Helene d'Orleans, Duchess of Aosta

Hélène and Emanuele Filiberto, Manolo, were separated by 1902. Their separation, however, was very friendly and they always remained in good terms. Manolo told a relative that he was once in a hotel with one of his girlfriends, when he heard familiar noise from a couple having sex in the room next door.

The morning after, he was told that it was his wife who was in that room. So he sent her a bunch of roses with a note saying: " I hope you had a great night, darling. Manolo". So we could say theirs was an open marriage!


After Manolo's death Hélène married, in 1936, Oddone Maria Campini (1872-1951), with whom she lived the rest of her life.

Hélène and Emanuele Filiberto, Manolo, were separated by 1902. Their separation, however, was very friendly and they always remained in good terms. Manolo told a relative that he was once in a hotel with one of his girlfriends, when he heard familiar noise from a couple having sex in the room next door.

The morning after, he was told that it was his wife who was in that room. So he sent her a bunch of roses with a note saying: " I hope you had a great night, darling. Manolo". So we could say theirs was an open marriage!


After Manolo's death Hélène married, in 1936, Oddone Maria Campini (1872-1951), with whom she lived the rest of her life.

Thank you for this story, Umigon! What a treat!  

Maybe someone can tell me...where did Helene live between her separation in 1902, and her remarriage in 1936?

Helene d'Orleans

I think a book in English is sorely needed for the Orleans Princesses...

As far as I know, the only reference to a possible union between the Tsarevich and Princess Helene d'Orleans comes from a diary entry by Nicholas on 29 January 1892.  Is there any other evidence?

"While I was talking to Mama this morning she made several hints about Helene, the daughter of the Comte de Paris, which puts me in an awkward position.  I am at the crossing of two paths; I myself want to go in the other direction, while Mama obviously wants me to take this one!  What will happen?"

Welcome to the forum!  

It is interesting reading the story of Helene's life. She was certainly very aristocratic looking, although not a ravishing beauty in the modern sense. I think there needs to be more info about her in books certainly. She played important roles in royal history, but it seems so often her name is mentioned in books and little else. That story about her, and Manolo is interesting. Sounds like it was not such a rigid royal marriage as some, even in discord! Anyway, I think she was a vague candidtate for Nicholas's hand, even though Prince Eddy was her true love at this time.

I read, that Eddy was Helenes great love!
The reason, that they didn`t get married, was a religian one! To be the Bride of Eddy, Helene has to change her catholic religion and the Pope forbit her changing the religion!

That's right, La Rainha...though I don't think it all got as far as the Pope...Helene's father refused to allow her to change her religion to marry Eddy so there was little more that could be done.  

I think they could have been happy together, though it's been suggested that she could have somewhat overwhelmed him as she was a very strong character.  Who knows?

I wonder if any photos were ever taken which included the two of them?  I don't mean as a couple but in a group or something?  Would be great to see...

I believe the Pope was consulted on the matter. Regardless of the religious differences, I don't know (despite how QV was swayed) whether it would've ever been feasible politically. The daughter of the French pretender to the throne as Queen of England, when England and France were building diplomatic relations? I don't know if British politicians would've gone for it. I think I read in one of the Eddy bios (perhaps Aronson's) that Bertie wasn't too keen on it and that it was Alexandra who was chiefly pushing the match.

Not published, but perhaps in family archives somewhere, I would think there are photos of them. The Orleans family lived in England and were in close contact with the British royals. There are later pictures of Helene with the family after Eddy's death and her marriage.

They had a common great-great-grandfather in Charles IV of Spain - Helene through her mother Isabelle d'Orleans, whose mother was a Spanish infanta, and Elisabeth through her grandfather King Michael of Portugal, son of a Spanish Infanta. This is the nearest relationship I can find.

They had lots of common ancestors but Charles IV of Spain was the nearest one.

http://geneweb.inria.fr/roglo?lang=pt;em=R;ei=159413;et=A;color=;i=224377

I have never personally read anything which said Bertie was not in favour of the union.

Theo Aronson's book says regarding Helene and Eddy that "the Prince of Wales was only too thankful to see his wayward son showing an interest in marriage at all...".

He apparently also suggested that Helene be allowed to remain a Roman Catholic provided she gave an understanding that the children would be brought up in the Anglican Church.

However, you're right ( )when you say that the petition did go as far as the Pope, as Helene went to Rome to consult him, to no avail.  

Does anyone know why the Pope disapproved? In the past, Pope's had been very amenable about things like this.

Does anyone know why the Pope disapproved? In the past, Pope's had been very amenable about things like this.

Hélène's father, the Count of Paris, very much opposed the match so I guess it was easy for the Pope to agree with him.