Queen Mary

Princess Victoria Mary of Teck was born in 1867, the great-granddaughter of George III and goddaughter of Queen Victoria. In 1893, the young princess married George (then styled Duke of York), and became the queen consort when George ascended to the throne in 1910. She bore five sons (two of whom would later become king) and one daughter.

Throughout their life together, Queen Mary accompanied her husband on visits that covered more territory worldwide than any previous members of royalty. Their tour of the Empire in 1901 took eight months to complete. In addition to joining the King on goodwill trips to see the Allied troops at the Western Front, Queen Mary also paid regular visits to wounded and dying soldiers in hospitals.

In widowhood the dowager Queen provided counsel and support to her son Albert when he ascended the throne and took the name George VI. She was also very closely involved in the upbringing of her grandchildren, Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret. Queen Mary outlived King George VI, who died in 1952, the third of her children to predecease her. She herself died in 1953, ten weeks before the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Queen Mary Veterans’ Hospital in Montréal, along with many buildings, parks and schools across Canada, was named in her honour.