Category Archives: British Royals

Princess Charlotte of Wales

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Princess Charlotte of Wales; Credit – Wikipedia

Had Princess Charlotte of Wales survived her grandfather King George III and her father King George IV, she would have become Queen of the United Kingdom. During her lifetime, Charlotte was second in the line of succession to the British throne after her father.

Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales was born on January 7, 1796, at Carlton House in London, England, the daughter of first cousins George, Prince of Wales (the future King George IV) and Caroline of Brunswick.  She was christened on February 11, 1796, in the Great Drawing Room at Carlton House in London, England.

Her godparents were:

The marriage of Charlotte’s parents was a disaster, and they separated soon after her birth.  Charlotte’s childhood was disruptive and she spent time with her father, mother, and paternal grandparents.  Charlotte grew up to be high-spirited and pleasure-loving.  Her father attempted to arrange a marriage between Charlotte and Willem, Hereditary Prince of Orange (later King Willem II of the Netherlands), but Charlotte was not agreeable to the match.

In 1814, the handsome Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saafeld (after 1826, Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha) visited London and met Charlotte.  It was love at first sight. Charlotte and Leopold were married on May 2, 1816, in the Crimson Drawing Room at Carlton House, the Prince of Wales’ London home.  Oatlands in Surrey, the country home of Charlotte’s uncle Prince Frederick, Duke of York, was the site of the honeymoon.  After the honeymoon, the newlywed couple settled at Claremont House near Esher, England which the British nation had purchased by an Act of Parliament as a wedding gift for Charlotte and Leopold.

Engraving of the marriage between Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Credit – Wikipedia

Charlotte suffered two miscarriages in the early months of her first two pregnancies, but the third pregnancy in 1817 gave Charlotte and Leopold hope.  Charlotte was second in the line of succession and would have succeeded her father, the future George IV, as queen but on November 6, 1817, a great tragedy struck the British Royal Family.  After a labor of over 50 hours, Charlotte delivered a stillborn son. Several hours later, twenty-one-year-old Princess Charlotte, the only child of George, Prince of Wales and King George III’s only legitimate grandchild, died of postpartum hemorrhage.

Charlotte was mourned by the British people like the mourning of Diana, Princess of Wales. She was buried in the Royal Tomb House at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle with her stillborn son at her feet. Charlotte’s pregnancy and delivery had been grossly mismanaged by Sir Richard Croft, the doctor in charge, who later died by suicide.  There is a very moving memorial to Charlotte in St. George’s Chapel.  Charlotte’s body is draped as she ascends to heaven along with angels, one of which carries her stillborn son.

Memorial to Charlotte; Credit – http://www.stgeorges-windsor.org/

Charlotte’s death sent her unmarried uncles into hasty marriages to provide an heir to the throne in the second generation.  By the spring of 1819, King George III had three new grandchildren, and it was the child of his fourth son, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, who would eventually come to the throne as Queen Victoria.

Leopold greatly mourned Charlotte, but his connection with the British Royal Family continued.  He was the uncle of both Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.  Leopold became the first King of the Belgians, having been elected King by the Belgian National Congress on June 4, 1831. On August 9, 1832, he married the French princess, Louise-Marie of Orléans.  Leopold and Louise-Marie had four children including Leopold’s successor King Leopold II of the Belgians and Princess Charlotte who married Archduke Maximilian of Austria. Charlotte’s marriage was ill-fated.  Her husband became Emperor of Mexico, executed by a firing squad after a three-year reign.

King Leopold I of the Belgians died on December 10, 1865, at the Royal Castle in Laeken, Belgium.  Among his last words were “Charlotte…Charlotte.”  Was he calling to his daughter or to his beloved first wife Princess Charlotte of Wales? King Leopold was buried in the Royal Crypt in the Church of Our Lady in Laeken in Brussels, Belgium.

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.

Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, Queen of Spain

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, Queen of Spain; Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena of Battenberg (known as Ena) was born on October 24, 1887, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, the only daughter of Prince Henry of Battenberg and Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria.

The infant princess was named after her grandmother Queen Victoria and for her godmother Eugénie de Montijo, the Spanish-born French empress and widow of Napoleon III, who lived in exile in the United Kingdom. To her family, and the British general public, she was known by the last of her names, as Ena. She was christened in the Drawing Room at Balmoral Castle on  November 23, 1887. Her godparents were:

Ena had three brothers:

Raised in her grandmother’s household, the family moved constantly between Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Balmoral Castle, and Osborne House. In January 1896, Ena’s father died of malaria while en route to fight in the Ashanti War. Following his death, Queen Victoria gave the family apartments at Kensington Palace where they lived when in London. After Queen Victoria died in 1901, Kensington Palace became their primary residence, along with Osborne Cottage on the grounds of Osborne House.

 

In 1905, Ena met her future husband, King Alfonso XIII of Spain, while he was on a State Visit to the United Kingdom. The two soon began corresponding and quickly became smitten with each other. However, several issues needed to be resolved before they could consider marriage. First was the looming threat of hemophilia. Ena’s brother Leopold was suffering from the disease, so there was a very good chance that she might bring it to the Spanish royal family. However, with little known about the disease at the time, Alfonso did not seem too concerned. The bigger obstacles were Ena’s religion and, as far as Alfonso’s mother was concerned, her less-than-royal bloodline. However, Ena willingly agreed to convert to Catholicism, and her uncle, King Edward VII, elevated her rank to Royal Highness so there could be no question of an unequal marriage. These seem to have appeased the Dowager Queen and the engagement was announced.

