Princess Patricia of Connaught
Princess Patricia of Connaught , later Lady Patricia Ramsay (17 March 1886–12 January 1974) was a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She was the first member of the Royal Family to formally relinquish her title of a British princess and the style of Her Royal Highness.
Early Life
Princess Patricia — "Patsy" to family and friends — was born on March 17, 1886 at Buckingham Palace London. Her father was Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, the third eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Her mother was Princess Luise Margarete of Prussia. She had two elder siblings, Prince Arthur of Connaught and Princess Margaret of Connaught, later Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden. She was christened Victoria Patricia Helena Elizabeth at Bagshot Park on 1 May 1886 and her godparents were: Queen Victoria, Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Oldenburg, the Crown Prince of Germany, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Prince Albrecht of Prussia. She was named Victoria after Queen Victoria; Patricia, after St. Patrick, the saint of her birthday, and Helena, in honour of her father's sister.
Canada
Princess Patricia travelled extensively in her early years. Her father, the Duke of Connaught, was posted to India with the army, and the young Princess spent two years living there. Connaught Place, the central business locus of New Delhi, is of course named for the Duke. In 1911 the Duke was appointed Governor General of Canada. Princess Patricia accompanied her parents to Canada, and she became extremely popular there.
She was named Colonel-in-Chief of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry on 22 February 1918 and held that appointment until her death. The regiment was named after her. Princess Patricia personally designed its badge and colours for the regiment to take overseas to France. As the regiment's Colonel-in-Chief, she played an active role in the regiment until her death. She was succeeded in 1974 by her cousin and goddaughter Patricia (The Rt. Hon. Lady Brabourne), who became the Countess Mountbatten of Burma.
Marriage
The question of Patricia's marriage became a very hot topic of conversation in Edwardian times. She was matched with various foreign princes, including the future Kings of Portugal and Spain; and Grand Duke Michael of Russia, a brother of Tsar Nicholas II.
However, in the end, her choice of husband was not of the royal blood, but a commoner. She married a naval officer, Commander (later Admiral) The Hon. Sir Alexander Ramsay (29 May 1881-8 October 1972), one of her father's aides de camp, and third son of the Earl of Dalhousie. She was married at Westminster Abbey on 27 February 1919. On her wedding day, Princess Patricia of Connaught voluntarily relinquished the style of Royal Highness and the title of Princess of Great Britain and Ireland and assumed the style of Lady Patricia Ramsay with precedence immediately before the Marchionesses of England.
Later life
Despite her loss of royal title, Lady Patricia remained a member of the British Royal Family, remained in the line of succession, and attended all major royal events including weddings, funerals, and the coronations of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II in 1937 and 1953, respectively.
Lady Patricia was an accomplished artist specializing in watercolours. Much of her work was inspired by her travel in tropical countries. Her style was influenced by Gauguin and Van Gogh because she studied under A.S. Hartrick who had known the artists. She died at Ribsden Holt, Windlesham, Surrey before her 88th birthday and a year and a half after her husband. Lady Patricia Ramsay and Admiral Alexander Ramsay are buried at Frogmore Royal Burial Ground.
Children
Lady Patricia's only child, Captain Alexander Ramsay of Mar (21 December 1919–20 December 2000), served in World War II, where he lost a leg in action in North Africa. He lived at Cairnbulg Castle in Aberdeenshire with his wife Flora Fraser, 21st Lady Saltoun (18 October 1930-), the only daughter of Alexander Fraser, 20th Lord Saltoun.
Titles and Honours
Titles from birth to death
- Her Royal Highness Princess Patricia of Connaught
- Lady Patricia Ramsay
Honours
Patricia was made a Companion of the Imperial Order of the Crown of India (CI) in 1911, a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St John (DCStJ) in 1934 and the Canadian Forces Decoration in 1934.
Sources
- Marlene A. Eilers, Queen Victoria's Descendants, (New York: Atlantic International Publishing, 1987).
- Allison Weir, Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy (London: Palmico, 1996).
- "Obituary: Lady Patricia Ramsay, Granddaughter of Queen Victoria," The Times, 14 January 1974, p. 14.
