Danish Royal Christenings

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

The Danish Royal Family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark sometimes called The Church of Denmark, the established, state-supported church in Denmark. The sovereign is the supreme secular authority in the church. Most recent Danish royal christenings have been held at the Holmens Kirke or the Fredensborg Palace Chapel.

Holmens Kirke; Credit – Wikipedia

The building that is now occupied by the Holmens Kirke in Copenhagen, Denmark was first used as a forge for anchors. In 1619, King Christian IV had it converted into a church for the naval personnel who were housed in the area. King Frederik IX had a career in the Royal Danish Navy and had a great love for the sea. Perhaps that was the reason his three children were christened at Holmens Kirke. His elder daughter and successor Queen Margrethe was also married there.

Fredensborg Palace; Credit – By Glån – https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12668133

Fredensborg Palace is located in Fredensborg on the island of Zealand in Denmark.  Queen Margrethe II uses the palace for three months in the spring and three months in the autumn. It has always been considered a “family home” for the Danish royal family. During the reign of King Christian IX, his extended family gathered at Fredensborg each summer. Christian’s children included Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, Empress Maria Feodorovna of Russia, King George I of Greece and his successor King Frederik VIII of Denmark.  He had 39 grandchildren and his grandsons included Nicholas II, Emperor of All Russia, King Constantine I of Greece, King George V of the United Kingdom, King Christian X of Denmark and King Haakon VII of Norway. Over the years, numerous large family reunions were held at Fredensborg Palace with children, in-laws, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  The current Danish royal family continues the practice and it is a logical site for family christenings.

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Danish royal christening gown

It is interesting to note that among the godparents of Queen Margrethe II, who was born in 1940, is Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, her maternal great-grandfather, the son of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. The Duke of Connaught died in 1942 at the age of 91. His sister Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll also died at the age of 91, making both Arthur and Louise the longest-lived of Queen Victoria’s children.

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King Frederik IX of Denmark

Four generations of Danish Kings: Prince Frederik (IX) standing on the chair surrounded by (left to right) his great-grandfather King Christian IX, his father Prince Christian (X), his grandfather Crown Prince Frederik (VIII); Credit – Wikipedia

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Queen Ingrid of Denmark, born Princess Ingrid of Sweden, wife of King Frederik IX

Ingrid on the right with her family at the christening of her brother Bertil; Credit – Wikipedia

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Queen Margrethe of Denmark

(see below)

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Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

Princess Benedikte on the left with her sisters Margrethe and Anne-Marie; Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark, Queen of Greece

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King Christian X of Denmark and Queen Alexandrine who is holding Princess Anne-Marie and their grandchildren. From left, Prince Christian to the left of the queen, Princess Benedikte between the king and queen; in the back Princess Elisabeth, Prince Ingolf and Princess Margrethe

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Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

Embed from Getty Images
Margrethe and her parents

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King Frederik X of Denmark

Embed from Getty Images

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Crown Prince Christian of Denmark

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Crown Princess Mary holding her son as his father and godparents, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Crown Princess Mett-Marit of Norway and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, look on

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Princess Isabella of Denmark

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Crown Princess Mary holds her daughter Princess Isabella while Crown Prince Frederik holds their son Prince Christian, with Isabella’s godparents from left: Major Peter Heering, Nadine Johnston, Maria Louise Skeel, Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark and Christian Buchwald

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Prince Vincent of Denmark

Embed from Getty Images

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Prince Josephine of Denmark

Embed from Getty Images

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Prince Joachim of Denmark

Embed from Getty Images

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Prince Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Prince Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince Ludwig Hermann Alexander Chlodwig of Hesse and by Rhine (known as Lu) was the younger son of Ernst Ludwig, the last Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and his second wife Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich. He was born in Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine, now in the German state of Hesse, on November 20, 1908. Ludwig was Head of the House of Hesse from 1937 – 1968.

Ludwig had one older brother:

Lu also had a half-sister, Princess Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine (1895-1903), from his father’s first marriage to Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Elisabeth had died from typhoid fever several years before Lu’s birth.

Lu was educated privately at home, along with his brother, before attending and graduating from the Realgymnasium in 1926. He then studied archeology and art history at universities in Darmstadt, Lausanne, and Munich. After graduating, Lu served as an attaché at the German Embassy in London. During this time, he met his future wife, The Honorable Margaret Geddes, daughter of British diplomat Auckland Campbell Geddes,1st Baron Geddes and Isabella Gamble Ross, while she was on holiday in Bavaria.

Embed from Getty Images 

Lu and Peg became engaged while attending the 1936 Winter Olympic Games in Bavaria. The wedding was planned for Saturday, November 20, 1937 – Lu’s 29th birthday. However, a great tragedy would strike the House of Hesse and by Rhine just days before.

On November 16, 1937, Lu’s family boarded a plane bound for London to attend his wedding. The passengers included Lu’s mother, his brother Hereditary Grand Duke Georg Donatus of Hesse and by Rhine and wife, born Princess Cecilie of Greece and Denmark, and their two sons, as well as the children’s nurse and Baron Joachin Riedesel zu Eisenbach, who was to be Lu’s best man. The plane was scheduled to stop in Brussels, but bad weather forced the pilot to continue on to Ostend instead. While attempting to land, the plane clipped a chimney on a factory near the airport, causing the plane to break apart and crash. All aboard the plane, including the pilot and three crew members, were killed.

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After being notified of the tragedy, Lu and Peg, along with their families, decided that the wedding should take place immediately. They married quietly the following morning, November 17, 1937, at St. Peter’s Church, Eaton Square, London. Both wore black, and were joined by a small group of family and close friends. Guests included The Duke and Duchess of Kent; The Countess of Toerring-Jettenbach; The Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven (Lu’s paternal aunt); and the German Ambassador Joachim von Ribbentrop.

