The Battenbergs - discussion, pictures

[royaltybuff]

According to this article, the Battenberg Cake was developed to celebrate the marriage of Princess Victoria of Hesse to Prince Louis of Battenberg. Although the marriage took place in the 1880s, the cake did not become commercially available until the early 20th century. Nothing is mentioned about VMH ever making the cake herself.

I suppose the concept is similar to the Maria Biscuit which was introduced to celebrate the marriage of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, to Grand Duchess Marie of Russia.

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-battenberg-cake.htm

[Michael HR]

Can't stand the stuff. Bakewell tarts are much nicer

[Ilana]

From what I understand from a family source (and Charlotte Zeepvat told me very early on to be wary of royals telling stories, they easily can get them wrong) the four checks are the brothers (Louis, Sandro, Liko and Franzjos) and the icing is Marie, the sister.  However, this can totally not be true. I do feel rather strongly, however, that VMH was not in the kitchen baking cakes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[royaltybuff]

I'm with you on the idea that VMH did not bake a cake. The thought, however, makes me smile!  . . Interesting thought that the four section represent the brothers and the icing the sister.

[Russka Princess]

 im ok sorry, about that i did understood it wrong im sorry, but the thought is cute, i imange VHM is in the kitchen and try to baked. ^^

her ei have the link that the girls has learn to cook

"Princess Alice brought up her daughters simply. An English nanny presided over the nursery and the children ate plain meals of rice puddings and baked apples and wore plain dresses. Her daughters were taught how to do housework, such as baking cakes, making their own beds, laying fires and sweeping and dusting their rooms."

[Robert_Hall]

I suppose they could have, but A Battenberg cake is pretty complicated.  I tried it once and it was a mess!

[VN]

The cake was crated by Princess Beatrice, she was the one married to Liko (Heinrich von Battenberg). This is what I learned about the cake. I discovered it in a baking book a few years ago. Her it stated that it was created due to the wedding of Beatrice and Liko. Last year a tourguide at Osborne House told me that Beatrice "created" the cake. She was very into baking and cooking.

I don't think that the checks are a sympol for louis, Sandro, Liko and Franz-Jos and Marie the marzipan Icing!!! (but what an idea). My thought is, that it symbols the hessian colores red and white. I could imagin that Beatrice was always dedicated to Hessen and especially after Liko had died so early.

I have baked the cake twice, it is a little work and very sweet (sponge cake 2 colores red and white and the whole sponge part wraped in marzipan) easier way -  You can buy the cake in the Supermarket, forgot the name of the Company that makes them. The smaller ones taste more like the original, the big one-pack offer doesn't tast as good. This is what I found out about the cake last year on our family and my research holiday in Lymington/Southampton.

[Marie-Mathilde]

There is an upcoming film adaptation of Indian Summer by Alex Von Tunzellman. Indian Summer centres around Louis, Edwina and Nehru (with the main supporting roles going to Gandhi and Jinnah) during the last days of the British Empire in 1947. The film will be directed by Joe Wright (Pride and Prejudice, Atonement). The role of Edwina Mountbatten looks as though it will go Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth, The Aviator, Indiana Jones). And there is speculation that Lord Mountbatten will be played by Hugh Grant (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill).

http://www.firstshowing.net/2009/03/12/atonements-joe-wright-adapting-indian-summer-novel/

I read the book ages ago and loved it, so I'm very excited. I think Joe Wright and Cate Blanchett are excellent, so I'm glad that they are on board. But the prospect of Hugh Grant playing Lord Mountbatten leaves me filled with dread. I haven't got anything against Grant personally, but he always seems to play the same character. Any thoughts? Who would you cast if you were in charge?

[Ilana]

Grant is an excellent actor... he just got into a lucrative rut.  Not to worry, I believe he'll well be able to handle it!!!

[Marie-Mathilde]

This morning I had a sigh of relief when I read this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1206958/Hugh-Grant-quit-acting--again.html

Looks as though Hugh won't be Lord Mountbatten after all.

[Marlene]

No where in the article does it say that Hugh Grant is actually quitting acting.  The author strings together a series of quotes from different magazines including a recent interview with Entertaiinment weekly.

This morning I had a sigh of relief when I read this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1206958/Hugh-Grant-quit-acting--again.html

Looks as though Hugh won't be Lord Mountbatten after all.

[Olga Maria]

Here are some photos of Louis with his Russian cousins and uncle.
With Olga at Alexandrine Park

With Tatiana, Maria, Olga (on the ground), Anastasia and their uncle Ernie. in 1909


the pics came out kinda small

Anybody who have saved these photos posted by PrinceEddy? Thank you very much in advanced.

[Margot]

I have been reading snippets here and there about Franz Josef and Anna! In my copy of Nikola and Milena there is a little section dedicated to Franz Josef and Anna, with photographs. I would like to know if anyone has any more information about Emilsgarten, the house where Franz Joself and Anna seem to have made their home in Hesse. I was wondering if any 'Hessians' like Thomas Hesse could throw some like light on this bijou property and whether Franz Josef actually owned it or was rather given use of it by family arrangement! Is there any information about the history of the property?

It was lovely to read that Princess Marie of Erbach Shonberg wrote of Anna 'who has been to me a sister, infinitely close and dear, a woman of rare qualities of heart and character...'

I assume Anna was educated in Russia. Elena enrolled at the Smolny in 1883 when aged  ten and I always assumed that the elder Montengrin girls all went to Russia when they were old enough to attend the Smolny. I am curious as to where Elena, Zorka, Stane and Militza lived in St Petersburg. Anna would have joined her sisters in St Petersburg in 1884, being the last of the Princesses to do so as Vera and Xenia were too young and missed out on the opportunity after Elena was involved in the incident of the duel between Carl Gustav von Mannerheim and Arsen Karadjordjevic which led to Elena returning to Cetinje under a cloud.

I assume Anna was permitted to remain in Russia and complete her studies at the Smolny but would love it if someone could clarify this, I always assumed that the Smolny was a boarding school but am ot certain although I assume after the marriages of Stane and Militza, Elena and Anna could have more or less lived with either whilst attending the institute.

    

[Thomas_Hesse]

I would like to know if anyone has any more information about Emilsgarten, the house where Franz Josef and Anna seem to have made their home in Hesse. I was wondering if any 'Hessians' like Thomas Hesse could throw some like light on this bijou property and whether Franz Josef actually owned it or was rather given use of it by family arrangement! Is there any information about the history of the property?

The Prime Minister of the Hesse-Darmstadt cabinet, Friedrich von Moser, bought several gardens at Bessungen - in the west of Darmstadt  - and had them extended to a small park in 1772 (by the famous N.A. Siebert). He had also errected a Villa by J.M Schuhknecht - while most of the former little edifices in the park are gone the "Schlösschen" is still existing.
Park and Schlösschen were bought by Grand Duke Ludwig I. in 1780 - and passed on to his youngest and probably most famous son General Prince Emil (+1856). He is the names patron of the ensemble and used to live there after he retired from his political actions.

The house is small - with a large drawing room in the center and two side wings on the ground floor as well as several cabinets on the first floor.
Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig sold it to the city in 1927 - so I guess it remained Grand Ducal property all the time and was just lent to Franz Joseph and Anna for their use.

The Prinz Emil Garden (the Darmstadt's call it "Prinzert") is mentioned quite often in several letters of the Hessian Royals. Meriel Buchanan wrote in her memoirs that it was there that she met the young Grand Duke and his sister Alix at a tea party for the very first time (and - child she was - was rather nasty)

Prince Emil of Hesse and the Rhine

[Eric_Lowe]

Thank you Thomas for the information and photo.