Victoriafans have probably noticed that the monarch appears to be constantly pregnant throughout the last couple of seasons. I can’t be the only one who has lost count of births on the show? I do know that when all is said and done, Victoria and Albert will end up with nine children. That’s right, the royal couple had a brood of heirs – and all of them lived to adulthood. So, what happened to Queen Victoria’s nine children?
Because of her nine children and 42 grandchildren, Victoria garnered the nickname “Grandmother of Europe.” The moniker fits quite literally when looking at Europe’s royal families, as her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren endured as monarchs of multiple European countries. Queen Victoria’s descendants can be found in the royal families of Germany, Russia, Greece, Romania, Sweden, Norway and Spain, according to online BBC history magazine, History Extra.
History Extra also reports that three of Victoria’s grandchildren were key players in World War I: Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany, Alexandra Romanov of Russia and George V of Britain. Apparently, Kaiser Wilhelm once said WWI may not have happened if his grandmother Victoria had been alive, “as she simply would not have allowed her relatives to go to war with one another." Victoria’s legacy didn’t just affect political and military history. She was also the first known royal carrier of Hemophilia – which now is commonly associated with European royal bloodlines. Victoria’s son Leopold died at age 30 from an injury that triggered a hemorrhage, which was caused by the disease. Hemophilia was seen in a few of the Queen’s grandchildren and, most notably, in her great-grandson, Alexei Romanov.
So, what became of the queen’s heirs? Here’s what happened to Victoria and Albert’s nine children.
1. Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise
The princess married Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia, who became the emperor of Germany. Their son was Kaiser Wilhelm of WWI notoriety. Their daughter Sophie became Queen of Greece.
2. Prince Albert Edward Wettin
Prince Albert succeeded his mother as King Edward VII. Through King Edward VII, Queen Elizabeth is Victoria’s great-great-granddaughter. (Victoria’s son was Edward VII, Edward VII’s son was George V, George V's son was Elizabeth’s father George VI). Elizabeth’s husband Prince Philip is also a great-great-grandchild of Victoria and Albert through other royal lines.
3. Princess Alice Maud Mary
Alice married Prince Ludwig of Hesse. Their daughter Alexandra, or Alix, married Nicholas II, the last czar of Russia. Alix and Nicholas were the heads of the famous Romanov family who met a grisly fate.
4. Prince Alfred Ernest Albert
The prince also married into the Russian royal bloodline in his union with Grand Duchess Marie, daughter of Czar Alexander II. His descendants went on to be part of the Romanian royal family.
5. Princess Helena Augusta Victoria
Helena married Prince Frederick Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. According to the PBS link above, her name lives on: One of Princess Eugenie’s middle names is Helena.
6. Princess Louise Caroline Alberta
Princess Louise married a commoner back when it was uncommon. In 1871, she married John Douglas Sutherland Campbell, with the approval of her mother and support of the British people. Campbell later became the Governor General of Canada. the province of Alberta, and its famous Lake Louise, are both named for the princess.
7. Prince Arthur William Patrick
Prince Arthur was reportedly the queen’s favorite son. He married Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia and the couple had three children. He was later Governor General of Canada. He had an interest in German affairs, so he was transferred to North America in 1911 to avoid the deteriorating political situation in Germany, according to PBS.
8. Prince Leopold George Duncan
Prince Leopold married Princess Helena Frederica of Waldeck. But the marriage only lasted two short years, due his untimely death at age 30 (caused by hemophilia). Earlier in life, he studied at Oxford and befriended Lewis Carroll, John Ruskin and Oscar Wilde, according to PBS.
9. Princess Beatrice Mary Victoria
As the baby of the family, she became Victoria’s biggest confidant. She married Prince Henry of Battenberg and passed the hemophiliac gene onto her daughter, Victoria, who in turn passed the gene on to the Spanish royal family.
So, there you have it. That’s what became of Victoria and Albert’s nine kids. Don’t miss the story of the family’s beginnings on Victoria, airing Sunday nights at 9:00 p.m.
