Princess Helena (Princess Helena, Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein): Born in May 1846, Princess Helena, was the third daughter and fifth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
Princess Helena was one of the most active members of the royal family, being the patron of many charities and carrying out a huge number of royal engagements, with specific interests in hand embroidery and nursing. She became the first President of the School of Art Needlework after Lady Victoria Welby and Lady Marion Alford set it up, staying for 51 years.
The letters held in the RSN archive demonstrate an active correspondence with Miss Ffennel, the Secretary over many years. Letters cover the arrangements for meetings and sales of work, as well as commissions, such as that for the wedding train of her daughter Marie Louise. They show an active engagement in fundraising, and in promoting the work of the School. It was she who said the RSAN would embroider Queen Victoria’s funeral pall, even when all commercial companies had turned it down, and it was she who persuaded her brother, Edwards VII to allow the RSAN to embroider the insignia on his coronation mantle.
Princess Helena died in 1923, the RSN commissioned a memorial tablet that remains in its possession.
Sources:
The RSN and Princess Helena - Royal School of Needleworkhttps://royal-needlework.org.uk/rsn-and-princess-helena/accessed 4.3.25
Kay Williams, S. (2024) An Unbroken Thread: Celebrating 150 Years of the Royal School of needlework ACC Art Books
Envelope addressed to:
The Secretary
Miss Ffennell
Royal School of Art Needlework
Exhibition Road
London S.W.
First page:
(stamped at an angle) CUMBERLAND LODGE WINDSOR
July 26.1894
Dear Miss Ffennell,
As soon as the Dss [Duchess] of Saxe Coburg’s (word missed) is finished it must at once be taken to Clarence Hse [House]. (I think (2 words missed) best take it West) & say that it must be forwarded immediately to Coburg.
Would you answer the enclosed & say that the School of Design cannot
be started to work till the end of the winter on acct [account] of want of space but that if the gentleman will apply again in Jan or Feb we hope to give him all the desired information.
Very truly yrs [yours]
Helena
