Forgotten Princess' Life Was Far More Suspenseful Than Anything From 'The Crown'

The British monarchy may have cut some names from its family tree over the years, but there's one remarkable royal from their lineage that history will never erase. While Netflix's The Crown only scratches the surface of her life, Princess Alice of Battenberg could truly be the star of her own series. Though many are only just now learning her name, the incredible story of this long-lost princess is one you won't soon forget.

The Forgotten Princess

After all, over the course of just two episodes, Princess Alice became one of The Crown's most mesmerizing characters to date. Her sudden appearance and mysterious motivations helped carry the show's stakes to new heights, though the real Alice of Battenberg dealt with this kind of drama practically from the moment she was born.

Royal Blood

Christened Victoria Alice Elizabeth Julia Marie, Alice traced her lineage back through two noble houses: that of Battenberg from her father, Prince Louis, and of Hesse and by Rhine from her mother, Princess Victoria. Yet not even royal blood could save her from developing a debilitating condition.

Debilitating Condition

The young princess was born with delayed speech, most likely due to congenital hearing loss. Incurable back then, Alice had to live with her impairment without letting anyone else know.

Clever Princess

In a terrible effort to preserve the family name, Princess Victoria forbade Alice from asking others to repeat what they had said. Fortunately, the clever princess learned to read lips and made due. She proved herself capable, though her strength would be tested when war struck.