Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein
Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein was born on 12 August 1872 at Cumberland Lodge in Windsor Great Park. She was Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, the daughter of Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg and Princess Helena of the United Kingdom. Because of her royal birth, she was styled Her Highness in the United Kingdom.
On 6 July 1891, she married Prince Aribert of Anhalt at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. The marriage was annulled on 13 December 1900, and she did not remarry. After the annulment she devoted herself to charity and the arts. She helped inspire Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, founded the Girl’s Club in Bermondsey to serve as a hospital during World War I, and supported the Princess Christian Nursing Home.
Marie Louise remained active in royal life, attending coronations and other official events. In 1917, George V renamed the royal house Windsor and asked relatives with German titles to drop them. She kept her title as a princess and was known simply as Her Highness Princess Marie Louise. She became the godmother of Prince Richard of Gloucester in 1944.
She was fondly called “Louie” by a young Princess Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and attended Elizabeth II’s wedding. She also attended four coronations: Edward VII in 1902, George V in 1911, George VI in 1937, and Elizabeth II in 1953. In 1956 she published her memoirs, My Memories of Six Reigns.
Marie Louise died on 8 December 1956 at her London home, aged 84. She was buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore, Windsor Great Park. At her death, her estate was valued at £107,644.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 17:00 (CET).