Regal Facts About Queen Mary Of Teck, The Mother Of Dynasties
Born a rejected princess from an exiled family, Mary of Teck endured tragedy and upheaval to become the Queen Consort of all Britain—but a crown only seemed to bring her more heartache.
While she may not be well known now, the violent twists and turns of her life shaped our current reality. Here are facts about Mary of Teck, the hidden queen.
Queen Mary of Teck Facts
1. Her Family Tree Was Twisted
Mary of Teck was born into a faded fairy tale. Although she entered the world in 1867 in the same room her cousin Queen Victoria, Mary’s bloodlines were decidedly on the shadowy side of the royal family. Her parents, Francis of Teck and Princess Mary, were younger or less legitimate children, and the House of Teck had long been in disrepair. Sadly, it was about to get worse for the little girl—fast.
2. Her Mother Was Messy
Mary’s mother and father weren’t just from the wrong pedigrees, they also had personal problems in their own right. Despite the fact that the Tecks were purse-poor, the elder Princess Mary was a notorious spender. Dubbed “Fat Mary” for her love of expensive feasts and her corresponding girth, the high roller also adored fine clothes and foreign holidays. This would have disastrous consequences.
3. Her Family Disgraced Themselves
While the Teck coffers started to gather cobwebs, Princess Mary kept spending—until it came to a ruinous climax.
In 1883, the Tecks had to take their young family and escape to the continent, fleeing from their debtors to try to live cheaply among kind-hearted relatives. Suddenly, little Mary’s status went from unremarkable to “black sheep.”
And it was a long way back to the top.
