The Wild Princess: A Novel of Queen Victoria's Defiant Daughter

The Wild Princess: A Novel of Queen Victoria's Defiant Daughter by Mary Hart Perry

Dedication

This book is dedicated to Mallory—not a royal princess but, in her own way, no less amazing than Louise. Her talents and dedication to all living things will make a joyful difference in the world. I can’t imagine a more wonderful granddaughter.

Epigraph

This is a novel. That means it is fiction, fantasy, make-believe—not a true historical account. Did any of the people in this story live and any of these events happen? Yes, quite a few. But the joy of fiction comes from its ability to borrow facts and details from the real world and then encourage the author to embellish them and produce a unique entertainment. The wise reader will consider this story nearly entirely the result of the author’s imagination.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s Children and Grandchildren

Victoria (1819–1901) = Albert (1819–1861)

  Princes/Princesses   Spouses Victoria (Vicky)     =     Frederick III (Fritz) Princess Royal   (became German emperor) (1840–1901)   (1831–1888)   The Grandchildren William II (became German emperor) Charlotte Henry Sigismund Victoria (became Queen of Greece) Waldemar Sophie Margaret

  Princes/Princesses   Spouses Edward VII (Bertie)     =     Alexandra King of England   Princess of Denmark (1841–1920)   (1844–1925)   The Grandchildren Albert Victor George V = Mary (King & Queen of England) Louise Victoria Maud John

  Princes/Princesses   Spouses Alice     =     Louis IV (1843–1878)   Grand Duke of Hesse-Darmstadt     (1837–1892)   The Grandchildren Victoria Elizabeth Irene = Henry, Prince of Prussia Ernst Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse Frederick William Alexandra = Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia Mary Victoria

  Princes/Princesses   Spouses Alfred     =     Marie Duke of Edinburg   (1853–1920) (1844–1900)   (Grand Duchess of Russia)   The Grandchildren Alfred Marie (later, Queen of Romania) Victoria Melita Alexandra Beatrice

  Princes/Princesses   Spouses Helena (Lenchen)     =     Christian (1846–1923)   (1831–1917)   The Grandchildren Christian Victor Albert Helena Victoria Marie Louise Frederick Harald

  Princes/Princesses   Spouses Louise     =     John (Lorne) (1848–1939)   9^th Duke of Argyll     (1845–1914)   The Grandchildren None

  Princes/Princesses   Spouses Arthur     =     Louise Margaret (1850–1942)   (Princess of Prussia)     (1860–1917)   The Grandchildren Margaret Arthur Patricia

  Princes/Princesses   Spouses Leopold     =     Helena (1853–1884)   (1861–1922)   The Grandchildren Alice Charles Edward

  Princes/Princesses   Spouses Beatrice =   Henry (Liko) (1857–1944)   Prince of Battenberg     (1858–1896)   The Grandchildren Alexander Victoria Eugenie (Ena) = Alfonso XIII (King and Queen of Spain) Leopold Maurice

Osborne House, Isle of Wight

Wednesday, 23 January 1901

My dearest Edward,

I write to you with a grieving heart. My emotions are so a-jumble at this moment I can barely stop my hand from trembling long enough to put pen to paper. As all of London wakes to the sad news, you too must by now be aware that Victoria, Queen by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India—my mother—has passed from this life. Last night I stood at her bedside along with my surviving sisters and brothers, the many grandchildren, and those most favored among her court. We bid our final good-byes, and she drifted away. Among us was the devoted Colonel the Lord Edward Pelham-Clinton, who delivers this letter and accompanying documents, by hand, into your possession.