Princess Victoria Mary of Teck Known as Princess May Later Queen Mary 1887 The Royal Collection |
On July 6, 1893, Princess Victoria Mary of Teck married George, the Duke of York (later King George V) at the Chapel Royal at St. James Palace. The morning of the wedding, the Duke of York spied Princess May, as she was called by her family, across a long corridor in Buckingham Palace as she was preparing for the wedding. In what could have been an awkward moment—a heralding of bad luck—the Prince smiled, and offered, “a low and courtly bow,” to his future wife. The future Queen Mary never forgot this gesture, noting later that it was at this moment that she knew that she had made the right decision in accepting is proposal of marriage. She would don her elaborate wedding gown of silver brocade, trimmed in white, and jewels and, offering her famous side-ways smile to the gathered crowds of well-wishers, joined her groom as the consort of the new heir presumptive to the throne.
Princes Albert Victor and George of Wales Carl Rudolph Sohn 1882 The Royal Collection |
Prince Albert Victor of Wales Duke of Clarence and Avondale Known as "Eddy" 1891 The Royal Collection |
During the nationwide celebration, the Duke of Clarence and Avondale and May made many journeys in inclement weather. They didn’t worry much about the widespread outbreak of influenza that had gripped England. After all, it was Prince George who was the sickly one. Albert Victor was hale and hearty. Still, “Eddy” contracted a slight head cold that quickly became a massive infection. Over a period of six days, he declined rapidly as fever and illness possessed his body.
Alexandra, Princess of Wales with her Children (Later Queen Alexandra) The Royal Collection |
With a few rattling breaths, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale—dear “Eddy”—rattled out his last few breaths and died.
All of England was distraught at this tragedy, and turned their sympathies to his intended as Princess May—in a daze—mourned not only the passing of her future husband, but, seemingly, her chances of becoming Queen.
An informal song was soon on the lips of people throughout London.
Alas his soul, it has departed
How solemn came the news,
His parents broken-hearted,
Their darling son to lose.
With sympathy and feeling,
We one and all should say,
God rest his soul in silence,
And bless the Princess May.
With love and true devotion,
They watched by his bed side,
But all was gloom and sadness,
The moment that he died,
He closed his eyes forever,
They kissed his pallid cheek,
In breathless tones his mother said,
“O speak, my darling speak.”
A nation wrapped in mourning,
Shed bitter tears today,
For the noble Duke of Clarence
And fair young Princess May.
Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale with the Family of the Duke and Duchess of Teck upon the engagement of their daughter. Standing, left to right: Prince Adolfus of Teck; the Duchess of Teck (Princess Mary Adelaide); Prince Francis of Teck. Seated, left to right: Albert Victor Duke of Clarence and Avondale; Princess Victoria Mary of Teck; the Duke of Teck. December, 1891 The Royal Collection |
Tsar Alexander 1896 The Royal Collection |
In his own weird way, the Duke was suggesting such an arrangement for Mary. With the passing of Prince Albert Victor, Prince George was the new heir presumptive to the British throne. He was unmarried and needed a strong woman to guide him. Why not engage Mary to George?
Mary would not hear of it.
At the funeral for Prince Albert Victor, many noted that the most touching moment was when Princess May handed her marriage wreath of orange blossoms to her father who in turn presented it to the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) who, with Princess Alexandra, placed it upon the casket.
Mary of Teck's Mother Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, Duchess of Teck 1882 The Royal Collection |
The Princess was still bereft. On what was to have been her wedding day, despite the attempts of her family to distract her, she wrote in her diary:
27 February
Chilly, damp day. This day is a very sad one for me for it was to have been our wedding day. ‘Es wär zu schön gewesen, es hat nicht sollen sein…'
Fifty-five years later, under this entry, Queen Mary wrote again in the same journal:
I read this diary again in 1947, when I was 80, and felt compelled to add that the kind ‘Uncle Wales’ [The Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII] & ‘Motherdear’ [her affectionate nickname for the Princess of Wales, alter Queen Alexandra] gave me a beautiful rivière of diamonds which they had destined for me as a wedding present, as well as a lovely dressing bag, which darling Eddy had ordered for me as a wedding gift. I remember I felt overcome by this kind thought.
The Duke and Duchess of York on their Wedding Day, 1893 (later Queen Mary and King George V) |
Their marriage was a success and the two remained devoted to one another—enduring much hardship, war and chaos as King and Queen of England.
So, here’s wishing King George V and Queen Mary a belated and posthumous happy 118th anniversary.
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