Lady May Abel Smith

Lady May Helen Emma Abel Smith (formerly Lady May Cambridge, née Princess May of Teck; 23 January 1906 – 29 May 1994)[1] was a relative of the British royal family. She was a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and a niece of Queen Mary. She led a private life in England. From 1958 until 1966, she lived in Brisbane, while her husband, Sir Henry Abel Smith, served as the governor of Queensland.

This article is about the daughter of Prince Alexander of Teck. For her aunt, the Queen consort of the United Kingdom, see Mary of Teck.
Lady May Abel Smith
Born
Princess May Helen Emma of Teck

(1906-01-23)23 January 1906
Claremont, Esher, Surrey
Died29 May 1994(1994-05-29) (aged 88)
London, England
Burial placeRoyal Burial Ground, Frogmore
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1931; died 1993)​
ChildrenAnne Liddell-Grainger
Richard Abel Smith
Elizabeth Wise
Parents

Early life

Born as Her Serene Highness Princess May Helen Emma of Teck at Claremont House, near Esher in Surrey, England. Her parents were Prince Alexander of Teck and the former Princess Alice of Albany, great-grandson and granddaughter of King George III and Queen Victoria respectively. She was named May after her paternal aunt Princess May of Teck who was married to King George V, Helen after her grandmother Princess Helena, Duchess of Albany and Emma after her great-aunt Queen Emma of the Netherlands. During the First World War, anti-German feeling led her family to abandon their German titles. Princess May of Teck thus became known as Lady May Cambridge, after her father assumed the last name Cambridge and was granted the Earldom of Athlone.

Lady May served as a bridesmaid in 1919 to Princess Patricia of Connaught; in 1922 to her first cousin Princess Mary; and in 1923 to Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon on her marriage to Mary's brother the Duke of York (later King George VI).[2]

Marriage

Lady May married Sir Henry Abel Smith on 24 October 1931 in Balcombe, Sussex,[3] close to the Athlone residence at Brantridge Park. One of the bridesmaids, Princess Ingrid of Sweden, introduced her brother Prince Gustaf Adolf to his future wife, Princess Sibylla of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, who was also a bridesmaid. Elizabeth II attended her wedding as a bridesmaid at the age of 5.[4]

Sir Henry and Lady May Abel Smith were married for over 60 years and had three children:

Later life

Lady May, being only a distant relative of the royal family, did not carry out any royal duties. She attended 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. Lady May accompanied him to Brisbane as vice-regal consort. They retired in 1975 to Barton Lodge at Winkfield in Berkshire, England.

Lady May died in hospital one year after her husband. They are both buried at the Royal Burial Ground, Frogmore, not far from Windsor Castle. Her funeral was held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, Windsor, on 9 June 1994. It was attended by the Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra, representing the royal family.[5]

References
  1. "Lady May Helen Emma Abel Smith". National Portrait Gallery, London.
  2. "The Queen Mother in pictures - The royal wedding group photograph". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  3. "The Royal Wedding of Lady May Cambridge 1931". British Pathe.
  4. "A Brief Photo History of Little Royal Kids in Big British Weddings". Time. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  5. "Court Circular". Independent. 10 June 1994.
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