Marriage
Because of their close relationship to the Grand Ducal House of Hesse, the Battenbergs came into close contact with various Royal and Princely families of Europe, including the British Royal House. Henry's elder brother, Prince Louis of Battenberg, had married Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine, his first cousin once-removed and a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. In 1884, Prince Henry became engaged to Princess Beatrice, the fifth daughter and the youngest child of Queen Victoria and Albert, Prince Consort. Queen Victoria agreed to the marriage on the condition that the couple should make their home with her. The Queen formally gave her consent to the marriage at a meeting of the Privy Council on 27 January 1885.
On 22 July 1885, the Queen made Prince Henry a Knight of the Garter, and granted him the style Royal Highness to give him equal rank with his wife. This style took effect in the United Kingdom, but not in Hesse and by Rhine (where the Prince was still considered a Serene Highness).
Beatrice and Henry were married at St. Mildred's Church at Whippingham, near Osborne, on 23 July 1885. On the same day, a bill to naturalize Prince Henry a British subject passed the House of Lords. The couple adopted the style, Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Henry of Battenberg.
On 22 August 1885 he was made Honorary Colonel of the 5th (Isle of Wight, Princess Beatrice's) Volunteer Battalion, the Hampshire Regiment, In early 1886 it was announced in The Times that he would be made a Captain in the 1st Life Guards, but the Secretary of State for War denied knowledge of this in the House of Commons and the appointment did not take place.
Prince and Princess Henry of Battenberg had four children. By Royal Warrant of 13 December 1886, the Queen granted their children the style Highness. This style took immediate effect in the United Kingdom though not in Hesse and by Rhine, where, as Princes and Princesses of Battenberg, they were only entitled to the style Serene Highness.
Read more about this topic: Prince Henry Of Battenberg
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—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)
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