Prince Francis
Duke of Teck

Prince Francis, Duke of Teck (Francis Paul Charles Louis Alexander; German: Franz Paul Karl Ludwig Alexander) (August 28, 1837 – January 21, 1900), was a member of the British Royal Family, the father of Queen Mary. Francis held the titles of Graf von Hohenstein (Count of Hohenstein) and later Duke of Teck. He was granted the style His Highness in 1887. Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ... 1837 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1900 (MCM) is a common year starting on Monday. ... Members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping the Colour ceremony The British Royal Family is a group of people closely related to the British monarch. ... Mary of Teck Princess Mary of Teck (Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes) (26 May 1867 – 24 March 1953), later Queen Mary, was the Queen consort of George V of the United Kingdom. ... Duke of Teck was a dukedom in the Kingdom of Württemberg. ... Highness, often used with a personal possessive pronoun (His/Her/Your Highness, the first two abbreviated HH) and/or an adjective referring to the rank of the dynasty (e. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ...

Early life

Francis was born on August 28, 1837 in Vienna, Austria. His father was Duke Alexander of Württemberg, the son of Duke Louis of Württemberg. His mother was Countess Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde. The marriage was morganatic, meaning that Francis had no succession rights to the Kingdom of Württemberg. His title at birth was Count Francis von Hohenstein, after his mother was created Countess von Hohenstein in her own right by Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria. Through the House of Württemburg, Francis was distantly descended from the Habsburgs, the then powerful ruling family of Austria. Cite Almanach de Gotha. August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ... 1837 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Vienna (German: Wien [viːn]; Slovenian: Dunaj, Hungarian: Bécs, Czech: Vídeň, Slovak: Viedeň, Romany Vidnya; Croatian and Serbian: Beč) is the capital of Austria, and also one of the nine States of Austria. ... Duke Alexander was the father of His Serene Highness Prince Francis of Teck and the grandfather to the Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge. ... Württemberg (often spelled Wurttemberg in English) refers to an area and a former state in Swabia, a region in south-western Germany. ... Emperor Ferdinand Ferdinand I Karl Leopold Joseph Franz Marchlin Emperor of Austria King of Hungary and Bohemia (April 19, 1793 – June 29, 1875) succeeded his father (Franz II Holy Roman Emperor/Franz I of Austria) as Emperor and King in 1835 and was forced to abdicate in 1848. ... Habsburg (sometimes spelled Hapsburg, but never so in official use) was one of the major ruling houses of Europe. ... The Almanach de Gotha was a directory of Europes nobility first published in 1763 at the ducal court of Friedrich III of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (which included the city of Gotha) in 1763. ...

In 1863, Francis was created Prince of Teck, with the style His Serene Highness in the Kingdom of Württemberg, and in 1871, was created Duke of Teck. HSH is an acronym for His Serene Highness or Her Serene Highness. ... Duke of Teck was a dukedom in the Kingdom of Württemberg. ...

Army

Like his father, Duke Alexander, Francis embarked upon a career in the Austrian army, eventually rising to the rank of captain in the 7th Hussars during the Austro-Prussian War. He retired from the Austrian army in 1866. Later he became attached to the staff of British General Sir Garret Wolseley during the 1882 Egyptian campaign. He was gazetted a colonel in the British Army in 1882 and subsequently promoted to major general in 1893. 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

Marriage

As the product of a morganatic marriage, and without succession rights to the throne, Francis had little income in comparison with other European princes. This made Francis an unpopular choice with the princesses of Europe from whom he had to chose a bride. He instead married upwards, into a richer family, by marrying Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, the younger daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, and a granddaughter of King George III, who was known as Fat Mary because of her wide girth. That, together with the fact that she was now in her thirties, meant that Mary Adelaide was also short of choices for marriage. A morganatic marriage is a type of marriage which can be contracted in certain countries, usually between persons of unequal social rank (unebenbürtig in German), which prevents the passage of the husbands titles and privileges to the wife and any children born of the marriage. ... Her Royal Highness Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge (Mary Adelaide Wilhelmina Elizabeth), (November 27, 1833 – October 27, 1897), was a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of King George III. She later held the title of Duchess of Teck by marriage. ... Prince Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge (24 February 1774-8 July 1850), was the tenth-born child and seventh son of King George III of the United Kingdom and Queen Charlotte. ... George III (George William Frederick) (4 June 1738 – 29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain, and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until 1 January 1801, and thereafter King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. ...

The couple married on June 12, 1866 at Kew Palace, West London. Together they had four children: June 12 is the 163rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (164th in leap years), with 202 days remaining. ... 1866 is a common year starting on Monday. ... Kew Palace. ... Greater London and the Regions of England. ...

• Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, later Queen Mary, queen-consort of the United Kingdom (1867-1953)
• Prince Adolphus of Teck, later Duke of Teck, 1st Marquess of Cambridge (1868-1927)
• Prince Francis of Teck (1870-1910)
• Prince Alexander of Teck later Earl of Athlone 1874-1957)

Mary of Teck Princess Mary of Teck (Victoria Mary Augusta Louise Olga Pauline Claudine Agnes) (26 May 1867 – 24 March 1953), later Queen Mary, was the Queen consort of George V of the United Kingdom. ... 1867 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1953 (MCMLIII) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge(Adolphus Charles Alexander Albert Edward George Philip Louis Landislaus), neè His Serene Highness Prince Adolphus of Teck and later His Highness The Duke of Teck (13 August 1868-23 October 1927), was a member of the British Royal Family and a younger brother of... Duke of Teck was a dukedom in the Kingdom of Württemberg. ... Duke of Cambridge is a title frequently conferred upon junior members of the British royal family. ... 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Prince Francis of Teck (1870 – 1910), was a minor member of the British Royal Family, the brother of Queen Mary. ... 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... -1... Major-General Alexander Augustus Frederick William Alfred George Cambridge, 1st Earl of Athlone, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS, born His Serene Highness Prince Alexander of Teck (14 April 1874–16 January 1957), was a member of the British Royal Family, the younger brother of Queen Mary. ... The title of Earl of Athlone has been created three times. ... 1874 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Hard times

Given the impoverishment of Francis, the couple were forced to survive on Mary Adelaide's small Parliamentary allowance of £5,000 per annum, supplemented by income from her mother, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge. Mary Adelaide's requests to her cousin Queen Victoria for more funds was met with refusal, however they were granted a grace and favour apartment in Kensington Palace, London and a country house, White Lodge, the former royal deer-hunting lodge in Richmond Park, South-West London. The south facade of the main block of Kensington Palace, seen through Jean Tijous wrought iron gates. ... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England. ... A corner of the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park Richmond Park is the largest of the Royal parks in London, close to Richmond upon Thames, Kingston upon Thames and East Sheen. ...

Despite the modest incomes of the Duke and Duchess, they lived remarkable lives of social engagements, leading to the build up of large debts. In 1883, the Tecks fled the UK to continental Europe, where they stayed with relatives in Florence and Germany. They eventually returned to the UK in 1885. 1883 (MDCCCLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Founded 59 BC as Florentia Region Tuscany Mayor Leonardo Domenici (Democratici di Sinistra) Area  - City Proper  102 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 356,000 almost 500,000 3,453/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Latitude Longitude 43°47 N 11°15 E www. ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Later life

In 1887, Queen Victoria granted Francis the style of His Highness, as a gift to celebrate her Golden Jubilee. Despite this, the Tecks were still seen as minor relatives, with little status or wealth. Their fortunes improved when in 1891, their only daughter, Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (known as May to her family) became engaged to the second in line to the British throne, HRH Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence. The death of the Duke of Clarence only six weeks later looked like a cruel blow. However, Queen Victoria was fond of Princess May and persuaded the Duke of Clarence's brother, and next in the line of succession, Prince George, Duke of York to marry her instead. A style of office, or honorific, is a form of address which by tradition or law precedes a reference to a person who holds a title or post, or to the office itself. ... Highness, often used with a personal possessive pronoun (His/Her/Your Highness, the first two abbreviated HH) and/or an adjective referring to the rank of the dynasty (e. ... Highness, often used with a personal possessive pronoun (His/Her/Your Highness, the first two abbreviated HH) and/or an adjective referring to the rank of the dynasty (e. ... A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary. ... 1891 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale (Albert Victor Christian Edward) (January 8, 1864 – January 14, 1892) was a member of the British Royal Family, as the eldest son of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) and Alexandra of Denmark. ... Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria) (24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837, and Empress of India from 1 January 1877, until her death. ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert) (3 June 1865–20 January 1936) was the last British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, changing the name to the House of Windsor in 1917. ...

In 1897, the Duchess of Teck died, leaving Francis a widower. He continued to live at White Lodge, Richmond but did not carry out any royal duties, although he continued to receive the late Duchess' Parliamentary annuity. 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

Francis died on January 21, 1900 at White Lodge. He was buried next to his wife in the Royal Vault at St. George's Chapel, Windsor. It has been alleged that Francis actually died in a brothel in Vienna, Austria and that his body was returned to the UK in secret in order not to embarrass his daughter, who was now the Duchess of York. St Georges Chapel, Windsor St. ... Brothels are establishments (usually illegal) specifically dedicated to prostitution and may be confined to special red-light districts in large cities. ...

Titles

• Count Francis von Hohenstein
• His Serene Highness Prince Francis of Teck
• His Serene Highness The Duke of Teck
• His Highness The Duke of Teck