Lu, Peg and Johanna c1938; Credit – Wikipedia

Lu and his new wife traveled to Ostend to identify and accompany the bodies – by train – back to Darmstadt. Waiting for them was the only other surviving member of the Grand Ducal family, Don and Cecilie’s 14-month-old daughter Johanna who had not accompanied her parents on the trip to London. Lu and Peg adopted Johanna, but sadly she contracted meningitis and died shortly before reaching her third birthday.

At just 29 years old, Lu became the Head of the House of Hesse. He inherited Wolfsgarten, which would become his principal residence for the rest of his life. He was drafted for military service during World War II, but along with other members of former ruling houses, he was released due to the belief that they would be “politically unreliable”. He returned to Wolfsgarten where he was carefully watched due to his wife’s English background. Following the war, Lu and Peg devoted themselves to rebuilding Darmstadt. They worked to restore the museums, hospitals, and charitable institutions, and Lu co-founded the Institute for New Technical Form, the Council for Shaping, and the Bauhaus Archive. He also designed the German Pavilion for the 1958 World Expo in Brussels. An avid lover of classical music, he promoted the arts and music, including the Ansbach Festival and Aldeburgh Festival.

Because Lu and Peg never had children, in 1960 Lu adopted his distant cousin Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse. Moritz’s father became Head of the House of Hesse upon Lu’s death and was succeeded by Moritz in 1980, bringing the two branches of the Hesse line together again.

In 1964, he served as godfather for Prince Edward of the United Kingdom, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh. The Duke’s sister had been married to Lu’s brother and Peg had become a close friend of The Queen.

Prince Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine died in Frankfurt, Germany on May 30, 1968. Following his funeral on June 6, 1968, in the Darmstadt Stadtkirche in Darmstadt, Hesse, Germany, he was buried near his parents and family in the Park Rosenhöhe (link in German) in Darmstadt where many members of the Hesse family are buried. He was survived by his wife Peg, who passed away in 1997 and is buried beside him.

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

Belgian Royal Christenings

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

The Belgian Royal Family are members of the Roman Catholic Church.  Some Belgian christenings, including those of King Albert II and King Philippe, took place at the Church of Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg in the Place Royale, a historic square near the center of Brussels, Belgium. Perhaps the Belgian royal family is connected to the church because Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, stood on the church steps when he took the oath that made him Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians on July 21, 1831.

Church of Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg; Credit – By EmDee – Own work, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17166498

The christenings of the children of King Philippe all took place in the chapel at Ciergnon Castle in Houyet, Namur, Belgium. Ciergnon Castle is one of the favorite summer residences of the Belgian royal family.

Ciergnon Castle; Credit – By Paul Hermans – Own work, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24443117

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Albert II, King of the Belgians

Embed from Getty Images
Albert being carried into the church for his christening. He is followed by his father and mother and then his elder sister and elder brother.
  • Unofficial Royalty: Albert II, King of the Belgians
  • Parents: King Leopold III and Queen Astrid, born Princess Astrid of Sweden
  • Born: June 6, 1934, at Stuyvenberg Castle in Laeken, Brussels, Belgium
  • Christened: June 1934 at the Church of Saint-Jacques-sur-Coudenberg in Brussels, Belgium
  • Names: Albert Félix Humbert Théodore Christian Eugène Marie. He was given the name Albert in honor of his grandfather Albert I, King of the Belgians who was killed in a mountain climbing accident on February 17, 1934, four months before his birth. When Albert was only 14 months old, his mother was killed in a car accident.
  • Godparents:
  • King Albert II abdicated in favor of his son Philippe on July 21, 2013.

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Philippe, King of the Belgians

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Philippe is being held by a midwife as his godparents former King Leopold III of Belgium (left) and Luisa Ruffo di Calabria, look on

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Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant

Embed from Getty Images
Elisabeth with her parents at her christening

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Prince Gabriel of Belgium

Gabriel’s mother holding him during his christening; Credit – Hello

  • Unofficial Royalty: Prince Gabriel of Belgium
  • Parents: Philippe, King of the Belgians and Queen Mathilde, born Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz
  • Born: August 20, 2003, in Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht, Belgium
  • Christened: October 25, 2003, at Ciergnon Castle in Houyet, Namur, Belgium
  • Names: Gabriel Baudouin Charles Marie
  • Godparents:
    • Baroness Maria Christina von Freyberg, his second cousin
    • Count Charles-Henri d’Udekem d’Acoz, his maternal uncle

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Prince Emmanuel of Belgium

Emmanuel with his parents and godparents at his christening; Credit – http://www.corbisimages.com

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Princess Eléonore of Belgium

Eléonore, held by her mother, with her father and godparents; Photo: Zimbio

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British Royal Christenings: House of Tudor

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

This article does not contain christening information for some Tudors because the information is unknown and/or some children died young.

King Henry VII of England, born Henry Tudor

Credit – Wikipedia

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Elizabeth of York, Queen of England

Credit – Wikipedia

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Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales

Credit – Wikipedia

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Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scots

Credit – Wikipedia

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King Henry VIII of England

Credit – Wikipedia

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Mary Tudor, Queen of France, Duchess of Suffolk

Mary Tudor & her second husband Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk; Credit – Wikipedia

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Henry, Duke of Cornwall

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Queen Mary I of England

Credit – Wikipedia

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Queen Elizabeth I of England

Credit – Wikipedia

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King Edward VI of England

Credit – Wikipedia

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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.

British Royal Christenings: House of Stuart

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

This article does not contain christening information for some Stuarts because the information is unknown and many children died young.

