Princess Helena, Duchess Of Albany

Princess Helen of Waldeck and Pyrmont (Helen Frederica Augusta) was born on 17 February 1861 in Arolsen, the capital of the Principality of Waldeck and Pyrmont, in Germany. She was the fifth daughter of George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont, and his first wife, Princess Helena of Nassau. Her siblings included Friedrich, the last reigning Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont; Marie, who was the first wife of William II of Württemberg; and Emma, who became the queen consort of William III of the Netherlands and the mother of Queen Wilhelmina.

She was considered as a potential second wife for William III of the Netherlands alongside her sisters Emma and Pauline. Subsequently, she met Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, the youngest son of Queen Victoria, through his mother’s suggestion. The engagement was announced in November 1881, and the marriage took place on 27 April 1882 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The couple resided at Claremont House after their wedding.

Prince Leopold and Helen had a brief marriage, ending with Leopold’s death from a fall in Cannes, France, in March 1884. At the time of Leopold's death, Helen was pregnant with their second child. The couple's children were Princess Alice of Albany (1883–1981), later known as the Countess of Athlone, and Prince Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1884–1954).

Throughout her life, Helen was recognized for her intelligence and her dedication to social welfare work. According to her daughter Princess Alice’s memoirs, she possessed a strong sense of duty and a genuine interest in philanthropy. Queen Victoria initially expressed concern that Helen might be a distant German princess but later grew to regard her with respect and affection, especially appreciating her interest in social causes and her education. Before her marriage, Helen was appointed superintendent of infant schools in Waldeck and Pyrmont, where she developed educational curricula for young pupils. She enjoyed engaging with academic pursuits, such as solving mathematical problems and reading philosophy, and maintained enduring friendships with academics she met through her husband's connections at Oxford University.

In 1894, Helen was one of the founders of the Deptford Fund, an organization dedicated to supporting the local community. She also opened the Albany Institute in 1899, which later expanded into a combined community and performance centre known as the Albany Empire. The buildings associated with the Albany later became notable for anti-fascist activities and Rock Against Racism during the 1970s. Despite the destruction of the original structures in 1978 due to an arson attack, a new Albany Theatre was inaugurated by Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1982.

Helen was actively involved in various charitable activities, including hospital charities and organizations combatting human trafficking. During World War I, she coordinated much of her charitable work alongside her sister-in-law Princess Beatrice and her niece Princess Marie Louise to mitigate overlapping efforts.

Following Leopold's death, Helen and her children continued residing at Claremont House. When her nephew, the Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, died in 1899, her son Charles Edward was designated as heir to the German duchy. He later fought in the German Army during World War I, which resulted in him being stripped of his British titles by an act of Parliament in 1917. Meanwhile, her daughter Alice remained in England; through her marriage to Prince Alexander of Teck in 1904, she became a sister-in-law to Queen Mary.

Princess Helen died of a heart attack on 1 September 1922 while visiting her son Charles Edward in Hinterriss, Tyrol, Austria. At her death, her estate was valued at approximately £177,312, equivalent to about £7.2 million in 2022 currency. Streets in Chiswick named Waldeck Road and Pyrmont Road honor her memory.