On This Day: Birth of Edward VII’s First Granddaughter, Alexandra Duff

125 years ago today, Britain’s future King Edward VII and his wife Alexandra became grandparents when their eldest daughter gave birth to her own daughter.

Lady Alexandra Duff was born at East Sheen Lodge, the primary residence of her parents, Princess Louise and Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife. At the time of her birth, Alexandra was fifth in line to the throne after her grandfather, the Prince of Wales, her two maternal uncles Albert Victor and George, and her mother.

Alexandra with her mother Louise, 1883

She later became a Princess of the United Kingdom during her grandfather’s reign, when he gave Alexandra and her sister Maud royal titles after creating Princess Louise the Princess Royal. She would also, in 1912, become the Duchess of Fife in her own right upon the death of her father, whose peerage was regranted in 1900 by Queen Victoria with the remainder the title could be inherited by his daughters should he have no sons.

Alexandra (L) with her mother Louise (C) and sister Maud (R)

In 1913, Alexandra married her first cousin once removed, Prince Arthur of Connaught, at the Chapel Royal. Alexandra and Arthur’s only son, Alastair – who was heir to the Dukedoms of Connaught and Strathearn and Fife – was born the following year (unfortunately he died at the age of 28 in 1943). Now known as Princess Arthur, she worked as a nurse in England during and after the First World War and then in Pretoria, Union of South Africa, from 1920 when she moved there with her husband. They returned to England four years later, and Alexandra became the President and then patron of the Royal British Nurses’ Association.

An engagement photo of Alexandra and Arthur, 1912

Princess Alexandra died on February 26, 1959 in London, having outlived both her husband and son. The Dukedom of Fife was inherited by her nephew, James Carnegie.

Princess Arthur of Connaught, 2nd Duchess of Fife, 1937

Filed under Historical Royals, The United Kingdom
Tagged Alexandra 2nd Duchess of Fife, Anniversary, Birth.