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Viktoria Hessen-DarmstadtPrincess of Hesse and the Rhine, Marchioness of Milford Haven
Date of Birth: 05.04.1863
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Biography of Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine
- Early Life and Tragedies
- Marriage and Family
- Interests and Activities
- Later Life and Legacy
Biography of Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine
Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, Marchioness of Milford-Haven, was born in Windsor Palace in the presence of her grandmother, Queen Victoria. She was the eldest daughter of Grand Duke Louis IV of Hesse and British Princess Alice. As the granddaughter of Queen Victoria, she was also the sister of Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, and the grandmother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, husband of Queen Elizabeth II.
Early Life and Tragedies
Victoria spent the first three years of her life in Germany before being sent to England with her sister Ella in 1866 during the Austro-Prussian War. In 1878, Victoria and her family fell ill with diphtheria, resulting in the death of her younger sister Maria and her mother, Duchess Alice. As the oldest child in the family, Victoria took on the responsibilities of a mother and cared for her younger siblings.
Marriage and Family
During a family gathering, Victoria met her distant relative, German Prince Louis of Battenberg, who had taken on the surname Battenberg due to his morganatic marriage. Despite her father's disapproval of the union due to the groom's perceived lack of wealth, Victoria was determined to marry Louis. They announced their engagement in the summer of 1883 and were married on April 30, 1884, in Darmstadt. The couple lived in various parts of Europe depending on Louis's naval assignments.
Interests and Activities
Victoria had a passion for reading and kept a record of the books she read, showcasing her wide range of interests. She personally taught her children, instilling new ideas in them. Victoria also provided lessons to her youngest son, Louis, until he started school. In 1906, she flew in a zeppelin and later in a biplane, showcasing her adventurous spirit.
Later Life and Legacy
Until 1914, Victoria regularly visited her relatives abroad, including her sisters who had married into the Russian imperial family - Ella, the wife of Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, and Alice, the wife of Emperor Nicholas II. However, due to the war with Germany, Victoria and Louis renounced their German titles in 1917 and adopted the surname Mountbatten, with King George V granting them the titles of Marquess and Marchioness of Milford-Haven.
After the death of her husband in 1921, Victoria experienced numerous losses throughout her life. She passed away from bronchitis on September 24, 1950, at Kensington Palace.
