Grand Duchess Elizaveta - discussion and pictures PART IV

Part IV.

Starting this Part IV with an interesting fact.

Grand Duchess Elizaveta was on friendly terms with Crownprincess Stephanie, widow of Crownprince Rudolf of Austria.
In 1897 Stephanie visited Russia and GDss was entertaining her during some days. GD Sergei in his diary says that Stephanie was a childhood friend of Ella.
Wonder if some photos exist from that visit...

Interesting indeed. I didn't know she was close to someone from the Austrian court. Now I'm wondering if she ever got to meet the Empress Elisabeth. I read somewhere that during those times they were considered by contemporaries to be the most beautiful women in Europe.

I wonder if Alice was on good terms with Leopold II or perhaps Ludwig was? Alice would have been cousins with Leopold through the Coburg side and Victoria retained a close relationship with that branch. So it could make sense that Stephanie and her siblings would visit.

Another place they could have met is the sea side resorts that Alice took their children to, Queen Marie Heneritte also likes to visit those places or spas (God knows she needs it living with Leopold II). Ella & Stephanie could have met during these holidays. I personally do not think Stephanie was a beauty, she did grew more attractive years after her marriage though.

Interesting indeed. I didn't know she was close to someone from the Austrian court. Now I'm wondering if she ever got to meet the Empress Elisabeth. I read somewhere that during those times they were considered by contemporaries to be the most beautiful women in Europe.

I think she never met Empress Elisabeth, at least I've never came across any mention of it in the sources. But GDss did meet Emperor Franz Josef, in 1897 year, when he came with a state visit to Russia. Elizaveta didn't want to take part in the 3 days festivities in St.Petersbourg and tried to decline from it but her sister the Empress was adamant on the point of Ella's taking part and so GDss went to entertain the old Emperor.

I think Ella would have been more interested had Sisi been there. BTW Alicky did met Sisi in Vienna once and the verdict was that Sisi still had the magic to put the younger woman in the shade. A Sisi/Ella meeting would have been interesting.

a  lovely miniature from the Royal Collection (Ihope it wasn't posted before (?))
 : )

That is an absolutely darling portrait! How sweet it is...

Starting this Part IV with an interesting fact.

Grand Duchess Elizaveta was on friendly terms with Crownprincess Stephanie, widow of Crownprince Rudolf of Austria.
In 1897 Stephanie visited Russia and GDss was entertaining her during some days. GD Sergei in his diary says that Stephanie was a childhood friend of Ella.
Wonder if some photos exist from that visit...

Stephanie also met with the GDss in 1895 in Franzensbad, and according to GD Sergei she was very impatient to see Elizaveta.

Hard to see what they could have talked. Too bad the correspondence was lost.It would be interesting to see what they have in common (apart from their intertests in clothes & jewels).

Maybe that's what they talked about.

In an early letter Ella says that she has got the impression that Stephanie was extremely bored in her new married life and that she had nothing to do or expect...
Stephanie seems to have been very eager to see Ella in those days.

Really ? Were the correspondence published ? It would be interesting to know...Especially since Ella had much better PR in Russia than Stephanie in Austria.

A modern portrait of Ella: