British Nobility. The Prince of Teck and Earl of Athlone, he was born His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Augustus Frederick William George of Teck, the youngest child of Prince Francis, Duke of Teck and Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge and brother of Queen Mary. Educated at Eton College and the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 7th Hussars and received a Distinguished Service Order for his service in the Boer War. He was appointed Governor General of Canada in 1914, but when World War I broke out, he convinced his brother-in-law King George V to release him to serve in the military. He was an officer in the 2nd Life Guards throughout the war, achieving the rank of honorary Major General. He married Princess Alice of Albany, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, on February 10, 1904 at Saint George's Chapel. They had three children. Alexander renounced his Germanic titles along with the rest of the royal family in 1914. He was then created 1st Earl of Athlone and Viscount Trematon. He and his brother also adopted the surname Cambridge. In 1923 he succeeded his cousin, Prince Arthur of Connaught, as Governor General of South Africa, then in 1940 was once again appointed Governor General of Canada, where he served until 1946. He then returned to England to live out his retirement at Kensington Palace. He made very few royal appearances, but did see his great-neice Elizabeth II take the throne. Upon his death at the age of 82, the earldom of Athlone became extinct. His wife would survive him by 24 years.
British Nobility. The Prince of Teck and Earl of Athlone, he was born His Serene Highness Prince Alexander Augustus Frederick William George of Teck, the youngest child of Prince Francis, Duke of Teck and Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge and brother of Queen Mary. Educated at Eton College and the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 7th Hussars and received a Distinguished Service Order for his service in the Boer War. He was appointed Governor General of Canada in 1914, but when World War I broke out, he convinced his brother-in-law King George V to release him to serve in the military. He was an officer in the 2nd Life Guards throughout the war, achieving the rank of honorary Major General. He married Princess Alice of Albany, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, on February 10, 1904 at Saint George's Chapel. They had three children. Alexander renounced his Germanic titles along with the rest of the royal family in 1914. He was then created 1st Earl of Athlone and Viscount Trematon. He and his brother also adopted the surname Cambridge. In 1923 he succeeded his cousin, Prince Arthur of Connaught, as Governor General of South Africa, then in 1940 was once again appointed Governor General of Canada, where he served until 1946. He then returned to England to live out his retirement at Kensington Palace. He made very few royal appearances, but did see his great-neice Elizabeth II take the throne. Upon his death at the age of 82, the earldom of Athlone became extinct. His wife would survive him by 24 years.
Bio by: Kristen Conrad
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