King James I of England/James VI, King of Scots

Credit – Wikipedia

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Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales

Credit – Wikipedia

  • Unofficial Royalty: Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales
  • Parents: King James I, then James VI, King of Scots, and Anne of Denmark
  • Born: February 19, 1594, at Stirling Castle in Stirling; styled from birth Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Lord of the Isles, the traditional titles for the heir apparent to the Scots throne
  • Christened: August 30, 1594, at the Chapel Royal at Stirling Castle
  • Names: Henry Frederick after his grandfathers, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley and King Frederik II of Denmark
  • Died: November 6, 1612, probably of typhoid fever

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Elizabeth Stuart, Electress Palatine

Credit – Wikipedia

  • Unofficial Royalty: Elizabeth Stuart, Electress Palatine
  • Parents: King James I, then James VI, King of Scots, and Anne of Denmark
  • Born: August 19, 1596, at Falkland Palace in Fife, Scotland
  • Christened: November 28, 1596, in the Chapel Royal at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Died: February 13, 1662
  • Elizabeth was the mother of Sophia, Electress of Hanover who was the mother of King George I, the first king from the House of Hanover

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King Charles I of England

Credit – Wikipedia

  • Unofficial Royalty: King Charles I of England (also Charles I, King of Scots)
  • Parents: King James I, then James VI, King of Scots, and Anne of Denmark
  • Born: November 19, 1600, at Dunfermline Palace in Fife, Scotland
  • Christened: December 23, 1600, in the Chapel Royal at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Died: beheaded January 30, 1649

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Mary Stuart

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King Charles II of England

Credit – Wikipedia

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Mary, Princess Royal, Princess of Orange

Credit – Wikipedia

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King James II of England

James and his siblings in 1637: Left to right: Mary, James, Charles, Elizabeth, and Anne; Credit – Wikipedia

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Elizabeth Stuart

Elizabeth on the left holding her sister Anne; Credit – Wikipedia

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Anne Stuart
see portraits above

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Henry, Duke of Gloucester

Credit – Wikipedia

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Henrietta Stuart, Duchess of Orléans

Credit – Wikipedia

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Charles Stuart, Duke of Cambridge 

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Queen Mary II of England

Mary, on the left, with her parents and her sister Anne; Credit – Wikipedia

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King William III of England, Willem III, Prince of Orange

Credit – Wikipedia

  • Unofficial Royalty: King William III of England (also William II, King of Scots)
  • Parents: Mary, Princess Royal and Willem II, Prince of Orange
  • Born: November 4, 1650, at Binnenhof in The Hague, Dutch Republic
  • William was the only child of Mary, Princess Royal, eldest daughter of King Charles I. His father died at age 24 of smallpox eight days before William’s birth, so from birth, William was the sovereign Prince of Orange. He married his first cousin Mary, the eldest daughter of King James II
  • Christened: January 21, 1651, at the Grote Kerk (Great Church) in The Hague, Dutch Republic
  • Names: his mother wanted to name him Charles after her beheaded father but her mother-in-law insisted on the traditional House of Orange names Willem Hendrik
  • Died: March 8, 1702

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James, Duke of Cambridge

Credit – Wikipedia

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Queen Anne of Great Britain

Anne, in between her parents, with her sister Mary; Credit – Wikipedia

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Charles Stuart, Duke of Kendal

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Edgar Stuart, Duke of Cambridge

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Queen Anne’s obstetrical history is tragic. She had 17 pregnancies with only five children being born alive. Two died on the day of their birth, two died at less than two years old within six days of each other from smallpox, and one died at age 11. Below is the christening information for the three children who survived infancy,

The Lady Mary

  • Parents: The Lady Anne, the future Queen Anne and Prince George of Denmark
  • Born: June 2, 1685, at the Palace of Whitehall in London, England
  • Christened: June 2, 1685, at the Palace of Whitehall in London, England
  • Died: February 8, 1687, from smallpox

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The Lady Anne Sophia

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Prince William, Duke of Gloucester

William in the robes of the Order of the Garter, Credit – Wikipedia

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British Royal Christenings: House of Hanover

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

For christenings of Queen Victoria’s children, her grandchildren who were born British princes and princess, and her other children who were christened in the United Kingdom see Christenings of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Their Children, and Select Grandchildren.

There is no christening information on King George I, his children King George II and Sophia Dorothea, and the first four children of King George II. All of them were born in Hanover and were most likely christened at Schloss Herrenhausen in Hanover.

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King George I, born Georg Ludwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg

King George I as a young army officer; Credit – Wikipedia

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CHILDREN OF KING GEORGE I

King George II, born Georg August of Brunswick-Lüneburg

George II, in the middle, with his mother and sister Sophia Dorothea; Credit – Wikipedia

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Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, Queen of Prussia
(see portrait above)

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CHILDREN OF KING GEORGE II

Frederick, Prince of Wales, born Friedrich Ludwig of Brunswick-Lüneburg

Credit – Wikipedia

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Anne, Princess Royal, Princess of Orange, born Anne of Brunswick-Lüneburg

Anne, Amelia and Caroline, 1721; Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Amelia of Great Britain, born Amelia of Brunswick-Lüneburg
(see portrait above)

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Princess Caroline of Great Britain, born Caroline of Brunswick-Lüneburg
(see portrait above)

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Prince George William of Great Britain

Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince William, Duke of Cumberland

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Mary of Great Britain, Landgravine of Hesse-Kassel

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Louisa of Great Britain, Queen of Denmark

Credit – Wikipedia

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CHILDREN AND OF FREDERICK, PRINCE OF WALES

Princess Augusta of Wales, Duchess of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

Augusta, on the right, with her brothers George and Edward; Credit – Wikipedia

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King George III of the United Kingdom, born Prince George of Wales

George, on the right, with his brother Edward and their tutor Francis Ayscough; Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Edward, Duke of York, born Prince Edward of Wales
(see portrait above)

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Princess Elizabeth of Wales

Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester, born Prince William Henry of Wales

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Sophia of Gloucester, daughter of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Caroline of Gloucester, daughter of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester

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Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester, son of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester

William and his sister Sophia, 1779; Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Henry, Duke of Cumberland, born Prince Henry of Wales

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Louisa of Wales

Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Frederick of Wales

Credit – Wikipedia

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Queen Caroline Matilda of Denmark, born Princess Caroline Matilda of Wales

Caroline Matilda with her mother; Credit – Wikipedia

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CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN OF KING GEORGE III

