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History

The stories of Queen Victoria’s granddaughters: Maud, Queen of Norway

Princess Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria was the third daughter and youngest surviving child of the Prince and Princess of Wales, later King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of Denmark, the daughter of King Christian IX of Denmark and Louise of Hesse-Kassel.

Maud of Wales

Princess Maud was born at Marlborough House on 26 November 1869. She was baptised by John Jackson, Bishop of London at Marlborough House on 24 December 1869.

Maud had two older brothers Albert Victor Christian Edward, Duke of Clarence and Avondale and Prince George Frederick Ernest Albert of Wales, later King George V. She also had two sisters, Louise, Princess Royal (Louise Victoria Alexandra Dagmar) and Victoria Alexandra Olga Mary. Her third brother, Prince Alexander John of Wales died within 24 hours of his birth.

A lively child she earned the nickname ‘Harry’ among her family and friends.

Maud enjoyed the country life, taking part in the typical country pursuits especially riding. She also shared a common interest in art, photography and music with her mother and sister and was a keen lover of dogs.

She joined her family in their frequent visits to Denmark, and later she accompanied her mother and sister Princess Victoria on cruises to the Mediterranean and Norway.

Princess Maud married her first cousin, Prince Carl of Denmark on 22 July 1896. Prince Carl was the second son of Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark, Queen Alexandra’s older brother, and Princess Louise of Sweden.

The wedding took place in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace.

Her father, the then Prince of Wales, gifted her Appleton House, which is located at the Sandringham Estate to use for a country residence during her visits to England.

Her only child, Prince Alexander was born on 2 July 1903 at Appleton House.

Her husband, Prince Carl, an officer in the Danish Navy lived mainly in Denmark until he was elected King of Norway in 1905. Prince Carl became Haakon VII, whilst his son took the name of Crown Prince Olav.

King Haakon and Queen Maud were crowned on 22 June 1906 at Trondheim.

Maud loved England, but she adapted to her new country and duties. She was a strong supporter of charities that focussed on children and animals as well as music and the arts.

Portrett av Dronning Maud, Kronprins Olav og Kong Haakon VII, ca 1910 crop

Maud visited England for the last time in October 1938. She first stayed at Sandringham, later moving into a hotel in the West End of London.

After falling ill, she was admitted to a nursing home to undergo an abdominal operation on 16 November 1938.

Although she withstood having surgery, she succumbed to heart failure at Appleton House on 20 November, a mere six days before her sixty-ninth birthday.

Her body was returned to Norway where she is buried in the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Castle in Oslo.

Following the death of her husband, King Haakon in September 1957, Maud’s son the Crown Prince of Norway succeeded as King Olav V. He married Princess Märtha of Sweden in 1929. The couple had three children, Princess Ragnhild Alexandra, Princess Astrid Maud Ingeborg and Harald V who is the present King of Norway.

Photo credits: Peder O. Aune [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)] and By Nasjonalbiblioteket [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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