Francis, Duke of Teck GCB GCVO (Francis Paul Charles Louis Alexander; 28 August 1837 – 21 January 1900), until 1863 known as Count Francis von Hohenstein, was a member of the German nobility, and later of the British Royal Family. He was the father of Queen Mary, the wife of King George V, and therefore a great-grandfather of the present queen. Francis held the titles of Count of Hohenstein (Graf von Hohenstein), Prince (Fürst) and later Duke of Teck (Herzog von Teck) and was granted the style His Serene Highness in 1863. He was granted the British style of Highness in 1887.

Francis was born Franz Paul Karl Ludwig Alexander on 28 August 1837 in Esseg, Slavonia (now Osijek, Croatia). His father was Duke Alexander of Württemberg, the son of Duke Louis of Württemberg. His mother was Countess Claudine Rhédey von Kis-Rhéde. The marriage was morganatic, meaning that Francis had no succession rights to the Kingdom of Württemberg. His title at birth was Count Francis von Hohenstein, after his mother was created Countess of Hohenstein in her own right by Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria.

He was educated at the Imperial Austrian Academy of Engineers from 1849 to 1853 and joined the Imperial Austrian Army as a lieutenant in the 1st Lancers in 1854. He transferred to the Guard Squadron in 1858 and later became a Captain (Rittmeister) in the 7th Hussars. He served as Orderly Officer under Count Wimpffen in Italy during the Austro-Sardinian War and was awarded the gold medal for distinguished service at the Battle of Solferino and the bronze war medal, 1859.

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