Queen Elizabeth and Hidden Deaf History

As we reflect today on Queen Elizabeth’s long and amazing life, I wanted to share the story of her Deaf mother-in-law, the first great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Her name was Princess Alice of Battenberg (after marriage, named Princess Andrew of Greece). She was considered one of the most beautiful princesses during that time.

Born Deaf, she was raised orally and became fluent in several languages, including sign language. Queen Victoria knew how to fingerspell, because her daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales (later to become Queen Alexandra, wife of Edward VII), had been deaf from her teens, and used fingerspelling to communicate.

 Princess Alice had a tumultuous public life, which was reflected in her private life as well---enduring world wars, family separations, isolation as a Deaf individual within these circles, political upheavals, exile to France as a refugee, marital problems, mental health issues, the tragedy of losing one of her daughters and family in a plane crash, and conflicting familial loyalties during WW II with Prince Philip fighting against the Germans (which she supported), and her sons-in-law fighting on the German side.

 After 10 years of marriage and bearing 5 children, she became deeply religious and her life was one of service.  During the Balkan wars, she worked for the Red Cross as a nurse, helping to set up supplies and hospitals, organizing soup kitchens, setting up shelters for lost and orphaned children, and founding an order of nuns which she funded by selling her jewels. Her life was a study of stark contrasts to the royal palace life and opulence. She lived a simple and humble life, always serving others, particularly the poor.

 Princess Alice also hid a Jewish widow, Rachel Cohen, and two children in her home and when the Gestapo came to her home to ask questions about them, she pretended not to understand them.  She was honored posthumously as “Righteous among the Nations” by Yad Vashem and the British government recognized her as a Hero of the Holocaust. In 1967, due to political instability in Greece, Queen Elizabeth, and Prince Philip invited her to live permanently at Buckingham Palace, where she lived peacefully, reuniting with her son and grandchildren until her death two years later.

Books
Alice: Princess Andrew of Greece
https://albert.rit.edu/record=b1538798~S3 
The brave princess and me : inspired by a true story
https://albert.rit.edu/record=b4274525~S3