Princess Beatrice, Prince Henry of Battenberg and family

[Janet]

Extract from 'The Last Princess: The Devoted Life of Queen Victoria's Youngest Daughter' by Matthew Dennison

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/12/23/smprin23.xml&page=1

Queen Victoria went to extraordinary lengths to ensure her youngest and favourite daughter would never leave her. In this extract from his new book, Matthew Dennison details the trouble that ensued when Beatrice met Henry

[Eddie_uk]

Fascinating! Thank you for posting the link Janet, can't wait the book!

I was always under the impression Alexandra never really cared for Beatrice - was nice to read she fought Beatrices corner!

[aussiechick12]

Queen Victoria went to extraordinary lengths to ensure her youngest and favourite daughter would never leave her. In this extract from his new book, Matthew Dennison details the trouble that ensued when Beatrice met Henry

Was Beatrice Queen Victoria's favourite daughter? I was under the impression that it was Vicky. Didn't QV only want Beatrice to stay because she wanted a companion, and at first wasn't it either Helena or Louise (I can't remember which one) that she wanted as her companion and it was only after they married she wanted her companion to be Beatrice? Or have I got this completley wrong?

[Aliss_Kande]

Was Beatrice Queen Victoria's favourite daughter? I was under the impression that it was Vicky. Didn't QV only want Beatrice to stay because she wanted a companion, and at first wasn't it either Helena or Louise (I can't remember which one) that she wanted as her companion and it was only after they married she wanted her companion to be Beatrice? Or have I got this completley wrong?

You pretty much hit the nail on the head.  Since Beatrice was the youngest of her sisters and older than most marrying royals of her time, QV probably expected her to take up the duty of companion, since none of her other sisters wanted the job.  However, Beatrice wanted to get married and she did, which probably did not make QV too happy.  I got yelled at on this board voicing my opinion as to who the favorite was and I was assured beyond any shadow of a doubt that it was Vicky.  QV was just clinging to Beatrice kind of like a security blanket.  She was the last to leave home and, in a way, a last link to her life with Albert.

[Angie_H]

Has anyone read this? Is it worth getting? "The Last Princess: The Devoted Life of Queen Victoria's youngest daughter: The Devoted Life of Queen Victoria's Youngest Daughter"

[Katherine_The_O.K.]

Yes, I think Vicky was the definite favorite, or as favorite as a child of QV's could be (not very, that is). But I think a lot of it stems from Albert's adoration of his eldest daughter. I don't think QV would have been half as inclined to get along with Vicky if Albert hadn't been so crazy about her. I mean, both women were very strong willed.

And on a different note, it's pretty amazing how similar Beatrice looked to Empress Alexandra in old age.

[grandduchessella]

Has anyone read this? Is it worth getting? "The Last Princess: The Devoted Life of Queen Victoria's youngest daughter: The Devoted Life of Queen Victoria's Youngest Daughter"

Amazon.uk has it scheduled for released 11 Jan but there are also already used copies up for sale.    There aren't any reviews up on the site, however.

[lexi4]

This is one time when I would have liked to have cleaned up the scraps from the cutting room floor. 

[Eddie_uk]

I bought the new Beatrice biography today and I really like it. Looks very informative with some nice photos.

[LenelorMiksi]

Which of Beatrice's siblings were the closest to her?  Leopold didn't favor her much, as she was QV's pet & he tended to be a rebel like Louise.  Her personality seemed to be more like Lenchen's than the other sisters.  As the youngest, she appears to me to be emotionally isolated from her brothers & sisters because of age, the personality differences between her & Leopold, & the constant presence of her mother.  She must have been lonely throughout much of her life, since her husband died when their children were still young.

[Eddie_uk]

I think she was very lonely when she was young.With animals trying to make up for it.

In the book there is a very interesting letter from Vicky to QV asking for her permission to destroy all the letters QV had sent her. Vicky states that she does not like the thought of people reading them. Luckily QV told her not too!

[Aliss_Kande]

I heard that, on her death, Beatrice edited most of QVs letters.  This means that many "personal" details about the queen's life were lost forever.

[Eddie_uk]

Yes in accordance with Queen Victorias wishes.

[grandduchessella]

Which of Beatrice's siblings were the closest to her?  Leopold didn't favor her much, as she was QV's pet & he tended to be a rebel like Louise.  Her personality seemed to be more like Lenchen's than the other sisters.  As the youngest, she appears to me to be emotionally isolated from her brothers & sisters because of age, the personality differences between her & Leopold, & the constant presence of her mother.  She must have been lonely throughout much of her life, since her husband died when their children were still young.

She seems to have had closer relations with some of her nieces and nephews moreso than her own siblings--partly due to the age differences and partly due to her position until 1901. There isn't one person, though, of either generation who really stands out. She was aunt to Victoria of Hesse (and only about 6 years older than her) and the relationship was added to when they became sisters-in-law.

[Keith]

I always thought she and Leopold got along, being closest in age, and the two by QV's side the most. I don't recall off hand what Charlotte Zeepvat's bio on Leo says.