Lady May Abel Smith

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Teck-Cambridge Family

Francis, Duke of Teck
Children
   Mary of Teck
   Adolphus, Marquess of Cambridge
   Prince Francis of Teck
   Alexander, Earl of Athlone
Adolphus, Marquess of Cambridge
Children
   George, Marquess of Cambridge
   Mary Somerset, Duchess of Beaufort
   Lady Helena Gibbs
   Lord Frederick Cambridge
Grandchildren
   Lady Mary Whitley
Alexander, Earl of Athlone
Children
   Lady May Abel Smith
   Rupert Cambridge, Viscount Trematon
   Maurice of Teck
Lady May Abel Smith
Lady May Abel Smith

Lady May Abel Smith born Princess May of Teck (May Helen Emma Abel Smith) (23 January 190629 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 The Lady May Cambridge after the British Royal Family and its relatives ceased using their German titles in 1917 and Lady May Abel Smith after her marriage in 1931.

Contents

[hide]

[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 & Issue

Lady May married Henry Abel Smith (later Sir Henry) on 24 October 1931 and had three children:

Name Birth Death Notes
Anne Mary Sibylla Abel Smith 28 July 1932 Married on 14 December 1957 to David Liddell-Grainger (26 January 193012 March 2007); they were divorced in 1981 but have five children:
Colonel Richard Francis Abel Smith 11 October 1933 23 December 2004 Married on 28 April 1960 to Marcia Kendrew (born 27 March 1940). One daughter:
Elizabeth Alice Abel Smith 5 September 1936 Married on 29 April 1965 to Peter Wise (born 29 December 1929) but divorced in 1975. One daughter:

1) Emma Charlotte Abel Wise (1 September 19739 June 1974)

Lady May's wedding party included:

[edit] Later life

Lady May did not carry out any royal duties as she was not British royal. 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, Sir 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 in the Royal Burial Ground not far from Windsor Castle. Her funeral was attended by members of the Royal Family.

[edit] Titles

  • Her Serene Highness Princess May of Teck (19061917)
  • Miss May Cambridge (19171917)
  • The Lady May Cambridge (19171931)
  • Lady May Abel Smith (19311994)

[edit] Ancestry

Languages