Who was Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig Holstein?

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3 May 1870 marks the birth of Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein. 



Family

Princess Helena Victoria (always known to her family as Thora) was born at Frogmore House, near Windsor Castle. Her father was Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, the third son of Christian,
Duke of Augustenburg and Countess Louise af Danneskjold-Samsøe.

Her mother was Princess Helena, the fifth child and third daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Her parents resided in Britain from marriage.

She was baptised in the private chapel at Windsor Castle on 20 June 1870.
Her godparents were Queen Victoria,
the Duchess of Cambridge,
Princess Louise,
Prince Arthur,
Prince Leopold,
Prince Valdemar of Denmark,
Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar,
Princess Louise Auguste of Schleswig-Holstein and
Princess Caroline Amelie of Schleswig-Holstein (the latter two represented by
the Duchess of Roxburghe).

Princess Helena "Thora" was a bridesmaid at the 1885 wedding of her maternal aunt Princess Beatrice to Prince Henry of Battenberg and also at the wedding of her cousins the Duke and Duchess of York
(future George V and Queen Mary) in 1893.

She spent most of her childhood at Cumberland Lodge, her father's residence as Ranger of Windsor Great Park. 


 


More about the Grandschildren of Queen Victoria on this link. 


Titles

In July 1917, King George V changed the name of the British royal family to the House of Windsor. He also relinquished, on behalf of himself and his numerous cousins who were British subjects, the
use of their German titles, styles, and surnames. Princess 

Helena Victoria and her younger sister, Princess Marie Louise, thereupon ceased to use the territorial designation "of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg". Instead, they became known simply as "Her Highness Princess Helena Victoria" and "Her Highness Princess Marie Louise". Although the two had borne German titles, their upbringing and domicile were entirely English.


Duty

Princess Helena Victoria never married. She followed her mother's example in working for various charitable organizations, most notably YMCA, Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA)
and Princess Christian's Nursing Home at Windsor. 

During World War I, she founded the YWCA Women's Auxiliary Force. As its president, she visited British troops in France and obtained the permission of the Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener, to arrange entertainments for them. 

Between the world wars, she and her sister, Princess Marie Louise, were enthusiastic patrons of music at Schomberg House, their London residence. After a German air raid damaged the house in 1940, the two princesses moved to Fitzmaurice Place, Berkeley Square.

In ill health and a wheelchair user after World War II, Princess Helena Victoria made one of her last major appearances at the 20 November 1947 wedding of her first cousin twice removed Princess Elizabeth, to Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark. 


Death

Princess Helena Victoria died at Fitzmaurice Place, Berkeley Square. Her funeral took place at St. George's Chapel, Windsor and she was buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore, Windsor Great Park.  

She died at the age of 77, the same age at which her mother, Princess Helena, had also died.







Source pictures: Wikipedia
Location: Windsor SL4, Verenigd Koninkrijk

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