Birth of Princess Louise ~ Duchess of Argyll
On 18th March 1848, Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the sixth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, was born at Buckingham Palace.
Louise was known to be a curious and clever girl, described as a delightful and beautiful creature.. before her time in many ways.
Louise had lessons in drawing and watercolour painting from the artist Edward Henry Corbould.
As she grew older and her skills and talent developed, she received private tuition from the sculptor Mary Thornycroft, and later attended The National Art Training School.
Louise was one of the first members of the royal family to publicly practice as an artist.
She created a full-size statue of her mother Queen Victoria, outside Kensington Palace, and a memorial sculpture for the Boer War in St Paul’s Cathedral, London.
Louise contributed to women’s rights movements and supported the formation and aid of girls’ schools and organisations.
Louise married the Marquess of Lorne – the future Duke of Argyll.
The couple had no children, but Princess Louise was rumoured to have had a child in 1867 ~ before she was married.
Princess Louise had relationships with at least two other men (other than her husband) and its thought one of these fathered her child.
Frederick Lacock, Queen Victoria’s obstetrician, adopted a boy who was born on 30th December 1867.
Many believe this boy is the illegitimate son of Princess Louise from a relationship with Walter Stirling, Prince Leopold’s tutor.
Locock began receiving a fairly large allowance shortly after adopting the boy, and was given a grace-and-favour apartment in St. James’s Palace.
The baby in question was given the name Henry Locock, and grew up in the Palace.
He spent much of his childhood playing with the royal children.
However, when Henry grew and had children of his own, he told them that Princess Louise was his mother.
The story was then passed down the family.
The family of Henry Locock have pushed for DNA testing to prove that Louise was his mother, but the courts have not supported this.
Louise was well known for being the wild-child of Victoria and Albert, but the question of her son remains just that, a question.
Princess Louise Duchess of Argyll, died at Kensington Palace on 3rd December 1939, at the age of 91.
Whatever secrets she held of an illegitimate child, died with her…..
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