Princess Victoria Alexandra of the United Kingdom
The Princess Victoria (Victoria Alexandra Olga Mary) (6 July 1868-3 December 1935) was a member of the British Royal Family, the fourth child and second daughter of King Edward VII.
Early life
Princess Victoria was born on July 6, 1868 at Marlborough House, London. Her father was The Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Her mother was The Princess of Wales (née Princess Alexandra of Denmark), the daughter of King Christian IX of Denmark and Princess Louise of Hesse-Cassel. As the granddaughter of the British monarch she was styled Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria of Wales. She was known to her family as Toria.
She was baptised at Marlborough House on 6 August 1868 by Archibald Campbell Tait, Bishop of London and her godparents were: Queen Victoria, The Emperor of Russia, The Tsarevitch of Russia, The Prince Arthur, Prince Ludwig of Hesse and by Rhine, Prince George of Hesse-Cassel, The Queen of Greece, The Dowager Queen of Denmark, The Dowager Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, The Princess of Teck and The Princess Friedrich of Anhalt-Dessau.
Princess Victoria of Wales was educated by tutors and spent her childhood at Marlborough House and Sandringham. The Princess was particularly close to her brother, the future King George V.
Life
Although she had a number of suitors, Princess Victoria never married. Her mother, Alexandra, is believed to have actively discouraged her from marrying. Instead she remained a companion to her parents, particularly her mother, with whom she lived until Queen Alexandra's death in 1925. The Princess then set up her own home at Coppins, Iver, in Buckinghamshire. She took a particular interest in the village life, becoming honorary president of the Iver Horticultural Society. She, along with her sisters Princess Louise and Princess Maud, received the Imperial Order of the Crown of India from Queen Victoria on 6 August 1887. Like her sisters, Princess Victoria also held the First Class of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert and a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.
Princess Victoria died at home in December 1935. Her funeral took place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle and she was buried at Frogmore Royal Burial Ground, Windsor Great Park. Her death greatly affected George V, who died one month later.
Styles and Titles
- Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria of Wales (1868-1901)
- Her Royal Highness The Princess Victoria (1901-1935)
Genetics
As a matrilineal relative of Nicholas II of Russia, she is a member of mitochondrial haplogroup T.
Sources
"Princess Victoria, His Majesty's Sister, A Quiet Home Life," The Times, 4 December 1935, p. 18, column A.
Ronald Allison and Sarah Ridell, The Royal Encyclopedia (London: Macmillan, 1992).
