I often listen to historical podcasts or watch video’s on YouTube regarding historical persons, and last week I came accross another Victoria I didn’t know much about: Princess Victoria of Saxe-Cobourg. Time to meet her!
Actually, I met her already a couple of times reading biographies regarding Queen Victoria and Sophie, Sisi’s little Sister. What do all these women have in common? Princess Victoria of Saxe-Cobourg was Sophie’s mother-in-law, mother of Ferdinand d’Alençon and Queen Victoria’s first cousin by her mother. Let me show you in a family tree. Click on the image for the full view.
Youth
Princess Victoria was born on 14 February 1822 and was the dauther of Ferdinand, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha-Koháry and Princess Maria Antonia Koháry de Csábrág et Szitnya. Her mother was the daughter and heiress of Ferenc József, Prince Koháry de Csábrág et Szitnya. Through her parents, she was related to Queen Victoria, her husband Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, as well as Belgian King Leopold II and his sister, Empress Carlota of Mexico.
Wedding to the Orleans
At the age 18, she married on 27 April 1840 the Duke of Nemours, second son of King Louis Philippe of France. She followed the French Royal family into exile to England. Being the first cousin of both Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, they got quite some help to find a place to stay.
Family
The Duke and Duchess of Nemours had four children:
- Gaston d’Orléans, Count of Eu (28 April 1842 – 28 August 1922)
- Ferdinand d’Orléans, Duke of Alençon (12 July 1844 – 29 June 1910), who married Duchess Sophie in Bavaria, Sisi’s little sister
- Marguerite d’Orléans (1846–1893)
- Blanche d’Orléans (28 October 1857 – 4 February 1932).
Death
Victoria died almost two weeks after giving birth to Blanche at Claremont. She was first buried at the Chapel of Saint Charles Borromeo in Weybridge. Her remains were later transferred to the Royal Chapel of Dreux, the traditional burial place of the House of Orléans, in 1979.
Bax of Things 