Prince Maurice of Battenberg

1891-1914: His Serene Highness Prince Maurice of Battenberg
1891-1911: His Highness Prince Maurice of Battenberg
1911-1914: His Highness Prince Maurice of Battenberg KCVO

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Prince Maurice, circa 1914

Prince Maurice Victor Donald of Battenburg KCVO (October 3, 1891–October 27, 1914) was a descendant of the British Royal Family, a grandson of Queen Victoria. He was known as Prince Maurice of Battenberg throughout his life, as he died before the British Royal Family relinquished their Germanic titles during World War I.

[edit] Early life

Prince Maurice was born on October 3, 1891. He was given the name Donald in honor of Scotland, as he was born at Balmoral Castle. His father was Prince Henry of Battenberg, the son of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine and Julie Therese née Countess of Hauke. His mother was Princess Henry of Battenberg (née The Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom), the fifth daughter and the youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.

As his father was the product of a morganatic marriage, Prince Henry of Battenberg took his style of Prince of Battenberg from his mother, Julia von Hauke who was created Princess of Battenberg in her own right. As such, Maurice was styled as His Serene Highness Prince Maurice of Battenberg from birth. In the United Kingdom he was styled His Highness Prince Maurice of Battenberg under a Royal Warrant passed by Queen Victoria in 1886.

[edit] Later life

Maurice attended the prestigous Wellington College and was a member of the Benson house. The young prince served in World War I, and was killed in service in 1914.