Expert: Joseph Logue - 10/7/2005

Question
Could you tell me ages and occupations of Queen Victoria's daughters and grandchildren in 1889? I'm fishing for a possible character for use in a children's novel, looking for something interesting -- an invalid, a rebel, an adventurer, an artist?  Thanks so much.

Answer
Hi Nancy,

In 1889, Queen Victoria's four remaining daughters (Princess Alice died in 1878) were busy with their own growing families .  The eldest, Princess Victoria, was by now the Dowager Empress Frederick of Germany (her husband reigned for 98 days in 1888).  In 1889, the Empress Frederick was 49 years old and a grandmother.  She would continue to have a contentious relationship with here elder children until the day she died.  [Hannah Pakula has written an excellent biography of the Empress.]

Alice was the second daughter; she died as the Grand Duckess of Hesse.  The third daughter was Helena, Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, who was 43 in 1889; she was the shyest and most retiring of QV's children.  The fourth daughter was Princess Louise, who married the Marquess of Lorne, and never had children.  She was 41 in 1889.  She was a sculptror, and was considered quite accomplished.  There is a statue of QV outside of Kensington Palace that was sculpted by Princess Louise.  In 1889, the youngest daughter, Princess Beatrice, was 32 years old; she was her mother's companion and frequent secretary.

As for the grandchildren of QV:  there are about 40 of them, too many to go over here.  My recommended books and Web sites:

http://www.btinternet.com/~allan_raymond/British_Royal_Family.htm

[This will help you with the names and dates that you need]

Queen Victoria biographies by Elizabeth Longford and Christopher Hibbert are excellent.

Jerrold Packerd wrote a book, the title of which escapes me.  It could be as simple as "Queen Victoria's Daughters", or something like that.

I hope that helps Nancy.  As always, your local librarians will be happy to help you with research materials.

Thanks for visiting AllExperts!

Sincerely,

Joseph Logue