Princess Beatrix of Hohenlohe-Langenburg

Princess Beatrix
Born(1936-07-10)10 July 1936
Schwäbisch Hall, Württemberg, Nazi Germany
Died15 November 1997(1997-11-15) (aged 61)
Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Names
German: Beatrix Alice Marie Melita Margarete
HouseHohenlohe-Langenburg
FatherGottfried, 8th Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg
MotherPrincess Margarita of Greece and Denmark

Princess Beatrix of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (German: Beatrix Alice Marie Melita Margarete Prinzessin zu Hohenlohe-Langenburg; 10 July 1936 – 15 November 1997) was a German princess from the House of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. She was a niece of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and thus a first cousin of King Charles III.

Biography

[edit]

Beatrix was born on 10 July 1936 in Schwäbisch Hall to Gottfried, Hereditary Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, and Princess Margarita of Greece and Denmark, the eldest sister of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.[1] The family was not invited to Philip's wedding to Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom in 1947, due to her parents' membership in the Nazi Party. Six years later, however, Beatrix and her family were seated in the royal box at her aunt's coronation in Westminster Abbey.[2]

In January 1956, Beatrix and her cousin, Princess Christina of Hesse, moved to London into a flat arranged by their uncle, Prince Philip, in Dolphin Square.[3][4] The two princesses attracted the attention of the British press as they went about the London season.[5] Beatrix took dressmaking classes at the Royal College of Art. While Princess Christina eventually settled in the United Kingdom, marrying Prince Andrew of Yugoslavia whom the princesses were close friends with during their stay, Beatrix returned to Germany that same year.[1]

In 1961, Beatrix became engaged to her first cousin, Maximilian, Hereditary Prince of Baden.[6] The couple broke off their engagement in September of that year.[7] Maximilian later married Archduchess Valerie of Austria in 1966 and Beatrix never married.

In her later years, she served as secretary to Margaret, Princess of Hesse and by Rhine, the sister-in-law of her aunt, Princess Cecilie.[8] She lived in Langenburg, Germany, for most of her life. She continued to attend family events in Britain, such as the weddings of her cousins Prince Charles (later King Charles III) and Prince Andrew in 1981 and 1986, respectively.[9][10]

Beatrix died on 15 November 1997, aged 61, in the town where she was born.[1]

Ancestry

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Princess Beatrix of Hohenlohe-Langenburg". The Daily Telegraph. 21 November 1997. p. 31. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  2. ^ Horsley, Peter (1990). Sounds From Another Room: Memories of Planes, Princes and the Paranormal. London: Pen and Sword. ISBN 1473818443.
  3. ^ Danczuk, Simon; Smith, Daniel (2022). Scandal at Dolphin Square: A Notorious History. Cheltenham: The History Press. ISBN 9780750999823.
  4. ^ "Duke's Nieces Job Hunting in London". The Age. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 30 December 1955. p. 1. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  5. ^ "Serious Minded Princesses, Toast of London, Prefer Work to Play". The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Reuters. 28 January 1956. p. 28. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  6. ^ Bridger-Linning, Stephanie (4 January 2023). "The Margrave of Baden, King Charles III's German cousin who was estranged from the Royal Family before attending the Queen's coronation, dies aged 89". Tatler. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Royal Cousins End Engagement". The Gazette. 9 September 1961.
  8. ^ Channon, Chips (2022). Heffer, Simon (ed.). Henry ‘Chips’ Channon: The Diaries 1943-57. New York: Random House. ISBN 1529151740.
  9. ^ "Lot #51: Princess Diana and Prince Charles Wedding Breakfast Program". Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Lot #49: Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson Wedding Breakfast Program". Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Retrieved 16 May 2024.