Victoire of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld: Duchess of Kent and Mother of Queen Victoria
Victoire of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld was born in Coburg on August 17, 1786. The princess is best known as the mother of Queen Victoria. But who was the woman who later held the title Duchess of Kent? This article gives an overview of her life, from her birth in Coburg to her resting place at Frogmore.
A Princess from Coburg: The Beginning
Victoire was born a princess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. The title tied her to Coburg, which is why she is also called a Coburg princess. Her birth date and birthplace are the starting point of her life story.
In 1803 she married Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn. From then on she carried the title Duchess of Kent, the name by which she is still known. English-language sources call her the Duchess of Kent, and German ones say Herzogin von Kent.
The Mother of Queen Victoria
The only child of the marriage with Edward was Alexandrina Victoria, the future Queen Victoria. It is mainly thanks to her daughter that Victoire of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld is remembered today. Yet she had a role of her own in history and held a title of her own.
The relationship between mother and daughter was not always easy. After 1840, when Victoria married Prince Albert, it improved. The Duchess of Kent proved a devoted grandmother and in her later years kept in close touch with her daughter's family.
Date of Death and Resting Place
The Duchess of Kent died on March 16, 1861. She was laid to rest in the Duchess of Kent's Mausoleum at Frogmore in Windsor Home Park. Her grave remains a place of remembrance for Victoire.
Where the Information Comes From
The details in this article rest on material from the Royal Collection Trust and the archive of Trinity College in Cambridge. Further particulars can be read in the sources of both institutions.
Victoire of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld was a princess born in Coburg in 1786, the wife of Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, and the mother of Alexandrina Victoria. She died in 1861, and her grave lies at Frogmore.