I rate this 4.5 out of 5.

I received a free copy of this book from Pen & Sword History via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to read this book for two reasons. First, I love learning about the British Monarchy, which is pretty evident from my reading history. Second, I know almost nothing about Queen Victoria's family outside the British line, which descended from Edward VII and I love learning about new historical figures.

In terms of a biographies of Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine I would rate this as a 4 out of 5. There is a plentiful amount of letters and primary sources used to describe her life and personality. However, she does sometimes fall into the background as other members of her family take precedence. That being said if this was a book on the children of Princess Alice of Great Britain, later Grand Duchess of Hesse and by Rhine I would give this a 6 out of 5. I loved learning about the relationships between the five siblings, Victoria, Elizabeth (Ella), Irene, Ernest, and Alix (Alexandra) [two children Marie and Frederick died in childhood].

Overall, Miller was able to vividly describe the life and times of Princess Victoria. Although she does not outright psychoanalyze Princess Victoria, Miller does examine how the tragic events of Princess Victoria's childhood and later of the First World War shaped and impacted her personality and relationships. In many ways, Miller proves the title correct. Princess Victoria was the favourite granddaughter of Queen Victoria which is demonstrated by how close the two women were throughout their lives and their letters. Given the untimely death of Grand Duchess Alice, it makes sense that Queen Victoria would step in as a substitute mother and that Princess Victoria would take on many of her attributes. Nevertheless, Miller also makes it clear that Grand Duchess Alice's intellectual talents were greatly influential in shaping Princess Victoria's early years.

My favourite parts of the book were the way that the relationships between Princess Victoria and her sisters (to a lesser extent also with Ernest) were depicted. Two of her sisters became Grand Duchesses of Russia through their marriages, Elizabeth (Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna) and Alix (who later became Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia). While Irene became Princess Henry of Prussia. As a result of their marriages when armed conflict broke out during the First World War and later the Second the sisters often found themselves on opposing sides. The way that they maintained their familial connections through these trials was often heartwrenching to read. I also felt this book has given me new insights into Alix's character and how that later shaped her time as Empress.

This is an incredibly well-researched and well-written biography and I would recommend it to anyone interested in women's history or learning more about the extended Windsor Family. Princess Victoria was the favourite granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Grandmother to Prince Consort Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. Thus making her an important figure in the dynasty.

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Antisemitism

Minor: Infertility, Racism, Sexual violence, and Religious Bigotry

Content warning Notes: Still-births are briefly mentioned.

Although flagged with some of the other content warnings listed above toward the end of this book there is a very detailed description from letters within the family of how Elizabeth was murdered by the Bolsheviks. Alix's murder is also briefly discussed.

Ilana D. Miller’s biography of Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine is a rich, meticulously researched account that illuminates the life of one of history's most influential yet often overlooked royals. A compelling blend of personal narrative and historical insight, this biography captures the enduring strength and legacy of Queen Victoria's eldest granddaughter, revealing her role as a stabilizing force within Europe’s interconnected royal network during a period of profound upheaval.

The story opens poignantly with Victoria, by now an elderly dowager, receiving an invitation to attend her grandson Prince Philip's wedding to Princess Elizabeth. This powerful moment sets the tone for a life that straddled eras, blending personal tragedy with resilience. Born in 1863 as the daughter of Queen Victoria's second daughter, Princess Alice, Victoria’s life began in the shadow of her mother’s premature death. The young princess found strength in her relationship with her grandmother, Queen Victoria, who mentored her in matters both personal and political through decades of correspondence, a lifeline for Victoria as she became the matriarch of her own family.

Victoria's marriage to Prince Louis of Battenberg placed her at the heart of the British Royal Navy and, by extension, British politics. Miller illustrates how, through times of prosperity and adversity, Victoria supported her husband’s naval career while navigating the challenges of her dual German-British identity. When Prince Louis was forced to resign from his position as First Sea Lord due to anti-German sentiment during World War I, the couple faced painful decisions, including the Anglicization of their name to Mountbatten. Miller provides historical context for these events, shedding light on how Victoria’s fortitude helped sustain her family through these trying times.

A vivid aspect of Miller’s portrayal is the family tragedy that would haunt Victoria throughout her life. Her sister, Alix (Empress Alexandra of Russia), was executed with her family during the Russian Revolution—a devastating loss that underscored the dangers of royal life in an increasingly hostile Europe. Nevertheless, Victoria’s progressive mindset and dedication to family and service carried her forward. Miller paints her as a forward-thinking and open-minded royal, unafraid to engage with social issues or challenge traditional norms, a role model for her descendants.

