Prince Maurice was born on 3 October 1891. He was given the name "Maurice" after his father Prince Henry of Battenberg and the great-grandfather, Count Mauritz von Hauke, "Victor" after his grandmother the Queen, and "Donald" in honour of Scotland, as he was born at Balmoral Castle. His father was Prince Henry of Battenberg, the son of Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine and Julie Therese née Countess of Hauke. His mother was Princess Henry of Battenberg (née The Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom), the fifth daughter and the youngest child of Queen Victoria and Albert, Prince Consort.