Early Life
Princess Beatrice was born on 20 April 1884 at Eastwell Park, Kent. Her father was Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second eldest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Her mother was the Duchess of Edinburgh (née Grand Duchess Marie Alexandrovna of Russia), the only daughter of Alexander II of Russia and Marie of Hesse and by Rhine.
As a granddaughter of the British monarch in the male line, Beatrice held the title of Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland with the style Her Royal Highness. The young princess was baptised at Eastwell House on 17 May 1884 by Revd William Lloyd (her father's chaplain); among her godparents were her paternal aunt The Princess Beatrice.
Beatrice spent much of her early years in Malta, where her father was serving in the Royal Navy. She was a bridesmaid at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of York (future George V and Queen Mary) on 6 July 1893.
On the death of Prince Alfred's uncle, Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, on 22 August 1893, the duchy fell to the Duke of Edinburgh, since HRH Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, the Duke's elder brother had renounced his right to the succession.
The Duke and Duchess and their five children travelled to Coburg to take up residence shortly afterwards.
Read more about this topic: Princess Beatrice Of Saxe-Coburg And Gotha
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