King George IV of the United Kingdom, born George, Prince of Wales

George (left) with his mother and brother Frederick; Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Charlotte of Wales, daughter of the future King George IV

Charlotte with her mother; Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Frederick, Duke of York

Frederick on the left with his mother and his brother George; Credit – Wikipedia

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King William IV of the United Kingdom, William, Duke of Clarence

William (left) and his younger brother Edward, 1778; Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Elizabeth of Clarence, daughter of the future King William IV

Recumbent effigy of Princess Elizabeth of Clarence in the Grand Corridor of Windsor Castle, Credit – Wikipedia

  • Wikipedia: Princess Elizabeth of Clarence
  • Parents: Prince William, Duke of Clarence, the future King William IV and Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen
  • Born: December 10, 1820, at St James’ Palace in London, England, six weeks prematurely
  • Christened: December 10, 1820, at St James’ Palace in London, England
  • Names: Elizabeth Georgiana Adelaide
  • Godparents:
  • Died: March 4, 1821, of the then inoperable condition of a strangulated hernia. During her short life, Elizabeth was ahead of her cousin, the future Queen Victoria, in the line of succession.

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Charlotte, Princess Royal, Queen of Württemberg

Queen Charlotte with Charlotte, Princess Royal; Credit – Royal Collection Trust © Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2016

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Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

Credit – Wikipedia

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Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, born Princess Victoria of Kent, daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

Victoria with her mother; Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Augusta of the United Kingdom

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Elizabeth, Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg

Credit – Wikipedia

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Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover, Duke of Cumberland

Credit – Wikipedia

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George V, King of Hanover, born Prince George of Cumberland, son of Ernest Augustus, King of Hanover, Duke of Cumberland

Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Augustus, Duke of Sussex

Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge

Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince George, 2nd Duke of Cambridge, son of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Augusta of Cambridge, Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, Duchess of Teck, daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Mary of the United Kingdom, Duchess of Gloucester

Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Sophia of the United Kingdom

Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Octavius of Great Britain

Credit – Wikipedia

Note: Prince Octavius is “of Great Britain” because it was not until 1801, after his death, that his father’s title changed to “of the United Kingdom.”

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Prince Alfred of Great Britain

Credit – Wikipedia

Note: Prince Alfred is “of Great Britain” because it was not until 1801, after his death, that his father’s title changed to “of the United Kingdom.”

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Princess Amelia of the United Kingdom

Credit – Wikipedia

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Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine; Credit – Wikipedia

Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine was the elder son of the last reigning Grand Duke, Ernst Ludwig, and his second wife, Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich. He was born in Darmstadt, Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine, now in the German state of Hesse, on November 8, 1906, and had one younger brother:

Georg Donatus also had a half-sister, Elisabeth, from his father’s first marriage to Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Princess Elisabeth was born in 1895 and died of typhoid fever in 1903, three years before Georg Donatus was born.

At his christening on December 4, 1906, he was given the names Wilhelm Nikolaus Eduard Heinrich Karl in honor of his godparents – Wilhelm II, German Emperor, Nicholas II, Emperor of All of Russia, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, Prince Heinrich of Prussia and Prince Karl of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich. Within the family, he was known by the name ‘Don’.

Georg Donatus and his brother Ludwig, c1911. source: Wikipedia

Don and his brother – known as ‘Lu’ – were raised at the family’s various homes in Hesse – the Neue Palais in Darmstadt (link in German), Schloss Wolfsgarten and Schloss Romrod (link in German). They were raised by English nannies, until the outbreak of World War I. By that time, Don was receiving private lessons in German and literature from Anna Textor, who ran a private school for English girls in Darmstadt, and had been the teacher of the future Empress Alexandra of Russia. After the fall of the German Empire, Don’s father was deposed in 1918. The family continued to live at the Neues Palais in Darmstadt, where Don continued his studies privately, before attending the Realgymnasium, graduating in 1926. He then studied economics at the University of Giessen, the University of Lausanne, and the University of Munich, earning his Ph.D. from Giissen in 1933.

Cecilie and Georg Donatus on their wedding day; Credit – Wikipedia

On February 2, 1931, Don married Princess Cecilie of Greece and Denmark. She was the daughter of Prince Andreas of Greece and Denmark and Princess Alice of Battenberg. Through her mother, Cecilie and Don were first cousins once removed. They married in a Greek Orthodox ceremony at the Neues Palais Palace and in a Lutheran ceremony at the castle church. Following their honeymoon, they took up residence in a newly purchased home in Darmstadt, and had three children:

  • Prince Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine (1931-1937) – died in a plane crash with his parents
  • Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine (1933-1937) – died in a plane crash with his parents
  • Princess Johanna of Hesse and by Rhine (1936-1939) – died from meningitis

Don became head of the family upon his father’s death on October 9, 1937. However, as the throne no longer existed, he did not assume the title of Grand Duke. Despite the formal mourning, it was decided that  Don’s brother Lu would marry The Honorable Margaret Geddes in England as scheduled for the following month. On November 16, 1937, Don, his wife Cecilie, their two sons Ludwig and Alexander, and his mother, Grand Duchess Eleonore, boarded a flight for London to attend Lu’s wedding. Tragically, the plane crashed in Belgium, and all aboard were killed.

Lu’s wedding took place immediately, and then he and his new wife flew to Belgium to accompany the remains of the family back to Darmstadt. Following their funeral which was held a few days later, Hereditary Grand Duke Georg Donatus and his family were buried in the Rosenhöhe in Darmstadt, Hesse Germany. Don’s daughter Johanna, who had not been on the plane, was adopted by his brother Lu. Sadly, she died in June 1939 after contracting meningitis.

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Duke and Duchess

by Scott Mehl
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

The Coronet of a British Duke. By SodacanThis W3C-unspecified vector image was created with Inkscape. – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10963935

by Scott Mehl

Dukes are the most senior members of the Peerage and hold precedence before all other members of the Peerage (with the exception of Royal Dukes and other peers who are also Officers of State). Precedence is determined by the date of the creation of the title. Currently, there are 37 Dukedoms, held by 31 Dukes.

