Princess Beatrice, Prince Henry of Battenberg and family

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It is interesting to contemplate why Beatrice sold the house. She was receipt of a parliamentary annuity of 6,000 pounds pa and presumably received the dowry of 30,000 pounds that her sisters received. I know Prince Henry obviously did not bring much more than his army pay into the marriage and consequently the family relied heavily upon Beatrice's annuity, and that after 1901 they family no longer lived free of charge with QV and that Beatrice had to establish a completely independent household similar to that of the Christians. As non of her children were eligible to receive parliamentary annuities I assume Beatrice must have had to provide allowances etc for her sons herself which out of 6,000 a year was hardly auspicious. I am sure that I read somewhere that QV left Helena around 100,000 pounds in capital in her will and assume that a similar amount may well have been bequeathed to Beatrice, if so perhaps Beatrice felt it better to sell Osborne Cottage rather than try to maintain the house and her apartment at Kensington Palace on her annuity without using capital in addition to meet higher costs. Saying that, if Beatrice did inherit capital of 100,000 pounds from QV, this would yield at least 3,000 pounds per annum in interest if invested wisely giving Beatrice an annual income of 9,000 a year which for that time was certainly enough for a peer of the realm to live on in comfort if spent wisely.

Just a musing!
 

I think the one thing they do not talk about in books is that how did the royals handle money. I think Beatrice was well compensated by QV for her work and sacrifices in her life.

I agree Eric, few biographers seem to feel it is of interest or relevance to explore the financial affairs of royal subjects and merely rehash the known data like the 3,000 and 6,000 pounds per annum for Princesses and 12,000 15,000 and 24,000 pounds per annum figures associated with Princes that were Parliamentary annuities and easily researched and clarified. I believe in Helena: Princess Reclaimed the author does touch on the issue of the Christians' finances, but I for not believe I have ever read anything 'in depth' about any of the personal finances of QV's children or even her grand children in fact! I do recall a figure being mentioned somewhere stating that Marie Louise left an estate of 120,000 pounds, but I do not know how much of this was capital and how much based on the value of jewels and chattels that made up her estate at the time of her death. As to Beatrice's finances and what sort of estate she left to Carisbrooke and Queen Ena upon her death is a complete mystery and no doubt will remain so until a biographer applies and is granted permission to peruse her will and probate data at will so to speak!

You are so right Margot. I do not think the royals themselves handled the money and have people to look after their finances. They usually have an income to cover the usual upkeep of the residence, maid service, travel expenses & food etc. The rest were probably saved up and use for special occations (dinners, presents for relatives or doctor's bills). The Romanovs became such a financial mess as they lost income as well as someone to handle their financial affairs. The exceptions were Minny & Xenia, whose financial affairs were taken over by the British Royal Family staff.

Princess Beatrice in 1881. This portrait shows Princess playing harmonium at Osborne during the winter of 1881,when she was nearly twenty-four . She was a talented musician !

By J. Thomson
If you click on you can see it bigger

Lovely photo of Beatrice. She did compose some pieces of music too like her father...

i`m not sure if this picture was posted or not

beatrice in 1859

Oh wow, ha! What is she wearing? Looks like a modern hoodie sweater! And carrying a doll?  Maybe she was dressed up for a theatrical or something. Who painted it?

Winterhalter, 1859.

Little Beatrice is wearing a burnoose or hooded Moorish or Arab cloak, I'm not sure why-probably playing dressing up!

AnnieB

Lovely picture. It is nice that they commission this one for Beatrice (Prince Albert was forever complaining who much Winterhalter overcharging them, even though he liked the results).

Lovely!

Nicee!!! Henry was so handsome! *0*

Of course ! Which was why Beatrice decided to worth the war with her mother on the subject of her marriage. She was much luckier than her niece Moretta. She got her Battenberg Prince !

Little Beatrice by Richard Lauchert