Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig (Ernie), Grand Duchess Eleanor (Onor) & family

I have a question that I wonder if anyone can answer.  In several books, the family tree states the death of Prince Ernest Ludwig of Hesse Darmstadt, his wife Elinor, their son Georg Donatus and his wife Cecilie and two of their children all died in 1937.  It says they were killed with the exception of Ernest Ludwig.  What happened and how did they all die?

It was a tragic plane crash, as I recall.

George Donatus, his wife Cecille, their two sons, their daughter, his mother the Dowager Grand Duchess of Hesse, the children's nursemaid, and the best man were on their way to the wedding of George Donatus' brother, Prince Louis ('Lu"), to an English girl, Margaret Geddes. Thier Junker tri-motor had taken off from Frankfurt on Nov. 16 and was approaching the airport at Ostend, Belgium for a re-fueling stop. There was fog, I believe, and the pilot go disoriented and crashed into a tall smokestack, the plane bursting into flames and crashing, killing all on board.

Months ago I found the following unchecked information:

Ernie died at Wolfsgarten on october 9th 1937, two weeks before his youngest son Ludwig was to marry Margaret Geddes in London. The wedding was postponed. On November 16th, Ernie's widow, together with her Son Georg Donatus, his wife and his two sons, went to London by plane in order to attend Ludwig's wedding. The plane crashed near Oostende in Belgium and all the passengers were killed.
Prince Ludwig and his wife adopted his orphan niece, Johanna, who died in 1939 of meningitis. Prince Ludwig died in 1968 without descendant.

A little crash trivia...also on board the trimotor were the famous Hessian Pearls and lace, both which I believe Empress Alexandra wore on her wedding day. Correct me if Im wrong!

The Hessian pearls and the wedding veil was worn by Princesss Alice at her wedding in 1862, and used at every family occasion since that date, were lost in the crash. So I'm assuming that Alexandra did indeed use the pearls and the veil. That makes you very right.

Louise

An interesting note, the Hessian family Tiara was also on board the plane and in fact survived the crash undamaged in its metal travel case and remains in the family to this day.

A good book to read on this topic of the plane crash and the Hesse-Darmstadt family is David Duff's Hessian Tapestry.

Mona

Hessian Tapestry does a great job of piecing together the family tree of the European Royals and how they are so intertwined. It's one of my fave books that basically covers the royals from the birth of Princess Alice to the death of Princess Victoria of Battenberg.

Louise

This tiara was displayed in V&A ''Tiaras'' exibition a couple fo years ago. Must be included in the catalogue.

I have a picture of it in a big book on tiaras - I must say it isn't very attractive to my eyes.  In my opinion it's heavy and ungraceful - am I the only one who feels this way?  I am sort of surprized it isn't more attractive knowing the Grand Duke's artistic inclinations and good taste.

Bob

Hessian Tapestry does a great job of piecing together the family tree of the European Royals and how they are so intertwined. It's one of my fave books that basically covers the royals from the birth of Princess Alice to the death of Princess Victoria of Battenberg.

Louise

You say that the Hessian Tapestry covers the birth of Princess Alice to the Death of Princess Victoria of Battenberg. Can you tell me whether it covers the birth of Princess Alice's youngest daughter Alexandra? I've yet to find any mention anywhere.

In the book Hessian Tapestry this information can be found in the chapter "In Search of God." It's on page 167 of the book I have.

Louise

I´ve read Hessian Tapestry and it covers the birth. You could also find references on the book: Letters to Her Majesty the Queen (from Princess Alice), published in 1885 by Tauchnitz and reprinted by Elibron Classics(two volumes).
Good luck with your search!

PD:Best place about it: Greg´s biography on Alexandra.

I have a picture of it in a big book on tiaras - I must say it isn't very attractive to my eyes.  In my opinion it's heavy and ungraceful - am I the only one who feels this way?  I am sort of surprized it isn't more attractive knowing the Grand Duke's artistic inclinations and good taste.

Bob

Bob, I have seen photos of the moonstone Hesse tiara in Geoffrey Munn's gorgeous book on tiaras (might that be the same book you have?).  I'm ambivalent about it myself--it's certainly unique, and I can see why you might describe it as "heavy," especially when you consider the more "traditional" styles of tiaras.  I personally prefer it to the bandeau style worn across the forehead, etc (think Queen Ena).

Jane