The life of Princess Louise

 At 2 o’clock in the morning of 18th March 1848, Queen Victoria went into labour with her sixth child, Princess Louise, who was born at Buckingham Palace just six hours later. The timing of Louise’s birth coincided with political revolutions, which had swept through Europe and Britain, starting on 12th January 1848 and ending on 4th October 1849, by which time over fifty countries had been affected! Due to this, Queen Victoria believed Louise would grow up to be troublesome and “something peculiar”. These superstitions led Victoria to remain cautious of Louise’s actions for the rest of her life.

The princess was baptised in the Private Chapel at Buckingham Palace, on 13th May 1848. She was given the names Louisa Caroline Alberta, although she was known by everyone as ‘Louise’ and nicknamed ‘Loosy’ by her close family. Louise’s godparents included: Duke Gustav of Mecklenburg-Schwerin; the Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen; and Princess Augusta, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

Like her siblings, Louise was brought up with the strict programme of education devised by her father, Prince Albert and Baron Stockmar. As well as formal studies, she was taught practical tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, gardening, shopkeeping and carpentry; but from a young age it was clear that her talents lay with art. As daughter of the Queen, it was impossible for the Princess to pursue an artistic career. However, Victoria allowed Louise to attend art school and be tutored by sculptor, Mary Thornycroft, who had been commissioned by Victoria and Albert on several occasions. In 1863, Louise was also allowed to attend the National Art Training School, now known as The Royal College of Art.

Out of all her siblings, Louise perhaps had one of the strongest personalities. She was intelligent, talented in almost everything she did, with her wit and good nature always keeping the royal household and staff entertained. Her inquisitive nature helped her to become a favourite of her fathers, also gaining her the nickname ‘Little Miss Why’. Along with art, one of her main talents was dancing. In her journal, Queen Victoria wrote that Louise “danced the sword dance with more verve and accuracy than any of her sisters”. However, her popularity amongst her parents caused much resentment from her sister, Princess Helena, who was equally as talented but had been overshadowed by Louise’s charm.

The princess’s life dramatically changed after the death of Prince Albert in December 1861. With Princess Helena too upset to help, Louise was asked to aid Princess Alice with the Queens official papers and duties. With all joy removed from the royal palaces, life had become too repetitive and mundane for the lively princess. For her seventeenth birthday, Louise requested the ballroom to be reopened for a debutante dance but the Queen was quick to say no, leaving Louise bitterly disappointed.

After Princess Alice and Princess Helena left home to get married, Princess Louise succeeded the role of her mothers unofficial secretary. Originally Victoria was cautious about giving her the role, believing Louise to be too indiscreet, but she later wrote that “She is (and who would some years ago have thought it?) a clever dear girl with a fine strong character, unselfish and affectionate.”

Out of all eight of her siblings, Louise was closest to her youngest brother, Prince Leopold, who suffered haemophilia. In March 1866 Lieutenant Walter George Stirling, was hired as Leopold’s tutor. He attended various family outings, parties and dinners. Leopold thrived under his care until he was abruptly dismissed just four months later without any explanation. Over a year later, more rumours spread that Stirling had actually got Louise pregnant. While researching about the Princess, Louise’s biographer – Lucinda Hawksley – was left confused to be told that all of Louise’s private documents are banned from the public, again with no explanation. Despite no hardcore evidence, Lucinda noted how Louise’s fashion taste changed dramatically during 1866 and she made little to no public appearances until February 1867. The same month, Louise’s older brother, Prince Albert Edward and his wife Alexandra named their first daughter Louise, possibly as a way to consolidate the princess after giving up her own child.

It is believed the child was Henry Locock, who was adopted by Frederick Locock, son of Queen Victoria’s gynaecologist, Sir Charles Locock, in late 1866. According to the Lococks, Louise visited Henry all through his childhood. As Lucinda Hawksley discovered, Princess Louise was known to love spending time at her country home of Dornden in Kent, which was coincidentally right next door to a house owned by Charles Locock. You can learn more about the possible scandal in my blog ‘Did Princess Louise have an illegitimate son?’

Over time, Louise became fed up with court live. Her duties which were little more than minor secretarial tasks, such as writing letters on the queen’s behalf; dealing with political correspondence; and providing the queen with company. Eventually Louise started to undertake more public duties and, in 1867, opened the new North Eastern Hospital for Children.

Although Louise was considered the most beautiful and elegance of Victoria’s daughters, her liberal and feminist views were a cause for concern and prompted the Queen to start looking for a husband. However, like with her other children, Victoria wanted a match that suited her just as much as it did Louise. Many suitors were suggested, including: Princess Alexandras brother, the Crown Prince of Denmark; Prince Albert of Prussia; and William, Prince of Orange, although his extravagant Parisian lifestyle cohabiting with his lover quickly caused him to be removed from the equation.

