Princess Ileana of Romania,her life and family

I just finished reading that book, it great!

and only last week, i went on trip to visit her grave with my religious camp for a pilgrimage. the monastery is lovely with a beautiful garden.  I'll post pictures if you want me to.

the new book on Ileana is awful ... so many mistakes - and all those fake conversations ... the author had no real grasp of Ileana's life.  She sugar coated everything.

I just finished reading that book, it great!

and only last week, i went on trip to visit her grave with my religious camp for a pilgrimage. the monastery is lovely with a beautiful garden.  I'll post pictures if you want me to.

I just finished reading that book, it great!

and only last week, i went on trip to visit her grave with my religious camp for a pilgrimage. the monastery is lovely with a beautiful garden.  I'll post pictures if you want me to.

If the photographs are copyrighted, then, no, you should not post them.

Really? the book is awful. I thought it was pretty good.


No, they're aren't copyright, photos taking by me with my own camera of the garden and monastery. not from the book. 

All those fake conversations -- such fiction -- and getting things wroing, and whiteashing Ileana's life -- she glosses over Ileana's final years in Romania, for example -- Michael and Helen did not trust Ileana because she was literally sleeping with the enemy.

Really? the book is awful. I thought it was pretty good.


No, they're aren't copyright, photos taking by me with my own camera of the garden and monastery. not from the book. 

Hopefully, Marlene, with time and experience, these youngsters will become more sophisticated in their analytical reading skills and realize that just because it's in a book, doesn't necessarily make it true. (However, they are indeed entitled to their own opinion, e.g.  " ...it great ! " )   Regards,  AP

I agree with Marlene - this book is a huge disappointment  -  and an opportunity missed. The author, unfortunately,  has no understanding of Ileana's life and times - and her determination to present the Princess as a quasi-saint actually does Ileana a huge disservice. Ileana was a great deal more  complex and interesting than this one dimensional portrait alllows.

[Michael and Helen did not trust Ileana because she was literally sleeping with the enemy.]

All those fake conversations -- such fiction -- and getting things wroing, and whiteashing Ileana's life -- she glosses over Ileana's final years in Romania, for example -- Michael and Helen did not trust Ileana because she was literally sleeping with the enemy.

Marlene,

Was she "sleeping with the enemy" to perserve her royal status, perserve her charities, and/or preserve her properties?  Please elaborate if you can.

Something else I always wondered about was the communists and Helen.  I think I read somewhere that the head communists official; really thought highly of Queen Mother Helen.  However, I may be getting all this mixed up with other high elected officials in Romania.

Thanks in advance for any further information you can offer.

TampaBay

The fake conversations with Carol were actually hilarious. It is obvious that the author did little research

I agree with Marlene - this book is a huge disappointment  -  and an opportunity missed. The author, unfortunately,  has no understanding of Ileana's life and times - and her determination to present the Princess as a quasi-saint actually does Ileana a huge disservice. Ileana was a great deal more  complex and interesting than this one dimensional portrait alllows.

[Michael and Helen did not trust Ileana because she was literally sleeping with the enemy.]

Ileana was Bodnaras' mistress in her final years --- she thought he would be able to protect her and her family - and her hospital -and she thought she would be able to stay and continue her work and keep her stuff etc, but when Michael was forced to abdicate, everything turned against her.  Bodnaras said he would no longer help her - and she had to leave ... with barely nothing.   Michael and Helen were well aware of Ileana's situation and what was happening .. they did not trust her, and they certainly did not trust Elisabeth.

All those fake conversations -- such fiction -- and getting things wroing, and whiteashing Ileana's life -- she glosses over Ileana's final years in Romania, for example -- Michael and Helen did not trust Ileana because she was literally sleeping with the enemy.

Marlene,

Was she "sleeping with the enemy" to perserve her royal status, perserve her charities, and/or preserve her properties?  Please elaborate if you can.

Something else I always wondered about was the communists and Helen.  I think I read somewhere that the head communists official; really thought highly of Queen Mother Helen.  However, I may be getting all this mixed up with other high elected officials in Romania.

Thanks in advance for any further information you can offer.

TampaBay

An important contemporary account of the political activities of Princess Ileana during this period comes from Adrian Holman - the British representative in Bucharest. In a report to Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin, dated 6th August 1947,  entitled 'Palace Atmosphere of Rumour, Fear and Confusion', he notes:-

'Her Majesty [Queen Helen] added that at present a frequent visitor to the palace was Princess Ileana, who was, as I knew, on very close terms with M. Bodnaras, Under-Secretary of the Presidency of the Council. I told the Queen quite frankly that the mistress of the head of the secret police could be up to no good, and that I personally had carefully avoided meeting her, as well as her sister, Princess Elizabeth, whose relations with the pro-Soviet banker, Scanavi, were too close to be above suspicion. The Queen quite agreed and has explained to Princess Ileana how foolishly she is behaving, but the latter had simply replied that her influence over Bodnaras was such that she could often prevent person being thrown into prison or, once in, help to get their release.  She in fact warned the Queen that Dinu Bratianu [liberal politician] and Titel Petrescu [social democrat politician ] were on the list for early arrest.  I cannot imagine myself a shrewd man like Bodnaras not being able to use Princess Ileana for his own purposes inside the palace'   Source: UK National Archives: FO: 371/67240

If I am not mistaken, this reference was included in an article on the Red princesses in Royalty Digest about a decade ago.

An important contemporary account of the political activities of Princess Ileana during this period comes from Adrian Holman - the British representative in Bucharest. In a report to Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin, dated 6th August 1947,  entitled 'Palace Atmosphere of Rumour, Fear and Confusion', he notes:-

'Her Majesty [Queen Helen] added that at present a frequent visitor to the palace was Princess Ileana, who was, as I knew, on very close terms with M. Bodnaras, Under-Secretary of the Presidency of the Council. I told the Queen quite frankly that the mistress of the head of the secret police could be up to no good, and that I personally had carefully avoided meeting her, as well as her sister, Princess Elizabeth, whose relations with the pro-Soviet banker, Scanavi, were too close to be above suspicion. The Queen quite agreed and has explained to Princess Ileana how foolishly she is behaving, but the latter had simply replied that her influence over Bodnaras was such that she could often prevent person being thrown into prison or, once in, help to get their release.  She in fact warned the Queen that Dinu Bratianu [liberal politician] and Titel Petrescu [social democrat politician ] were on the list for early arrest.  I cannot imagine myself a shrewd man like Bodnaras not being able to use Princess Ileana for his own purposes inside the palace'   Source: UK National Archives: FO: 371/67240

Some more pictures of Ileana

Yes, Marlene  - it was my article.

I did not want to give you away!   

Yes, Marlene  - it was my article.