Assassination attempt at Alfonso and Victoria Eugenie's wedding, 1906.

Assassination attempt at Alfonso and Victoria Eugenie’s wedding, 1906.

The couple married on May 31, 1906, at the Royal Monastery of San Jerónimo in Madrid, in a wedding attended by many royals from around the world. The marriage was not, however, without incident. While the wedding procession was returning to the Royal Palace, an assassination attempt was made on the King and his new Queen. Both Alfonso and Ena were unharmed, however, several guards and bystanders were killed or injured.

Eventually, the couple would have seven children:

Queen Ena with her children in 1918 (from left to right) Maria Cristina, Alfonso,  Gonzalo, Juan, Jaime and Beatriz; Credit – Wikipedia

After the birth of the first son Alfonso, it was discovered that he was suffering from hemophilia. Despite knowing the risks beforehand, King Alfonso blamed Ena, beginning a rift in their marriage that would never fully heal. In the end, only their first and last sons had the disease. See Unofficial Royalty: Hemophilia in Queen Victoria’s Descendants.

Victoria Eugenie threw herself into her new role as Queen and began working with charities that supported the poor, promoted education, and took a particular interest in nursing and hospital care. She would later be instrumental in reorganizing the Spanish Red Cross and is often credited with helping to advance the healthcare system in Spain. Despite a somewhat rocky relationship at first, she soon became greatly admired and loved by the Spanish people.

Following the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931, the family went into exile. Settling first in France, and then Italy, the couple soon went their separate ways. Ena returned to London, taking up residence at 34 Porchester Terrace to be close to her mother. In 1938, she would reunite with her husband in Rome, for the christening of their grandson Juan Carlos, future King of Spain. The following year Ena left London and returned to Rome. Despite their separation, she was concerned about Alfonso’s diminishing health and wanted to be nearby. Alfonso died in February 1941, surrounded by his family. Less than a year later, she was forced to leave Italy, as members of Mussolini’s government accused her of spying. She settled in Lausanne, Switzerland, at the Hotel Royal. Several years later, in 1947, Ena purchased a villa – Vieille Fontaine – in Lausanne. It was here, in 1961, that she welcomed the media to announce the engagement of her grandson Juan Carlos and Princess Sophia of Greece.

 

Queen Victoria Eugenie’s later life was spent enjoying her grandchildren and her busy social schedule. Shortly after Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III of Monaco, Ena took the young Grace under her wing, helping her adjust to her new royal life. A lifelong friendship ensued, and Ena was asked to be godmother to their son, the future Prince Albert II. She was also the godmother to Queen Fabiola of Belgium and the late Duchess of Alba.

photo: Casa Real

Holding her great-grandson, the future King Felipe VI of Spain, at his baptism; Photo: Casa Real

In February 1968, Queen Victoria Eugenie returned to Spain for the first time since going into exile in 1931. Staying at the Palace of Liria with her goddaughter, the Duchess of Alba, Ena was there to serve as godmother to her new great-grandson, the future King Felipe VI of Spain. She was deeply touched by the crowds who came to greet her wherever she went and tried to see as many things as she could during her short visit. After the christening, she allegedly took General Franco aside to discuss the monarchy’s future, particularly the succession to the throne. Several different stories exist about the actual conversation but Ena had previously stressed that it would probably be best to skip over her son Juan and entrust the future of the monarchy, and Spain, to Juan Carlos.

Ena’s trip to Spain would be one of her last public appearances. She returned to her home in Switzerland, and soon her health began to fail. Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, Queen of Spain, passed away on April 15, 1969, at her home in Lausanne, Switzerland, surrounded by her family. Ironically, it was 38 years to the day that she had been forced to leave Spain in 1931. Her funeral was held at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Lausanne, Switzerland and she was buried in the nearby Cemetery Bois-de-Vaux. In April 1985, her grandson, King Juan Carlos, had her remains returned to Spain where they were interred in the Pantheon of the Kings in the Royal Crypt of the Royal Basilica of San Lorenzo de El Escorial in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain.

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.

Kingdom of Spain Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Augusta of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, Princess of Wales

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Credit – Wikipedia

Princess Augusta of Saxe-Coburg-Altenburg, the second youngest of the sixteen children of Friedrich II, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg and Magdalene Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst, was born on November 30, 1719, in Gotha, Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, now in Thuringia, Germany.

Augusta had fifteen siblings:

  • Sophie (1697 – 1703), died in childhood from smallpox
  • Friedrich III, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg (1699 – 1772), married Luise Dorothea of Saxe-Meiningen, had nine children
  • Wilhelm (1701 – 1771), married Anna of Holstein-Gottorp, no children
  • Karl Frederick (1702 – 1703), died in infancy from smallpox
  • Johann August (1704 – 1767), married Luise Reuss of Schleiz, widow of his brother Christian Wilhelm, had two children
  • Christian (born and died 1705), died in infancy from smallpox
  • Christian Wilhelm (1706 – 1748), married Luise Reuss of Schleiz, no children
  • Ludwig Ernst (1707 – 1763), Munster Lieutenant General
  • Emanuel (1709 – 1710), died in early childhood
  • Moritz (1711 – 1777), regent in Saxony-Eisenach, Hesse-Kassel Lieutenant General
  • Sophie (born and died 1712), died in infancy
  • Karl (1714 – 1715), died in infancy
  • Fredericka (1715 – 1775), married Johann Adolf II, Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels, had five children
  • Magdalena Sibylle (born and died 1718), died in infancy
  • Johann Adolf (1721 – 1799), married morganatically Marie Maximiliane Elisabeth Schauer, had three children

In 1736, at the age of 16, and still very young for her age, clutching a doll, and knowing no English, Augusta arrived in England for her marriage to Frederick, Prince of Wales, the son of King George II of Great Britain.  On May 8, 1736, after having dinner with Frederick and his siblings, Augusta was led up the aisle of the Chapel Royal at St. James’ Palace by her future brother-in-law William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, to marry her 29-year-old groom.