The word Duke comes from the Latin word dux, meaning leader. In Ancient Rome it was used for a military commander, and later the leading commander of a province.  Women holding a Dukedom in their own right, and wives of Dukes, hold the title of Duchess.

The title Duke was first used in England in 1337, when King Edward III created his son Edward, the Black Prince, as Duke of Cornwall. His other surviving sons were later created Dukes as well – Clarence, Lancaster, York and Gloucester. There were 16 dukedoms created by 1483, but only four remained by the time the Tudor dynasty began in 1485. In total, 160 dukedoms have been created, consisting of 106 different titles. These include 7 Dukedoms created for women in their own right.  (6 women held these titles, all of which went extinct upon their deaths.)

The Peerage of England (1337-1707)

  • 76 dukedoms created
  • 43 different titles
  • 4 Duchesses in their own right
  • 11 still extant, including one Royal Duke (Cornwall)

The Peerage of Scotland (1398-1707)

  • 27 dukedoms created
  • 16 different titles
  • 0 Duchesses in their own right
  • 9 still extant, including one Royal Duke (Rothesay)

The Peerage of Great Britain (1707-1801)

  • 27 dukedoms created
  • 24 different titles
  • 1 Duchess in her own right
  • 3 still extant

The Peerage of Ireland (1661-1868)

  • 5 dukedoms created
  • 4 different titles
  • 1 Duchess in her own right
  • 2 still extant

The Peerage of The United Kingdom (1801-present)

  • 25 dukedoms created
  • 19 different titles
  • 1 Duchess in her own right
  • 12 still extant, including 6 Royal Dukes (Gloucester, Kent, Edinburgh, York, Cambridge, and Sussex)

Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 18th Duke of Norfolk. photo: By Allan warren – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28911277

The most senior Duke (aside from the Royal Dukes), known as The Premier Duke of England, is The Duke of Norfolk, whose title dates back to 1483. As the premier duke (and also the premier Earl as he holds the Earldom of Arundel), The Duke of Norfolk holds the position of Earl Marshal, one of the Great Officers of State. In this role, the Duke is responsible for major ceremonial events, such as the Coronation of the Monarch and State Funerals. He is also the head of the College of Arms, and is one of the four people who precede the Monarch in the procession at the State Opening of Parliament. Since The House of Lords Act 1999, as Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk is one of only two hereditary peers who is automatically a member of the House of Lords.

Alexander Duff, Duke of Fife with his wife, Princess Louise, Duchess of Fife, c1889. source: Wikipedia

The last non-royal dukedom created was The Duke of Fife in 1900. Alexander Duff had succeeded his father as Earl of Fife in 1879. Ten years later, in 1889, he married Princess Louise of Wales, the eldest daughter of the future King Edward VII. Two days after the wedding, Queen Victoria created Alexander Duke of Fife and Marquess of Macduff in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The Letters Patent creating the title contained the traditional succession to the “heirs male of his body”. As the couple only had two surviving daughters, The Queen granted a second creation of the title in 1900, creating him The Duke of Fife and Earl of Macduff. These Letters Patent included a special remainder that allowed the title to pass to the daughters of the Duke, and then to their male heirs.

Upon the Duke’s death in 1912, the original dukedom and marquessate became extinct. However, the second Dukedom, and earldom, passed to his eldest daughter, Princess Alexandra, who became the 2nd Duchess of Fife and 2nd Countess of Macduff in her own right. Following her death, as she had no surviving sons, the title passed to the son of her younger sister, James Carnegie who also inherited the Earldom of Southesk from his own father. The title continues to pass through the male line, and is currently held by David Carnegie, the 4th Duke of Fife, 13th Earl of Southesk, 4th Earl of Macduff, 13th Lord Carnegie of Kinnaird, 13th Lord Carnegie (of Kinnaird and Leuchars), 5th Baron Balinhard (of Farnell in the County of Forfar), and 10th Baronet Carnegie (of Pittarrow in the County of Kincardine). As the dukedom is his senior title, he is styled as The Duke of Fife.

Since then, the only dukedoms created have been for members of the Royal Family. There was one potential exception when in 1955, former Prime Minister Winston Churchill was offered a dukedom by Queen Elizabeth II. But Churchill declined the offer and was instead created a Knight of the Order of the Garter.

Cecilia Underwood, Duchess of Inverness. source: Wikipedia

There have been seven Dukedoms created for women in their own right.  The six women who received these titles are:

  • Margaret of Brotherton, Duchess of Norfolk (c1320-1399) – a granddaughter of King Edward I, Margaret succeeded her father as Countess of Norfolk in her own right in 1338, and was created Duchess of Norfolk in 1397 by King Richard II.
  • Alice Leigh Dudley, Duchess of Dudley (1579-1669) – Alice was the second wife of noted explorer Sir Robert Dudley, who abandoned her and their children, settling in Tuscany, remarrying and selling all of his English estates.  She was created Duchess of Dudley in her own right – only for life – by King Charles I in 1644.
  • Barbara Villiers Palmer, Duchess of Cleveland (1640-1709) – a mistress of King Charles II, with whom she had several children.  The King appointed her Lady of the Bedchamber to his wife, Catherine of Braganza, and in 1670 created her Duchess of Cleveland.  The title passed to her eldest son, and then grandson before becoming extinct in 1774.
  • Louise de Penancoët de Kérouaille, Duchess of Portsmouth (1649-1734) – a lady-in-waiting to King Charles II’s sister, the King later appointed her a Lady of Bedchamber to his wife, Catherine of Braganza.  She became the King’s mistress, and he created her Duchess of Portsmouth, Countess of Fareham and Baroness Petersfield in 1673.  Her titles were only for life, but her only son was later created Duke of Richmond.
  • Ehrengard Melusine von der Schulenburg, Duchess of Kendal and Munster (1667-1743) – once a maid of honour to the Electress Sophia of Hanover, Ehrengard became a mistress of the future King George I.  After he became King, Ehrengard accompanied him to England, and in 1716 he created her Duchess of Munster, Marchioness of Dungannon, Countess of Dungannon and Baroness Dundalk in the Peerage of Ireland.  Three years later, she was also created Duchess of Kendal, Countess of Feversham and Baroness Glastonbury in the Peerage of Great Britain.  All of these titles were only for her lifetime.
  • Cecilia Gore Buggin Underwood, Duchess of Inverness (1789-1873) – after being widowed in 1825, Cecilia became the wife of The Duke of Sussex, the sixth son of King George III.  As the marriage was in violation of the Royal Marriages Act, it was not recognized, and Cecilia did not gain any of her husband’s titles, or right of precedence.  She instead assumed her mother’s maiden name, Underwood, as her surname.  In 1840, her husband’s niece, Queen Victoria, created her Duchess of Inverness in her own right (recognizing one of her husband’s subsidiary titles, Earl of Inverness).  Unlike many of the other Duchesses in their own right, Cecilia’s title was granted to her and her male heirs.  As she had no children, the title became extinct upon her death.

