Cat's Historical Doodles

Alix Viktoria Helene Luise Beatrix was born on 6 June 1872 in Darmstadt; she was the sixth child and fourth daughter of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine and his first wife, Princess Alice of the United Kingdom. As an infant, she was very pretty, with delicate features and long dark lashes. Her mother gave her the nickname of Sunny , due to her cheerful disposition, a practice later picked up by her husband. Out of her siblings, she was closest to Princess Marie ( May ), who was 2 years younger. Both of them enjoyed a happy childhood and were doted on by their elder siblings and mother, who adored her two younger daughters. In November 1878, diphtheria swept through the Grand Ducal House of Hesse. Alix, her three sisters, her brother Ernst ( Ernie ) and her father fell ill. Alix's mother Alice tended to the children herself, rather than abandon them to the doctors. Alice herself soon fell ill and died on 14th December 1878. Alix, Victoria, Irene and Ernst survived th...

Alexandrina Victoria was born on 24 May 1819 at Kensington Palace, London. She was the daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent (son of George III) and his wife, Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, Duchess of Kent. At birth, Victoria was only the 5th in line of succession. Before her, there was the Prince Regent; Frederick, Duke of York; William, Duke of Clarence; and her own father. The Prince Regent had no surviving children, and the Duke of York had no children. The Duke of Clarence's daughters died as infants, and Victoria's father died when she was not yet 1 year old. George III died a week after Victoria's father, and the Duke of York died in 1827. When George IV died in 1830, he was succeeded by his brother William (now William IV), and Victoria became heir presumptive to the throne. The Regency Act of 1830 made special provision for the Duchess of Kent to act as regent in case William died while Victoria was still a minor. The King distrusted the Duchess...

Anastasia Mikhailovna was born on 28 July 1860, at the Peterhof Palace, St Petersbourg. She was the second of the seven children of Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich of Russia and his wife, Grand Duchess Olga Feodorovna (née Cecilie of Baden). Known in the family as Stassie , Anastasia was the only girl among the seven children of the couple. She was an object of devotion: she was her father's favourite and she was spoiled by her six brothers. Mikhail was always occupied with his militaristic and governmental activities; Olga was a strict disciplinarian who showed little affection and raised the children with an iron fist. She was raised separately from the boys, only joining them on Sundays, when they were allowed to take a walk together. Anastasia grew up to be very independent, intelligent and strong-willed, with a happy and warm personality. Tall and slim, she had dark hair and green eyes, Her education was centred in languages and she could speak French, German and English,...

Diana Frances Spencer was born on 1 July 1961, in Sandringham. She was part of the Spencer family, a family of British nobility with royal ancestry. Diana was the fourth child of John Spencer, Viscount Althorp, and Frances Roche. She grew up in Park House, part of the Sandringham estate, and was educated in England and Switzerland. In 1975, Diana's father inherited the title of Earl Spencer and she became known as Lady Diana Spencer. Diana came to prominence in February 1981, when her engagement to Charles, Prince of Wales, was announced to the world. Their wedding took place at St Paul's Cathedral on 29 July 1981 and reached a global television audience of over 750 millions of people. Diana was 20 years old and Charles was 32 years old. During her marriage, she took the titles of Princess of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Rothesay and Countess of Chester. Diana and Charles had two sons: William, born on 21 June 1982; and Henry (aka Harry), born on 15 September ...