The newlyweds were strictly controlled by Frederick’s parents who did not allow them to set up their own household.  Augusta only spoke German and a little French, so a tutor was arranged to teach her English.  Because she was so lonely, her old governess was brought to England to keep her company.  Having been brought up as a Lutheran, Augusta had misgivings about receiving communion in the Church of England.  She was only persuaded to do so when her mother-in-law threatened to annul her marriage and send her back home.

Frederick and Augusta had nine children including King George III who succeeded his grandfather King George II and Caroline Matilda, Queen Consort of Denmark whose marriage was a tragic story.

Family of Frederick, Prince of Wales painted in 1751 after the prince’s death; Photo Credit – Wikipedia Front row: Henry, William, Frederick; Back row: Edward, George, Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales holding Caroline Matilda, Elizabeth, Louisa

During Augusta’s first pregnancy in 1737, King George II and Queen Caroline demanded to be present at the birth, but Frederick would not hear of it.  Augusta and Frederick were at Hampton Court Palace having dinner with Frederick’s parents when Augusta went into labor.  They took a bumpy carriage ride to St. James’ Palace to prevent the grandparents from being present at the birth.  Afterward, the king ordered them to leave St. James’ Palace and they moved to Kew Palace.  The queen paid a visit to Frederick and Augusta before they left St. James’ Palace and expressed a wish that she never see them again.  Queen Caroline got her wish as she died several months later without reconciling with her son and daughter-in-law.

After Queen Caroline’s death, the couple’s life was somewhat less tense and despite several fleeting affairs, Frederick was a good husband and father.  In early 1751, Frederick’s health began to be a concern and on March 31, 1751, he died at the age of 44.  His death was attributed to a burst abscess in his lung, but a ruptured aneurysm seems more likely.

At the time of Frederick’s death, his 32-year-old widow was pregnant with her ninth child.  Augusta spent her years as a widow raising her nine children and improving the gardens at Kew Palace, which today are a world-class botanical garden.  Her eldest son George succeeded his grandfather as king in 1760.  Augusta died of cancer of the throat on February 8, 1772, at the age of 52, and was buried at Westminster Abbey.

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Queen Victoria’s Children and Grandchildren

Queen_Victoria_Prince_Albert_and_their_nine_children

Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their nine children in 1857; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

QUEEN VICTORIA OF THE UNITED KINGDOM (1819-1901) MARRIED (1840) PRINCE ALBERT OF SAXE-COBURG AND GOTHA (1819-1861)

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had nine children and 42 grandchildren. Their grandchildren sat upon the thrones of Germany/Prussia, Greece, Norway, Romania, Russia, Spain, and the United Kingdom as monarchs or consorts. Today Victoria and Albert’s descendants include the monarchs of Denmark, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

The links on the names below are links to an article about that person here at Unofficial Royalty. The links on “had issue” are links to the listing of the issue from Wikipedia. The “had issue” are, of course, Queen Victoria’s great-grandchildren.

1) Victoria, Princess Royal (1840-1901) married (1858) Friedrich III, German Emperor and King of Prussia (1831-1888)

Prussian Family; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

2) King Edward VII of the United Kingdom (1841-1910) married (1863) Princess Alexandra of Denmark (1844-1925)

 

3) Princess Alice (1843-1878) married (1862) Ludwig IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine (1837-1892)

Hessian_family_in_1876

Hesse and by Rhine family in 1876; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

4) Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1844-1900) married (1874) Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia (1853-1920)

Duchess_of_Edinburgh_with_her_children

Duchess of Edinburgh with her children; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

5) Princess Helena (1846-1923) married (1866) Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (1831-1917)

SchleswigHolsteinchildren2

Photo Credit – royal-splendor.blogspot.com

6) Princess Louise (1848 -1939) married (1871) John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll (1845-1914)

Princess_Louise_and_Lorne_engagement

Princess Louise and her husband at the time of their engagement; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

  • No children

7) Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught (1850-1942) married (1879) Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia (1860-1917)

ArthurConnaughtfamille

Connaught Family in 1893; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

8) Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany (1853-1884) married (1882) Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1861-1922)

Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany; Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone by Hills & Saunders albumen cabinet card, 1883 NPG Ax5552 © National Portrait Gallery, London

Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany; Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, by Hills & Saunders, albumen cabinet card, 1883. NPG Ax5552 © National Portrait Gallery, London

9) Princess Beatrice (1857-1944) married (1885) Prince Henry of Battenberg (1858-1896)

Princess_Beatrice_with_children

Princess Beatrice with her children in 1900

Queen Louise of Sweden (Lady Louise Mountbatten)

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Queen Louise of Sweden (Lady Louise Mountbatten); Credit – Wikipedia

