Princess Alice of Battenberg: Biography, Deafness, and Legacy

Most people know Princess Alice of Battenberg as the mother of Prince Philip, but her own story is far more remarkable. Born deaf at a time when royal disability was barely acknowledged, she taught herself to lip‑read in four languages, survived forced institutionalisation, and later became a Greek Orthodox nun who risked her life to shelter Jewish families during the Nazi occupation — a story that earned her the title Righteous Among the Nations.

Born: 25 February 1885, Windsor Castle · Died: 5 December 1969, Buckingham Palace · Condition: Congenital deafness · Recognized by Yad Vashem: Righteous Among the Nations (1993) · Mother of: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

Seven key facts offer a quick biographical backbone:

What was Princess Alice’s diagnosis?

Congenital deafness and early diagnosis

Princess Alice was born with congenital deafness, though it was not discovered until she was about eight years old. According to a study by the University of Sheffield New Histories (academic research), she quickly learned to lip-read and became fluent in English, German, French, and later Greek. She reportedly also used sign language.

Misdiagnosis and institutionalization

In 1930, Princess Alice was diagnosed with schizophrenia and committed to a sanatorium in Switzerland. Historians note that the diagnosis may have been influenced by cultural biases about deafness and mental health. Wikipedia (biographical entry) records that she was treated there for two years before being discharged in 1932, after which she gradually recovered.

The implication: her deafness and mental health diagnosis remain intertwined in historical interpretation.

Could Princess Alice speak?

Lip‑reading and speech development

Contrary to what many assume, Princess Alice could speak. She learned to lip-read at age eight and developed clear speech in English, German, French, and Greek. The University of Sheffield New Histories (academic research) notes that her lip-reading was fluent by the age of eight, and she later became a confident communicator in all four languages.

Communication methods as an adult

As an adult, she relied primarily on lip-reading but also knew some sign language. Her ability to navigate high‑society events and diplomatic functions despite her deafness was considered remarkable. Encyclopedia.com (reference work) states that she “spoke clearly and without hesitation” in multiple languages.

What this means: her communication skills were exceptional for her time.

What happened to Prince Philip’s mother, Princess Alice?

Exile and return to Greece

After marrying Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark in 1903, Alice lived in Greece until the royal family was exiled in 1917. They returned later, but political instability forced further displacements. During World War II, she refused to leave Athens and stayed at her home. There, according to Encyclopedia.com (reference work), she sheltered a Jewish family, facilitating their escape from Nazi persecution.

Life as a nun in Athens

After the war, Alice felt a strong religious calling. In 1949 she founded the Christian Sisterhood of Martha and Mary, a nursing order of Greek Orthodox nuns, and devoted herself to charitable work. She lived in Athens and continued her religious service for nearly two decades.

Final years and move to Buckingham Palace

In 1967, after the Greek junta took power, the then‑Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip invited Alice to move into Buckingham Palace. She lived there until her death on 5 December 1969 at age 84. Encyclopedia.com (reference work) records that she died of natural causes.

The catch: her final years in Buckingham Palace contrast sharply with her earlier trials.

Why did Princess Alice of Battenberg become a nun?

Religious calling and wartime experiences

Alice had always been deeply religious, but her wartime experiences – particularly sheltering Jewish refugees – intensified her faith. After the war, she felt a clear calling to serve God through nursing and charity. Wikipedia (biographical entry) notes that she began wearing a nun’s habit and founded her own order.

Founding the Christian Sisterhood of Martha and Mary

In 1949, Alice established the Christian Sisterhood of Martha and Mary in Athens, a nursing order that cared for the poor and sick. She served as its mother superior, using her own funds to support the work. Encyclopedia.com (reference work) confirms that the sisterhood continued after her move to London.

The implication: her religious vocation was a direct response to war and suffering.

Were Princess Alice and Lord Mountbatten related?

Family tree: Battenberg lineage

Yes, Lord Mountbatten (Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma) was Princess Alice’s younger brother. Both were children of Prince Louis of Battenberg and Princess Victoria of Hesse. Alice was the elder sibling, born in 1885; Louis was born in 1900. Wikipedia (biographical entry) details the Battenberg family tree and its connections to European royalty.

Lord Mountbatten’s connection to Princess Alice

Louis Mountbatten went on to become a senior British naval commander and the last Viceroy of India. Alice and her brother remained close; he was a frequent correspondent. Their father, Prince Louis, had renounced his German titles during World War I and adopted the anglicised surname Mountbatten, which is why Alice’s brother is known as Lord Mountbatten while she kept the Battenberg name.