Louise Mountbatten (1889 – 1965) never expected to become a Queen. She was a minor princess; a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria who lived a quiet life in the shadow of her father’s naval career in between visiting her many European royal relatives. While she was never one of the ‘stars’ of the extended British royal family, she was clever, democratic, and industrious. She was fully aware that she did not easily fit the fairy tale image of a princess. Moreover, her mother Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine instilled a fierce, almost socialist, independence in all her children.

This early biography by Margit Fjellman was supported by Queen Louise’s widower King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and her brother Lord Mountbatten. Although there’s a little too much of the latter in this biography, this reader liked him a little better as Louise was his favourite sister and he described her as ‘beautiful’. When the King of Sweden proposed to her in 1923 Louise herself was happy and yet conflicted. She told two relations, ‘It's all very well for you, sitting there comfortably anchored in your London homes. Think about me, faced with leaving England, and settling down in a strange country!’

Her niece Theodora, Margravine of Baden (1906 – 1969) remembered, ‘There was nothing of the blushing bride about Aunt Louise when she told us she was going to get married. She seemed embarrassed, almost annoyed with herself, and with her typical inclination to understatement, especially on her own account, she explained that she thought she was much too old and thin to be a royal bride. And what was her bridal gown to be like? She was certainly not going to wear white!’ They marriage was happy and successful.

As Crown Princess of Sweden Louise went through the Second World War, and because of her country’s neutrality, she was able to help many struggling people on all sides of the conflict, despite often being overwhelmed by royal shyness.

In later life she liked to be out and about anonymously and although she was often spotted the good Swedish citizens respected her privacy. She carried a printed card in her handbag bearing the legend ‘I AM THE QUEEN OF SWEDEN’. There was a logical reason for this as she explained, ‘I like going out shopping by myself and it would be so inconvenient if I got run over and they couldn’t find out who I was!’ Queen Louise died in Sweden on 7 March 1965 aged 75 and her last words were ‘Give my love to the King.’

An extremely entertaining biography of Queen Louise of Sweden. The book begins with the history of the Mountbattens and chronicles Louise's life with letters and remembrances from family members and friends. This book is sort of an official biography, as it was sanctioned by King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and by Queen Louise's brother, Lord Mountbatten.

Included in the book are some of Lord Mountbatten's letters to Louise as he traveled the world. They are fascinating. It was also fun to read about the Queen's personality, her warmth, her wit, and her generosity.

A very good book! ( )