Social Victorians/People/Francis Duke of Teck

Also Known As

Francis, Duke of Teck

• Francis Paul Charles Louis Alexander
• Count Francis von Hohenstein until 1863

Mary Adelaide of Cambridge

• Mary Adelaide Wilhelmina Elizabeth of Cambridge
• Mary, Duchess of Teck
• Fat Mary

Timeline

1866 June 12, Francis, Duke of Teck and Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge married.

1883, the Tecks moved to Europe, in part at least to escape debts.

1885, the Tecks moved back to England.

1887 July 1, as part of her Golden Jubilee Queen Victoria granted Francis, Duke of Teck the style of Highness.

1897 July 2, Friday, Francis, Duke of Teck (at 11) and Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck (at 12), attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House along with their sons Princes Adolphus, Francis and Alexander of Teck.

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball

Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, Duchess of Teck

Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck as her ancestress, Princess Sophia, Electress of Luneberg and Hanover

At the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 fancy-dress ball, Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, Duchess of Teck (at 12 in the list of people who attended the ball), sat at Table 4 at the first seating for supper, escorted in by the Earl of Lathom. Her costume was orange velvet or "deep brick red," although in the photograph (right) it looks black. She was attended by Miss Gian Tufnell.

• "The Duchess of Teck represented Princess Sophia, Electress of Luneburg and Hanover, and wore an orange-coloured velours miroir dress, the full skirt attached [Col. 1c / Col. 2a] to the hips with two rows of large pearls, which held the folds on to the bodice; the skirt was trimmed with ermine, and the décolleté bodice had large revers of ermine, and a collarette of diamonds and pearls, from which hung on one side a lace cape attached to the hair. The costume was copied from a miniature at Hampton Court."
• She was dressed as "Princess Sophia, Electress of Luneburg and Hanover. Orange-coloured velours miroir, the full skirt attached to the hips with two rows of large pearls, which held the folds on to the bodice; the skirt was trimmed with ermine, and the décolletée bodice had large revers of ermine and a collarette of diamonds and pearls, from which hung on one side a lace cape attached to the hair. The costume was copied from a miniature at Hampton Court."
• She was dressed as "Princess Sophia, wife of the Elector of Luneburg and Hanover. Orange-coloured velours miroir, the full skirt attached with two rows of large pearls holding the folds on to the bodice. The skirt trimmed with ermine, the décolleté bodice having large revers of ermine and a collarette of diamonds and pearls, from which hung on one side a lace cape attached to the hair. The costume was copied from a miniature at Hampton Court."
• She was dressed as "an Electress of Hanover, was in orange velvet, the skirt sewn on with large pearls and trimmed with ermine. The costume was copied from a miniature at Hampton Court."
• She was dressed as "Princess Sophia Electress of Luneberg and Hanover, wearing a gown of deep brick red and velvet, the sides caught up at the hips with rims of large pearls. The low bodice had a frill of old Alencon lace and revers of ermine fastening a magnificent collarette of diamonds and pearls, from which hung a drapery of lace attached to the head. The dress was an exact copy of a miniature engraving at Hampton Court."
• She was dressed as "the Princess Sophia, Electress of Hanover, looked exceedingly well in a magnificent gown of deep orange mirror velvet, bordered with ermine, and artistically arranged with Alençon lace. She was attended by Miss Tufnell, who made a delightful lady-in-waiting, in a gown of white satin and gold."
• "H.R.H. the Duchess of Teck, as Electress of Luneberg and Hanover, ... looked [her character] very well."
• Mr. W. Clarkson "supplied the wigs and headdresses for the Royal Family."
• "The Duchess of Teck, as an Electress of Hanover, looked every inch a queen in her lovely Frederic gown of orange velvet, the full skirt sewn on with rows of large pearls. Fine old point and royal ermine made the bodice a thing of beauty, and ermine also trimmed the skirt. A very picturesque arrangement of lace falling from one side and caught up in the hair, with a splendid necklace of pearls and diamonds, completed an exact reproduction from a miniature at Hampton Court."

