Princess Marie Louise Of Schleswig-Holstein

Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein (Franziska Josepha Louise Augusta Marie Christina Helena) was born on 12 August 1872 at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park. She was the granddaughter of Queen Victoria and a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg by birth. Her father was Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, the third son of Duke Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg and Countess Louise of Danneskjold-Samsøe. Her mother was Princess Helena of the United Kingdom, the fifth child and third daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

Princess Marie Louise was baptized on 18 September 1872. Her godparents included Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria and Queen Marie of Hanover. Her family resided in the United Kingdom, and she was considered a member of the British royal family. Under a Royal Warrant issued on 15 May 1867, children of Prince and Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg were styled "Highness," and as such, she was known from birth as Her Highness Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein. Within her family, she was referred to as "Louie."

In 1885, she served as a bridesmaid at the wedding of her maternal aunt Princess Beatrice to Prince Henry of Battenberg.

On 6 July 1891, Marie Louise married Prince Aribert of Anhalt at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Prince Aribert was born on 18 June 1866 and was the third son of Frederick I, Duke of Anhalt, and Princess Antoinette of Saxe-Altenburg. The marriage was facilitated by her first cousin, German Emperor Wilhelm II.

Contemporary and subsequent accounts suggest that Prince Aribert may have been bisexual or homosexual, and some have indicated that an incident involving a male attendant may have contributed to the marriage's annulment. The marriage was annulled on 13 December 1900 by Prince Aribert's father, Duke Frederick I of Anhalt. At the time of the dissolution, Marie Louise was on an official visit to Canada and returned immediately to Britain. According to her memoirs, she regarded her marriage vows as binding and chose not to remarry.

Following the annulment, Princess Marie Louise dedicated herself to charitable work and patronage of the arts. She played a role in the creation of Queen Mary's Dolls' House and established the Girl's Club in Bermondsey, which served as a hospital during World War I. She was also active in the Princess Christian Nursing Home at Windsor, participating in official royal events, including coronations and funerals. She attended the coronations of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra in 1902; King George V and Queen Mary in 1911; King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1937; and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

During World War I, in July 1917, King George V changed the surname and titles of the royal family due to anti-German sentiment. He ordered his relatives with German titles to relinquish them. Princess Marie Louise and her sister Princess Helena Victoria chose to retain their princely titles and styles as "Her Highness Princess Marie Louise" and "Her Highness Princess Helena Victoria," respectively, without adopting British titles. They did not automatically become members of the United Kingdom's royal family but maintained their status as princesses by birth.

In later life, Marie Louise became a godmother to Prince Richard of Gloucester in 1944. She was known by her nickname "Cousin Louie" to Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth II, and attended her wedding. She participated in four coronations held at Westminster Abbey: those of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra (1902), King George V and Queen Mary (1911), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother (1937), and Queen Elizabeth II (1953).

In 1956, she published her memoirs titled *My Memories of Six Reigns*. Princess Marie Louise died at her residence, 10 Fitzmaurice Place, Berkeley Square, London, on 8 December 1956. She was buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore, Windsor Great Park. At her death, she was one of the six surviving grandchildren of Queen Victoria. Her estate was valued at £107,644 (equivalent to approximately £1.8 million in 2022). Probate was granted on 12 March 1957.

Her titles and honors included being a Lady of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert, Second Class; a Companion of the Order of the Crown of India; Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order; Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire; Member of the Royal Red Cross; and recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal.