Princess Alice was born in 1883 at Windsor Castle and was a grand daughter of Queen Victoria through her father, Prince Leopoldo, Duke of Albany. Princess Alice enjoyed a long and eventful life that encompassed nearly a century. The princess married a distant cousin, HSH Prince Alexander of Teck, the younger brother of the future Queen Mary.
Princess Alice's mother, Princess Helen, was the sister of Queen Emma of the Netherlands and this was the only link between the two Royal Houses.
When King George V changed the family name to Windsor, all the royal relations with German sounding names also changed, so HSH Prince Alexander of Teck became The Earl of Athlone, his elder brother became The Marquess of Cambridge. Princess Alice was able to keep her royal title as she had been born a Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. From 1917, Princess Alice was known as HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone.
The Earl died in 1957, however Princess Alice lived on until 1981, making her the longest lived born royal in the British Royal Family. Princess Alice lived at Clock House, Kensington Palace and would often be seen shopping in Kensington Church Street, unrecognised by the public. With the new generation of royals, Princess Alice had been forgotten and all the work and duties she had performed just distant memories to those who remembered her.
The princess came to the public again in 1977 in the tv program Royal Heritage when she was interviewed by Sir Huw Weldon. She became a hit and everyone knew Princess Alice once more.
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