Feodora of Leiningen

Princess Feodora of Leiningen (Anna Feodora Auguste Charlotte Wilhelmine; 7 December 1807 – 23 September 1872) was the only daughter of Emich Karl, Prince of Leiningen and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, future Duchess of Kent. Feodora and her older brother Karl, Prince of Leiningen, were maternal half-siblings of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

Life

Feodora was born in Amorbach, Bavaria, on 7 December 1807 to Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld and her first husband, Emich Karl, Prince of Leiningen. She received her first two names from her maternal aunt, Grand Duchess Anna Feodorovna of Russia, who was born Princess Juliane of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld but received the name Anna Feodorovna following her conversion to Eastern Christianity, for her marriage to Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich of Russia in 1796. Feodora's father died in 1814.

On 29 May 1818, her mother remarried to Prince Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent and Strathearn, the fourth son of King George III. The following year, when the duchess's pregnancy was reaching full term, the household moved so that Victoria, a potential heir to the British throne, would be born in Britain.

After Victoria's birth, Feodora resided at Kensington Palace and was tutored by Victoria's governess Baroness Lehzen. Her stepfather the Duke died in January 1820, and her mother fell under the influence of John Conroy, an Irish army officer who administered the household. Conroy and the Duchess implemented the Kensington System which aimed to isolate Victoria from the world and influences other than them. Feodora found life there very stifling. With no friends her own age she became rebellious in her behaviour.

Feodora was generally regarded as headstrong, attractive, and well-mannered. Despite having no personal fortune, she was considered desirable for marriage due to being the sister of the future Queen.

Among her suitors was Augustus d'Este, who first proposed to her on 2 December 1825 while on a visit to Coburg. Augustus's proposal was rejected by Feodora, but he continued his attempts to court her by sending letters and a gold ring.

Feodora's youngest daughter, the Duchess of Saxe-Meiningen, died in early 1872 of scarlet fever. Feodora died later that year. On hearing of Feodora's death, Victoria wrote:

Issue Feodora and Ernest had six children, three sons, and three daughters: Carl Ludwig II, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (25 October 1829 – 16 May 1907), succeeded his father on 12 April 1860, but abdicated his rights on 21 April to marry unequally. He married Maria Grathwohl on 22 February 1861. They had three children. His male issue was created Prince of Weikersheim on 18 July 1911 by Emperor Franz Joseph. Princess Elise of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (8 November 1830 – 27 February 1850) died aged 19. Hermann, Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (31 August 1832 – 9 March 1913) married Princess Leopoldine of Baden on 24 September 1862. They had three children. Prince Victor of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (11 December 1833 – 31 December 1891) married morganatically Lady Laura Seymour on 24 January 1861. They had four children. Princess Adelheid of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (20 July 1835 – 25 January 1900) married Frederick VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg on 11 September 1856. They had five children. Princess Feodora of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (7 July 1839 – 10 February 1872) married George II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen on 23 October 1858. They had three sons.

In the media In ITV's television programme Victoria series 3 (2018), Feodora (played by Kate Fleetwood) is portrayed as a scheming, jealous sister who has fled Langenburg and refuses to return to her home. This interpretation is not supported by the historical record.

Ancestry