Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll

Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll

Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, VA, CI, GCVO, GBE, RRC was the sixth child and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Louise was an able sculptor and artist, and several of her sculptures remain today. She was also a supporter of the feminist movement, corresponding with Josephine Butler, and visiting Elizabeth Garrett. Louise died in Kensington, London, aged 91, and is buried at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

About Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll in brief

Summary Princess Louise, Duchess of ArgyllPrincess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, VA, CI, GCVO, GBE, RRC was the sixth child and fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Louise was an able sculptor and artist, and several of her sculptures remain today. She was also a supporter of the feminist movement, corresponding with Josephine Butler, and visiting Elizabeth Garrett. Louise’s marriage survived thanks to long periods of separation; the couple reconciled in 1911 and she was devastated by her husband’s death in 1914. After the end of the First World War in 1918, at the age of 70, she began to retire from public life, undertaking few public duties outside Kensington Palace, where she died at the aged of 91. Louise and her siblings were brought up with a strict programme of education devised by her father, Prince Albert, and his friend and confidant, Baron Stockmar. Her names were used to name many features in Canada. Louise also became an able dancer, and Victoria wrote, after a dance, that Louise ‘danced with more verve and accuracy than any of her sisters’ Her wit and intelligence made her a favourite with her father and her inquisitive nature earned her the nickname ‘Little Miss Why’ Louise’s father, the prince consort, died on 14 December 1861, and ordered her household to move from Windsor to Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. The queen’s labour with Louise was the first to be aided with chloroform. Her early life was spent moving among the various royal residences in the company of her family.

Louise fell in love with John, Marquess of Lorne, the heir of the Duke of ArGyll, and they married on 21 March 1871. Her godparents were Duke Gustav of Mecklenburg-Schwerin ; the Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen ; and the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Meckingen-Strelitz. Louise became viceregal consort of Canada, starting a lasting interest in Canada, and her name was used to names many features of the country. She also became a strong proponent of the arts and higher education, and was a strong advocate for the feminist cause. Louise died in Kensington, London, aged 91, and is buried at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, next to her mother, Queen Victoria. She is survived by her brother, Prince Edward VII, and two sons, Prince William and Prince George of Wales. Louise is buried alongside her husband, Prince Charles, at St James’s Palace in London. She died on 18 March 1848 at Buckingham Palace, London. Her birth coincided with revolutions which swept across Europe, prompting the queen to remark that Louise would turn out to be’something peculiar’ She was christened Louisa at the service, but she was invariably known as Louise throughout her life. Louise had a happy beginning, possibly because of their childlessness and the queen’s constraints on their activities. Her artistic talents were quickly recognised. Because of her royal rank, an artistic career was not considered. However, the queen first allowed her to attend art school.