Silver Presentation Trowel & Mallet

silver presentation trowel engraved 'PRESENTED TO H.R.H. PRINCESS HENRY OF BATTENBERG BY THE ARCHITECT G.H.V. CALE FOR THE LAYING OF A MEMORIAL STONE AT BETHANY THE WOMEN WORKERS TRANING HOME FOR THE DIOCESE OF BIRMINGHAM MAY 27TH 1914' in the base of the original case, lid missing, trowel with marksat top edge

Princess Beatrice: The Youngest Child of Queen Victoria:

Princess Beatrice Mary Victoria Feodore (14 April 1857 – 26 October 1944), later known as Princess Henry of Battenberg, was the youngest child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. As the fifth daughter and ninth child in the royal family, Beatrice was both cherished and destined for a unique role within her family. She was the last of Queen Victoria's children to pass away, outliving her eldest sibling, Princess Alice, by nearly 66 years.

Beatrice’s early years were deeply shaped by the profound sorrow that engulfed her family after the death of her father, Prince Albert, in December 1861. Queen Victoria’s grief cast a long shadow over Beatrice’s childhood, and she became a source of comfort to her widowed mother. Known affectionately as “Baby” for much of her youth, Beatrice grew up in a sheltered environment where she was expected to remain close to the Queen, a role she accepted with quiet resignation as her elder siblings left to marry and establish their own households.

The prospect of marriage for Beatrice was initially dismissed by her mother, who relied heavily on her presence. Queen Victoria’s reluctance to let Beatrice marry led to the rejection of several potential matches, including Louis Napoléon, the Prince Imperial of France, and Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse, who had been married to Beatrice’s late sister, Princess Alice. Beatrice was reportedly drawn to the Prince Imperial, but any plans for their union were tragically cut short when he was killed in 1879 during the Anglo-Zulu War.

Despite her mother’s reservations, Beatrice fell in love with Prince Henry of Battenberg, a member of the Hessian royal family. After a year of negotiation and persuasion, Queen Victoria reluctantly approved their marriage under the condition that Beatrice and her new husband remain in close proximity to her, with Beatrice continuing to serve as her unofficial secretary. The couple wed on 23 July 1885 at Whippingham Church on the Isle of Wight.

Beatrice and Henry had four children together, balancing their roles as parents with the demands of royal duty. However, their life together was tragically cut short when Prince Henry contracted malaria during the Anglo-Asante War and died on 20 January 1896. Following his death, Beatrice redoubled her commitment to her mother, remaining at Queen Victoria’s side until her passing in January 1901.

After Queen Victoria’s death, Princess Beatrice dedicated much of her life to preserving her mother’s legacy. As the Queen’s literary executor, she undertook the monumental task of editing her journals, a project that consumed the next three decades of her life. Beatrice also continued to represent the royal family in public roles, maintaining her position as a beloved figure of the Victorian era.

Princess Beatrice lived to the age of 87, passing away in October 1944. Her life, marked by devotion to her mother and family, as well as a quiet resilience in the face of personal loss.

Note: from Birmingham Hospital, sold on behalf of University Hospitals Birmingham Charity