Despite all the suggestions, Louise decided not to marry a prince, leading Queen Victoria to look at possible aristocratic suitors. At first, Louise wasn’t convinced when Victoria suggested John Campbell, Marquess of Lorne, however her feelings soon changed when she met John at one of Gladstones famous breakfasts. Louise’s older brother, Prince Albert Edward, was highly against the match and believed it too political. Despite her sons views, Victoria viewed Louise’s choice as a positive, saying it would “be for Louise’s happiness and for the peace and quiet of the family” she also agreed it would bring “new blood” into the family. Louise became engaged to John Campbell on 3rd October 1870, at Balmoral and they married at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on 21st March 1871. You can read more in ‘The wedding of Princess Louise and John Campbell’.

The couple settled at Rosneath House in Dumbartonshire, where Louise was able to continue her charitable work and a few months after her wedding became the president of the Ladies Work Society. In a letter to John before the wedding, Victoria wrote that Louise was “barren”, unfortunately the Queen was right and the couple never had any children.

Upon their return to Britain, Queen Victoria allocated the couple permanent apartments at Kensington Palace, with the hope of keeping the two together but it was too late. Louise resumed public duties in Britain, and Lorne continued his political career. Despite the Victorias attempts to keep them under one roof, they often lived separately, possibly as a result of Johns homosexuality.

In 1878, British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli nominated John to be Canada’s Governor General. On 15th November 1878, the couple left Liverpooland arrived in Canada for the inauguration at Halifax on 25th November. Louise became the first royal to take up residence in Rideau Hall, the Queen’s official royal residence in Ottawa. As viceregal consort, she used her position to support the arts and higher education and the cause of female equality. Louise developed an interest in sleighing and skating. However on 14th February 1880, the royal couple were part of a bad sleighing accident and both parties were lucky to escape with minor injuries. One doctor said “it was a wonder her skull was not fractured”. The severity of the accident was played down in both Canadian and British newspapers as the couple didn’t want to worry the Queen.

Although there is no hardcore evidence, it is believed that Louise had a long term affair with famous sculptor, Joseph Edgar Boehm, who had died at Louise’s art studio while being intimate with the Princess. Louise also had rumoured affairs with: Arthur Bigge, later Lord Stamfordham (the queen’s private secretary); fellow artist, Edwin Lutyens; her equerry, Colonel William Probert; and an unnamed music master. In the 1880s, Louise also became close to her brother-in-law, Prince Henry of Battenberg. She had always had a difficult relationship with Beatrice and Helena, which was made to her sisters Helena and Beatrice and worse by her jealousy over of their happy marriages.

Unlike many members of the royal family, Louise was determined to be seen as an ordinary person. When travelling abroad, she often used the alias “Mrs Campbell” so that she could blend in. She was also known for her charity towards servants. On one occasion, the butler approached her and requested permission to dismiss the second footman, who was late getting out of bed. When she advised that the footman be given an alarm clock, the butler informed her that he already had one. She then went so far as to suggest a bed that would throw him out at a specified time, but she was told this was not feasible. Finally, she suggested that he might be ill, and when checked, he was found to have tuberculosis.

Upon the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, Louise found herself welcomed as part of her brother – the new King Edward VII’s – court. In her mother’s will Louise had inherited Kent House on the Isle of Wight, which had previously used a guesthouse on the Osborne estate. It was between here, London and Scotland that Louise spent the majority of her time.

Moving with the times and new trends, Louise gained an interest in physical fitness and when criticised responded by saying: “Never mind, I’ll outlive you all.” She also remained a keen artist and continued sculpting. Her most famous piece is perhaps the statue of Queen Victoria which sits outside Kensington Palace.

From 1911, Louise dedicated much of her time to looking after her husband. Although the two had never been overly close, the Dukes declining health brought them closer than ever. In spring 1914 Louise was at Kensington Palace when John, who was staying on the Isle of Wight, developed bronchial problems followed by double pneumonia. On 28th April Louise was summoned to be by her husbands side. John passed away just four days later on 2nd of May. Following his death, Louise had a nervous breakdown and suffered from intense loneliness, writing to a friend shortly afterwards: “My loneliness without the Duke is quite terrible. I wonder what he does now!”

As she got older, Louise settled in her London residence, Kensington Palace, in an apartment next to her youngest sister, Princess Beatrice. It was during this time that the palace gained the affectionate nickname “Auntie Palace” by Princesses Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Margaret.

By the time King George VI ascended the throne in 1936, Louise’s health had began declining. A year later Louise attended the Home Arts and Industries Exhibition in London, which would be her final public appearance.

By the end of the 1930s, Louise had developed neuritis in her arm, inflammation of the nerves between the ribs, fainting fits, and sciatica. Unable to get around, the Princess occupied herself by drafting prayers and continuing with her art.

In the morning of 3rd December 1939, Louise passed away aged 91; wearing the wedding veil she had worn almost seventy years earlier. Following a simple funeral, she was cremated on 8th December 1939. Her ashes were placed in the Royal Vault at St. George’s Chapel on 12th December 1939 and later moved to the Royal Burial Ground, at Frogmore, Windsor, on 13th March the following year.

©️Queen.Victoria.Roses 2024

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