Princess Patricia of Connaught, Lady Ramsey's Life

Princess Patricia of Connaught Born on St. Patrick's Day

Princess Patricia of Connaught, known as Patsy to her family and friends, was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert through their third son Arthur, Duke of Connaught. Patsy's mother was Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia.

Although the Connaught's London home was Clarence House, today King Charles III's residence, Patsy, was born at Buckingham Palace on 17th March 1886. She had two older siblings, Margaret and Arthur, born in 1882 and 1883, respectively.

She was christened at St. Anne's Church near to the Connaught's country residence Bagshot Park in Surrey. Her name was Victoria Patricia Helena Elizabeth.

As Queen Victoria had 22 granddaughters named after her, Patsy was rarely called Victoria. Patricia was in honour of St. Patrick's Day, her birthday, and Helena and Elizabeth were her godmother's names. Her bombastic cousin Willy, soon to be Kaiser Wilhelm II was one of her godfathers.

In July 1893, Patsy was a bridesmaid at the wedding of the future King George V and Queen Mary. (Princess May of Teck).

Princess Patricia Wins the Hearts of Canadians

The Duke of Connaught served in the British Army, and he and his family lived in India for 2 years. In 1911, he was dispatched to Canada, where he served as the Governor-General for 5 years. Again, his wife and children joined him.

Patsy became popular with the people. Natural and good humoured, she skied, played golf and remarkably for the era, she rode horses astride rather than side-saddle.

During World War One a regiment was created in the Canadian Army and it was named in her honour. Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) still thrives today. Between 22nd February 1918 and 12th January 1974, her death, Patsy was their colonel-in-chief.

Patricia Bay Highway, a theatre in British Colombia, two villages, Patricia Lake in Alberta, and a steamship were named after her.

Patsy continued to travel extensively throughout her life, and she was an accomplished watercolour artist. According to the New York Times, during the 1920s, she was seen dancing the shimmy in Paris.

Patsy Marries Alexander Ramsey at Westminster Abbey

Patsy's mother died of influenza in 1917; she was the first British royal family member to be cremated.

Speculation about who the princess might marry was inevitable and her name was linked to several eligible European princes. She chose to marry a Royal Navy captain, the Honourable Alexander Ramsey, the 3rd son of the 13th Earl of Dalhousie. Alexander served the Duke of Connaught as his aide-de-camp in Canada.

They became engaged while staying at J.K.L. Ross's fishing lodge in Nova Scotia and they married at Westminster Abbey, London on 27th February 1919 in the first major royal event since the war. It was also the first royal wedding held at the abbey since King Richard II and Anne of Bohemia's in 1382.

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King George V and Queen Mary attended the event and British Pathé News filmed the guests arrivals so that cinemagoers could enjoy the spectacle.

Princess Mary, King George V and Queen Mary's daughter, Lady's Victoria, May and Helena Cambridge, Princess Maud of Fife, Lady's Jean and Ida Ramsey and Princess Ingrid of Sweden were the bridesmaids. Patsy's train bearers were Alastair, Earl of Macduff, Princess Maud's brother and Sir Simon Ramsey.

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry band played their regimental march during the service.

Princess Patricia Renounces Her Royal Titles

Patsy wasn't obliged to renounce her royal titles but she wanted her status to be closer to her husband's so she decided to retire "princess" and "royal highness" so that she would be known as Lady Patricia Ramsey, as the wife of a "sir".

She received George V and Arthur, Duke of Connaught's consent to do this. Her cousin Princess Maud of Fife made the same decision in 1923 when she married the future 11th Earl of Southesk.

Patsy remained in the line of succession and she was seen at family and official events. Alexander continued his navy career and he rose to the rank of admiral in 1939 and to the role of Fifth Sea Lord in 1938-39. He retired in 1942.

Patsy and Alexander had one child, Alexander, on 21st December 1919. He was born at Clarence House and his christening on 23rd February 1920 was held in the Chapel Royal at St. James' Palace.

He was christened Alexander Arthur Alfonso David Maule Ramsey. Throughout his life he was present at royal events but he undertook no official duties on behalf of the monarch.

He had a military career, married, had three daughters and he inherited Mar Lodge Estate in Scotland. He died on 20th December 2000, the day before his birthday.

Patsy's Legacy: Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

Admiral The Honourable Sir Alexander Ramsey died on 8th October 1972. Patsy was at her country home Ribsden Holt in Surrey when she died on 12th January 1974. She was 87 years old.

She was laid to rest by Alexander at the Frogmore Burial Ground on the Windsor estate.

Patsy's cousin Lady Patricia Brabourne, later Countess of Burma, nee Mountbatten, became the colonel-in-chief of Patsy's regiment. She held the role until 2007 when Elizabeth II asked the 26th Governor-General of Canada, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson to take on the colonel-in-chieftainship. She holds it still. At the Countess of Burma's funeral in 2017 the pallbearers were from the regiment.

The royal Patricia's played an active role in nurturing their regiment and it performs a vital role in the 21st century.

Today, Patsy is barely remembered in Britain but she broke with the conventional royal rules and she was loved for it.

Sources

• Lady Patricia Ramsay Is Dead; Granddaughter of Victoria, 87
  Lady Patricia Ramsay, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria who broke several court traditions, died yesterday at her home in Windlesham, Surrey. She was 87 years old.
• Princess Patricia; PPCLI
  Her Royal Highness Princess Patricia of Connaught (17 March 1886 – 12 January 1974) was the younger daughter of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, the third son of Queen Victoria.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2024 Joanne Hayle