by Susan Flantzer © Unofficial Royalty 2015
Lord Leopold Mountbatten; Credit – Wikipedia
Prince Leopold of Battenberg was born at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, on May 21, 1889, three days before his grandmother, Queen Victoria, celebrated her 70th birthday. He was the third of the four children of Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom and Prince Henry of Battenberg. On June 29, 1889, at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, the little prince was christened Leopold Arthur Louis. He was named after his uncle Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany who died from hemophilia complications in 1884, and his three godfathers.
His godparents were:
- King Leopold II of the Belgians (first cousin of both his grandmother Queen Victoria and his late grandfather Prince Albert)
- Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught (his maternal uncle)
- Prince Louis of Battenberg (his paternal uncle)
- Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lorne (his maternal aunt)
- Duchess of Albany (widow of his maternal uncle Leopold)
- Countess of Erbach-Schoenberg (born Princess Marie of Battenberg, his paternal aunt)
It is ironic that Leopold was named for his hemophiliac uncle because he had inherited the genetic disorder from his mother. Hemophilia had been a burden to Princess Beatrice for a good part of her life. In childhood, it ruined the fun she could have had with the sibling nearest her age. The illness and death of her brother Leopold haunted her, and now her own child was to be similarly afflicted.
Leopold had two brothers and one sister:
- Prince Alexander of Battenberg, later Alexander Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Carisbrooke (1886 – 1960), married Lady Irene Denison, had issue
- Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg (1887 – 1969), married King Alfonso XIII of Spain, had issue
- Prince Maurice of Battenberg (1891 – 1914), unmarried, killed in action during World War I
Beatrice and her children in 1900; Photo Credit – Wikipedia
Leopold’s hemophilia would have disqualified him from military service if he had wished it, but he desired to serve. In 1909, Leopold joined the 8th Isle of Wight Rifles (Princess Beatrice’s) Battalion. He wrote to Colonel Seely, Regimental Commandant of the Isle of Wight Volunteer Regiment, “I wanted to thank you so much for your kindness in getting me my regular commission. I am more than grateful, as I have always wanted to be able to soldier seriously and never thought I should be able to do so.” In 1912, Leopold joined the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. When World War I started in August 1914, the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, also the regiment of Leopold’s brother Maurice, as well as the Grenadier Guards, his brother Alexander’s regiment, was under deployment orders. Leopold’s activities were restricted to a non-combat staff appointment. A little more than two months after the war started, Leopold’s brother Maurice was killed in action on October 27, 1914.
‘T.H. The Princes of Battenberg. For King and Country’ by Bassano Ltd, published by Rotary Photographic Co Ltd, postcard print, published circa 1914 NPG x197402 © National Portrait Gallery, London
Due to anti-German sentiment during World War I, King George V issued Letters Patents on July 17, 1917 “declaring that the name Windsor is to be borne by his royal house and family and relinquishing the use of all German titles and dignities.” Leopold and his brother Alexander relinquished their German styles and titles and anglicized their name to Mountbatten. Leopold was granted the rank and precedence of the younger son of a marquess, becoming Lord Leopold Mountbatten. As the eldest surviving brother, Alexander was created Marquess of Carisbrooke.
At the end of World War I, Leopold returned to London and lived with his mother at Kensington Palace. On April 22, 1922, Leopold had hip surgery at Kensington Palace. He appeared to be making a normal recovery but had a relapse, and died on April 23, 1922, at the age of 32. He was buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore in Windsor, England.
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