Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom

Princess Victoria of the United Kingdom VA, CI (Victoria Alexandra Olga Mary; 6 July 1868 – 3 December 1935) was the fourth child and second daughter of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark, and the younger sister of George V.

Princess Victoria was born on 6 July 1868 at Marlborough House, London. Her father was the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), heir apparent to the British throne as the eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Her mother was the Princess of Wales (later Queen Alexandra), the eldest daughter of King Christian IX and Queen Louise of Denmark. She was known as "Toria" to her family.

She was christened at Marlborough House on 6 August 1868 by Archibald Campbell Tait, Bishop of London.

Princess Victoria was educated at home by tutors and spent her childhood at Marlborough House and Sandringham. The Princess was particularly close to her brother, George, the future King George V.

With her sisters, she was a bridesmaid at the wedding in 1885 of their paternal aunt Princess Beatriceto Prince Henry of Battenberg. She was a bridesmaid at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of York (futureKing George V and Queen Mary) on6 July 1893.

Although she had a number of suitors, the most famous of them being King Carlos I of Portugal, Princess Victoria never married and had no children. Her mother, Alexandra, is believed to have actively discouraged her from marrying.Instead she remained a companion to her parents, particularly her mother, with whom she lived until Queen Alexandra's death in 1925. The Princess then set up her own home at Coppins, Iver, in Buckinghamshire. She took a particular interest in the village life, becoming honorary president of the Iver Horticultural Society.

After the death of her mother, she left Sandringham House and decided to live in Buckinghamshire. Princess Victoria's last years were plagued with health problems. She suffered from neuralgia, migraines, indigestion, depression, colds and influenza. Princess Victoria died at home on 3 December 1935, aged 67. Her funeral took place on 7 December 1935 at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, where she was initially buried. Her remains were later moved and reburied at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore, Windsor Great Park, on 8 January 1936. Her death greatly affected her brother, George V, who died one month later.

Titles and styles

• 6 July 1868 – 22 January 1901: Her Royal Highness Princess Victoria of Wales
• 22 January 1901 – 3 December 1935: Her Royal Highness The Princess Victoria

Honours

• Imperial Order of the Crown of India, 6 August 1887
• Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem
• Member First Class of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert
• Royal Family Order of King Edward VII
• Royal Family Order of King George V

Arms

Upon her younger sister's marriage in 1896, Princess Victoria was awarded a personal coat of arms, being the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom, bearing an inescutcheon of the shield of Saxony and differenced with a label argent of five points, the first, third and fifth bearing roses gules, and the second and fourth crosses gules. The inescutcheon was dropped by royal warrant in 1917.

• "Princess Victoria, His Majesty's Sister, A Quiet Home Life," The Times, 4 December 1935, p. 18, column A.
• Ronald Allison and Sarah Ridell, The Royal Encyclopedia (London: Macmillan, 1992).