Louise Alexandra Marie Irene was born on July 13, 1889, at Heiligenberg Castle in Seeheim-Jugenheim in the Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine, now in the German state of Hesse. She was the second of the four children of Prince Louis of Battenberg and Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine. Through her mother, Louise was a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. One of her father’s younger brothers, Prince Henry of Battenberg, married Princess Beatrice, the youngest child of Queen Victoria. Until 1917, Louise’s style and title were Her Serene Highness Princess Louise of Battenberg. In that year, King George V requested that his British relatives relinquish their German titles and styles, and adopt British-sounding surnames. George compensated his male relatives by creating them British peers. Louise’s mother was the king’s first cousin and lived in the United Kingdom with her husband who was an Admiral in the Royal Navy and had been First Sea Lord. Louise’s father adopted the surname Mountbatten and was created 1st Marquess of Milford Haven. Louise was then styled Lady Louise Mountbatten.

Louise had an elder sister and two younger brothers:

Prince Louis and Princess Victoria with their two eldest daughters Alice and Louise in 1889; Credit – Wikipedia

While Louise was growing up, her family moved quite a bit depending on her father’s assignment in the British Royal Navy. They also spent time at their summer home in Heiligenberg near Darmstadt in the Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine. Louise and her family frequently visited her great-grandmother Queen Victoria at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight and her maternal aunt Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, (born Princess Alix of Hesse and by Rhine), wife of Nicholas II, Emperor of All Russia in Russia. Louise and her sister Alice were taught by a governess, and also attended Texters Girls’ School in Darmstadt.

At the outbreak of World War I, Louise’s father was the First Sea Lord, the professional head of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy. Although Louise’s family considered themselves British, her father was forced to resign his position shortly after the war began due to anti-German sentiment During World War I, Louise did volunteer work with the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association, Smokes for Soldiers and Sailors, and the British Red Cross. From March 1915 to July 1917, she served as a nurse at military hospitals in Nevers, France and Palaves, France, and received the British War Medal, the Victory Medal, and the Medal of French Gratitude. Louise’s family lost much of its wealth during the war, as it had been invested in Russian securities and assets, and this caused the family to move to a small house in Fishponds in Southampton, England. After the war, Louise was active in a charity to help children in slum districts in Battersea, London.

In 1909, Louise received a marriage proposal from King Manuel II of Portugal. Her great-uncle King Edward VII of the United Kingdom was in favor of the marriage, but Louise declined because she did not want an arranged marriage. At the same time, Louise received the Portuguese marriage proposal, she was secretly engaged to Prince Christopher of Greece, but since the couple had no money and their parents did not want to take financial responsibility for them, the engagement was broken.

In 1923, Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden visited London and met Louise at a party. Gustaf Adolf had been a widower for three years following the death of his wife Margaret of Connaught, who was Louise’s first cousin once removed. The couple’s engagement was announced on July 1, 1923, but some legal problems needed to be addressed. The 1810 Swedish succession law stated a Swedish prince would forfeit his succession rights if he married “with or without the King’s knowledge and consent, married a private Swedish or foreign man’s daughter”. After some discussion, it was decided that the couple could marry. Louise and Gustaf Adolf were married on November 3, 1923, in the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace in London by Randall Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury. The couple’s marriage was a happy one, but unfortunately, they had a stillborn daughter in 1925 and no more children after that.

Gustaf Adolf and Louise on their wedding day; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1926 – 1927, the Crown Prince and Princess made an extensive international trip that was very successful, particularly in the United States. After her mother-in-law died in 1930, Crown Princess Louise performed all the duties of a Queen of Sweden, twenty years before she became Queen. Louise and Gustaf Adolf traveled to Greece, the Middle East, and Africa in 1934 – 1935. During World War II, Sweden was neutral but Louise was active in the Red Cross and had her own charity, the Crown Princess Gift Association For the Neutral Defense Forces, which provided the soldiers who guarded the borders of neutral Sweden with socks, scarves, and caps knitted by people from all over Sweden. As her husband’s first wife did during World War I, Louise acted as a messenger between people who needed to communicate with relatives and friends across the borders of countries who were at war with each other.

In 1950, Louise’s husband became King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden upon the death of his father, and she became Queen of Sweden. She disliked the attention she received just because she was a queen and said, “People look at me as if I were something fancy. I do not look different today than I did yesterday!” Despite this, Louise diligently carried out her duties, even when she was ill. She reformed the court protocol and invited professional women to “democratic ladies’ lunches.” Louise loved to travel but wanted to do so privately, so she traveled incognito under the name Countess of Gripsholm or Mrs. Olsson. She often visited her relatives in England and stayed at the Hyde Park Hotel on the busiest street in Knightsbridge, London. Because she often crossed the street to shop, Louise kept a note in her handbag that said “I am the Queen of Sweden” in case she was hit by a car or bus.

King Gustaf VI Adolf and Queen Louise in the 1950s; Credit – Wikipedia

During the 1950s, Louise’s health began to suffer and she developed cardiac issues. Soon after she attended the Nobel Prize banquet in December 1964, her last public appearance, her health deteriorated. On March 4, 1965, Louise was taken to St. Göran Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden where she had six-hour surgery to correct a severe circulatory disorder in the right leg as a result of changes in her aorta. Although the surgery went well, complications developed and the 75-year-old Louise died on March 7, 1965, with her husband King Gustaf VI Adolf, her stepson Prince Bertil, her stepson Count Sigvard Bernadotte, her stepdaughter Queen Ingrid of Denmark, her stepdaughter-in-law Princess Sibylla, and her sister Princess Alice of Greece at her side. Louise’s funeral was held at the Storkyrkan in Stockholm and she was buried near her husband’s first wife at the Royal Cemetery at Haga Park in Solna, Sweden. King Gustaf VI Adolf survived his wife for eight years. He died on September 15, 1973, at the age of 90, and was buried with his wives.

