Thora, "The Snipe": 9 Facts About Princess Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein

Royal cousins, c1885. Image: Royal Collection via Wikimedia Commons 

The photo above shows five royal cousins, all Queen Victoria's granddaughters. Standing  are Alix and her older sister Irene of Hesse-Darmstadt, while seated (from left to right) are  Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein, Charlotte of Prussia, and Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein. Of these ladies, only Helena Victoria remained unmarried but her life was not to be uneventful. In fact, she spent it on selfless endeavors.

Victoria Louise Sophia Augusta Amelia Helena was born on May 3, 1870 at their family residence, Frogmore House, in Windsor, England. She was the eldest daughter and third child of Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, son of Christian, Duke of Augustenburg and Countess Louise of Danneskjold-Samsøe, and his wife Princess Helena, daughter of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Queen Victoria. Living close to Queen Victoria's court, Helena Victoria never married but actively involved herself in charitable activities. Despite their junior ranks within the royal family, Helena Victoria and her sister Marie Louise were among the more popular British royals in the first half of the 20th century.  Here are facts about Princess Helena Victoria.

She was fondly referred to as “Thora” within the family circle. However, Thora’s sharp facial features also earned her the moniker, “Snipe.” Considered as a potential bride for the future George V, son of the future Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, Thora was easily shrugged off because Alix did not approve of the possible union. She had grown to detest the Augustenbergs because of the wars between Denmark and Prussia over Schleswig-Holstein, where Alexandra’s homeland lost the battles. Poor Thora ended up enduring her vile remarks.

“Well, it would be a pleasure to welcome that ‘beauty’ as your bride,” the then-Princess of Wales mockingly said of Helena Victoria in a letter she wrote to her son. Thora, in the end, stood as one of the bridesmaids at the wedding of George and Mary of Teck in July of 1893.

Another suitor of Thora’s, Ernest of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, eventually married one of her cousins, Alexandra of Edinburgh. Thora was also expected to marry the Catholic Prince Johannes of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, however their difference in religion got in the way of their developing relationship.

Thora spent most of her life in the company of her mother and her grandmother, Queen Victoria, whose memoirs and diaries she helped write and organize during the last few months of the queen’s life. The queen's death finally changed Thora’s life forever. “I know you of all others would be able to realize what the loss of darling Grandmama is to me,’’ she said in a letter.

Inheriting her mother’s sense of charity, Thora became involved in a number of charitable organizations including Princess Christian’s Nursing Home in Windsor, which was established by her mother, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). She loved sports and the outdoors, and had quite a penchant for golf and tennis. Thora also organized concerts during the First World War to entertain the troops.

The First World War led King George V to change the British Royal Family’s name into House of Windsor and renounce all German titles in July of 1917. Thora and her younger sister relinquished their territorial designation “Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg”, and instead adopted the title “Her Highness”.

Thora and her sister Marie lost their Schomberg House in London during the Second World War, and were forced to leave the capital and move to the countryside for safety purposes. Upon their return to the big city, they took up residence in Berkeley Square. Her Highness Helena Victoria died on March 13, 1948 at Fitzmaurice Place in Berkeley Square. Thora was 77 years old, the same age her mother succumbed to death. Her remains were buried at the Royal Burial Ground in Frogmore, Windsor Great Park.