Queen Victoria's Favourite Granddaughter (Hardback)
Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, the Most Consequential Royal You Never Knew
Imprint: Pen & Sword History
Pages: 232
Illustrations: 20 mono illustrations
ISBN: 9781399066266
Published: 16th August 2024
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In the Fall of 1947, an eighty-four-year-old woman receives an extraordinary invitation. Though much that happened was a lifetime ago and in a different world, Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, now the Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven, holds the heavy vellum envelop for a moment in her hands. Within is the end of a long journey seeking vindication for a husband who gave his life to the service of the Royal Navy and received, in return, ingratitude. Within is the reminder of a life lived with her family that is mostly gone. However, for one exquisite moment, it returns as she opens the envelope:
The Lord Chamberlain is commanded by Their Majesties to invite The Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven to the Ceremony of the Marriage of Her Royal Highness The Princess Elizabeth, with Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten, Royal Navy in Westminster Abbey, on Thursday, 20th November 1947, at 11.30 o’clock, a.m.
Thus begins the story of Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine. Victoria, the eldest daughter of Princess Alice and Prince Ludwig of Hesse, was born in April 1863. One of the envied grandchildren of Queen Victoria, she was related to most of the Royal Families of Europe – a member of the fabled “Royal Mob”.
The obstacles that characterized Victoria’s life began with her mother’s untimely death. Queen Victoria helped her granddaughter shoulder the responsibilities of caring for the motherless family, writing letters of advice and guidance, a correspondence lasting some thirty years.
In April 1884, Victoria married the dashing Prince Louis of Battenberg, an officer in the Royal Navy, who eventually became Britain’s First Sea Lord. Their daughter, Alice, was the future mother of Prince Philip and their youngest child, another Louis, was Viceroy of India.
On the eve of World War I, Prince Louis of Battenberg, was forced to resign because of his German surname, which he later changed to Mountbatten. Victoria’s sister, Alix, who had taken the name Alexandra when she married Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, and her entire family was murdered in 1918.
Progressive and intelligent, Victoria was the lynchpin of her family. Through cataclysms, both familial and historical, travelling from pre-revolutionary Russia to the British Mandate of Palestine, Victoria’s life was as exciting as it was triumphant.
Through Miller’s skillful storytelling, readers gain insight into Victoria’s far-reaching legacy. Her direct descendants include Prince Philip and, through him, generations of British royalty. This book is a poignant reminder of the unique, often hidden, roles played by royal women who lived behind the scenes yet profoundly impacted their families and countries.
NetGalley, Chelsea Dugan
For anyone interested in royal history, particularly those drawn to the intersections of personal resilience and historical consequence, Queen Victoria's Favourite Granddaughter is an insightful and engrossing read. Ilana D. Miller succeeds in bringing to life a remarkable figure who deserves greater recognition, and whose influence continues to ripple through royal lineages today.
Wow this book was brilliant and full an interesting fascinating facts throughout. I really enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it especially if you love history.
NetGalley, Nessa Thompson
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Nicholas Artrip
I found this to be a fun and informative read that really complimented my previous reading of Queen Victoria’s family. This is much more than a look at Victoria’s life, but also an exploration of a very turbulent time in history, spanning from the late nineteenth century through two world wars. My favorite sections were those that delved into Victoria’s childhood, with her siblings, and the death of her mother, Princess Alice, but I also enjoyed the later bits that explored the death of Alix and Ella. Miller does a terrific job of relaying these events in a well-rounded way that prioritizes how deeply affected Victoria was by them (all while trying to spare Ernie from some of the more horrific details.) Phenomenal work with just the right blend of history and gossip that kept my attention the entire time (and often made me say to myself, “If only they had listened to Victoria!”)
About Ilana D Miller
Ilana D. Miller is an Adjunct Professor of American History at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, as well as the Senior Editor of the European Royal History Journal. Her publishing credits include Reports from America: William Howard Russell and the American Civil War, TheFour Graces: Queen Victoria’s Hessian Granddaughters. She has co-authored with Arturo Beéche: Royal Gatherings I & II; The Grand Dukes, Volume I; The Grand Ducal House of Hesse and lastly, Recollections: Victoria Marchioness of Milford Haven Formerly Princess Louis of Battenberg annotated and expanded by Mr Beéche and Ms Miller. She has authored several scholarly articles in historical magazines and journals as well as historical fiction. She is currently working on a biography of Princess Victoria Battenberg and with Mr Beéche she is working on the fourth book, Royal Gatherings III: 1940-1972. She lives in Los Angeles.
Queen Victoria Her Life and Legacy (Hardback)
For almost 64 years, Queen Victoria reigned over Great Britain during a period which saw the country become the most powerful and prestigious in the world and one which experienced enormous social, political and industrial change. Those changes were embraced by Victoria, who became the first monarch to use the railway as a mode of transport, to use anaesthetic to alleviate pain, during childbirth, and to use a telephone. At the very start of her reign, she took an interest in politics, playing an active part in the machinations of government, and worked with ten prime ministers. She broke down…
By Paul KendallClick here to buy both titles for £38.75