Kevin

Victoria, Princess Royal & King Edward VII

Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa - Victoria obviously comes from her mother, and her grandmother. Adelaide is after Queen Adelaide, who was a close motherly figure to Queen Victoria. Mary is after Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester, who was also a motherly figure to the Queen and the last surviving child of George III. Louisa is after Prince Albert’s mother, Louise.

Albert Edward - Albert is after his father, Prince Albert. Edward is after his grandfather, Prince Edward, Duke of Kent.

Princess Alice & Prince Alfred

Alice Maud Mary - Alice was chosen to honour Lord Melbourne as he had once told the Queen that Alice was his favourite female name. Maud was after her godmother, Princess Sophia Matilda of Gloucester. Mary is again after Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester (who Alice also shared a birthday with!)

Alfred Ernest Albert - the reason why he was named Alfred isn’t known, perhaps after his mother’s uncles, or one of the old kings with that name? Ernest after his uncle and grandfather on his father’s side, Ernest I & Ernest II, Dukes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

Princess Helena & Princess Louise

Helena Augusta Victoria - Helena was chosen to honour her godmother, Helene of Orleans. Augusta was after Princess Augusta, Duchess of Cambridge. Victoria was after her mother.

Louisa Caroline Alberta - Louisa was after Prince Albert’s mother. The reason for Caroline isn’t known, but probably after Albert’s mother (again) who had Caroline as a middle name. Alberta after Prince Albert. (Isn’t it an odd coincidence how Louise ended up looking the most like her paternal Grandmother?)

Arthur William Patrick Albert - Arthur was after the Duke of Wellington who the Prince shared a birthday with. William came from his Godfather, Emperor Wilhelm II. Patrick was for the people of Ireland. Albert was for (of course) Prince Albert. (Albert wrote in a letter that Victoria had insisted on adding Albert into their baby son’s names.)

Leopold George Duncan Albert - Leopold was after Victoria & Albert’s beloved uncle, Leopod I of the Belgians. George was in honour of his godfather, King George V of Hanover. Duncan was given as a special compliment to Scotland (which is funny considering Leopold later developed a hatred of Scotland). Albert was after Prince Albert.

Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore - there is no known reason for why they chose Beatrice, they most likely just liked the name. Mary was after Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester who would actually die a couple weeks after Beatrice’s birth. Victoria was after her mother. Feodore was after her Aunt, Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.

☽ QUEEN ALEXANDRA AND HER SISTER EMPRESS MARIA FEODOROVNA ☾

I used to try to attach myself to my Aunt Alix after dinner, for of all the relations she was my favourite, perhaps because she was the most beautiful person in my small world. Even after all these years I remember her as I saw her then, the grace of her every movement, the sweetness of her smile. No woman ever possessed to greater degree that inde-finable quality known as charm. That, combined with beauty, will turn anyone's head, unless they be made of stone. Everyone who knew her came under its spell, grown-ups as well as children, for she could talk to either with equal fascination. She was very witty, brilliant in repartee and a wonderful mimic, yet her wit was never cruel.

Aunt Minnie, the Empress Marie Feodorovna of Russia, was a smaller and less beautiful edition of her sister; she had the same charm, the same tact, but had more strength of character. Although she was small she could enter a room so majestically that everyone would stop talking and turn to look at her. She was a great smoker, but wanted no one to know it but the family, so if anyone else entered the room she would immediately hide her cigarette behind her back. | Prince Christopher of Greece

Young, lively and full of joie de vivre... the sisters set each other off and became the centre of a glittering crowd wherever they went. | Louisa, Countess of Antrim

Look into my eyes you will see, what you mean to me...