“Horse-drawn casket queen Louise Mountbatten of Sweden” by Andy Eick – Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Horse_drawn_casket_queen_louise_mountbatten_of_sweden.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Horse_drawn_casket_queen_louise_mountbatten_of_sweden.jpg

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.

Kingdom of Sweden Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2014

photo: Wikipedia

Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon

Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, was the husband of Princess Margaret from 1960-1978. A gifted artist and photographer, he remained close to the British Royal Family even after his divorce from Princess Margaret.

 

He was born on March 7, 1930, to Ronald Armstrong-Jones and his first wife Anne Messel. He had an older sister Susan, later Viscountess Vesci, and three half-siblings from his parents’ other marriages. He was educated at Sandroyd School, in Wiltshire, and Eton College, and then enrolled at Jesus College, Cambridge University where he studied architecture. Following university, Armstrong-Jones began working as a photographer, later becoming known for his portraits, including several members of the royal family. Snowdon thrived in the art world, and in 1969, was called upon to design the investiture ceremony for the Prince of Wales, at Caernarfon Castle.

 

In February 1960, it was announced that Armstrong-Jones had become engaged to Princess Margaret, younger daughter of the late King George VI and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. The couple married in Westminster Abbey on May 6, 1960. On October 6, 1961, he was created Earl of Snowdon and Viscount Linley, just before the birth of their first child.

Antony and Margaret had two children:

The marriage, while happy at the beginning, quickly turned sour. Both were rumored to have had affairs, and often battled publicly. After many years of discord, the couple divorced in 1978.

A month later, on December 15, 1978, Snowdon married Lucy Mary Lindsay-Hogg (née Davies). and they had one daughter. This marriage, too, would end in 2000, after it was revealed that Snowdon had fathered a son in 1998 with another woman.

  • Lady Frances Armstrong-Jones (born 1979), married Rodolphe von Hofmannsthal, had two sons and one daughter

On November 16, 1999, he was created Baron Armstrong-Jones of Nymans, a life-peerage, in order to retain his seat in the House of Lords. Despite no longer being married into the Royal Family, Snowdon had a close relationship with them. At Princess Margaret’s funeral in 2002, he was amongst the leading mourners, alongside the couple’s children, Queen Elizabeth II, and Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother.

On January 13, 2017, Lord Snowdon died peacefully at his home in Kensington, London, England at the age of 86 and was buried at St. Baglan’s Church in Llanfaglan, Wales. His son David succeeded him as 2nd Earl of Snowdon.  His former sister-in-law Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh along with their sons Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and their grandson Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attended the memorial service for Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon on April 7, 2017, at the Church of St Margaret in Westminster, London, England on the grounds of Westminster Abbey.

 

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 Margaret, Countess of Snowdon

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon  photo: Wikipedia

Princess Margaret was the second daughter of King George VI of the United Kingdom and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, daughter of Claude Bowes-Lyon, 14th and 1st Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II. She was born Princess Margaret Rose of York on August 21, 1930, at Glamis Castle in Scotland. At the time of her birth, she was fourth in the line of succession to the British throne.

 

She was christened by Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury in the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace in London, England on October 30, 1930. Her godparents were:

 

Just six years after she was born, her grandfather King George V passed away and her uncle became King Edward VIII. Just eleven months later, he abdicated, and Margaret’s father became King George VI. The family moved from their modest home at 145 Piccadilly, to Buckingham Palace. Margaret was a Brownie with the 1st Buckingham Palace Brownie Pack, and later a Girl Guide and Sea Ranger. These organizations held a special place in Margaret’s heart, and she remained involved with them until her death. She was educated privately by a governess, Marion Crawford, who later wrote a book about the Princesses which resulted in her being banished from royal life. During World War II, Margaret and Elizabeth lived at Windsor Castle, deemed safer than living in London. It was suggested that the two be sent to Canada for the duration of the war, but their mother quickly dismissed that idea. Despite the war, the two girls managed to enjoy a relatively ‘normal’ life at Windsor.

 

Sadly, in February 1952, her father King George VI passed away, and her sister became Queen. Margaret and her mother soon moved into Clarence House, along with the new Comptroller of her mother’s household, Group Captain Peter Townsend. Townsend had been an equerry to King George VI, and later Deputy Master of the Household. He and Margaret began a relationship and quickly fell in love. In 1953, he proposed and Margaret accepted. However, there were many obstacles at the time. He was sixteen years older than Margaret and was divorced with two children. At the time, the Church of England would not sanction the marriage of a divorced person. The Queen, who was preparing for her Coronation and then the Commonwealth tour, asked the couple to wait a year. Hoping to dissuade them, Queen Elizabeth had Townsend transferred to her household. For the next two years, the couple waited, hoping to be permitted to marry, but Prime Minister Winston Churchill advised the Queen that Parliament would not approve the marriage unless Margaret relinquished her rights to the throne and her royal position. Margaret finally gave in. On October 31, 1955, she issued a statement announcing she would not marry Group Captain Townsend. She chose to put her royal role and duties ahead of her personal happiness.

