Throughout her 84 years,
Prince Philip's mother experienced
a life filled with extraordinary episodes –
from being confined in an asylum
and undergoing treatment by Sigmund Freud
to her courageous efforts
sheltering Jewish families during World War II.
Princess Alice of Battenberg, born Victoria
Alice Elizabeth Julia Mary on February
25, 1885, at Windsor Castle,
came into the world under the watchful eye
of her great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.
Despite being raised as an English princess,
her lineage was deeply rooted in Germany.
She was the daughter of Princess Victoria
of Hesse and Rhine
and Prince Louis of Battenberg.
But how did these contrasting influences
shape the complex tapestry of her life,
and what unforeseen challenges
lay ahead for her?
Let's now take a look at the life
of Princess Alice.
During World War I, the Battenbergs
adopted the less German-sounding
surname ‘Mountbatten’
to sever ties with their German heritage.
Born with congenital deafness,
Alice nonetheless communicated effectively,
was able to lip-read,
and spoke fluently in multiple languages.
Early photographs
depict her in elegant lace gowns, her beauty
accentuated by classic upswept hairstyles.
Her love story began at the 1902
Coronation of King Edward VII,
where she encountered Prince Andrew of Greece.
By the following year, the pair were married,
embarking on a life marked by privilege
and upheaval.
As the Balkan Wars unfolded in 1912,
Prince Andrew rejoined
the military, and Alice dedicated herself
to the war effort,
establishing field hospitals.
Her dedication was recognised in 1913
when she received the Royal Red Cross
from King George V.
By 1914, Alice was a mother to four daughters,
residing in Greece
amidst rising political tensions.
The situation
culminated in the royal family's exile
following Prince Philip's birth in 1921.
The young prince’s
first cradle was an improvised orange crate
as they escaped to Paris, relying on relatives
for support.
This period marked
the beginning of a challenging era for Alice,
whose intense spirituality began
to border on the unconventional.
By 1930, her mental health had deteriorated;
she reported hearing voices
and claimed to have divine encounters,
leading to a schizophrenia diagnosis.
Her treatment, overseen by Sigmund
Freud in Berlin, involved controversial
X-ray therapy intended to address
supposed sexual repression.
But how would this turbulent period
affect Alice's future
and her relationship with her family,
especially her youngest son, Prince Philip?
The next chapter of her life
would bring unforeseen changes and challenges,
shaping the legacy of a princess caught
between worlds.
The controversial treatment
Princess Alice underwent
is thought to have induced an early menopause.
Subsequently,
she was committed to a Swiss sanatorium,
enduring isolation for over two years.
Prince Philip was merely nine
when his mother was confined.
He returned from an outing
to discover her gone,
initiating a profound absence in his life.
His father, Prince Andrew,
deserted Alice for a life
on the French Riviera with his mistress,
leaving the family fractured.
Andrew passed away in 1944
in Monaco, yet meanwhile, Philip
navigated his youth in boarding schools
across England and Scotland, often
spending holidays with various relatives,
including his influential uncle,
Lord Mountbatten.
Alice was released in 1932,
leading a transient existence in German B&Bs,
far removed from her family.
It wasn't until 1937,
at the funeral of Philip's sister Cecilie,
who tragically died
in a plane crash, that mother
and son finally reunited.
Despite Alice's wish for her son
to accompany her back to Athens
after the Greek monarchy's restoration, Philip
was already committed to his path
in the Royal Navy.
Thus, Alice returned to Greece alone.
By 1941, amidst the turmoil of Nazi occupation,
Alice found herself stranded in Greece.
Despite the danger,
she remained committed to helping
those in need,
notably facilitating
the escape of Jewish families,
such as the Cohens, cleverly using her deafness
to evade Gestapo interrogations.
Alice’s remaining jewels
were repurposed post-war, contributing
to Philip's engagement ring
for Princess Elizabeth.
Using the proceeds from her
remaining jewels in 1949,
Alice established the Christian Sisterhood
of Martha and Mary, dedicating herself
to philanthropic pursuits in Athens.
Alice's final years were spent in Greece
until the 1967 military coup.
Reluctantly, she returned to England,
spending her last days at Buckingham Palace,
surrounded by her family,
until she died in 1969.
Her life, marked by sacrifice and resilience,
gained dramatised
recognition in Netflix's “The Crown.”
However, it mistakenly portrayed her engaging
in a revealing interview,
a narrative deviation from her actual,
more private struggles.
But beyond the dramatization and the public gaze,
what personal reflections and untold stories
did Princess Alice leave behind?
And how does her legacy continue to influence
the royal family and the causes she held dear?
In the twilight of her life, Princess Alice
penned a poignant letter to Prince Philip,
imparting encouragement
and eternal support: “Dearest Philip,
Be brave and remember I will never leave you,
and you will always find me
when you need me most.
All my devoted love, your old Mama.”
Two and a half decades after Alice’s
passing, in 1994, Prince Philip
travelled to Jerusalem to partake in a ceremony
recognising his mother's bravery.
Her final resting place lies in a crypt
at Gethsemane
on the historical Mount of Olives.
Her heroic acts
during the war, particularly
her saving the Cohen family
from the clutches of death, earned her
the esteemed title
of Righteous Among The Nations.
Prince Philip reflected on his mother's
actions, saying,
“I believe she never viewed her actions
as extraordinary.
With her profound religious faith, she likely saw
her deeds as simply human responses
to others in need.”
But what legacy did Princess
Alice leave behind,
and how does her spirit continue
to influence the royal family
and the world today?
In the epilogue of her story,
we explore the lasting impact of a woman
whose life was a testament to faith, courage,
and the power of unconditional love.
Princess Alice of
Battenberg, mother to Prince Philip,
lived a life marked by courage, faith,
and unyielding compassion.
Despite her
noble birth and the tumultuous
events that shaped her existence—from
a challenging childhood
characterised by congenital deafness
to the trials of mental health struggles—she
remained unwaveringly
devoted to helping others.
Her actions during World War II,
saving Jewish families from the Holocaust,
highlight a legacy of bravery and humanity
that transcends royal duty.
After enduring personal
and public challenges,
Alice's final years
were spent in quiet reflection and service,
embodying her religious convictions.
Her resting place in Jerusalem
is a testament to her life’s profound impact
and the respect she garnered across
faiths and nations.
Through her son,
Prince Philip, Alice's legacy continued
within the British royal family,
merging her humanitarian spirit
with the evolving role
of the monarchy in the modern world.
Her life, a blend of royal tradition
and personal conviction,
remains an inspiring story of resilience
and benevolence.