Upon the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, Princess Louise found herself welcomed as part of her brother – the new King Edward VII’s – court. In her mother’s will Louise had inherited Kent House on the Isle of Wight and it was between here, London and Scotland that Louise spent the majority of her time.
Moving with the times and new trends, Louise gained an interest in physical fitness and when criticised responded by saying: “Never mind, I’ll outlive you all.” She also remained a keen artist and continued sculpting, with her most famous piece being the statue of Queen Victoria which sits outside Kensington Palace.
In 1914, Louise dedicated much of her time to looking after her husband, whose health had been declining. Following his death on 2nd May, and the death of King Edward three years earlier, Louise suffered a nervous breakdown and found herself incredibly lonely.
As she got older, Louise remained in her London residence, Kensington Palace, in an apartment next to her youngest sister, Princess Beatrice. It was during this time that the palace gained the affectionate nickname “Auntie Palace” by Princesses Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and Margaret.
By the time King George VI ascended the throne in 1936, Louise’s health had began declining. A year later Louise attended the Home Arts and Industries Exhibition in London, which would be her final public appearance.
By the end of the 1930s, Louise had developed neuritis in her arm, inflammation of the nerves between the ribs, fainting fits, and sciatica. Unable to get around, the Princess occupied herself by drafting prayers and continuing with her art. In the morning of 3rd December 1939, Louise passed away aged 91; wearing the wedding veil she had worn almost seventy years earlier. Following a simple funeral, she was cremated on 8th December 1939. Her ashes were placed in the Royal Vault at St. George’s Chapel on 12th December 1939 and later moved to the Royal Burial Ground, at Frogmore, Windsor, on 13th March the following year.
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