 Louise 's relationship with the two sisters closest to the Queen , Beatrice and Helena , was strained at best . Beatrice had married the tall and handsome Prince Henry of Battenberg in a love match in 1885 , and they had four children . Louise , who had a jealous nature , had grown accustomed to treating Beatrice with pity on account of the Queen 's constant need for her . Beatrice 's biographer , Matthew Dennison , claims that in contrast to Beatrice , Louise remained strikingly good looking throughout her forties . Louise and her husband were no longer close , and rumours spread about Lorne 's alleged homosexuality . Thus , Beatrice was enjoying a satisfying sexual relationship with her popular husband , which Louise was not . Louise may have considered Prince Henry a more appropriate husband for herself . Certainly , following Prince Henry 's death in 1896 , Louise wrote that : " he [ Henry ] was almost the greatest friend I had — I , too , miss him more than I can say " . In addition , Louise attempted to champion her late brother @-@ in @-@ law by announcing that she was his confidante and that Beatrice , a mere cipher , meant nothing to him . 
