Figure 1.--Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg married King Alfonso XIII of Spain (1906). She was the youngest granddaughter of Queen Victoria and the first cousin of King George V of the United Kingdom, Queen Maud of Norway, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia, Queen Marie of Romania, German Emperor Wilhelm II and Queen Sophia of Greece. She was first cousin once removed to Queen Louise of Sweden. Felipe VI of Spain is her great-grandson. Here she is participating in a feeding program during the 1920s. We do no know whoi the children were.

Queen Ena was born Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, one of Queen Victoria's 40 grandchildren. She was born at Balmoral Castle in Scotland (1887). Her father was Prince Henry of Battenberg. The Prince was the fourth child and third son of Prince Alexander of Hesse von Rhine by his morganatic wife Countess Julia Hauke. Her mother was Princess Beatrice, the fifth daughter and youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. Prince Henry was the product of a morganatic marriage in which neither his wife of lower rank and their children had any claim to the possessions or title of Prince Henry. Prince Henry took the name Battenberg from his mother who was created Princess of Battenberg in her own right. Prince Henry's children were entitled to style 'Serene Highness'. Queen Victoria had, however, issued a Royal Warrant (1996) granting the higher style of "Highness" to all sons and daughters of Prince Henry and her granddaughter Princess Beatrice. Victorian Eugenia was born Her Highness Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg. She was named for her grandmother Victoria and for her godmother Eugénie de Montijo, the Spanish-born French Empress (wife of Napoleon III) who lived in exile in the United Kingdom. Within the family and the British general public, she was known by the last of her names -- Ena. It was always planned for Princess Beatrice to care for her mother in her old age. Victoria Eugenie thus grew up in Queen Victoria's household. The Queen reluctantly allowed Beatrice to marry on the condition that she remain her mother's full-time companion and personal secretary. Thus Victoria Eugenie spent her childhood at Windsor Castle, Balmoral, and Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Her linneage as a granddaughter of Queen Victoria links her to the royal families of much of Europe. Despite her German father, she grew up throughly English. She was a bridesmaid at the wedding of her cousins, the Duke (later King George V) and Duchess of York (1893). Her father died while on active military service after contracting fever in Africa (1896). After the death of Queen Victoria (1901), the Battenbergs moved to London and took up residence in Kensington Palace. Spainish King Alfonso XIII visited Britain (1905). It was a state visit, but the King was looking for a wife. Princess Patricia of Connaught, King Edward VIII's niece was though to be a suitable candidate, but Victoria Eugenie caught Alfonso's eye. Alfonso mairred Victoria-Eugenie at the Church of San Jeronimo in Madrid (1906). She became Queen Ena. King Alfonso XIII and Queen Ena had seven children. It was a large happy family with the children fairly close in age. The English look of the children's clothing suggest Queen Ena personally selected them. She seems to have taken an active role in raising the children. Most available images show the Queen with the children and not the King or the two of them together. Victoria Eugenie devoted herself to various charutable works. The were primarily hospitals and services for the poor. She was also interesred in education. She helped reorganize the Spanish Red Cross. After Alfonso was deposed the royal family left Spain and lived in Italy and Switzerland. The British, we think for diplomaric reasons, did not want her to return to Britain. The Queen died in Switzerland during 1969.

Created: 9:39 PM 7/18/2018
Last updated: 9:39 PM 7/18/2018