 

Five years later, on February 26, 1960, it was announced that Princess Margaret was engaged to Antony Armstrong-Jones. The two had managed to keep their relationship very private, taking many people by surprise when the engagement was announced. They married in Westminster Abbey in London, England on May 6, 1960. Their wedding would be the first British royal wedding to be televised. Despite her position as daughter and sister of a Sovereign, only one foreign royal attended, Queen Ingrid of Denmark, one of Margaret’s godparents. It was speculated that many other royals disapproved of Margaret’s marriage to a commoner, let alone a photographer.

Following a six-week cruise on HMS Britannia, the couple moved into Apartment 10 at Kensington Palace in London, England. The following year, Margaret’s husband was created Earl of Snowdon and Viscount Linley. Having initially turned down any titles, the couple decided to accept when they were expecting their first child. In Margaret’s eyes, it would have been “improper” for the child of a Princess to be born with no title. Two children were born to the couple:

With their family growing, in 1963, the couple moved into the newly renovated Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace. Princess Margaret would live there until her death. Another residence was on the island of Mustique. As a wedding present, Margaret had received a plot of land on the island from her friend Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner. In 1971, Colin’s wife Anne Tennant, Baroness Glenconner became Margaret’s lady-in-waiting and remained in that position until Margaret’s death. Margaret had a home built on the plot of land in Mustique, called Les Jolies Eaux, in the early 1970s and often spent time there. She kept the home until 1996 when she gave it to her son as a wedding present. He subsequently sold the property.

The Snowdon marriage was anything but calm and peaceful. Two very strong personalities, often at odds, led to volatile rows and many affairs for both of them. Margaret’s many paramours included Robin Douglas-Home (who also had a relationship with Princess Margaretha of Sweden) and Roddy Llewellyn. Llewellyn became known as Margaret’s “boy toy”, and the press published photos of the two in their swimsuits together on Mustique. This finally brought about the formal end of Margaret’s marriage. The couple was formally divorced on July 11, 1978.

Margaret was the patron or president of numerous organizations. Her main charitable interests were welfare charities, music, and ballet. Among her charities were:

 

Having suffered from ill health for many years, Princess Margaret made her last public appearance at the 100th birthday celebration for her aunt Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester in December 2001. In a wheelchair for several years, she suffered several strokes which left her a shell of her former self. On February 9, 2002, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon died at King Edward VII Hospital in London, England after suffering another stroke. Her funeral was held on February 15, 2022, the 50th anniversary of her father’s funeral,  at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. Following the ceremony, her remains were cremated at her request and placed in the Royal Vault at St. George’s Chapel. Sadly, her funeral would also be one of the last public appearances of The Queen Mother, who would pass away just six weeks later. Following her mother’s funeral, Margaret’s ashes were placed in the King George VI Memorial Chapel at St George’s Chapel, alongside the tombs of her parents.

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.

King George VI of the United Kingdom

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Photo: Wikipedia

King George VI of the United Kingdom

King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II, was the second son of King George V and Queen Mary (at the time of his birth, they were the Duke and Duchess of York). He was born His Highness Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George of York on December 14, 1895, at York Cottage, his parents’ home on the grounds of Sandringham in Norfolk, England. Born on the 34th anniversary of the death of Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, and also on the 17th anniversary of the death of her daughter Princess Alice, his birth brought some joy and happiness to what was otherwise a very sad day in the British Royal Family. (See Unofficial Royalty: December 14 – Queen Victoria’s Dire Day.) In order to help ease the pain of the day, it was decided to name him Albert, in honor of his great-grandfather. Informally, he became known as Bertie. Three years later, Queen Victoria issued Letters Patent granting the style of Royal Highness to all the children of The Duke and Duchess of York.

Bertie had five siblings:

Bertie was christened at St Mary Magdalene’s Church, Sandringham, on February 17, 1896, by the Bishop of Norwich. His godparents were:

 

Along with his siblings, he was raised at York Cottage and York House, St James’ Palace. In 1901, Queen Victoria died, and his grandfather became King Edward VII. His parents became the Prince and Princess of Wales, and soon after the family moved to Marlborough House, just next to St James’ Palace. A delicate child, he was educated privately for several years, before enrolling at the Royal Naval College, Osborne, in 1909. The following year, his grandfather died, and his father became King George V. Bertie was now 2nd in line to the throne, behind his elder brother.

 

He continued his military training at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. He trained and served on HMS Cumberland and HMS Collingwood, and in 1914 began service in World War I. Aboard the Collingswood, he saw combat in the Battle of Jutland in 1916. The following year he underwent surgery for an ulcer and did not return to a combat position. By 1918, he had transferred to the Royal Air Force, eventually becoming qualified as a pilot – the first British royal to do so. He served with the Independent Air Force, stationed in France until the end of the war, finally returning to Britain in early 1919.

He enrolled for a year at Trinity College, Cambridge, studying history, economics, and history, and then in 1920 began taking on more royal duties, having been created him Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killarney by his father. He traveled extensively representing his father, however, he was always overshadowed by his elder brother, The Prince of Wales. Bertie was painfully shy and suffered from a stammer that made him very uncomfortable speaking publicly, while his brother was immensely confident and outgoing.

 

As the second son of the Sovereign, Bertie was never expected to inherit the throne. His role, as traditionally held, would be to support his father, and then later his brother. This allowed him a bit more freedom when it came to choosing a bride. He fell in love with the daughter of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. After several proposals, she finally accepted, and the couple married in Westminster Abbey on April 26, 1923.

