Many of my regular readers will be aware of my fascination towards Queen Victoria’s youngest child, Princess Beatrice. While I’ve spent much time learning about and discussing Beatrice at her Isle of Wight home, Carisbrooke Castle, I have long been eager to read Matthew Dennison’s much credited biography about her extraordinary life, and I’m pleased to say that it didn’t disappoint!
As the youngest of the Queen’s nine children, Beatrice, on the outside, is a seemingly insignificant member of the Royal Family; but in reality, she was the most important person in her mother’s life. But despite being key figure in the many biographies about the Queen, Beatrice’s tragic, yet inspiring, personal story is often overshadowed by her lifetime of daughterly duty.
Beginning at Beatrice’s birth in 1857, Matthew Dennison gives a beautiful insight into the Princess’ happy early life, before delicately taking us on a journey through the difficult years surrounding her father’s death in 1861. It was at this time that Queen Victoria famously turned to her four-year-old daughter for comfort. Whilst losing her father was undoubtedly one of Beatrice’s most traumatic life experiences, Matthew presents the young Princess as handling it with an amiable childish grace, while also tastefully depicting what can only be described as the life-long cage of isolation and dictation that was inflicted by her mother. Looking from the outside, one cannot help but feel sorry for Beatrice’s lack of self awareness, and seemingly obliviousness to the prospect of independence that was increasingly further from her reach.
As we continue on this carousel of emotions, Matthew continues to give us magical insights into who the suppressed Princess really was; with her hobbies, interests and internalised desires carefully scattered amongst the pages, giving the reader hope for yet another change, which eventually arrived in 1885. From this point onwards we get to see how Beatrice’s life begins to blossom, all while still prioritising her grieving mother. Even after the Queen’s death in 1901 Beatrice was dedicated to her mother’s legacy, while also adapting to her newfound freedom, which allowed her to focus on several literary and artistic projects, along with establishing herself as General of the Isle of Wight.
Focusing on all aspects of Beatrice’s life, ‘The Last Princess’ is a great introduction into her life, along with Isle of Wight history, and will leave the reader feeling nothing but admiration towards this little-known heroine.
© Queen.Victoria.Roses 2025
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