Princess Victoria of Schaumburg-Lippe (Moretta), 2nd daughter of Kaiser Friedrich III

[grandduchessella]

I don't remember seeing a portrait such as this. The Illustrated London News showed some of the items and I think if there'd been a portrait as well-known (even if it's not an original) as this they might've included it. As always, could be wrong though.  There was a lovely sketch of the 3 younger sisters by Lenbach that was sold off. 

[Eddie_uk]

Thank you Gdella, such a shame.

I wonder if any of Victoria's siblings or cousins purchased any items?

[grandduchessella]

It was said that the Kaiser and the British royal family sent representatives but I don't think they bought anything--or if they did, it wasn't a major purchase.

[Luc]

This is a drawing of "Unser Kaiserhaus" in 1887:
http://fotocollectie.huisdoorn.nl/HuDF-0050

Moretta is sitting (right) at the table next her mother.

[Eric_Lowe]

Well...I read Kaiser William bought a silver tea service that belonged to Vicky from Morette's auction...

[Vecchiolarry]

Hi,

Royalty Digest Quarterly #2008-3 has 21 pages of photos and charts on the Shaumburg-Lippe family.
This is provided by Charlotte Zeepvat, who is quite an expert on European Royalty & Nobility.

Larry

[Romanov_fan]

EFWTS is a gold-mine of information and perspective on Vicky and her children during this period, 1889-1901. There's a good deal of information on Moretta in there but, unfortunately, the last time I looked (since my copy is getting very beat up) it was very pricey. This and the book of letters (slim though it is) from Moretta to Vicky during the former's stay with Queen Victoria c.1890 are a must for those interested in Moretta--her memoirs not so much. While it's interesting in its way, it's an extremely light-weight book with very little substance or insight--Wilhelm looks like a saintly brother in them. 

Why were Moretta's memoirs so uninteresting? Was that just her? When were her memoirs written and why? ( Sorry if this has been asked before- I searched and couldn't find it)- I used to post alot to this thread but can't remember asking this question.

[Eric_Lowe]

The memoirs were at least partically ghost written. Also she did not want to offend people in her family as secrets remain secrets. The reason was the raise some money since Moretta did not have an income and the Schaumburg-Lippe family cut her off after she married her second husband, who spent her money like water.

[Romanov_fan]

It's unfortunate that she didn't write her memoirs from an honest viewpoint and for honest reasons- instead of quickly cobbling them together for money. It might have been interesting to hear the real story from her, although as some people make better memoir writers than others, it's hard to know if she would have been a good memoir writer if she had written them and really tried hard at it. To write good memoirs, honesty helps, but she wasn't honest enough to take the chance of offending people.

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed. For example one of the chief opponents of her marrying Sandro was Willy, yet she did not wetted her anger and frustration at him (which was real) and instead blame it on a situation being driven into it. She did got some thing on Dona and her ladys-in-waiting, it must be much more that she hid from her "official memoirs"...

[Marlene]

Victoria's autobiography, My Memoirs, was published in 1929.   I did not find the book dull  ...but one has to look at the perspective.  Moretta was in sad shape .. she needed money, and she needed to express herself.

EFWTS is a gold-mine of information and perspective on Vicky and her children during this period, 1889-1901. There's a good deal of information on Moretta in there but, unfortunately, the last time I looked (since my copy is getting very beat up) it was very pricey. This and the book of letters (slim though it is) from Moretta to Vicky during the former's stay with Queen Victoria c.1890 are a must for those interested in Moretta--her memoirs not so much. While it's interesting in its way, it's an extremely light-weight book with very little substance or insight--Wilhelm looks like a saintly brother in them. 

Why were Moretta's memoirs so uninteresting? Was that just her? When were her memoirs written and why? ( Sorry if this has been asked before- I searched and couldn't find it)- I used to post alot to this thread but can't remember asking this question.

[Eric_Lowe]

Dull by today's standard. Quite a lot of people here is not from that generation.

I agree that Moretta's life has much more to tell than her book.She was on an emotional roller coaster ride right till her death.

[grandduchessella]

EFWTS is a gold-mine of information and perspective on Vicky and her children during this period, 1889-1901. There's a good deal of information on Moretta in there but, unfortunately, the last time I looked (since my copy is getting very beat up) it was very pricey. This and the book of letters (slim though it is) from Moretta to Vicky during the former's stay with Queen Victoria c.1890 are a must for those interested in Moretta--her memoirs not so much. While it's interesting in its way, it's an extremely light-weight book with very little substance or insight--Wilhelm looks like a saintly brother in them. 

Why were Moretta's memoirs so uninteresting? Was that just her? When were her memoirs written and why? ( Sorry if this has been asked before- I searched and couldn't find it)- I used to post alot to this thread but can't remember asking this question.

I said they were interesting in their way, meaning for an enjoyable read they are fine. I wouldn't use them as a factual standard for how things really were though. It's entertainment value versus factual relevance. I enjoyed them personally.

[Romanov_fan]

Yes, I was judging them by how much insight they give into real events- not that I've read them. Did Moretta really want to express herself, or just wanted money? Seems it was likely money, not that one can fault her. Her second husband was a jerk who spent her fortune. I hope I haven't asked this before ( I hate to repeat myself) but what were Moretta's feelings towards Johanna Losinger, who Sandro eventually married falling in love with her and out of love with Moretta? Was Moretta bitter about or towards Johanna?

[Eric_Lowe]

I think by the time, Moretta had given up hope since her brother was dead set against her marriage to Sandro.