Styles and Titles

  • A Duke is styled His Grace The Duke of XX, and referred to as ‘Your Grace’.
  • A Duchess (whether a Duke’s wife or a Duchess in her own right) is styled Her Grace The Duchess of XX and referred to as ‘Your Grace’.
  • The eldest son of a Duke traditionally uses his father’s most senior, but lower-ranking, subsidiary title as a courtesy title. (If the senior subsidiary title is similar to the name of the Dukedom, the next senior title is used). This is used without the article ‘The’ preceding it. For example, the eldest son of The Duke of Fife is styled ‘Earl of Southesk’.
  • Younger sons and all daughters of a Duke are styled as Lord or Lady (first name) (surname). Example: Lord George Carnegie is a younger son of The Duke of Carnegie.

LIST OF EXTANT DUKEDOMS, in order of creation:

PEERAGE OF ENGLAND
Duke of Cornwall
Duke of Norfolk
Duke of Somerset
Duke of Richmond
Duke of Grafton
Duke of Beaufort
Duke of St Albans
Duke of Bedford
Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Marlborough
Duke of Rutland

PEERAGE OF SCOTLAND
Duke of Rothesay
Duke of Hamilton
Duke of Buccleuch
Duke of Lennox
Duke of Queensberry
Duke of Argyll
Duke of Atholl
Duke of Montrose
Duke of Roxburghe

PEERAGE OF GREAT BRITAIN
Duke of Brandon
Duke of Manchester
Duke of Northumberland

PEERAGE OF IRELAND
Duke of Leinster
Duke of Abercorn

PEERAGE OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
Duke of Wellington
Duke of Sutherland
Duke of Westminster
Duke of Gordon
Duke of Argyll
Duke of Fife
Duke of Gloucester
Duke of Kent
Duke of Edinburgh
Duke of York
Duke of Cambridge
Duke of Sussex

MULTIPLE DUKEDOM HOLDERS
Duke of Cornwall and Rothesay (England, Scotland)
Duke of Hamilton and Brandon (Scotland, Great Britain)
Duke of Argyll (Scotland, United Kingdom)
Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry (both Scotland)
Duke of Richmond, Lennox and Gordon (Scotland, England, United Kingdom)

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.

British Royal Christenings: Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, Their Children, and Select Grandchildren

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2019

Exact replica of the original royal christening gown which was commissioned by Queen Victoria and first used at the christening of her eldest child Victoria in 1841; Credit – www.rct.uk/collection

Several of the British Royal Family’s christening traditions started with the christening of Queen Victoria’s eldest child. After the birth of her first child Victoria, Princess Royal in 1840, Queen Victoria commissioned a christening gown to be made.  The gown of Honiton lace lined with Spitalfields silk was made by Janet Sutherland, the daughter of a Scottish coal miner from Falkirk, who received the title Embroiderer to the Queen for her work.  First worn by Victoria, Princess Royal at her christening on February 10, 1841, her parents’ first wedding anniversary, the gown was worn by 62 descendants of Queen Victoria.  Lady Louise Windsor, the elder of the two children of Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh, was the last to wear the 1841 gown at her christening in 2004. Due to the gown’s age and delicate condition, Queen Elizabeth II commissioned Angela Kelly, Dressmaker to The Queen, to make a hand-made replica in order to preserve the original.  Jame Windsor, Earl of Wessex, the younger of the two children of Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh, was the first to wear the replica gown at his christening in 2008.

The Lily Font; Credit – https://www.royalcollection.org.uk

The Lily Font is a silver baptismal font commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840 after the birth of their first child, Victoria, Princess Royal. It was first used at the christening of Victoria, Princess Royal in 1841 and has been used for royal christenings ever since except that of Princess Eugenie of York. Prince Albert helped design the font which is made from a silver gilt with the appearance of gold. Three winged cherubs sit on the base of the font above the royal arms of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and Victoria, Princess Royal. The cherubs are playing lyres and above them leaves reach up to support the bowl which is edged by water lilies. For the christening of Victoria, Princess Royal, the Lily Font was placed on a table as seen in the portrait below of the christening of Victoria, Princess Royal.  Sometimes the Lily Font is placed into the larger 1660 Charles II font and its basin or the christening basin made in 1735 and first used at the christening of the future King George III in 1738.  This can be seen below in the portrait of the christening of the future King Edward VII. The Lily Font is part of the Crown Jewels and is kept at the Jewel House at the Tower of London when not in use.

The original Private Chapel at Windsor Castle, lithograph by Joseph Nash, 1848; Credit – Wikipedia

The Private Chapel at Windsor Castle was the site for the most christenings among this group of royalty, with the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace a close second. The Private Chapel at Windsor Castle was created for Queen Victoria by architect Edward Blore between 1840 and 1847. There were niches with marble sculptures, pews, and a large Gothic chandelier hanging from the ceiling. On November 20, 1992, a fire began in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle when a painter left a spotlight too close to curtains. The fire caused much damage to Windsor Castle. The Private Chapel was later restored but the new Private Chapel is much smaller, has chairs instead of pews, and is only able to fit thirty people. The new altar was made by Queen Elizabeth’s nephew David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon who is a furniture designer and maker.

