Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom (d. 1944)

Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom, born Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore on 14 April 1857, was the fifth daughter and the youngest child of the reigning monarch, Queen Victoria, and her beloved husband, Prince Albert. She would later become known as Princess Henry of Battenberg through her marriage. Remarkably, Beatrice held a unique place in royal history as the last of Queen Victoria's nine children to pass away, her death on 26 October 1944 occurring a significant sixty-six years after that of her elder sister, Princess Alice.

A Childhood Shadowed by Grief

Beatrice's early years were profoundly shaped by an immense sorrow that enveloped the British court. Her childhood coincided with Queen Victoria's intense and prolonged mourning following the sudden death of Prince Albert on 14 December 1861. This tragic event plunged the Queen into a period of deep seclusion and grief from which she never fully recovered. As Beatrice's elder siblings matured, married, and established their own households, leaving the Queen's immediate company, it was the youngest daughter who remained. Victoria, deeply attached and increasingly dependent, affectionately referred to Beatrice as "Baby" well into her adult years. From a tender age, Beatrice was implicitly, and later explicitly, brought up with the expectation that she would remain by her mother's side indefinitely. She, in turn, appeared to resign herself to this fate, becoming the Queen's constant companion and, in many respects, her most devoted aide.

A Royal Dilemma: Suitors and Maternal Opposition

Queen Victoria's reluctance to see her youngest daughter marry was well-known, and she often outright refused to discuss the possibility, fearing further loneliness. Despite her mother's strong opposition, several prominent suitors were nonetheless put forward for the young princess's hand. Among them was Louis Napoléon, the Prince Imperial, the charismatic son of the exiled Emperor Napoleon III of France, and Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse, who was the widower of Beatrice's older sister Alice. Beatrice reportedly felt a particular attraction to the Prince Imperial, and there was considerable discussion and hope within some circles for a potential union. However, these prospects were tragically cut short when the Prince Imperial was killed in 1879 during the Anglo-Zulu War, a conflict in Southern Africa where he was serving as an observer with British forces.

A Conditional Union: Marriage to Prince Henry of Battenberg

Despite the Queen's initial resistance to any marriage for Beatrice, destiny had other plans. Princess Beatrice eventually fell deeply in love with Prince Henry of Battenberg. Prince Henry was the son of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine and Julia von Hauke, and notably, the brother-in-law of Beatrice's niece, Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine (later Princess Louis of Battenberg, grandmother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh). The path to marriage was not smooth; it required a year of patient persuasion from Beatrice and her suitor to win over the Queen. Under the Royal Marriages Act of 1772, the monarch's consent was legally required for any marriage within the royal family, making Queen Victoria's approval indispensable. Eventually, the Queen relented, but only on the explicit condition that Beatrice and Henry would make their home with her, and that Beatrice would continue her essential duties as the Queen's unofficial secretary. The wedding took place on 23 July 1885 at St. Mildred's Church in Whippingham, a parish church on the Isle of Wight, close to Osborne House, the Queen's beloved residence.

Widowhood, Devotion, and a Lasting Legacy

Prince and Princess Henry of Battenberg had four children: Alexander, Victoria Eugenie, Leopold, and Maurice. Their marriage, though happy, was tragically cut short after just ten years when Prince Henry died of malaria on 20 January 1896. He had contracted the illness while serving in the Anglo-Asante War in West Africa, another conflict related to the expansion of the British Empire. Following this devastating loss, Beatrice remained steadfastly by her mother's side, continuing her vital secretarial work and providing companionship until Queen Victoria's own death on 22 January 1901. In the wake of her mother's passing, Beatrice undertook the monumental task of editing Queen Victoria's extensive journals. This duty, which she pursued diligently for the next three decades as her designated literary executor, involved carefully transcribing and often abridging the Queen's private thoughts, a task that required immense discretion and historical understanding. Throughout her later life, Princess Beatrice continued to make public appearances, embodying a living link to the Victorian era. She passed away at the remarkable age of 87, having outlived all of her siblings, all of her siblings' spouses, two of her own children, and several nieces and nephews, including prominent figures such as Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and King George V of the United Kingdom, leaving behind a profound legacy of unwavering loyalty and service.

Frequently Asked Questions about Princess Beatrice

When and where was Princess Beatrice born?
Princess Beatrice was born on 14 April 1857 at Buckingham Palace in London, United Kingdom.
Who were Princess Beatrice's parents?
She was the youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Why was Princess Beatrice so significant to Queen Victoria?
Beatrice became Queen Victoria's closest companion and unofficial secretary after Prince Albert's death and as her other siblings married and left home. She remained by the Queen's side almost constantly until Victoria's own death.
Who did Princess Beatrice marry, and when?
Princess Beatrice married Prince Henry of Battenberg on 23 July 1885, at St. Mildred's Church in Whippingham, on the Isle of Wight.
What were the conditions of Princess Beatrice's marriage?
Queen Victoria only consented to the marriage on the strict condition that Beatrice and Prince Henry would live with her, allowing Beatrice to continue her duties as the Queen's secretary.
How many children did Princess Beatrice have?
Princess Beatrice and Prince Henry of Battenberg had four children: Prince Alexander, Princess Victoria Eugenie, Prince Leopold, and Prince Maurice.
How did Prince Henry of Battenberg die?
Prince Henry died of malaria on 20 January 1896, while serving in the Anglo-Asante War in West Africa.
What significant task did Princess Beatrice undertake after Queen Victoria's death?
Princess Beatrice dedicated thirty years to editing and transcribing Queen Victoria's personal journals, fulfilling her role as the Queen's designated literary executor. This was a monumental historical project.
How long did Princess Beatrice live, and what made her longevity noteworthy?
Princess Beatrice lived to the age of 87, dying on 26 October 1944. Her longevity was remarkable because she outlived all her siblings, their spouses, two of her own children, and several prominent nieces and nephews, including Kaiser Wilhelm II and King George V.