Lady May Abel Smith
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Lady May Helen Emma Abel Smith (23 January 1906 - 29 May 1994) was a descendant of the British Royal Family, a great granddaughter of Queen Victoria. From her birth she was known as Princess May of Teck, a title in the Kingdom of Württemberg. She later was styled Lady May Cambridge after the British Royal Family and its relatives ceased using their Germanic titles in 1917 and Lady May Abel Smith after her marriage in 1931.
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[edit] Early life
Princess May was born at Claremont House in Surrey, England. Her parents were Prince Alexander of Teck (later the 1st Earl of Athlone), the youngest son of Prince Francis, Duke of Teck and Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge. Her mother was Princess Alexander of Teck (nèe Princess Alice of Albany), the daughter of Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany and a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.
As a daughter of Prince Alexander of Teck, she was styled Her Serene Highness Princess May of Teck at birth.
[edit] Lady May Cambridge
During World War I, anti-German feeling in the United Kingdom led Princess May's uncle, King George V, to change the name of the royal house from the Germanic House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to the more English-sounding House of Windsor. The King also renounced all his Germanic titles for himself and all members of the British Royal Family who were British subjects.
In response to this, May's father, Prince Alexander, renounced his title of a Prince of Teck in the Kingdom of Württemberg and the style His Serene Highness. Alexander, along with his brother, Prince Adolphus of Teck, adopted the name Cambridge, after their grandfather, Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge.
A few days later, the King created Alexander Earl of Athlone and Viscount Trematon. Alexander was now styled The Right Honourable The Earl of Athlone. His daughter was now styled Lady May Cambridge, and his surviving son adopted the courtesy title of Viscount Trematon. Alexander's wife, Alice, retained her title of a British princess with the style Her Royal Highness and became known as Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone.
[edit] Marriage
Lady May married Henry Abel Smith on 24 October 1931 and had three children:
- Anne Mary Sibylla Abel Smith (born 28 July 1932); she married David Liddell-Grainger (born 26 January 1930) on 14 December 1957; they were divorced in 1981 but have five children and eight grandchildren. Her eldest son is the Conservative Member of Parliament Ian Liddell-Grainger.
- Colonel Richard Francis Abel Smith (11 October 1933–23 December 2004); he married Marcia Kendrew (born 27 March 1940) on 28 April 1960; they have one daughter and four grandchildren.
- Elizabeth Alice Abel Smith (born 5 September 1936); she married Peter Wise (born 29 December 1929) on 29 April 1965; they divorced in 1975 and had one daughter who died as an infant.
Lady May's wedding party included:
- The Hon. Imogen Rhys
- Miss Kathleen Alington
- Princess Ingrid of Sweden, future Queen Consort of King Frederick IX of Denmark
- Maj. The Hon. Cecil G. Weld-Forester
- Miss Jennifer Bevan
- Miss Wenefryde Tabor
- Lady Mary Cambridge, the bride's first cousin once removed
- Princess Elizabeth of York, future Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, the bride's first cousin once removed
- Miss Rosemary Fraser
- Lady Alice Scott
[edit] Later life
Lady May did not carry out any royal duties, although she did attend some major royal events such as the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer.
Between 1958 and 1966, Henry Abel Smith served as the Governor of Queensland. May accompanied Henry to Brisbane, as vice regal consort.
Lady May died one year after her husband. They are both buried at Frogmore Burial Ground at Windsor Castle. Her funeral was attended by members of the Royal Family.
