She was born as Her Serene Highness Princess May Helen Emma of Teck at Claremont House, near Esher in Surrey, England.

Her parents were Prince Alexander of Teck, great-grandson of King George III, and the former Princess Alice of Albany, granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

[3] On 24 October 1931 in St Mary's Church, Balcombe, Sussex,[4] the parish church of the Athlone residence of Brantridge Park, Lady May married Colonel Sir Henry Abel Smith, then a lieutenant in the Royal Horse Guards serving as aide-de-camp (ADC) to Lady May's father the Earl of Athlone.

In 1958 Sir Henry Abel Smith was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as Governor of Queensland in Australia and served in that office until 1966.

She attended some major royal events such as the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer.