Maud Carnegie, Countess of Southesk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Princess Maud |
|
|---|---|
| Countess of Southesk | |
Lady Southesk in the 1920s
|
|
| Born | Lady Maud Alexandra Victoria Georgina Bertha Duff 3 April 1893 East Sheen Lodge, Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey, England |
| Died | 14 December 1945 (aged 52) London, England |
| Burial | 18 December 1945 Kinnaird Castle, Brechin, Scotland |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | James Carnegie, 3rd Duke of Fife |
| Father | Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife |
| Mother | Louise, Princess Royal |
Maud Carnegie, Countess of Southesk (born Lady Maud Duff; 3 April 1893 – 14 December 1945) was a granddaughter of King Edward VII. From 1905 to 1923, she was known as Princess Maud. She and her older sister, Alexandra, were special. They were the only female descendants of a British king or queen to be officially called both Princess and Highness.
Even though Princess Maud did not often do official royal duties, she was important. Because of her place in the royal order of succession, she served as a Counsellor of State between 1942 and 1945. A Counsellor of State is someone who can act on behalf of the King or Queen if they are away or unwell.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Maud was born on 3 April 1893, in East Sheen Lodge, Richmond-upon-Thames, Surrey, England. Her father was Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife. He became a Duke after marrying Maud's mother, Princess Louise of Wales. Princess Louise was the oldest daughter of the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. This made Maud a granddaughter of a king.
Maud was christened, which is a religious ceremony, on 22 June 1893. It took place in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace in London.
Maud and her sister had a unique family history. They were related to both King William IV and Queen Victoria. William IV had no children who could legally inherit his throne. So, his niece, Queen Victoria, became the next ruler.
Becoming a Princess
In 1900, Queen Victoria gave Maud's father a second dukedom. A dukedom is a title held by a duke. This new title had a special rule: if there were no sons, the duke's daughters could inherit it. This meant Maud became second in line to become Duchess of Fife, after her older sister Alexandra. Her children would also be able to inherit this title later.
At birth, Maud was not called a "Princess." This was because she was a great-granddaughter of a British monarch through a female line. Instead, she was known as Lady Maud Duff, as she was the daughter of a duke. She was sixth in line to the British throne when she was born.
On 9 November 1905, King Edward VII, Maud's grandfather, made a special announcement. He gave Maud's mother the title of Princess Royal. He also ordered that Maud and her sister be called Princess and Highness. This meant they would be known as "Her Highness Princess Maud." They would rank just after other members of the British royal family who were called "Royal Highness."
Maud took part in important royal events. She rode in a carriage with the royal family at the state funeral of Edward VII in 1910. She was called "Her Highness Princess Maud" in official records. She also attended the coronation of her uncle, King George V, on 22 June 1911.
In 1917, Maud's uncle, King George V, changed the rules for royal titles. He said that only the children of the King, the children of the King's sons, and the oldest son of the Prince of Wales could be called Prince or Princess and "Royal Highness." However, this rule did not affect Maud and her sister directly. Their special titles came from their grandfather, King Edward VII, and King George V did not take those titles away. So, Maud continued to use her princess title until she got married in 1923.
When she married Charles, Lord Carnegie, she chose to be known as Lady Maud Carnegie. Later, in 1941, she became the Countess of Southesk. She decided to stop using her princess title after her marriage.
She rode in the carriage procession at the funeral of George V in 1936, where she was called "Lady Maud Carnegie." She also attended the coronation of her cousin, King George VI, in May 1937, again as Lady Maud Carnegie.
Marriage and Family
On 13 November 1923, Maud married Charles, Lord Carnegie. The wedding took place at the Royal Military Chapel in Wellington Barracks, London. Charles was the oldest son of the 10th Earl of Southesk. When his father died in 1941, Charles became the Earl of Southesk.
Maud and her husband lived at Elsick House in Scotland. They ran a model farm there, which means they used modern and efficient farming methods. They had one child, a son named James, who was born on 23 September 1929.
Supporting Girl Guides
Maud was a big supporter of the Girl Guides movement. She helped lead Girl Guides in the areas of Angus and Aberdeenshire in Scotland. She was also part of the main committee for Girl Guides in Scotland. In 1937, she received the Silver Fish Award, which is the highest honor for adult members of Girl Guiding.
Later Life and Passing
Princess Maud often appeared at royal events in London, but she did not usually have official public duties. In 1943, when King George VI was away in Africa, Maud served as a Counsellor of State. This meant she could act on behalf of the King.
When she passed away in 1945, she was thirteenth in line to the British throne. She was also the next in line to become the Duchess of Fife. This was because her sister's only son had died in 1943. Maud's only son, James, later became the 3rd Duke of Fife in 1959. He also inherited his father's titles in 1992.
Princess Maud died in a London nursing home on 14 December 1945. She had been ill with acute bronchitis, a serious chest infection.