The Duke and new Duchess took up residence at 145 Piccadilly in London and threw themselves into royal duty. And in 1926, the Duke of York, an avid tennis fan, actually played doubles in the Wimbledon Championship, partnering with his friend and equerry, Sir Louis Greig.

 

By 1930, two daughters had been born:

The family enjoyed a rather quiet life, aside from the Duke and Duchess’ royal duties. However, things were soon to change for the York family. January 1936, Bertie’s father, King George V, passed away at Sandringham. His elder brother became King Edward VIII and Bertie became heir-presumptive to the throne. The new King was unmarried and involved with Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American. This relationship would soon bring about unheard-of events in the British monarchy. Failing to reach an agreement with the Government by which he and Mrs. Simpson could marry, King Edward VIII abdicated on December 11, 1936, giving his famous “without the woman I love” speech on the radio. Upon Parliament’s passing of the Abdication Act, Bertie became the new King of the United Kingdom, taking the regnal name George VI, in honor of his father, and to stress the continuity of the British monarchy.

 

King George VI continued to work with Lionel Logue, a speech therapist he began seeing in the mid-1920s, to help with his stammer, as depicted in the film, The King’s Speech. The two would remain friends for the rest of the King’s life. His coronation was held in May 1937, the date originally planned for King Edward VIII. At the time, he was also Emperor of India and would remain so until India’s independence in 1947.

The King and Queen traveled extensively, including a famous visit to Canada and the United States in mid-1939. Although he’d been there several times before, he became the first Canadian sovereign to visit the country. Following a successful tour of Canada, they visited the United States as guests of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, staying with the Roosevelts at the White House as well as their Hyde Park estate in NY. Soon after their trip, Britain declared war on Germany, and the country was drawn into World War II.

 

During the war, the King traveled abroad to visit troops, and along with his wife, traveled around Britain to help rally support and boost morale. Their daughters were sent off to Windsor Castle for the duration of the war, fearing bomb attacks on Buckingham Palace, while the King and Queen often spent their days at Buckingham Palace usually returning to Windsor in the evenings.

Finally, in 1945, peace was declared. The war was over, and now the country began to focus on healing and rebuilding. Again, the King and Queen were leading the drive to return Britain to its former glory. The next few years saw the end of the British Empire and the establishment of the Commonwealth. They saw the marriage of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten and the birth of grandchildren and the succession of the monarchy.

 

By 1949, the King’s health was failing. He was suffering from lung cancer and several other ailments. Elizabeth and Philip began to take on more royal duties, often filling in for the King when he was unable to attend events. A tour of Australia had been postponed and in January 1952, Elizabeth and Philip set off in the King’s place. He came to the airport to see them off, looking drawn and frail. It would be the last time he would see his daughter. On February 6, 1952, King George VI passed away in his sleep at Sandringham in Norfolk, England. He was 56 years old. Elizabeth, now Queen Elizabeth II, was notified and returned immediately to London.

 

His body was taken to St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham, for two days before laying-in-state at Westminster Hall in London. His funeral was held at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in Windsor, England on February 15, 1952. His remains were initially interred in the Royal Vault at St. George’s Chapel and were later moved to the George VI Memorial Chapel at St.George’s Chapel in 1969.

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House of Windsor Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

Lady Alice Christabel Montagu Douglas Scott was born on December 25, 1901, at Montagu House in Whitehall, London, England. She was the third daughter and the fifth of eight children of John Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch and 9th Duke of Queensberry and Lady Margaret Bridgeman, daughter of George Bridgeman, 4th Earl of Bradford.  Alice’s father was the largest landowner in Scotland, and she was a descendant of King Charles II through an illegitimate line.

Alice had seven siblings:

  • Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas Scott (1893 – 1976), married Admiral Sir Geoffrey Hawkins
  • Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 8th Duke of Buccleuch (1894 – 1973), married Vreda Lascelles (granddaughter of William Beauclerk, 10th Duke of St Albans), had issue
  • Lord William Montagu Douglas Scott (1896 – 1958), married Lady Rachel Douglas-Home (daughter of Charles Douglas-Home, 13th Earl of Home), had issue
  • Lady Sybil Montagu Douglas Scott (1899 – 1990), married Charles Phipps, had issue
  • Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott ( 1904 – 1984), married David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter, had issue
  • Lady Angela Montagu Douglas Scott (1906 – 2000), married Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Dawnay, had issue
  • Lord George Montagu Douglas Scott (1911 – 1999), married Mary Bishop, had issue

Alice grew up in her family’s country homes Boughton House in Northamptonshire, England,  Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland and Bowhill House near Selkirk, Scotland. She attended St. James’ School for Girls, in West Malvern, Worcestershire, England.

In August of 1935, Lady Alice became engaged to Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, the third son of King George V. Alice’s father died from cancer on October 19, 1935, less than a month before the wedding date, November 6, 1935. The wedding was originally set to be held at Westminster Abbey, but the wedding venue was changed. It was deemed more appropriate to have the wedding at the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace. Among the bridesmaids were the groom’s nieces Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose.

NPG x134883; The wedding of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester by and after Vandyk

Photo Credit – The wedding of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester by and after Vandyk, hand-coloured bromide print, 6 November 1935, NPG x134883 © National Portrait Gallery, London

The couple had two sons and the family lived at the 16th-century Barnwell Manor in Northamptonshire, England, and York House, St. James’s Palace in London, England.

