Queen Mary, Queen Consort of George V (Mary of Teck)
Mary was the wife and Queen consort of King George V. Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes was born at Kensington Palace, London in 1867, and was simply known to her family as ‘May’ after the month of her birth. Her father was Francis, Duke of Teck who had little wealth, and her mother Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge who was a grandchild of George III.
During her youth Mary with her parents and siblings became disgraced when they family has to sell their valuables in order to pay debt collectors. The family travelled Europe and stayed in Florence for a bit of time. Mary visited museums, art galleries and churches and became a young cultured lady. When she returned to London, she and her family resided at White Lodge, Richmond Park. Mary was close to her mother and her aunt the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She wrote to her aunt every week and during the war sent letters through the Crown Princess of Sweden until her aunts death in 1916.
Queen Victoria started to find viable marriage options for her grandson and future King, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale. After much deliberation Victoria found Mary suitable for the role and Albert Victor began to court Mary. They became engaged in 1891 which pleased the Tecks as it was a sign of their families renewed status. But Albert Victor died from an influenza that was worldwide. Queen Victoria considered her a suitable candidate for marriage to Albert’s brother Prince George who was second in line to the throne, and they were married in 1893. Queen Victoria created them the Duke and Duchess of York and they lived at York Cottege on the Sandringham Estate. Mary hated the small home as she couldn't entertain and she wasn't allowed to decorate it. Yet the marriage was a success and George unlike his father never took a mistress making Mary feel truly needed. They had 6 children Edward, Albert, Mary, Henry, George and John. The youngest Prince John suffered from epilepsy and died aged 13 which deeply hurt Mary as she really did care about John and the rest of her children. Mary, unlike her husband, used to have fun with her children and did normal kid activities.
George V became King in 1910 and Mary became Queen consort. They toured India in 1911 as Emperor and Empress of India and were crowned during the Delhi Durbar. During World War I, Mary visited wounded serviceman in hospital and was staunch supporter of her husband during difficult times that included not only the war with Germany, but also the Russian revolution and murder of George’s cousin Princess Alix who was Tsarina Alexandra wife of Tsar Nicholas II, civil unrest and Irish and Indian nationalism. In 1917 with anti-German sentiment running high, the family name was changed from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor. Mary was deeply affected as she herself had German parents and was a German Princess with German titles associated with her family. Mary's brothers renounced their German titles and were given British titles in compensation. Mary was identified as a serious and staunch figure who held a respectful and "queenly" personality. Mary often performed her own official events and tours which brought out people's love for her and the British Monarchy.
George became increasingly frail after the war years and Mary was increasingly seen with her husband. George and Mary began to scale their duties down and relax more with Mary fond of tennis at Wimbledon. In 1935, George and Mary celebrated their Silver Jubilee. George and Mary had become figures that saved the British Monarchy and figures that were a symbol of hope for the public. But on the 20th January 1936, George V died of pleurisy.
Following the death of George in 1936, she became the Queen mother and her son Edward became King Edward VIII. She disapproved of divorce and of Edward’s subsequent abdication and marriage to twice divorced Wallis Simpson, but she supported her second son Albert who came to the throne as King George VI. Mary moved to Marlborough House when her son became King. She was referred to as Queen Mary after her husbands death and took a strong interest in Princess Elizabeth's and Princess Margaret's education. During World War II, Mary moved to Badminton Park, home of her niece Mary Somerset, Duchess of Beaufort. She angered her niece by bringing 55 servants, over 70 pieces of luggage and by stripping the ivory from the walls of the house. Mary offered lifts to soldiers, visited hospitals and took part in the war effort.
Mary was a vivid collector of jewellery and antique furniture. She payed above market prices for the jewels of Dowager Empress Marie Feoderovna of Russia and for the Cambridge Emeralds from Lady Kilmoray. In 1924, Sir Edwin Lutyens created Queen Mary's Doll House to hold her collection of miniature objects. She was very persuasive when buying items and sometimes would convince people by nagging to donate objects she liked.
Her son George VI died on the 6th February 1952 and her granddaughter Elizabeth succeeded him as Queen. Mary was one of three Queens: herself, Elizabeth, the new Queen Mother, and Queen Elizabeth II. She died on the 24th March 1953 at the age of 85 of Lung Cancer, only 10 weeks before the coronation of Elizabeth II. Mary wished the Coronation not to be interrupted. She lay-in-state at Westminster Hall and was then interred beside her husband at St George Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Mary is remembered as a staunch and respectible figure whom the British people trusted and kept hope with. Her style and beliefs transformed the British Monarchy and brought a new sense of glory.
