Princess Alice of the United Kingdom

Princess Alice of the United Kingdom
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Name	Princess Alice of the United Kingdom
Title	Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine

Princess Alice of the United Kingdom was the third child and second daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. She was born on April 25, 1843, at Buckingham Palace in London, England, and was a member of the British royal family. Princess Alice was a sister of King Edward VII, Princess Victoria, Princess Royal, Princess Helena of the United Kingdom, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany. She was also an aunt of King George V, Queen Maud of Norway, and Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia.

Early Life

Princess Alice spent her early years at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight and at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, where she developed a strong bond with her parents and siblings. She was educated by Lady Lyttelton and Sara Anne Bright, and was known for her intelligence, compassion, and strong will. Princess Alice was particularly close to her brother, King Edward VII, and her sister, Princess Victoria, Princess Royal, who later married Frederick III, German Emperor. The princess was also acquainted with other members of the European royal families, including Alexander II of Russia, Napoleon III of France, and Franz Joseph I of Austria.

Marriage and Family

In 1862, Princess Alice married Louis of Hesse and by Rhine, a member of the House of Hesse, at Osborne House. The couple had seven children, including Victoria Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven, Elisabeth of Hesse and by Rhine, Irene of Hesse and by Rhine, Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse, Frederick of Hesse and by Rhine, Alix of Hesse and by Rhine, and Marie of Hesse and by Rhine. Princess Alice's marriage was marked by tragedy, including the death of her youngest son, Frederick of Hesse and by Rhine, who suffered from hemophilia. Her daughter, Alix of Hesse and by Rhine, later married Nicholas II of Russia and became the last Empress of Russia. Princess Alice was also a sister-in-law of Grand Duke Louis III of Hesse and a cousin of King Leopold II of Belgium.

Philanthropy and Interests

Princess Alice was known for her philanthropic work, particularly in the fields of nursing and education. She was a strong supporter of Florence Nightingale and her work during the Crimean War. Princess Alice also founded the Women's Union in Hesse and supported the establishment of the Nursing School in Darmstadt. She was interested in science and technology, and was a patron of the Royal Society. Princess Alice was also a talented artist and musician, and was known for her watercolor paintings and her love of music composition. She was a friend of Johannes Brahms and Clara Schumann, and was a supporter of the Bach Choir.

Later Life and Death

Princess Alice died on December 14, 1878, at the age of 35, due to complications from diphtheria at New Palace in Darmstadt. Her death was a tragic loss for her family, particularly her husband, Louis of Hesse and by Rhine, and her children. Princess Alice was buried in the Grand Ducal Family vault at the Rosenhöhe mausoleum in Darmstadt. Her legacy lived on through her children and grandchildren, including Queen Louise of Sweden, Mountbatten of Burma, and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Princess Alice's life and work were also commemorated by Queen Elizabeth II, who is her great-great-granddaughter, and by other members of the British royal family, including Charles, Prince of Wales and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. Category:British princesses