 

During World War II, Alice worked with the Red Cross and the Order of St John. She became head of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force.  The Duke of Gloucester served as Governor-General of Australia from 1945 – 1947 and the family lived in Canberra, Australia. During the early reign of the Duke’s niece Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester carried out royal engagements including some overseas tours.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester leaving for Australia in 1945; Photo Credit – Wikipedia, Commonwealth Department of Information – National Library of Australia

In 1965, while driving back to Barnwell Manor after attending the funeral of Winston Churchill, the Duke suffered a stroke causing a car accident. The Duchess suffered injuries to the face which required 57 stitches. Three years later, the Duke suffered another stroke which left him incapacitated. The Duchess continued to talk and read to her husband hoping he could hear and understand. In 1972, her elder son died in a crash at a plane show. Alice never did tell her husband about the death of their son William, but she thought he understood from watching television.

On June 14, 1973, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester died at Barnwell Manor, his country home at the age of 74. He was buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore near Windsor Castle. After the Duke’s death, his widow received permission from Queen Elizabeth II to style herself Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester to distinguish herself from her son’s wife.

Alice_Gloucester

Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester photographed with her dogs; Photo Credit – www.royal.gov.uk

On October 29, 2004, Princess Alice died peacefully in her sleep at Kensington Palace in London at the age of 102, the longest-lived member of the British Royal Family so far. Her funeral was held on November 5, 2004, at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle and was attended by members of the British Royal Family including Queen Elizabeth II. Alice was buried next to her husband and elder son in the Royal Burial Ground at Frogmore in Windsor, England.

Graves of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. photo: www.findagrave.com

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Prince William of Gloucester

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Prince William of Gloucester; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince William of Gloucester was born on December 18, 1941, at Hadley Common in Hertfordshire, England.  His father was Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, the third son of King George V and Queen Mary, and his mother was Lady Alice Montagu Douglas Scott, the third daughter of John Montagu Douglas Scott, 7th Duke of Buccleuch.

On February 22, 1942, Prince William was christened William Henry Andrew Frederick at the Private Chapel in Windsor Castle. His godparents were:

Embed from Getty Images 
William, his mother, and his brother

William had one younger brother:

Prince William attended Wellesley House Preparatory School, Broadstairs in Kent, and Eton College. In 1960, he went to Magdalene College, Cambridge to read history, graduating with a BA degree in 1963, which was raised to an MA degree in 1968. Following Cambridge, he spent a year at Stanford University in California studying political science, American history, and business.  Upon his return to the United Kingdom, he worked for Lazard, an investment bank.  In 1965, he became the second member of the British Royal Family (after his uncle Prince George, Duke of Kent) to work in the civil service or the diplomatic service.  Prince William was employed by the Commonwealth Office and was posted to Lagos, Nigeria as the third secretary at the British High Commission. In 1968, he transferred to Tokyo to accept the post of second secretary in the British Embassy.

Since 1965, William had been suffering from fever and skin rashes. Some of these episodes lasted several months. In addition, he noticed that he often developed a blistering rash especially after being out in the sun. In 1968, Prince William was tentatively diagnosed with porphyria, and the diagnosis was later confirmed by two additional doctors. Porphyria is a disorder that results from a buildup of porphyrin in the human body. Porphyrin is necessary for the proper function of hemoglobin in the blood, but high levels of porphyrin can cause significant problems. Porphyria mainly affects the nervous system, skin, and other organs. Porphyria is usually inherited, but in some types of porphyria, environmental factors may trigger the development of symptoms. It is thought that the ill health of King George III, an ancestor of William’s father, was caused by porphyria. A member of the British Royal Family reliably diagnosed with porphyria gave credence to this theory which was first proposed by Dr. Ida MacAlpine and Dr. Richard Hunter in 1966.

 

Prince William was a licensed pilot, owned several airplanes, and enjoyed competing in air shows. On August 28, 1972, the prince planned on competing at the Goodyear International Air Trophy races at Halfpenny Green, near Wolverhampton, England. Express and Star photographer Ray Bradbury, an eyewitness, described what happened: “I saw Prince William’s Piper, number 66, and another Piper, number 69, take off. Number 69 appeared to get airborne before the prince. Then it seemed he was in some sort of trouble. He banked to port. It looked as though the Prince might have been troubled by the other aircraft making a turn at a higher altitude. His port wing seemed to hit the trees and he disappeared from view. Then there was an explosion.” See Unofficial Royalty: Tragedy in the British Royal Family at the End of August (scroll down).

William of Gloucester_plane

Prince William at the air show on the day of his death; Photo Credit- www.bobbington-village.co.uk

Prince William of Gloucester’s funeral was held on September 2, 1972, at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret had been at Balmoral and flew from Scotland for the funeral. The Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne arrived from Munich, Germany where they had been attending the Olympics. Prince William’s gold and crimson personal standard was draped over his coffin which was carried by eight Scots Guards. After the service, Prince William of Gloucester was buried at the Royal Burial Grounds, Frogmore in Windsor, England. Prince William was the elder son of his parents and would have succeeded his father as Duke of Gloucester.  His younger brother Prince Richard succeeded their father as Duke of Gloucester. The Prince of Wales was close to the older Prince William of Gloucester and named his first child in honor of him.

Prince William’s grave; Photo Credit – www.findagrave.com

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