Helena, Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein

[grandduchessella]

Albert was already dead by then and he never adopted her. His sisters provided evidence that she was his natural daughter to the Nazi courts.

[Marc]

It is so interesting to guess who could be Valerie's mother?I guess that he had some known ''relationships'' just to narrow the search...who were those ladies?

[grandduchessella]

I think the only thing known is that she was of noble birth. I believe that Marlene did a good amount of research into it for her book but there just isn't evidence out there.

[Norbert]

many thanks .Sorry, yes she was adopted by a Jewish family and recognised in 1938....I  just wondered if it was an attempt to save her from arrest? Perhaps Marlene will confirm the evidence of her birth.

[grandduchessella]

She also had a very large and ornate necklace of pearls, diamonds and (I think) emeralds. Given the early age of the portrait, I would suspect it was a wedding gift but will have to look through my back issues:

I found the portrait in color and you can definitel tell the drop is an emerald

[ArchDss Louise-Henriette]

Princess Helena's daughters, Marie-Louise and Victoria Helena

[grandduchessella]

There's a thread on Helena's children

http://forum.alexanderpalace.org/index.php/topic,224.0.html

 

[ArchDss Louise-Henriette]

Helena's wedding, 1866  * was it at Westmninster Abbey or Windsor * ?

[Michael II]

Princess Helena was married in the "old" private chapel of windsor castle.  It was destroyed in the fire of a few years back.  A new smaller chapel
was built to replace it.

[ArchDss Louise-Henriette]

Princess Helena was married in the "old" private chapel of windsor castle.  It was destroyed in the fire of a few years back.  A new smaller chapel
was built to replace it.

I had no idea that it was destroyed    ... what other places were effected?

[CountessKate]

There's a very extensive article on Wikipedia which discusses the extent of the damage to the castle, for a start.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Windsor_Castle_fire

[ArchDss Louise-Henriette]

There's a very extensive article on Wikipedia which discusses the extent of the damage to the castle, for a start.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_Windsor_Castle_fire

Thanks !     I do know that the fire damaged a whole wing of the castle .....

[ArchDss Louise-Henriette]

Helena, Christian, and daughter Marie-Louise ( I think )


** Isn't Lenchen's hairdo pretty ** 

[Grace]

Yes, it's a very pretty and feminine style - it doesn't seem fair that Lenchen was sometimes criticized for not making an effort with her appearance.   

[LenelorMiksi]

I think when family members (read Queen Victoria) criticized Helena's appearance they were speaking more of her manner than her looks.  How one appears to others- perhaps she was ungraceful, or walked strangely, or had mannerisms that were more in common with men of her period- has a strong affect on a person's overall attractiveness.  I've often wondered why Helena was called unattractive.  However, a remark from "Victoria's Daughters" has stuck in my head.  In a passage on Helena's tomboyish personality in youth, Packard remarks that Lenchen had to discard her favorite pursuits as unfeminine once she grew older.  She liked athletic and mechanical activities- neither of which were acceptable for a Victorian princess.  "Only once she lost this innocence during her teens would her life take on its coloring of apathy..."  I know if I could not enjoy my favorite hobbies I would become a far less colorful person.  Maybe the environment stunted Lenchen's personality in a way that showed outwardly.