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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