Princess Alice

Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone (1883-1981)

Princess Alice had innumerable family ties to Esher and a personality which closely mirrored the spirit of the Hospice when it was opened in 1985.

The last surviving granddaughter of Queen Victoria, Princess Alice lived as a young child at nearby Claremont and visited Esher village often. She was a carrier of haemophilia. The disease brought much personal tragedy to her life, which she faced with her character of vitality, unsentimental compassion and a profound (and profoundly tested) Christian faith.

Princess Alice’s married life included years in South Africa and Canada, but Esher was always special to her.

The Trustees felt strongly that she would have warmly supported the creation of the hospice and were most grateful when her daughter, Lady May Abel Smith, gave permission for the Princess Alice Hospice to be so named.