Through Miller’s skillful storytelling, readers gain insight into Victoria’s far-reaching legacy. Her direct descendants include Prince Philip and, through him, generations of British royalty. This book is a poignant reminder of the unique, often hidden, roles played by royal women who lived behind the scenes yet profoundly impacted their families and countries.

For anyone interested in royal history, particularly those drawn to the intersections of personal resilience and historical consequence, Queen Victoria's Favourite Granddaughter is an insightful and engrossing read. Ilana D. Miller succeeds in bringing to life a remarkable figure who deserves greater recognition, and whose influence continues to ripple through royal lineages today.

Queen Victoria's Favourite Granddaughter by Ilana D Miller tells of the life of an extraordinary woman who lived a long life that spanned many historic events. Born to Alice, a daughter of Queen Victoria and her husband Albert, Victoria was brought into world that was changing, even from the first days of her birth.

Her royal grandmother doted on her as her favorite among her army of grandchildren, who spread across the world like a royal web. Victoria's sisters also lived incredible lives, her youngest sister becoming the Tsarina of Russia, who perished in the Russian Revolution. Victoria's mother died young, and the English Queen took Victoria under her wing. As she grew, she married a man of her choice, persuading the aging, dominant Grandmother to approve of her selection.

Victoria lived a long life, experiencing losing two of her sisters to the Russian Revolution and World War I. She experienced a wide collection of technological advances, and then survived through World War II. She died in her late eighties, but not before experiencing the birth of another ruler of England, the current Charles III.

I highly recommend this quick and detailed history of a royal women who was a front row viewer to so much history. If you do not have a background in Victorian history, or are interested in viewing it from a new angle, this book would be a great addition to your collection!

I would like to thank Pen & Sword and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love books about history especially about Queen Victoria. So when Queen Victoria's Favourite Granddaughter
by Ilana D Miller came available I had to request and read it. WoW this book was brilliant and full an interesting fascinating facts throughout. I really enjoyed reading this book and I highly recommend it especially if you love history.

I found this book difficult to navigate. It read like the story of a large, extended family rather than of one woman, told as a series of facts rather than a narrative. It rapidly moved from one situation to another, making it impossible for me to gain any insight or develop any sort of emotional attachment to the people involved. Ultimately, it didn’t hold my interest, although it would make a good reference book.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

I enjoyed this book and found the writing style easy, not stuffy like some historical factual books.

I found the interaction between Victoria and the Queen fascinating and saw the human side of the Royals.

Such a tragedy that befell the Tzar and his family. If only things has turned out differently and Alix and Nicky had ruled for the people from the start. Alix should have listened to the Queen.

I did get a bit confused with the names as there were so many Victorias, Alices etc but I liked the way the Queen had abbreviated versions for them eg Ernie, Alicky, I suppose to individualise them.

Thankyou netgalley for this Arc.

I requested and received an eARC of Queen Victoria's Favourite Granddaughter: Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, the Most Consequential Royal You Never Knew by Ilana D. Miller. I was glad I was granted access to this title soon after finishing a wonderful volume about Queen Victoria and the Prime Ministers who served during her reign. When it comes to Victoria’s children and grandchildren, perhaps aside from Vicky and Edward VII, it becomes difficult to remember who is who! So, who is Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine? The daughter of Victoria’s third child, Princess Alice, who married Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine.

Victoria lived a long life that witnessed many tragedies which is something Miller highlights in the introduction to the text. Born in 1863 and dying in 1950, a month after the birth of Princess Anne, she lived through both world wars and the downfall of many of her family members (i.e the killing of the Romanovs.) She enjoyed a special relationship with her grandmother and they exchanged many letters during their lifetime (I’m not sure how Queen Victoria managed to do much more than write letters continuously for the entirety of her reign!) The introduction is accompanied by an overview of Princess Victoria’s immediate family with brief descriptions of who each individual is. I found this very helpful, because as I’ve mentioned it is difficult to distinguish one member of the family from another thanks to Queen Victoria and Albert’s bounty of children and their subsequent marriages.

I found this to be a fun and informative read that really complimented my previous reading of Queen Victoria’s family. This is much more than a look at Victoria’s life, but also an exploration of a very turbulent time in history, spanning from the late nineteenth century through two world wars. My favorite sections were those that delved into Victoria’s childhood, with her siblings, and the death of her mother, Princess Alice, but I also enjoyed the later bits that explored the death of Alix and Ella. Miller does a terrific job of relaying these events in a well-rounded way that prioritizes how deeply affected Victoria was by them (all while trying to spare Ernie from some of the more horrific details.) Phenomenal work with just the right blend of history and gossip that kept my attention the entire time (and often made me say to myself, “If only they had listened to Victoria!”)