Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Princess Alice |
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| Countess of Athlone | |||||
As Princess Alexander of Teck, before World War I
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| Born | 25 February 1883 Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England |
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| Died | 3 January 1981 (aged 97) Kensington Palace, London, England |
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| Burial | Frogmore, Windsor, Berkshire, England | ||||
| Spouse | Alexander Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone | ||||
| Issue | Lady May Abel Smith Rupert Cambridge, Viscount Trematon Prince Maurice of Teck (died in infancy) |
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| House | House of Windsor House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha |
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| Father | Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany | ||||
| Mother | Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont | ||||
Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone (born Alice Mary Victoria Augusta Pauline; 25 February 1883 – 3 January 1981) was a special member of the British Royal Family. She was the longest-living Princess of the British Royal Family. She was also the very last grandchild of Queen Victoria to pass away.
Princess Alice was also a Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha from birth. She was a Princess of Teck after she got married. But in 1917, King George V asked her to give up all her German titles. She was also the godmother to Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.
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Early Life of Princess Alice
Princess Alice was born on 25 February 1883 at Windsor Castle in England. Her father was Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany. He was the youngest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Her mother was Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont.
Alice had one brother, Prince Charles Edward. He became the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Because Alice was Queen Victoria's granddaughter through her father, she was known as Her Royal Highness Princess Alice of Albany.
Marriage and Family
On 10 February 1904, Princess Alice married Prince Alexander of Teck. He was the brother of Queen Mary. Their wedding took place at St George's Chapel, Windsor. After their marriage, Princess Alice was called HRH Princess Alexander of Teck.
Princess Alice and Prince Alexander had three children:
- Lady May Cambridge (born 1906, died 1994). She married Henry Abel Smith.
- Rupert Cambridge, Viscount Trematon (born 1907, died 1928). He sadly died in a car crash.
- Prince Maurice of Teck (born 1910, died 1910). He passed away when he was a baby.
Princess Alice carried a gene for a blood condition called haemophilia. She inherited this from her father, who also had the condition. Her oldest son, Rupert, inherited it from her. This condition made him more vulnerable, which contributed to his early death after a car accident.
Changes in 1917
In 1917, the British Royal Family decided to give up all their German titles. This was because of World War I. Prince Alexander of Teck gave up his title "Prince of Teck." He also changed his last name to Cambridge. For a short time, he was called Sir Alexander Cambridge. Later, he became the Earl of Athlone. Their two children also lost their German princely titles.
Princess Alice also gave up her titles of Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. However, she remained a Princess of Great Britain and Ireland. This was because she was Queen Victoria's granddaughter. From 1917 until she died, she was known as Her Royal Highness Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone.
Life in South Africa
From 1924 to 1931, Princess Alice's husband, the Earl of Athlone, was the Governor-General of South Africa. Princess Alice went with him and was the Vicereine (the wife of the Governor-General). They had a beach house built in Muizenberg. This house is still standing today and is a national monument in South Africa. A suburb in Cape Town, Athlone, was named after the Earl.
World War II and Canada
In 1940, during World War II, Canada needed a new Governor General. The Earl of Athlone was chosen for this important role. He was Queen Mary's brother and the King's uncle. He had also been a Governor-General before.
Princess Alice joined her husband in Canada. He served as Governor General from 1940 to 1946. They were seen in many photos with important leaders like Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Mackenzie King. These photos were taken during the Quebec Conference.
Royal Duties and Later Life
Princess Alice carried out many royal duties throughout her life. She attended the coronations of four different monarchs: Edward VII, George V, George VI, and Elizabeth II.
She was also the Colonel-in-Chief of two British Army units. During World War II, she was an Honorary Air Commandant for the Royal Canadian Air Force Women's Division. In 1950, she became the first Chancellor of the University of the West Indies.
The Earl of Athlone passed away in 1957. Princess Alice continued to live at Kensington Palace in London. She died in 1981, at the age of 97. She was the longest-living British Princess of the Blood Royal. She was also the last surviving grandchild of Queen Victoria.
Her funeral was held at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. She is buried next to her husband and son at Frogmore, in Windsor Great Park.
Princess Alice lived through six different reigns of British monarchs:
- Her grandmother, Queen Victoria
- Her uncle, Edward VII
- Her cousin and brother-in-law, George V
- Her nephew, Edward VIII
- Her nephew, George VI
- Her grand-niece, Elizabeth II
Titles and Honours
| Styles of Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone |
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| Reference style | Her Royal Highness |
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| Spoken style | Your Royal Highness |
| Alternative style | Ma'am |
Titles and Styles
- 25 February 1883 – 10 February 1904: Her Royal Highness Princess Alice of Albany
- 10 February 1904 – 14 July 1917: Her Royal Highness Princess Alexander of Teck
- 14 July 1917 – July 1917: Her Royal Highness Princess Alice, The Honourable Lady Cambridge
- July 1917 – 3 January 1981: Her Royal Highness Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone
Honours
Princess Alice received many special honours:
- GCVO: Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
- GBE: Dame Grand Cross of the British Empire
- VA: Lady of the Order of Victoria and Albert
- Royal Family Order of King Edward VII
- Royal Family Order of King George V
- Royal Family Order of King George VI
- Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II
Coat of Arms
As a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, Princess Alice was allowed to use a special version of the Royal Arms. Her coat of arms had a unique design to show her connection to the Royal Family.
Images for kids
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Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, with her children May and Rupert, c. 1909
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Princess Alice in First Aid Nursing Yeomanry uniform, circa 1942
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Eleanor Roosevelt, Princess Alice, and Clementine Churchill at the Second Quebec Conference during the Second World War
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The Earl and Countess of Athlone, followed by Mackenzie King at the opening of Parliament, 6 September 1945
See also
In Spanish: Alicia de Albany para niños