The portrait by Lafayette of Princess Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck as The Electress Sophia, mother of George I in costume is photograph #13 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "H.R.H. The Duchess of Teck, as The Electress Sophia, mother of George III," with a Long S in Duchess and Electress. The letterpress on the portrait in the album says she was the mother of George III, but the NPG says George I.

Prince Francis, Duke of Teck in costume as Capitaine de la Garde du Roy, XVI Century. © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Francis, Duke of Teck

Francis, Duke of Teck (at 11) attended the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 fancy-dress ball.

• "The Duke of Teck was a Capitaine Guarde du Roi, 1660, wearing a white cloth tunic with blue revers, trimmed with silver, white waistcoat to correspond, cloth breeches, high boots, and powdered peruke."
• He was dressed as a "(Capitaine, Garde du Roi), white cloth tunic, revers of blue, trimmed silver; white waistcoat, breeches, and high boots, powdered perruque, sword and belt."
• He was dressed as a "Capitaine Garde du Roi. 1660. White cloth tunic with blue revers trimmed with silver, white waistcoat to correspond, cloth breeches, high boots, and powdered peruke."
• He was dressed as a "Capitaine de la Garde du Roi (1660). White cloth tunic, with blue revers trimmed with silver. White waistcoat to correspond. Cloth breeches, high boots, and powdered peruke."
• Mr. W. Clarkson "supplied the wigs and headdresses for the Royal Family."

The portrait of Prince Francis, Duke of Teck as Capitaine de la Garde du Roy, XVI Century in costume was included in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "H.R.H. The Duke of Teck Capitaine de la Garde du Roy XVI Century."

Princes Alexander, Francis, and Adolphus of Teck

Prince Alexander of Teck (at 13) attended the ball.

• "Prince Alexander of Teck wore the uniform of a Dragoon Guard of the Blenheim period, carried out in blue."
• He was dressed as a "(Dragoon Guard, period of Blenheim), blue uniform."
• He was dressed as a "Dragoon Guard of the Blenheim period, carried out in blue."
• He was dressed as a "Dragoon Guard of the Blenheim period, carried out in blue."
• He wore "the blue coat of a gentleman" of Queen Anne's reign.
• "Prince Alexander of Teck wore ... the blue coat of a gentleman of the same period" (Queen Anne's reign).

Prince Francis of Teck (at 14), dressed like Prince Alexander of Teck as a Dragoon Guard of the Blenheim period, but in red rather than blue. He sat at Table 5 and wore

• "Prince Francis of Teck wore the same [as Prince Alexander of Teck, but] in red."
• "(Dragoon Guard, period of Blenheim), red uniform."
• "the red uniform of the Dragoon Guards of Queen Anne's reign."
• "the red uniform of the Dragoon Guards of Queen Anne's reign."
• "the same [as Alexander of Teck, except] in red."

Prince Adolphus of Teck (at 149) sat at Table 3 or 10.

Demographics

• Nationality: Francis, Duke of Teck, born in Austria; Mary Adelaide, born in Hanover, what is now Germany, but lived in England for much of her life.

Residences

• Kensington Palace
• White Lodge

Family

• Francis, Duke of Teck (28 August 1837 - 21 January 1900)
• Mary Adelaide of Cambridge (27 November 1833 – 27 October 1897)

1. Princess May (Victoria Mary) or Mary of Teck
2. Prince Adolphus of Teck
3. Prince Francis of Teck
4. Prince Alexander of Teck

Relations

• Francis, Duke of Teck was the father of Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth II's grandmother.
• Mary Adelaide of Cambridge was the daughter of Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, 7th son of George III

Questions and Notes

1. Francis, Duke of Teck was the product of a morganatic marriage and not in line to any throne, making Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, with her family's money, attractive. While she was Victoria's cousin and her family had money, she did not have an income of her own except for the Parliamentary annuity for doing royal duties. Victoria also granted her apartments in Kensington Palace and, for a country house, White Lodge, Richmond Park.