The Last Princess

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Beatrice, the youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, became her mother’s indispensable companion after her father's death when Beatrice was just four. Matthew Dennison explores their complex relationship, highlighting Victoria's demanding nature and Beatrice's complete submission. By her late teens, Beatrice was not only her mother’s constant companion but also managed her office, ultimately serving as literary executor after Victoria's death. She meticulously edited her mother’s extensive Journal and correspondence. Despite Victoria's attempts to shield Beatrice from love, the guard slipped when Beatrice met Liko, Prince Henry of Battenberg, at 29. This relationship marked a significant triumph over familial and royal opposition. Tragically, Beatrice inherited the haemophilia gene from her mother, passing it on to two of her sons and her daughter, who in turn affected the Spanish royal family. Yet, Beatrice was more than just a wife and mother; she had a passion for music, composing a military march still played by British regimental bands, and she also enjoyed singing and painting. Dennison emphasizes her vital role in Victoria's queenship, aiming to restore Beatrice's prominence as a significant figure in her own right.