Titles and Styles
During her youth Mary with her parents and siblings became disgraced when they family has to sell their valuables in order to pay debt collectors. The family travelled Europe and stayed in Florence for a bit of time. Mary visited museums, art galleries and churches and became a young cultured lady. When she returned to London, she and her family resided at White Lodge, Richmond Park. Mary was close to her mother and her aunt the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. She wrote to her aunt every week and during the war sent letters through the Crown Princess of Sweden until her aunts death in 1916.
Queen Victoria started to find viable marriage options for her grandson and future King, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale. After much deliberation Victoria found Mary suitable for the role and Albert Victor began to court Mary. They became engaged in 1891 which pleased the Tecks as it was a sign of their families renewed status. But Albert Victor died from an influenza that was worldwide. Queen Victoria considered her a suitable candidate for marriage to Albert’s brother Prince George who was second in line to the throne, and they were married in 1893. Queen Victoria created them the Duke and Duchess of York and they lived at York Cottege on the Sandringham Estate. Mary hated the small home as she couldn't entertain and she wasn't allowed to decorate it. Yet the marriage was a success and George unlike his father never took a mistress making Mary feel truly needed. They had 6 children Edward, Albert, Mary, Henry, George and John. The youngest Prince John suffered from epilepsy and died aged 13 which deeply hurt Mary as she really did care about John and the rest of her children. Mary, unlike her husband, used to have fun with her children and did normal kid activities.
George V became King in 1910 and Mary became Queen consort. They toured India in 1911 as Emperor and Empress of India and were crowned during the Delhi Durbar. During World War I, Mary visited wounded serviceman in hospital and was staunch supporter of her husband during difficult times that included not only the war with Germany, but also the Russian revolution and murder of George’s cousin Princess Alix who was Tsarina Alexandra wife of Tsar Nicholas II, civil unrest and Irish and Indian nationalism. In 1917 with anti-German sentiment running high, the family name was changed from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor. Mary was deeply affected as she herself had German parents and was a German Princess with German titles associated with her family. Mary's brothers renounced their German titles and were given British titles in compensation. Mary was identified as a serious and staunch figure who held a respectful and "queenly" personality. Mary often performed her own official events and tours which brought out people's love for her and the British Monarchy.
George became increasingly frail after the war years and Mary was increasingly seen with her husband. George and Mary began to scale their duties down and relax more with Mary fond of tennis at Wimbledon. In 1935, George and Mary celebrated their Silver Jubilee. George and Mary had become figures that saved the British Monarchy and figures that were a symbol of hope for the public. But on the 20th January 1936, George V died of pleurisy.
Following the death of George in 1936, she became the Queen mother and her son Edward became King Edward VIII. She disapproved of divorce and of Edward’s subsequent abdication and marriage to twice divorced Wallis Simpson, but she supported her second son Albert who came to the throne as King George VI. Mary moved to Marlborough House when her son became King. She was referred to as Queen Mary after her husbands death and took a strong interest in Princess Elizabeth's and Princess Margaret's education. During World War II, Mary moved to Badminton Park, home of her niece Mary Somerset, Duchess of Beaufort. She angered her niece by bringing 55 servants, over 70 pieces of luggage and by stripping the ivory from the walls of the house. Mary offered lifts to soldiers, visited hospitals and took part in the war effort.
Mary was a vivid collector of jewellery and antique furniture. She payed above market prices for the jewels of Dowager Empress Marie Feoderovna of Russia and for the Cambridge Emeralds from Lady Kilmoray. In 1924, Sir Edwin Lutyens created Queen Mary's Doll House to hold her collection of miniature objects. She was very persuasive when buying items and sometimes would convince people by nagging to donate objects she liked.
Her son George VI died on the 6th February 1952 and her granddaughter Elizabeth succeeded him as Queen. Mary was one of three Queens: herself, Elizabeth, the new Queen Mother, and Queen Elizabeth II. She died on the 24th March 1953 at the age of 85 of Lung Cancer, only 10 weeks before the coronation of Elizabeth II. Mary wished the Coronation not to be interrupted. She lay-in-state at Westminster Hall and was then interred beside her husband at St George Chapel, Windsor Castle.
Mary is remembered as a staunch and respectible figure whom the British people trusted and kept hope with. Her style and beliefs transformed the British Monarchy and brought a new sense of glory.
Titles and Styles
- 26 May 1867 – 6 July 1893: Her Serene Highness Princess Victoria Mary of Teck
- 6 July 1893 – 22 January 1901: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of York
- 22 January 1901 – 9 November 1901: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall and York
- 9 November 1901 – 6 May 1910: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales
- 6 May 1910 – 20 January 1936: Her Majesty The Queen
- In India: Her Imperial Majesty The Queen-Empress
- 20 January 1936 – 24 March 1953: Her Majesty Queen Mary