Victoria Mountbatten, Marchioness of Milford Haven

Victoria Mountbatten was the eldest daughter of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine, and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, who was the second daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. She was born in Windsor Castle in the presence of her grandmother, Queen Victoria. She was christened in the Lutheran faith and given the names Victoria Alberta Elisabeth Mathilde Marie. She had six siblings, including two sisters who married into the Russian imperial family: Elisabeth, who became a martyr after being killed by the Bolsheviks, and Alix, who was the last tsarina as the wife of Nicholas II. Victoria's mother died when she was 15 years old from diphtheria, which also claimed the life of her youngest brother. Victoria became a surrogate mother to her younger siblings and helped her father cope with his grief. Victoria married her first cousin once removed, Prince Louis of Battenberg, an officer in the British Royal Navy, in 1884. Her father did not approve of the match, as he considered Louis to have little money and prospects. However, he could not prevent the marriage, as he had secretly married his own mistress and had to annul it later. Victoria and Louis had four children: Alice, Louise, George, and Louis. They lived in various parts of Europe and visited their many royal relatives frequently. Victoria was a liberal-minded and well-educated woman who taught her children herself. She was interested in science, literature, art, and politics. She was also adventurous and flew in a biplane in 1906. During World War I, Victoria and Louis renounced their German titles and adopted the surname Mountbatten, which was an anglicized version of Battenberg. They also became British subjects and were granted peerages by King George V. Louis became the first Marquess of Milford Haven and Victoria became the Marchioness of Milford Haven. Their son Louis followed his father's footsteps and became a prominent naval officer and statesman. He was also the last Viceroy of India before its independence. Their daughter Alice married Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and became the mother of Prince Philip, who later married Queen Elizabeth II. Their daughter Louise married King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and became the Queen consort of Sweden. Their son George inherited his father's title and became the second Marquess of Milford Haven. Victoria died in 1950 at Kensington Palace from a brain hemorrhage at the age of 87. She was buried at St. Mildred's Church in Whippingham on the Isle of Wight. She was survived by her four children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She is an ancestor of several reigning monarchs today, including Queen Elizabeth II, King Harald V of Norway, King Constantine II of Greece (in exile), King Felipe VI of Spain, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, King Philippe of Belgium, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Liechtenstein's Prince Hans-Adam II.