Embed from Getty Images 
The original Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace, circa 1910-1911

The Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace was created for Queen Victoria in 1844 in what had originally been a conservatory. On September 13, 1940, the Private Chapel was destroyed in a German bombing raid during World War II. Originally, King George VI had wanted the Private Chapel rebuilt but because of all the reconstruction needed in the country after World War II, the plan was shelved. The Queen’s Gallery was built on the site and opened to the public in 1962 to exhibit works of art from the Royal Collection. At that time, the Private Chapel was relocated to the south-eastern part of Buckingham Palace.

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Included below is christening information for Queen Victoria, her husband Prince Albert, their nine children, their grandchildren born British princes and princesses, and their other grandchildren christened in the United Kingdom. It is interesting to note that Queen Victoria was a godparent to many of her grandchildren. Many godparents did not attend the christening. Instead, usually, a British royal family member would serve as a proxy. Please note that not all of the photos below are christening photos.

Queen Victoria

Victoria with her mother; Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince Consort

Albert on the left with his mother and elder brother Ernst; Credit – Wikipedia

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Victoria, Princess Royal, German Empress and Queen of Prussia

Christening of Victoria, Princess Royal in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace in 1841; Credit – Wikipedia

(All of the children of Victoria, Princess Royal were born and christened in Prussia.)

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King Edward VII, born Albert Edward, Prince of Wales

The christening of Queen Victoria’s eldest son Albert Edward, Prince of Wales in 1842; Credit – Wikipedia

(All the children of Edward VII were born British princes and princesses. Their christening information is listed below.)

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Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, born Prince Albert Victor of Wales, known as Prince Eddy

Prince Eddy with his mother and father; Credit – Wikipedia

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King George V, born Prince George of Wales

The Princess of Wales holding Prince George who is wearing the christening gown; Credit – http://glucksburg.blogspot.com/

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Princess Louise, Princess Royal, Duchess of Fife, born Princess Louise of Wales

Embed from Getty Images
Princess Louise with her mother

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Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom, born Princess Victoria of Wales

Alexandra, Princess of Wales; Princess Victoria of Wales by W. & D. Downey, albumen carte-de-visite, Autumn 1868, NPG x3602 © National Portrait Gallery, London

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Princess Maud of Wales, Queen of Norway

Embed from Getty Images
Princess Maud with her mother

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Prince John of Wales

  • Parents: The Prince and Princess of Wales, later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra (born Princess Alexandra of Denmark)
  • Born: prematurely on April 6, 1871, at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England, died April 7, 1871
  • Christened: April 6, 1871, at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England
  • Names: Alexander John Charles Albert

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Princess Alice, Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine

Painting of baby Princess Alice by Edwin Landseer, a surprise gift from Prince Albert for Queen Victoria; Credit – Wikipedia

(All of Alice’s children except for her first child Victoria were born and christened in the Grand Duchy of Hesse and by Rhine. Victoria’s christening information is listed below)

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Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine

Embed from Getty Images
Princess Alice holding her daughter Princess Victoria

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Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Christening of Prince Alfred; Credit – http://www.avictorian.com

(Alfred’s children were born British princes and princesses. Their christening information is below.)

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Prince Alfred of Edinburgh, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Alfred with his parents; Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Marie of Edinburgh, Queen of Romania

1882 portrait of Marie by John Everett Millais commissioned by Queen Victoria; Credit – Wikipedia

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Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia

Royal Family group by Alexander Bassano, half-plate glass negative, 1879, NPG x95985 © National Portrait Gallery, London (Victoria Melita on the left with her siblings)

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Princess Beatrice of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duchess of Galliera

Embed from Getty Images

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

Helena on the right with her brother Alfred; Credit – Wikipedia

(Helena’s children were born and christened in the United Kingdom. Their christening information is below.)

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Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein

Prince Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein by Alexander Bassano, half-plate glass negative, circa 1875, NPG x95879 © National Portrait Gallery, London

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Prince Albert, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein

Prince Albert of Schleswig-Holstein by Alexander Bassano, half-plate collodion glass negative, circa 1875, NPG x96022 © National Portrait Gallery, London

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Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein

Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein by Alexander Bassano, quarter-plate glass negative, July 1879, NPG x96017 © National Portrait Gallery, London

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Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein

Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein by Alexander Bassano, quarter-plate glass negative, July 1879, NPG x96050 © National Portrait Gallery, London

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Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll

Princess Louise; Credit – Wikipedia

(Louise had did not have any children.)

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Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught

Arthur with his parents and Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington; Credit – Wikipedia

(Arthur’s children were born British princes and princesses. Their christening information is below.)

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Princess Margaret of Connaught, Crown Princess of Sweden

Margaret with her grandmother Queen Victoria; Credit – Wikipedia

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Prince Arthur of Connaught

Prince Arthur of Connaught by Alexander Bassano, albumen cabinet card, 1885, NPG x128290 © National Portrait Gallery, London

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Princess Patricia of Connaught, Lady Patricia Ramsay

Embed from Getty Images
Patricia on the left with her grandmother Queen Victoria and her brother Arthur

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Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany

Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany by John Jabez Edwin Mayall, albumen carte-de-visite, February 1861, NPG x15726 © National Portrait Gallery, London

(Leopold’s children were born a British prince and princess. Their christening information is below.)

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Princess Alice of Albany, Countess of Athlone

Alice with her father; Credit – Wikipedia

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Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Princess Helen, Duchess of Albany; Prince Charles Edward, 2nd Duke of Albany and Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha by Byrne & Co, albumen cabinet card, December 1884, NPG x76776 © National Portrait Gallery, London

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Princess Beatrice, Princess Henry of Battenberg

Embed from Getty Images
Beatrice with her mother

(Beatrice’s children were born and christened in the United Kingdom. Their christening information is below.)

