Beatrice was also the last of Queen Victoria's children to die, nearly 66 years after the first, her elder sister Alice.
Beatrice's childhood coincided with Queen Victoria's grief following the death of her husband on 14 December As her elder sisters married and left their mother, the Queen came to rely on the company of her youngest daughter, whom she called "Baby" for most of her childhood.
Beatrice was brought up to stay with her mother always and she soon resigned herself to her fate. The Queen was so set against her youngest daughter marrying that she refused to discuss the possibility. She was attracted to the Prince Imperial and there was talk of a possible marriage, but he was killed in the Anglo-Zulu War in After a year of persuasion, the Queen, whose consent was required pursuant to the Royal Marriages Act , finally agreed to the marriage, which took place at Whippingham on the Isle of Wight on 23 July Queen Victoria consented on condition that Beatrice and Henry make their home with her and that Beatrice continue her duties as the Queen's unofficial secretary.
The Prince and Princess had four children, but 10 years into their marriage, on 20 January , Prince Henry died of malaria while fighting in the Anglo-Asante War.
Beatrice remained at her mother's side until Queen Victoria died on 22 January Beatrice devoted the next 30 years to editing Queen Victoria's journals as her designated literary executor and continued to make public appearances.
