Mary of Teck

Mary of Teck was born on 26 May 1867 at Kensington Palace in London. Her name was Victoria Mary, but her family called her May. Her mother was a granddaughter of King George III, and May grew up close to the royal family.

In December 1891 she became engaged to Prince Albert Victor, eldest son of the future King Edward VII and second in line to the throne. Six weeks later, in January 1892, he died of influenza at just 28. The wedding had already been planned.

Queen Victoria still wanted May as a future queen. The following year she became engaged to Albert Victor's younger brother, Prince George, who had now become heir. They married on 6 July 1893 in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace. The marriage was a happy one, and they had six children, among them the future kings Edward VIII and George VI.

When Edward VII died in 1910, George became king and Mary queen. They were crowned in Westminster Abbey on 22 June 1911, and the same year they travelled to India, where they were presented as Emperor and Empress at a grand ceremony in Delhi. Mary was known for being calm, dutiful and always punctual.

During the First World War she visited hospitals and factories, and introduced rationing at the palace. It was also during the war, in 1917, that the royal family took the name Windsor.

Queen Mary collected art and antiques and was a keen supporter of the Royal Collection. Her famous dolls' house, made by more than 1,500 craftsmen and artists, is today at Windsor Castle.

She was widowed in 1936. The same year her son Edward VIII abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson, and her younger son George VI became king. Mary supported him through the Second World War.

She lived to see her granddaughter Elizabeth become queen in 1952, but died on 24 March 1953, ten weeks before the coronation.