The Battenbergs - discussion, pictures

[Marc]

You have to wonder, really, if they had the "right" since they gave up their titles in 1917.

I don't know if they just stopped using them and adopted other titles or they had to renounce them officially(to the ones who bestowed them) in order to adopt others...there is the story that Patricia and Pamela,while visiting Germany,signed themselves as "Prinzessin von Battenberg" long after 1917,of course!

On the other hand,some other family members had right until the end of their lives to be just Prince/Princess von Battenberg,like Princess Anna until she died...

There would be an interesting situation if the whole Battenberg/Mountbatten family would meet after 1917,for example,in Sweden,(still a monarchy who still recognize titles)...Who would take precedence?

Lord or Lady Mountbatten over Prince Francis Josef von Battenberg due to seniority in the family or maybe Prince Francis Josef to to the fact that he was still Serene Highness and the other members are not?

[Marc]

Some more interesting facts about Princess Anna von Battenberg:

She was not a typical royal...She was pro-socialistic in her political views and also a vegetarian,so maybe that was the reason for her long life...She was very kind and attached to all her relatives(always remembering and sending postcards for their birthdays,namedays...) and often amuzed her cousins with the story about Queen Victoria who was drinking whiskey from a dark,opaque glass because she didn't want people to know what she was drinking...

[Ilana]

She was quite a favorite with the family, I've read.  I believe she was Lady Louise's (later Queen of Sweden) favorite aunt.  It makes sense that Anna would have had interesting opinions, Prince FJ had a Ph.D, and was quite an intellectual himself.  They probably complimented each other well.

[primrose]

I recently visited Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight, and stopped by St Mildred's Church to wander through my favorite final resting-place in the world. I first saw it in 1975, and unlike most of the East Cowes-Whippingham area today it is still peaceful and totally unspoiled. There was scaffolding on the church and repairs were being made to the roof but that didn't detract at all from the experience. Found the Battenburg graves, they're looking just as they should after nearly 100 years, clearly someone regularly tidies all the mounds and monuments and allows the wildflowers to flourish. It's a truly magical place in a perfect setting, overlooking the Medina River...

[primrose]

[primrose]

[Ilana]

I love the view of the water that you get as you stand there.  It is such appropriate place for the two of them.  When I was there, I pulled a huge weed off of VMH's grave!!

[blessOTMA]

primrose, thank you  for the beautiful photos!

I love the view of the water that you get as you stand there.  It is such appropriate place for the two of them.  When I was there, I pulled a huge weed off of VMH's grave!!

lol! Moments like that are rare and to be enjoyed! 

[VN]

Has anybody ever read the 'recollections' of Ludwid & Victoria Battenberg. Richard Hough mentioned them in his book. I will be in Southampton in July and will do some resarch at the Broadlands Archives. Are they (the recolletions) part of the collections?

[Ilana]

I have read VMH's recollections and Louis' recollections (I forgot what he called them).  His were written about his bachelor life and stop at his marriage.  I actually saw VMH's at Darmstadt and Louis' at Southampton.

What are you doing research about??

[VN]

Hi Ilana, thank you for your Information!
I started out doing a lot of research on Sandro and his wife Johanna and found a lot of new information and pictures. I've been to Soton already 4 years ago and since I live in DA also visited the Staatsarchiv. Since VHM's Recollection are in DA, I will have a look there. Somehow I always thought that these particular papers are kept at the Broadlands Archives.
Now my research field has grown, I research all the siblings. Pictures and lectures are shown/held at Schloß Heiligenberg that either the Verkehrs-and verschönerungs verein Jugenheim (historical society) arrange or the Stiftung Heiligenberg. http://www.vvv-jugenheim.de/images/plakat_gr.jpg

 A new Info Center is planned, a sort of little museum. Therefore the 'Russenbau' exactly behind the Garten Saal will be renovated.

If you want more Info you can send me a PM. I will be off to England, so it could take some time till I awnser.

Grüße aus DA

VN

[Svetabel]

Bloodwise, yes. There was a son, Assène, who married Bertha Hussa.

Here's young Assen



Assen as a boy, and his sister Swetana.



And their mother, Countess Hartenau



Courtesy of ANNO database

[Eric_Lowe]

They were the descendents of ? Sorry just joined in.

[grandduchessella]

It's the wife and children of Alexander 'Sandro' Battenberg.

[Eric_Lowe]

Thanks. What happen to Johanna and the children after Sandro's death. The son seemed to inherit the Battenberg charm in the photo as a young man, a bit like his uncle Louis, Prince of Battenberg. What last name did they use ?