Princess Helena Victoria

Princess Helena Victoria is one of the many great names the island of Madeira had the honour to have as a visitor in the 1920s.

Born as Victória Luísa Sofia Augusta Amélia Helena in 1870 at Frogmore House, near Windsor Castle, her father was Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. Her mother was Princess Helena, the fifth child and third daughter of Queen Victoria.

Her parents resided in the United Kingdom, at Cumberland Lodge, and the Princess was considered a member of the British Royal Family. Under letters patent of 1866, she was styled Her Highness Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein.

Princess Helena Victoria never married. She followed her mother's footsteps in working for various charitable organizations, most notably the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) and Princess Christian's Nursing Home at Windsor. During World War I, she founded the YWCA Women's Auxiliary Force. As its president, she visited British troops in France and obtained the permission of the Secretary of State for War to arrange entertainments for them.

In due time, Princess Helena Victoria and her younger sister Princess Marie Louise ceased to use the territorial designation of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenberg. Instead, they became known simply as "Her Highness Princess Helena Victoria" and "Her Highness Princess Marie Louise," giving them the odd distinction of being Princesses but not Princesses of any family or monarchy. Although the two Princesses had borne German titles, they were both quintessentially English.

After World War II, Princess Helena's health began to deteriorate until her death on March 13, 1948. Her funeral took place at St. George's Chapel, Windsor and she was buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore, Windsor Great Park.