overseeing India’s independence from the United Kingdom. During this time, and the subsequent ten months when he served as Governor-General, Edwina worked tirelessly to ease the suffering amongst the poor and helpless in India. It was during this time that she became Countess Mountbatten upon her husband’s elevation to an Earldom. Her close relationship with Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, is often the source of speculation that the two were romantically involved. Although denied by official biographers and Edwina’s own daughters, the rumors continue to this day. It was no secret that both Edwina and her husband had numerous affairs and lovers through the years, so any close friendship that either of them had quickly became the subject of gossip and rumors.

In the years after India, Edwina continued her charity work and pursued her love of traveling around the world. While on an inspection tour for the St. John Ambulance Brigade in Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu), British North Borneo, Edwina died in her sleep on February 21, 1960. Her body was flown back to Britain and, per her wishes she buried at sea off the coast of Portsmouth on February 25, 1960. In a show of friendship and respect, Prime Minister Nehru sent two Indian destroyers to accompany her body during the burial.

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Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma; Credit – By Allan warren – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12111584

Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, was a member of the extended British Royal Family and a distinguished Naval officer. A great-grandson of Queen Victoria (and the last great-grandson to be born during her lifetime), he was born a Prince of Battenberg but grew up fiercely British. In addition to his naval career, he also served as the last Viceroy and first Governor-General of India. Mountbatten also played a very prominent role in the lives of his nephew Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and grand-nephew King Charles III.

Prince Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas of Battenberg was born on June 25, 1900, at Frogmore House in Windsor, England the youngest child of Prince Louis (Ludwig) of Battenberg and Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine.

Louis, known almost from birth as “Dickie”,  had three elder siblings:

Dickie was christened in the large drawing room of Frogmore House on July  17, 1900, by the Dean of Windsor, Philip Eliot. His godparents were:

Through both of his parents, he was closely related to numerous other royal families of Europe. His mother’s younger sister was Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia, and in his childhood, Dickie was close to her children. At a very young age, he began a “lifelong platonic love affair” with one of them, Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna, and kept a framed photo of her by his bed for his entire life.

At the age of 10, Dickie was enrolled at the Lockers Park School in Hertfordshire, and then at 13 entered the Royal Naval College, Osborne. Destined for a naval career, he received his first posting in July 1916, as a midshipman on HMS Lion. After studying for two terms at Christ’s College, Cambridge, Louis was posted to HMS Renown, accompanying The Prince of Wales on a tour of Australia. The following year, on HMS Repulse, he again accompanied his cousin on a tour of India and Japan. It was during this trip that he became engaged to his future wife.

Dickie first met Edwina Ashley in October 1920, when both attended a ball at Claridge’s in London, hosted by Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt III. Edwina was the daughter of Wilfrid Ashley, 1st Baron Mount Temple (a grandson of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury), and Amalia Cassel (daughter of Sir Ernest Cassel). The two were invited to the same house parties and shooting weekends, and a romance began. Both were guests of George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 5th Duke of Sutherland at Dunrobin Castle in Scotland in September 1921, when Louis received word that his father had died. When Edwina’s grandfather died just ten days later, the two grew very close in their shared grief. Several months later, Edwina went to visit Dickie while he was in India with the Prince of Wales. It was there, at a Valentine’s Day Ball held at the Viceregal Lodge in Delhi, that Dickie proposed.

Louis and Edwina were married on July 18, 1922, at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster in London, England. The wedding was a lavish affair, attended by King George V and Queen Mary and other members of the British Royal Family and other royal houses of Europe. The bridal party included The Prince of Wales, who served as Best Man, and Dickie’s four nieces – Princesses Margarita, Theodora, Cecilie, and Sophie of Greece. Following a honeymoon that took them to Canada and the United States, Dickie and Edwina settled at Brook House in London – one of the several properties Edwina had inherited from her grandfather.

They had two daughters:

Admiral Lord Mountbatten receiving the Japanese surrender at Singapore, September 1945. source: Wikipedia.

Dickie was posted to several other boats before being given his first command – HMS Daring – in 1934. This was followed by the commands of HMS Wishart (1934-1936), HMS Kelly (1939-1941), and HMS Illustrious (1941). From 1941 – 1943, he served as Chief of Combined Operations, and then from 1943 – 1946 as Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia Command. In that role, in September 1945 Mountbatten received the Japanese surrender in Singapore.

On August 27, 1946, he was created Viscount Mountbatten of Burma by King George VI. The following February, Prime Minister Clement Atlee appointed him Viceroy of India and tasked him with overseeing India’s independence from Britain. Following independence in August 1947, Mountbatten served for the next ten months as the country’s first Governor-General. On October 28, 1947, he was created Earl Mountbatten of Burma and Baron Romsey. As Mountbatten had no sons, the Letters Patent creating both the Viscountcy and the Earldom were written to allow the titles to pass to his daughters and their male heirs. Had this not been done, the titles would have ended upon Mountbatten’s death. Instead, they passed to his elder daughter, Patricia, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma.

Following his time in India, Mountbatten returned to military service in 1949, serving as Commander of the 1st Squadron of the Mediterranean Fleet. From 1950-1952, he served as Fourth Sea Lord, and then from 1952-1954 as Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet. Finally, in April 1955, nearly forty-one years after his father had been forced to relinquish the role due to anti-German sentiment, Mountbatten was made First Sea Lord – the head of the British Royal Navy. The following year, he reached the rank of Admiral of the Fleet. Dickie served as First Sea Lord until October 1959, when he became Chief of the Defence Staff, serving until his retirement in July 1965. During this time, he also served as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee from 1960-1961.

Earl Mountbatten of Burma, in uniform as Colonel of the Life Guards, with Gold Stick in Hand (1973). Source: Wikipedia, photo: by Allan Warren – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28983433

Upon retiring, he was granted several honorary appointments. He was made Colonel of the Life Guards, Gold Stick in Waiting, and Life Colonel Commandant of the Royal Marines. The Queen also appointed him Governor of the Isle of Wight. In 1974, he became the first Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight.

Lord Mountbatten was killed on August 27, 1979, when his boat was blown up by the Provisional Irish Republican Army on Donegal Bay, in County Sligo, Ireland. He had been staying at his summer home, Classiebawn Castle, in County Sligo, Ireland, with much of his family. Mountbatten, his grandson Nicholas, his son-in-law’s mother, The Dowager Baroness Brabourne, and a young crew member, Paul Maxwell, all died as a result of the blast. Mountbatten’s daughter Patricia, her husband John, and their son Timothy were all critically injured but they survived. See Unofficial Royalty: Tragedy in the British Royal Family at the End of August (scroll down).

A ceremonial funeral was held at Westminster Abbey on September 5, 1979, attended by most of the British Royal Family and many other European royals. He is buried at Romsey Abbey.

Earl Mountbatten’s tomb at Romsey Abbey. Source: Wikipedia, photo by JohnArmagh

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