The first Princess Royal: Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange

We love this portrait of Princess Mary, eldest daughter of Charles I, although she looks very serious for one so young.

At the top of the portrait we can see the words ‘La Princesse Royal’ but what does that actually mean?

Princess Royal is a title that can be awarded by a British monarch to their eldest daughter.

We have Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I to thank for this custom. She was the daughter of Henry IV, King of France. At the French court, the eldest daughter of the monarch was known as ‘Madame Royale’.
Wanting to imitate this tradition, she persuaded her husband to recognise their eldest daughter, Princess Mary, as the first Princess Royal.

Since then there have been seven Princesses Royal:

Princess Mary (held 1642 - 1660)
Daughter of Charles I

Princess Anne (held 1727 - 1759)
Daughter of George II

Princess Charlotte (held 1789 - 1828)
Daughter of George III

Princess Victoria ( held 1841 - 1901)
Daughter of Queen Victoria

Princess Louise (held 1905 - 1931)
Daughter of Edward VII

Princess Mary (held 1932 - 1965)
Daughter of George V

And of course the title is currently held by Princess Anne who was given the honour by her mother Queen Elizabeth II, in 1987.

The title is held for life even if the holders outlived her parent, the monarch.

This portrait hangs at Ashdown, Oxfordshire.