Francis, Duke of Teck

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Prince Francis
Duke of Teck
Spouse	Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge
Issue
Queen Mary Prince Adolphus Prince Francis Prince Alexander
Full name
Francis Paul Charles Louis Alexander German: Franz Paul Karl Ludwig Alexander
Detail Titles and styles
HH The Duke of Teck HSH The Duke of Teck HSH Prince Francis of Teck Count Francis von Hohenstein
Royal house	Württemberg
Father	Duke Alexander of Württemberg
Mother	Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde
Born	28 August 1837(1837-08-28) Esseg, Slavonia
Died	21 January 1900 (aged 62) White Lodge, Richmond Park
Burial	St George's Chapel, Windsor

Francis, Duke of Teck (Francis Paul Charles Louis Alexander; 28 August 1837 – 21 January 1900), was a member of the British Royal Family, the father of Queen Mary. Francis held the titles of Count of Hohenstein (Graf von Hohenstein) and later Duke of Teck (Herzog von Teck). He was granted the style of Highness in 1887.

Early life

Francis was born on 28 August 1837 in Esseg, Slavonia (now Osijek, Croatia).^[1] His father was Duke Alexander of Württemberg, the son of Duke Louis of Württemberg. His mother was Countess Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde. The marriage was morganatic, meaning that Francis had no succession rights to the Kingdom of Württemberg. His title at birth was Count Francis von Hohenstein, after his mother was created Countess of Hohenstein in her own right by Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria. Through the House of Württemberg, Francis was distantly descended from the Habsburgs, the then powerful ruling family of Austria.

In 1863, Francis was created Prince of Teck, with the style His Serene Highness in the Kingdom of Württemberg, and in 1871, was created Duke of Teck.

Army

Like his father, Duke Alexander, Francis embarked upon a career in the Austrian army, eventually rising to the rank of captain in the 7th Hussars during the Austro-Prussian War. He retired from the Austrian army when he married an moved to England in 1866. Later he became attached to the staff of British General Sir Garnet Wolseley during the 1882 Egyptian campaign. He was gazetted a colonel in the British Army in November 1882^[2] and subsequently promoted to major general, supernumerary to the establishment, in July 1893^[3].

Marriage

As the product of a morganatic marriage, and without succession rights to the throne, Francis was not accepted as a husband for princesses in most of the European royal houses. He further had little income in comparison with other European princes. He thus married into a richer family, by marrying his father's third cousin (in descent from King George II of Great Britain) Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, the younger daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, and a granddaughter of George III, who was known as 'Fat Mary' because of her wide girth. That, together with the fact that she was by 1866 already in her thirties, meant that Mary Adelaide was also short of choices for marriage.

The couple married on 12 June 1866 at St Anne's Church, Kew, West London.^[4] They had four children:

• Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, later Queen Mary, queen-consort of the United Kingdom (1867-1953)
• Prince Adolphus of Teck, later Duke of Teck and Marquess of Cambridge (1868-1927)
• Prince Francis of Teck (1870-1910)
• Prince Alexander of Teck, later Earl of Athlone (1874-1957)

Hard times

Given the impoverishment of Francis, the couple were forced to survive on Mary Adelaide's small Parliamentary allowance of £5,000 per annum, supplemented by income from her mother, The Duchess of Cambridge. Mary Adelaide's requests to her cousin Queen Victoria for more funds were met with refusal; however, they were granted a grace and favour apartment in Kensington Palace, London and a country house, White Lodge, the former royal deer-hunting lodge in Richmond Park, South-West London.

Despite the modest incomes of the Duke and Duchess, they lived remarkable lives of social engagements, leading to the build up of large debts. In 1883, the Tecks fled the UK to continental Europe, where they stayed with relatives in Florence and Germany. They eventually returned to the UK in 1885.

Later life

With an Order-in-Council on 1 July 1887,^[5] Queen Victoria granted Francis the style of His Highness, as a gift to celebrate her Golden Jubilee. Despite this, the Tecks were still seen as minor relatives, with little status or wealth. Their fortunes improved when in 1891, their only daughter, Princess Victoria Mary of Teck (known as May to her family) became engaged to the second in line to the British throne, Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence. The death of the Duke of Clarence only six weeks later looked like a cruel blow. However, Queen Victoria was fond of Princess May and persuaded the Duke of Clarence's brother, and next in the line of succession, Prince George, Duke of York to marry her instead.

In 1897, the Duchess of Teck died, leaving Francis a widower. He continued to live at White Lodge, Richmond but did not carry out any royal duties, although he continued to receive the late Duchess' Parliamentary annuity.

Francis died on 21 January 1900 at White Lodge.^[6] He was buried next to his wife in the Royal Vault at St. George's Chapel, Windsor.

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Titles

• 28 August 1837 – 1 December 1863: Count Francis of Hohenstein
• 1 December 1863 – 16 December 1871: His Serene Highness The Prince of Teck
• 16 December 1871 – 11 July 1887: His Serene Highness The Duke of Teck
• 11 July 1887 – 21 January 1900: His Highness The Duke of Teck

Honours

• GCB: Knight Grand Cross of the Bath (Civil division), 12 June 1866 ^[7]
• GCVO: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order, 30 June 1897 ^[8]

Ancestors

References