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Queen Mary, Victoria Mary of Teck ( 26 May, 1867 - 24 March, 1953) was the Queen consort of George V of the United Kingdom. Queen Mary was also the Empress of India and Queen of Ireland. Prior to her accession, she was also Princess of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and Duchess of York. In her own right she held the title of a Princess of Teck in the Kingdom of Württemberg with the style Her Serene Highness To her family, she was known as May.Queen Mary was one of the most intellectual royals of recent times, and took a keen interest in state affairs. She was also the first Queen consort to attend the coronation of her successors. Her valuable collection of jewels built up over her years as queen are now priceless.
1 Early life
Princess Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes of Teck was born on May 26, 1867 at Kensington Palace, LondonLondon is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England, and with over seven million inhabitants in the Greater London area, is the second-most populous conurbation in Europe (after Moscow). From being Londinium the capital of the Roman province of Bri. Her father was His Serene Highness Prince Francis, Duke of Teck, the son of Duke Alexander of Württemberg by his morganatic wife, Countess Claudine Rhédey de Kis-Rhéde (created Countess von Hohenstein in the Empire of AustriaAustria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, a federation of nine states. Austria is bordered by Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the). Her mother was Her Royal Highness Princess Mary Adelaide of CambridgeHer Royal Highness Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge (Mary Adelaide Wilhelmina Elizabeth), ( November 27, 1833 October 27, 1897), was a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of King George III. She later held the title of Duchess of Teck b, the third child and the younger daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of CambridgePrince Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge ( 24 February 1774- 8 July 1850), was the tenth-born child and seventh son of King George III of the United Kingdom and Queen Charlotte. His Royal Highness Field Marshal The Prince Adolphus Frederick, KG, PC, G. As such she was styled Her Serene Highness Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, and known as May by her family.
Although her mother was a grandchild of King George IIIGeorge III (George William Frederick) ( 4 June 1738 29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain, and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until 1 January 1801, and thereafter King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. He was c, Princess May was only a minor member of the British Royal Family. Her father, The Duke of Teck was the product of morganatic marriage, and had no inheritance or wealth and carried the lower royal style of Serene Highness. The Duchess of Teck was however granted a Parliamentary Annuity of £4000 plus £4000 from her mother, the Duchess of Cambridge. Despite this, the family was deep in debt and had to flee abroad to avoid their creditors in 1883. The Tecks travelled throughout Europe, visiting their various relatives and staying in Florence, Italy for a time. There Princess May enjoyed visiting the art galleries, churches and museums.
In 1885, the Tecks returned to London and were given use of White Lodge in Windsor as a residence. Princess May was close to her mother, and acted as an unofficial secretary, helping to organise parties and social events. May was also close to her aunt, the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (nee Princess Augusta of Cambridge). May wrote to her aunt every week without fail. During World War I, the Swiss Embassy helped pass letters from Mary to her aunt, who lived in Germany.
