H. R. H. Prince Albert Victor of Wales. Engagement to Princess Mary of Teck

An interesting letter written on two sides of a folded sheet of 7 x 4½ ins black edged mourning writing paper headed Marlborough House, Pall Mall, S.W. 8 Dec. 1891 thanking a correspondent for their good wishes for the engagement of the Prince, identified by his recently given Duke of Clarence to Princess Mary of Teck. It is signed by the Prince’s Pribate Secretary Francis Knollys.  That marriage never happened as the Prince, known in the family as Eddie died a few months later and the Princess Mary of Teck married his younger brother, Prince George, who later succeded his father as George V.     jul21/1

Francis Knollys, later 1st Viscount Knollys of Caversham [1837-1924] was Private Secretary to the Prince & Princess Wales and later to King Edward VII and King George V.