Prince Francis of Teck
Encyclopedia
Prince Francis of Teck, GCVO
, DSO
(9 January 1870 – 22 October 1910), was a member of the British Royal Family
, the brother of Queen Mary
.
Francis Joseph Leopold Frederick, known as "Frank" was born at Kensington Palace
and educated at Wellington College, Cheltenham College
(Stone, 1912, p. xviii) and RMA Sandhurst. His father was Prince Francis, Duke of Teck, the son of Duke Alexander of Württemberg
and the Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde
(created the Countess von Hohenstein). His mother was the Duchess of Teck (née Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge
), the youngest daughter of HRH Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge
and a granddaughter of King George III. Frank was styled His Serene Highness Prince Francis of Teck at birth. He joined the Royal Dragoons
in 1890. On his early death, shortly before his sister's coronation as Queen Consort
to George V
, his will
set a legal precedent when it was sealed, presumably to avoid scandal. The document remains a secret and subsequent royal wills have followed in this legal secrecy. He is buried in the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore.
's Born to Rule, Frank was vigorously pursued by Maud of Wales
, his sister's sister-in-law. The two exchanged letters, but it soon became clear that Frank was not interested in Maud, so she set her sights on someone else: her first cousin Prince Carl of Denmark
. Frank never married. He died in 1910 at the age of forty.
From her mother Clarice Remnant's father Francis Remnant, Sarah Miles
claims to be the great-granddaughter of Prince Francis of Teck and thus a second cousin once removed of Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(9 January 1870 – 22 October 1910), was a member of the British Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
, the brother of Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
.
Francis Joseph Leopold Frederick, known as "Frank" was born at Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace
Kensington Palace is a royal residence set in Kensington Gardens in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London, England. It has been a residence of the British Royal Family since the 17th century and is the official London residence of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duke and...
and educated at Wellington College, Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent school, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions.The 1893 book Great...
(Stone, 1912, p. xviii) and RMA Sandhurst. His father was Prince Francis, Duke of Teck, the son of Duke Alexander of Württemberg
Duke Alexander of Württemberg
Duke Alexander of Württemberg was the father of Prince Francis of Teck and the grandfather of Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge and Queen Mary of Great Britain, wife of King George V....
and the Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde
Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde
Countess Claudine Rhédey de Kis-Rhéde was the wife of Duke Alexander of Württemberg. Her son, Francis, Duke of Teck was the father of Mary of Teck, Queen consort to George V of the United Kingdom....
(created the Countess von Hohenstein). His mother was the Duchess of Teck (née Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge
Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge
Princess Mary Adelaide Wilhelmina Elizabeth of Cambridge was a member of the British Royal Family, a granddaughter of George III, and great-grandmother of Elizabeth II. She held the title of Duchess of Teck through marriage.Mary Adelaide is remembered as the mother of Queen Mary, the consort of...
), the youngest daughter of HRH Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge
Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge
The Prince Adolphus, 1st Duke of Cambridge , was the tenth child and seventh son of George III and Queen Charlotte. He held the title of Duke of Cambridge from 1801 until his death. He also served as Viceroy of Hanover on behalf of his brothers George IV and William IV...
and a granddaughter of King George III. Frank was styled His Serene Highness Prince Francis of Teck at birth. He joined the Royal Dragoons
Royal Dragoons
The Royal Dragoons was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was formed in 1661, and served until 1969, when it was amalgamated with the Royal Horse Guards to form The Blues and Royals....
in 1890. On his early death, shortly before his sister's coronation as Queen Consort
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
to George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
, his will
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
set a legal precedent when it was sealed, presumably to avoid scandal. The document remains a secret and subsequent royal wills have followed in this legal secrecy. He is buried in the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore.
Potential Marriage
According to Julia P. GelardiJulia P. Gelardi
Julia P. Gelardi is an author of European royal history. She is an independent historian.-Writing career:After Gelardi received her Master of Arts degree from Simon Fraser University, she began her writing career by focusing on European royalty...
's Born to Rule, Frank was vigorously pursued by Maud of Wales
Maud of Wales
Princess Maud of Wales was Queen of Norway as spouse of King Haakon VII. She was a member of the British Royal Family as the youngest daughter of Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark and granddaughter of Queen Victoria and also of Christian IX of Denmark. She was the younger sister of George V...
, his sister's sister-in-law. The two exchanged letters, but it soon became clear that Frank was not interested in Maud, so she set her sights on someone else: her first cousin Prince Carl of Denmark
Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
. Frank never married. He died in 1910 at the age of forty.
From her mother Clarice Remnant's father Francis Remnant, Sarah Miles
Sarah Miles
-Early life and career:Sarah Miles was born in the small town of Ingatestone, Essex, in South East England.She first attended Roedean but at the age of 15 she enrolled at RADA, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art...
claims to be the great-granddaughter of Prince Francis of Teck and thus a second cousin once removed of Elizabeth II of Great Britain.
Military career
- Royal Military College Sandhurst
- 1889.01.30 2nd Lieutenant, 9th (Queen's Royal) Lancers
- 1889.04.17 transferred to 1st Bn, The King's Royal Rifle Corps
- 1890.10.08 transferred to 1st Royal Dragoons
- 1891.08.26 Lieutenant, 1st Royal Dragoons
- 1894.07.25 Captain, 1st Royal Dragoons
- 1896.11.25 Aide de Camp to the General Officer Commanding, Quetta, India
- 1897.08.06 attached Egyptian Army
- 1897-1898 served in Nile Expedition (Atbara and Khartoum) (rcvd: MID twice, DSO, Medal with clasp)
- 1899.01.11 Aide de Camp to the General Officer Commanding, South Eastern District
- 1899.07.24 Staff Captain, Remount Establishment, Dublin
- 1899.05.29 DAAG, Remount Establishment, South Africa
- 1899-1900 served in the South African War in Transvaal operations (rcvd: MID, brevet Major, Queen's Medal with 3 clasps)
- 1900.11.29 Major
- 1901.11.16 retired and transferred to Reserve of Officer