Queen Victoria and Her Great Grandchildren

Queen Victoria presides over a huge family.

In this feature article published by the Windsor Magazine July 5, 1896, Marie Belloc gives us a detailed look at how Queen Victoria looks after her huge family. We now know that as a great-grand-granny, the great queen-empress was as attentive a matriarch to her young ones, as much as she was to the details of her far-flung empire.

July 5, 1896 - Queen Victoria can claim a greater number of descendants than any three other European sovereigns. Her descendants of the second, third, and fourth generations are to be found in most of the royal houses in Europe, and of them, there are none in whom she takes a keener interest than in her twenty-two British, German, Rumanian, Greek, and Russian great-grandchildren. Keen observers of her Majesty have noticed that she always wears two bracelets. The one on her right wrist contains a miniature of the late Prince Consort, in the other is inserted a portrait of the royal baby who, for the time being, occupies the proud position of her Majesty's youngest great grandchild.

 Queen Victoria is frequently informed when a grandchild or great grandchild is born, as much as she is told of their mental and physical progress. She is also often consulted as to the best way of insuring his or her well-being. With but few exceptions, Queen Victoria's great grandchildren is given, in addition to their other names, that of Victor or Victoria, and at least a portion of each child's christening costume is always given by his or her British great grandmother. Her Majesty never forgets a birthday, and scarcely a day passes but she gives some proof of the affectionate remembrance in which she holds the youngest of her descendants.

Prince Edward of York

From the day of his birth everything has been done to make England's future king a national possession. He was christened Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, and thus, every section of the United Kingdom may be said to have stood sponsor to the little prince. The Queen came especially from Windsor to Richmond in order to assist at his christening, and herself handed the royal infant to the Archbishop of Canterbury. By her Majesty's wish all the royal personages then in England, including the present Czar of Russia and his fiancée, were present at the christening. The robe worn by Prince Edward had served the same purpose at the baptism of all the Queen's children and all of her British grandchildren.

Prince Albert of York

The second son of the Duke and Duchess of York was born on Dec. 14, 1895, a sad day for the Queen, it being the death anniversary of her beloved Albert. It is for that reason that the baby was christened Albert, on February 17, 1896, at the Church of St. Mary, Sandringham, being named Albert Frederick Arthur George.

Lady Alexandra Duff

Till the birth of Prince Edward of York, Lady Alexandra Duff was heiress presumptive to her great grandmother. Born in London on May 17, 1891, the Prince of Wales' first grandchild was conferred the rank and title of a duke's daughter. There was at one time a suggestion that a special title should bestowed on the Duchess of Fife's daughter.

The Battenberg children

Given that Prince Louis of Battenberg has entered the English Navy, making him an Englishman by all accounts, his children had the right to consider themselves as Her Majesty's British great grandchildren. Their mother, Princess Victoria of Hesse, spent much of her youth with the Queen, and her eldest child, Princess Victoria Alice, was born at Windsor on Feb. 25, 1889. Her youngest child and only son Prince Louis Victor, was born at Darmstadt on Nov. 6, 1892

William II of Germany and kids

William II is the first King of Prussia to whom six sons have been born in an uninterrupted line. Large familiers, however have always been the rule and not the exception among the Hohenzollerns. The German emperor is a proud father of seven children--six sons and a daughter. The Crown Prince is a fine looking lad at 14. He was named Frederick is a marvelous medieval font of Silesian beaten gold, enriched with long rows of names--for all the Hohenzollerns have a right to be baptized in this historic baptismal bowl.

On February 7, 1883, was born Prince William, who shared the education with his elder brother. He was followed in quick succession by Prince Adalbert (July 14, 1884), prince Augustus (July 27, 1888) and Prince Joachim (Dec. 17, 1890). The German emperor's only daughter, Victoria, was born in the Autum of 1892. It was hailed with great rejoicing.

Following the excellent traditions of the British Royal Family, the German Emperor and Empress have always done everything in their power to preserve among their children a simplicity of life rarely to be found in the nurseries and schoolrooms of those born to great wealth.

The Empress spends a great deal of her time with her children. All their clothes are made under her direct supervision, and every matter concerning their welfare is to her of the deepest moment.

The only daughter, Princess Victoria Louise, is adored by the entire family, especially by her chosen friend and companion, Prince Joachim. Princess Victoria strongly resembles her mother, being plump, fair, and blue-eyed, in fact, an ideal German baby.

Princess Victoria Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen

The Queen's oldest great grandchild is Princess Victoria Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen, the daughter and only child of the Duke and Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen. She was born May 12, 1879. She is a distinguished looking girl and is said to be the only one of the younger members of the Royal Family who bears resemblance to the late Empress Augusta.

Princes Frederick and Maximilian of Hesse-Cassel

Princes Frederick and Maximilian of Hesse-Cassel are the youngest great grandchildren of Queen Victoria. Their mother is the youngest sister of Emperor William II and she is very fond of England.

Prince Waldemar of Prussia

Prince Waldemar of Prussia was born on March 20, 1889, the son of Prince Henry of Prussia and Princess Irene of Hesse, both grandchildren of Queen Victoria. Prince Waldemar leads a far simpler life than that of his little imperial cousins. He is a great favorite of Queen Victoria and speaks English as well as German.

Prince Carol of Rumania

Prince Carol of Rumania is one of the few royal babies with the unique distinction of having only one name. He was born on oct. 3, 1893, to Princess Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Rumania, and of Princess Marie of Edinburgh, eldest daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh. Queen Victoria takes a special interest in his welfare, the more so because her mother was known to be very fond of England.  

Christian George Acevedo owns this royal blog. He is a librarian, mentor, and scholar of wide-ranging interests. He has authored hundreds of articles for various websites, and his expertise ranges from online marketing and finance to history, entertainment and many more. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Tumblr. Contact Christian at powerwordsonlinewriting@gmail.com.