Daughter of a King and sister of two Kings, Princess Mary, The previous Princess Royal lived a remarkable life achieving many firsts as a woman and as a Princess. The paperback of the first modern biography is available now. @TheHistoryPress

The children of the future King George V and Queen Mary: Prince Edward, Prince Albert, Prince Henry and Princess Mary in 1901. The princes are dressed in sailor suits with a hatband of HMS Ophir, the royal yacht that conveyed their parents on a world tour.

Did you know Princess Mary championed women in the armed forces? During WWII she became Controller, later Controller Commandant, of the ATS. By 1945, 200,000 women had served, with Mary boosting morale through visits across the UK.

Did you know Princess Mary represented Queen Elizabeth II on Commonwealth tours? Between 1955–64 she toured Canada 3 times, attended independence celebrations in Trinidad & Tobago 🇹🇹 & Zambia 🇿🇲, and became the first woman honorary bencher of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

In 1927 Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood, became the first woman elected to the Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. She had trained at Great Ormond Street Hospital and later became its President.

In Nov 1942, Eleanor Roosevelt visited Queen Mary at her secret wartime residence. She recalled the Queen’s energy, the “vast, cold rooms,” and even braving a bath. Over dinner, Queen Mary spoke of FDR’s interest in forestry & shared anecdotes with humour and warmth.

16 November 1896 – Shooting Party at Elveden A group photograph taken at Elveden House during a shooting party hosted by the Earl and Countess Iveagh. Among the guests were the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George V and Queen Mary). 🖼 Royal Collection Trust

Sister to two kings, Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood, wasn’t just a royal figure she was a pioneer. From training as a paediatric nurse during WWI to becoming the first female chancellor of a university and the first female honorary General of the British Army.

Original press photo from the Examiner newspaper archive 17 March 1938. Queen Mary is pictured receiving flowers from Billy Grant, a London boy dressed as a cowboy of the American Plains, during the 14th anniversary celebrations of the opening of London’s first play centre.

1901, the royal children are reunited with their parents after a long Empire tour. Prince Edward (later Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor), Prince Albert (later George VI), and Princess Mary run ahead in excitement. Their youngest brother, Prince Henry, is carried by a nurse.

Princess Margaret and Princess Mary, The Princess Royal, were photographed together in a maroon Daimler at Horse Guards Parade on 27 November 1952, on their way to the Houses of Parliament for the State Opening by Queen Elizabeth II.

This morning, my husband Jonathan goes into surgery after suffering a heart attack on Saturday. It’s been a frightening few days, but we’re so grateful for the care he’s receiving and for the love and support from family and friends.

A collage postcard from around 1910 brings together President Fallières of France with a number of European royals of the next generation. The images were taken from separate published photographs but arranged here to appear as one scene. Can you spot Princess Mary?

King George V, Queen Mary and Edward, Prince of Wales attended the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Armistice Day, 11 November circa early 1930s. The event was organised by the British Legion to honour those who served and sacrificed in the Great War.

Queen Mary receives three cheers from soldiers during a 1941 engagement. Her presence was possibly a morale boost for troops during the Second World War.

Queen Mary at Thirlestane Castle On 4 September 1937, Queen Mary visited Thirlestane Castle, the seat of the 15th Earl of Lauderdale, Ian Colin Maitland. She is pictured walking alongside the Earl and the local vicar during the visit.

Princess Elizabeth at Hurst Park on 14 May 1951, attending the Whit Monday races. She is seen walking with Sir Humphrey de Trafford across the racecourse, formally dressed, with vintage motorcars in the background. She was there to watch the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Photograph of Princess Mary attending an official engagement in northern England, 1920s.

June 2nd, 1953 — Princess Mary, The Princess Royal, departing Westminster Abbey after the momentous Coronation of her niece, Queen Elizabeth II. Alongside her are the Duke of Norfolk and Prince William of Gloucester, marking a day that shaped modern British history.

I recently purchased this photograph. It shows a radiant smile from Princess Mary, The Princess Royal, captured during a civic banquet with Cardinal L��ger in Montreal, October 14, 1955.

Princess Mary, The Princess Royal, inspects a group of Girl Guides, c.1920s. From 1920 until her death in 1965, she served as President of The Girl Guide Association, playing a hands-on role in shaping the movement.