Early Life

Picture
From Left to right, Alice, Helena, Edward
On the 19th of July 1884, Leopold Charles Edward George Albert, is born at Claremont House, Esher, Surrey.
Prince Charles Edward was born to
Helena, Princess of Waldeck und Pyrmont, Duchess of Albany
and Leopold, Prince of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Albany; and fourth son of Queen Victoria.
He was born to the most powerful family in the world. His first cousins were King George V and Kaiser Wilhelm.

It was a mere three months previous to his birth that his haemophiliac father, Prince Leopold, died from the disease. This allowed Charles Edward to succeed to his father’s titles immediately on his birth. He was styled His Royal Highness the Duke of Albany.        
After Prince Leopold’s death, Helena and her two children, Alice and Charles, continued to reside at Claremont house. From birth, their mother had instilled the importance of their duty to their Queen and their country.