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Alexander Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Carisbrooke, born Prince Alexander of Battenberg

Princess Beatrice; Alexander Albert Mountbatten, 1st Marquess of Carisbrooke by W. & D. Downey, albumen cabinet card, circa 1890 NPG Ax5554 © National Portrait Gallery, London

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Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, Queen of Spain

Princess Victoria of Prussia holding her cousin Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg by Alexander Bassano, half-plate glass negative, 1888, NPG x95917 © National Portrait Gallery, London

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Lord Leopold Mountbatten, born Prince Leopold of Battenberg

Embed from Getty Images
Leopold on the left with his sister Victoria Eugenie and his brother Alexander

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Prince Maurice of Battenberg

The Baptism of Prince Maurice of Battenberg by George Ogilvy Reid; Credit – The National Galleries of Scotland

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Sir Arthur Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham, Private Secretary to Queen Victoria and King George V

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2019

Sir Arthur Bigge, painted by Rudolf Swoboda, 1889. source: Royal Collection Trust RCIN 404843

Lieutenant Colonel The Right Honourable Sir Arthur John Bigge was Private Secretary to Queen Victoria from 1895 until she died in 1901. He then served as Private Secretary to the future King George V from 1901 – 1910, and for twenty-one years of King George V’s reign until he died in 1931. Queen Victoria did not have an official Private Secretary until she appointed General Charles Grey to the office in 1861. Lord Melbourne informally served as Private Secretary while he was Prime Minister from 1837 – 1840. Prince Albert then informally served as Private Secretary from 1840 until he died in 1861. The official position of Private Secretary came about when it was realized that the monarch required advice and support because the growth of the government had caused the government ministers to have insufficient time to provide daily advice and support. It was traditional for Queen Victoria’s Private Secretaries to be provided with homes at her various residences, including apartments in the Norman Tower at Windsor Castle, apartments in St. James’s Palace in London, and Osborne Cottage on the grounds of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.

Arthur was born on June 18, 1849, one of nine children of Reverend John Frederick Bigge, Vicar of Stamfordham, and Caroline Mary Ellison. He attended the Rossall School in Lancashire before entering the Royal Military Academy Woolwich. While at Woolwich, Arthur was a classmate and became a close friend of Louis Napoleon, Prince Imperial, the only son of French Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie. His friendship and connection to the Prince Imperial would bring Arthur to royal service in the coming years. Arthur was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1869 and later served on the staff of Field Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood in the Zulu War of 1878-1879. After the death of the Prince Imperial in battle in June 1879, Arthur was summoned to Balmoral Castle to provide The Queen with the details of the Prince’s death. He also accompanied Empress Eugenie when she visited the site of her son’s death. According to Arthur himself, the kind words of Empress Eugenie to Queen Victoria led to his appointment to the Royal Household in 1880.

On February 10, 1881, Arthur married Constance Neville, the daughter of Rev. William Frederick Neville and Franny Grace Blackwood. The couple had three children:

  • The Hon. Victoria Bigge (1881) – married Captain Henry Robert Adeane (killed in World War I), had issue
  • The Hon. Margaret Bigge (1885) – unmarried
  • Lt. The Hon. John Bigge (1887) – unmarried, killed in action in World War I; served as a Page of Honour to both Queen Victoria and King Edward VII

Arthur’s grandson, Michael Adeane, served as Assistant Private Secretary (1952-1953) and Private Secretary (1954-1972) to Queen Elizabeth II and Michael’s son Edward Adeane also served extensively in the Royal Household. He was a Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II (1954-1956), Private Secretary and Treasurer to The Prince of Wales (1979-1985), Treasurer to The Princess of Wales (1981-1985), Private Secretary to The Princess of Wales (1984-1985) and Extra Equerry to The Prince of Wales (1985-2015).

Arthur’s service in the Royal Household began in 1880 when he was appointed Groom-in-Waiting, and then quickly named Assistant Private Secretary to Queen Victoria. Later that year, he was also appointed Assistant Keeper of the Privy Purse, serving until 1895. In May 1895, he succeeded Sir Henry Ponsonby as Private Secretary to Queen Victoria and served until her death in January 1901.

Arthur BIgge, Private Secretary, February 1901. source: Royal Collection Trust RCIN 2911902

Following Queen Victoria’s death, Arthur was appointed as Private Secretary to the future King George V, whom he would serve for the next 31 years. He was officially the Private Secretary to The Duke of Cornwall and York (March-November 1901); Private Secretary to The Prince of Wales (November 1901-May 1910), and then Private Secretary to The King (June 1910-March 1931). During his service, he joined George on numerous trips and tours and became a close friend and advisor to the future King. He was involved with the decision to choose Windsor as the new name for the royal house during World War I the decision not to grant asylum to the Russian Imperial Family. His importance to the King was best described in the King’s own words following Arthur’s death – “He taught me how to be a king. He was the most loyal friend I have ever had.”

King George V in Buckingham Palace Gardens with Baron Stamfordham, June 1918. source: Royal Collection Trust RCIN 2108037

During his time in service, Sir Arthur received numerous orders and honours, including the Order of the Bath, Royal Victorian Order, Order of the Indian Empire, Order of the Star of India, Order of St. Michael and St. George, and the Imperial Service Order. He also received several foreign orders, including the French Legion of Honour, the Greek Order of the Redeemer and the Danish Order of the Dannebrog. In 1910, he was made a member of His Majesty’s Privy Council, and the following year, on July 10, 1911, he was created Baron Stamfordham in the County of Northumberland. As his son had predeceased him, the barony became extinct upon Arthur’s death.

On March 31, 1931, following several weeks of illness, Lord Stamfordham died at his apartments in St. James’s Palace in London, England. He was buried at Brompton Cemetery in London, England.

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

Recommended Book – Serving Queen Victoria: Life in the Royal Household by Kate Hubbard