Note: Since we have the Cambridge Open Post, a new(er) Bits, and are celebrating Queen Victoria’s birthday today, we are pushing this week’s Bits to the middle of the week.
Queen Victoria, who was born on this day in 1819, had 42 grandchildren, 22 of them granddaughters. Among the girls there were four who became Queen Consorts:
- Sophia of Prussia, who was Queen Consort of the Hellenes during 1913–1917 and 1920–1922.
- Maude, Queen Consort of Norway
- Marie, Queen Consort of Romania
- Victoria Eugenie, Queen Consort of Spain
One Crown Princess, who died before becoming Queen:
- Margaret of Connaught, Crown Princess of Sweden
And one tragic Empress:
- Alix of Hesse, Empress Alexandra of Russia
Here are all the granddaughters. The photos range from the oldest to youngest (as close as I could get!). You’ll note some astounding similarities, so much so I was convinced at times that I was adding the same photo over and over again. I wasn’t convinced that Viktoria of Prussia wasn’t the same person as Victoria of Great Britain. There was one photo of Irene of Hesse, which I did not use, that had me convinced I was loading a photo of Prince William in a wig. Those genes are strong, folks.
Princess Charlotte of Prussia, Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen (“Ditta”, “Charly”) 
Princess Victoria of Hesse, Marchioness of Milford Haven 
Princess Elisabeth of Hesse, Grand Duchess Sergei of Russia (“Ella”) 
Princess Viktoria of Prussia 
Princess Irene of Hesse, Princess Heinrich of Prussia 
Princess Louise (Princess Royal), Duchess of Fife 
Princess Victoria of Great Britain (“Toria”) 
Princess Maud of Great Britain, Queen of Norway 
Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg (“Snipe,” “Thora”) 
Princess Sophie of Prussia, Queen of Hellenes 
Princess Alix of Hesse, Empress Alexandra of Russia (“Alicky,” “Sunny”) 
Princess Margarete of Prussia, Landgravine of Hesse-Cassel (“Mossy”) 
Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, Princess Aribert of Anhalt (Louie) 
Princess Maria of Hesse (“May”) 
Princess Marie of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha, Queen of Romania (“Missy”) 
Princess Victoria Melita of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha, Grand Duchess of Hesse, Grand Duchess Kirill of Russia (“Ducky”) 
Princess Alexandra of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha (“Sandra”) Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg 
Princess Margaret of Connaught, Crown Princess of Sweden (“Daisy”) 
Princess Alice of Albany, Countess of Athlone 
Princess Beatrice of Edinburgh and Saxe-Coburg & Gotha, Duchess of Galliera 
Princess Patricia of Connaught, Lady Ramsay (“Pat”)
Do you have any favorite stories among the granddaughters? Favorite photos? We’ve profiled Alix of Hesse, Victoria Eugenie, and both Margaret and Patricia of Connaught, if you need thought-starters.
Drop your photos and stories in the comments!