Lady May Abel Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lady May Abel Smith
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| Born | Princess May Helen Emma of Teck 23 January 1906 Claremont, Esher, Surrey, England |
| Died | 29 May 1994 (aged 88) Cromwell Hospital, London, England |
| Buried | 9 June 1994 Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore |
| Spouse(s) |
Sir Henry Abel Smith
(m. 1931; died 1993) |
| Issue | Anne Liddell-Grainger Richard Abel Smith Elizabeth Wise |
| Father | Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone |
| Mother | Princess Alice of Albany |
Lady May Helen Emma Abel Smith (born Princess May of Teck) was a member of the British royal family. She was a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She was also the niece of Queen Mary, who was married to King George V. Lady May lived a mostly private life in Britain. For eight years, from 1958 to 1966, she lived in Brisbane, Australia. This was because her husband, Sir Henry Abel Smith, served as the governor of Queensland there.
Early Life as a Princess
Lady May was born on January 23, 1906, at Claremont House in Surrey, England. Her full birth name was Princess May Helen Emma of Teck.
Her parents were Prince Alexander of Teck and Princess Alice of Albany. This meant she was a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She was named May after her aunt, who later became Queen Mary. She was also named Helen after her grandmother and Emma after her great-aunt, Queen Emma of the Netherlands.
During the First World War, many people in Britain felt angry towards Germany. Because of this, Lady May's family gave up their German titles. Princess May of Teck then became known as Lady May Cambridge. Her father took the last name Cambridge and became the Earl of Athlone.
Lady May was a bridesmaid at several important royal weddings. In 1919, she was a bridesmaid for Princess Patricia of Connaught. In 1922, she was a bridesmaid for her cousin, Princess Mary. In 1923, she was a bridesmaid for Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon. Lady Elizabeth later married King George VI and became Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.
Marriage and Family
On October 24, 1931, Lady May married Sir Henry Abel Smith. The wedding took place at St Mary's Church in Balcombe, Sussex. Sir Henry was a lieutenant in the Royal Horse Guards. He also worked as an aide-de-camp (a personal assistant) to Lady May's father.
One of Lady May's bridesmaids was the 5-year-old Princess Elizabeth of York. This young princess later became Queen Elizabeth II. Princess Elizabeth was Lady May's first cousin once removed. Another bridesmaid was Princess Ingrid of Sweden. She introduced her brother, Prince Gustaf Adolf, to his future wife, Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who was also a bridesmaid.
In 1958, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Sir Henry Abel Smith as the Governor of Queensland in Australia. He held this important position until 1966. Lady May joined him in Brisbane and served as the vice-regal consort.
Sir Henry and Lady May had a long and happy marriage. They celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary before Sir Henry passed away in 1993. They had three children:
- Anne Mary Sibylla Abel Smith (born 1932). She married David Liddell-Grainger in 1957. Their bridesmaids included Princesses Beatrix and Irene of the Netherlands. They had four sons and one daughter.
- Colonel Richard Francis Abel Smith (1933–2004).
- Elizabeth Alice Abel Smith (born 1936). She married Peter Ronald Wise in 1965. They had one daughter.
Later Life and Legacy
Lady May was a distant relative of the main royal family. Because of this, she did not have many official royal duties. However, she did attend important royal events. These included the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.
As mentioned, Lady May lived in Brisbane, Australia, from 1958 to 1966. She supported her husband while he was the governor. In 1975, they retired to Barton Lodge in Berkshire, England.
Lady May passed away in a hospital on May 29, 1994. This was about a year after her husband's death. Both Lady May and Sir Henry are buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore. This burial ground is close to Windsor Castle. Her funeral was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, on June 9, 1994. Members of the royal family, including the Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra, attended the service.
