Princess Victoria Of Hesse And By Rhine

Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, later known as Victoria Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven, was born on April 5, 1863, at Windsor Castle. She was the eldest daughter of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom. Her maternal grandmother was Queen Victoria.

Her early childhood was spent in Darmstadt, where she was born and raised. At the age of three, her family moved to the New Palace in Darmstadt. She received private education and was an avid reader throughout her life. During the Prussian invasion of Hesse in 1866, she and her sister Elisabeth were evacuated to Britain to live with their grandmother. She also experienced the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, assisting in hospital work and soup kitchens.

In 1872, her family learned that her younger brother Friedrich was diagnosed with hemophilia, a hereditary bleeding disorder. Friedrich died in 1873 after falling from a window. In November 1878, Victoria contracted diphtheria; her sister Elisabeth was unaffected, but her youngest sister Marie died in November. Later that year, Princess Alice contracted the disease and died in December, on the anniversary of her father’s death. As the eldest child, Victoria assumed responsibilities for her younger siblings after her mother's death.

Victoria's marriage occurred on April 30, 1884, in Darmstadt. She married Prince Louis of Battenberg, her first cousin once removed. Her father disapproved of the match due to financial concerns and the couple's potential residence abroad. Nevertheless, the marriage proceeded. Prince Louis adopted British nationality and served as an officer in the Royal Navy. The couple had four children: Alice, Louise, George, and Louis.

Throughout their marriage, the family lived at various residences in Europe, including Chichester, Sussex; Walton-on-Thames; and Schloss Heiligenberg. Victoria took an active interest in science and archaeology, drawing geological maps and participating in excavations. She kept meticulous records of her readings and was broadly interested in social and political issues.

Victoria and her husband resided in Malta during his naval service. In 1887, she contracted typhoid fever but recovered sufficiently to attend Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. She was also involved in familial relations with her relatives in Russia and Germany.

During World War I, her husband’s German titles were renounced, and the family adopted the surname Mountbatten, an anglicized version of Battenberg, in 1917. Prince Louis was created Marquess of Milford Haven. The war and the Russian Revolution brought considerable tragedy; her sisters Elisabeth and Alix were murdered, and her brother Grand Duke Ernest Louis was deposed.

Her husband died in London in September 1921. Following his death, Victoria moved into Kensington Palace and became a significant figure among European royalties. She was involved in the education of her grandson Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, during his childhood.

Victoria experienced multiple personal losses during her later years, including the deaths of her grandson Prince George and her daughter Princess Alice. During World War II, she was displaced from her Kensington Palace residence due to bombing. Her sons and grandsons served in the Royal Navy, while her German relatives fought with opposing sides.

She was present at the 1948 christening of her great-grandson, Prince Charles, serving as a sponsor. Victoria died on September 24, 1950, at Kensington Palace, aged 87, and was buried at St. Mildred's Church in Whippingham on the Isle of Wight.

She held several honors, including the Dame of the Order of the Golden Lion of Hesse, the Red Cross Medal of Prussia, and the Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St. Catherine of Russia. Her legacy includes her writings, notably her memoirs and letters, which are held in the Mountbatten archive and contribute to royal history.