Victoria Duchess of Kent (1786-1861)

English Royalty. The Duchess of Kent and Strathearn, she was the mother of Queen Victoria. Born Marie Luise Victoire, Princess of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, she was the daughter of Prince Francis Frederick of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and Countess Auguste of Ebersdorf and Lobenstein. She married Emich Karl of Leiningen, widower of her aunt, on December 21, 1803. They had two children, Karl and Feodora. After her husband's death, Victoria was urged by her family to marry Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, who was being forced to abandon his long-time mistress in order to obtain an official allowance and provide heirs. They were married at Coburg on May 29, 1818 and again at Kew Palace on July 11. The next year, their only child Alexandrina Victoria was born. The duke died in 1820, and the dowager duchess devoted herself to raising her daughter, who was now the heir to the British throne. Victoria relied heavily on John Conroy, her financial advisor, but his methods and treatment of her earned him many enemies, including the reigning King William IV. When her daughter became queen at the age of 18, Victoria acted as regent for a short time, but her self-serving methods made her quite unpopular with the queen's household. The dowager duchess died at Windsor Castle at the age of 75, and was buried at St. George's Chapel before being moved to the special mausoleum built just for her by Victoria and Albert.

Bio by: Kristen Conrad