PRINCESS ALICE AND THE HOUSE OF ORANGE
Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, née Princess Alice of Albany; 25 February 1883, was a member of the British Royal Family. She was the only daughter of Leopold the duke of Albany, the youngest son of Queen Victoria, and Princess Helena van Waldeck-Pyrmont, a sister of Queen Emma of the Netherlands. King Willem III was one of her godparents.
She was godmother to Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, who is the granddaughter of her first cousin on her mother’s side, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. On 10 February 1904, Princess Alice of Albany married, Prince Alexander of Teck. After their marriage, Princess Alice was styled HRH Princess Alexander of Teck.
Princess Alice accompanied her husband to Canada where he served as Governor General from 1940 to 1946.
The war was brought close to home for the Athlones also because many of those belonging to displaced European royal families sought refuge in Canada among them Princess Juliana, daughter of Queen Wilhelmina, and her children. She was the last surviving grandchild of Queen Victoria and died in 1981 almost 115 years after the dead of Queen Victoria’s first grandchild.
Her are two souvenirs from our collection:
- Mug made for Princess Alice 95th birthday 1978.
in memoriam mug 1981
