Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox royalty Template:House of Hohenzollern (Prussia) Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia (Louise Margaret Alexandra Victoria Agnes; 25 July 1860 – 14 March 1917), later Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> was a member of the House of Hohenzollern who married into the British royal family.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> She served as the viceregal consort of Canada while her husband, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, served as the governor general, from 1911 to 1916.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early life

Princess Louise Margaret was born on 25 July 1860 at Marmorpalais (Marble Palace) near Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia, as the fourth child and third surviving daughter of Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia (1828–1885) and Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt (1837–1906). Her father was a distinguished military commander and a nephew of German Emperor William I. Her mother was a noted musician and painter, and a great-granddaughter of King Frederick William II of Prussia.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The Princess, known informally to her family as "Mimi", grew up primarily in Berlin. She had a relatively lonely childhood due to the significant age gap with her older sisters and younger brother. As a child, she was considered to be delicate in health, and developed into a rather shy young woman. She received her education from an English governess.

Louise Margaret's parents had a notoriously unhappy marriage. Prince Friedrich Karl, who was known for his alcoholism and domineering behaviour, reportedly beat his wife after the birth of a fourth daughter (Louise Margaret herself). The couple became estranged and lived apart, though they never formally separated. Queen Victoria recorded in her journal that the Prince had "behaved so brutally to his wife."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> This difficult family environment is noted by biographers as a potential motivation for Louise Margaret to seek marriage and distance herself from her royal residence in Berlin.

She met her future husband, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, in 1878 when she was eighteen, leading to their engagement.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Marriage

On 13 March 1879, Princess Louise Margaret married Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn at St. George's Chapel Windsor.<ref name=nyt>Template:Citation</ref> Prince Arthur was the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> A 2003 book claims that it was a love match, with the princess also keen to get away from her royal residence in Berlin and from her father's bullying.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite book</ref>

The wedding was described as grand and the couple received a great number of expensive gifts; the Queen's gifts included a diamond tiara and a pearl and diamond pendant.<ref name="nyt" /> Many members of Britain and Germany's royal families attended.<ref name="nyt" /> Queen Victoria herself was wearing the Koh-i-Noor diamond and a long white veil.<ref name=":3" /> After her marriage, Princess Louise was styled Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn, and her name was Anglicised as Louise Margaret.

The couple had three children: Princess Margaret (1882–1920), Prince Arthur (1883–1938), and Princess Patricia (1886–1974). Princess Margaret married Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden and was the grandmother of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref> Prince Arthur served as the governor-general of South Africa.<ref name=":1" />

Duchess of Connaught

Louise, Duchess of Connaught, John Singer Sargent, 1908

The Duchess of Connaught spent the first twenty years of her marriage accompanying her husband on his various deployments throughout the British Empire. The Duke and Duchess of Connaught acquired Bagshot Park in Surrey as their country home and after 1900 used Clarence House as their London residence. She accompanied her husband to Canada in 1911, when he began his term as governor-general. In 1916, she became colonel-in-chief of the 199th Canadian (Overseas) Infantry Battalion (The Duchess of Connaught's Own Irish-Canadian Rangers), CEF after Harry Trihey, the regiment's principal organizer and first commanding officer during World War I, secured her as patron.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 1885, she became chief of the 64th (8th Brandenburg) Regiment of Infantry "Field Marshal General Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia", Prussian Army.

Death and legacy

The Duchess of Connaught died of influenza and bronchitis at Clarence House.<ref name=":0" /> She became the first member of the British royal family to be cremated. This was done at Golders Green Crematorium.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref> The procedure of burying ashes in an urn was still unfamiliar at the time, and her urn was transported in an ordinary coffin during the funeral ceremonies. King George V still ordered four weeks of mourning dress and a military guard of honor during the funeral.<ref name=":2" /> Her ashes were placed in the Royal Vault at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle and eventually buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Duke of Connaught survived her by almost twenty-five years.

The Duchess of Connaught's net estate in the United Kingdom was valued at £123,008; she left £25,000 to her daughter Princess Margaret and £50,000 to her daughter Princess Patricia of Connaught, noting that £25,000 had already been settled on Princess Margaret upon her marriage. The residuary estate was left to her son Prince Arthur of Connaught.<ref>The Times. (Saturday, 4 August 1917). Page 11, "Will of The Duchess of Connaught: Estate of £125,000". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 11 February 2025, from https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-will-of-the-duchess-of-connaug/165202896/.</ref>

The maternity hospital adjacent to the Cambridge Military Hospital at Aldershot was named in her honor as the Louise Margaret Maternity Hospital. She laid the foundation stone of this hospital, which was constructed for the wives and children of the Aldershot Garrison.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles and styles

• 25 July 1860 – 13 March 1879: Her Royal Highness Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• 13 March 1879 – 14 March 1917: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Connaught and Strathearn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Honours

Louise Margaret in academic dress, 1904

Orders and decorations

• CI: Companion of the Crown of India, March 1879
• VA: Royal Order of Victoria and Albert, 1st Class, 1893
• DStJ: Lady of Justice of St. John, 1888
• RRC: Member of the Royal Red Cross, 1883
• Template:Flag: Grand Cordon of the Precious Crown, 8 May 1890<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Academic

• Doctor of Music, Trinity College Dublin, 1904

Arms

Coat of arms of Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia, Duchess of Connaught

Issue

Image	Name	Birth	Death	Notes
	Princess Margaret of Connaught	15 January 1882	1 May 1920	married, 15 June 1905, Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf of Sweden; had issue (including Ingrid, Queen of Denmark)
	Prince Arthur of Connaught	13 January 1883	12 September 1938	married, 15 October 1913, Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife; had issue
	Princess Patricia of Connaught	17 March 1886	12 January 1974	married, 27 February 1919, Captain Sir Alexander Ramsay, renouncing her title and becoming Lady Patricia Ramsay; had issue

External links

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