Louise Mountbatten

Louise Mountbatten was born as Princess Louise of Battenberg on 13 July 1889 at Schloss Heiligenberg, a castle near Darmstadt in Germany. She was the daughter of Prince Louis of Battenberg, an admiral in the British Royal Navy, and Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She had three siblings: Alice, who became the mother of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; George, who became the 2nd Marquess of Milford Haven; and Louis, who became the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma and the last Viceroy of India. Louise was also a niece of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia, who was married to Tsar Nicholas II. Louise spent her childhood in various places in Europe, such as Malta, England and Russia. She was educated by governesses and attended a girls' school in Darmstadt for a short time. She was fluent in English, German, French and Swedish. During the First World War, she served as a nurse in the Red Cross in London and Nevers in France. She also helped her mother with charitable work for refugees and wounded soldiers. In 1923, Louise married Gustaf Adolf, the Crown Prince of Sweden, who was a widower with five children from his first marriage. The wedding took place at Windsor Castle in England and was attended by many members of the British and Swedish royal families. Louise became the Duchess of Scania and the first lady of Sweden. She was well received by the Swedish people and devoted herself to her new country. She learned Swedish history and culture, supported various social causes and charities, and accompanied her husband on official visits abroad. In 1950, Louise became Queen consort of Sweden when her husband succeeded his father as King Gustaf VI Adolf. She continued to be active in public life and was interested in art, literature and music. She also maintained close ties with her British relatives and visited them often. She was especially fond of her nephew Prince Philip and his wife Queen Elizabeth II. Louise suffered from poor health in her later years and had two minor heart attacks. She died on 7 March 1965 at Saint Göran Hospital in Stockholm at the age of 75. She was buried at the Royal Cemetery in Solna next to her husband, who died three years later. Louise was the last Queen consort of Sweden to have been born outside Scandinavia. She was also the last surviving grandchild of Queen Victoria. Louise Mountbatten was known for her eccentricity and progressive views. She was outspoken on various issues such as women's rights, animal welfare and nuclear disarmament. She was also a patron of several cultural and educational institutions in Sweden and abroad. She was described as a warm, generous and intelligent person who had a great sense of humor and a zest for life. She once said: I can't think of a more wonderful thanksgiving for the life I've had than that everyone should be jolly at my funeral.