Grand Duchess Augusta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Loses English Pension

The Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Image: Wikimedia

September 18, 1914 - A special cable to the New York Times from London can reveal that the British Government has ceased providing the Dowager Grand Duchess Augusta of Mecklenburg-Strelitz with her $15,000-annuity. The Grand Duchess is a member of the British Royal Family, an aunt of Queen Mary, a cousin to Queen Victoria and a grand daughter of King George III. By marriage, she became a German subject.

The British Government made it known that no British money will ever reach the enemy's country.
Questions have been raised in the Parliament since "the payment arpose out of a contract made before the war begun." However, David Lloyd George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced that "payments had been suspended" already.

The Dowager Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz was born Princess Augusta of Cambridge in 1822. She is the second child and elder daughter of Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge, youngest son of King George III. In 1843, she married Frederick, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.