Prince Friedrich Wilhelm (Frittie) and Princess Marie (May) of Hesse-Darmstadt

[Antonio_P.Caballer]

Greg King was in the archives in Darmstadt so he could tell you more about the things preserved or anything you could want. I´ve seen some photographs of May and Frittie in the book The Romanovs:love,power and tragedy, but i´m sure there must be many more in the archives. Living as you do so near darmstadt you could try going to these archives.

Antonio.

[Ilana]

I have seen the monument.  It's extremely poignant.

[Sarai_Porretta]

I went to the webpage that Thomas tells us about and translated it with the Altavista Babelfish. I found the picture of Alice's sarcophagus, which you can see below. If you look carefully, you can see her holding a small child in her arm.

The text about the sarcophagus reads (roughly translated from the German, this is my edited version for easier reading): "The cover of the sarcophagus was made by Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm, and shows not only Alice, but also her recently predeceased daughter Marie, which is also buried in the mausoleum. The lower part of the sarcophagus is a work by Augusto Varnes."

[bookworm8571]

I think there is a group picture in the most recent biography of Alexandra that showed her with her siblings, including May. From that photo, I'd say May would have grown up to look like her sister Irene. Her facial features were similar to Irene's, while Alix more closely resembled Ella.

Princess Alice apparently followed the custom of royal families at the time and dressed her daughters alike. The three oldest girls -- the Big Trio? -- wore matching dresses and the two youngest, Alix and May -- the earlier Little Pair? --  wore matching white dresses that were different than their sisters'. It's interesting that Alexandra dressed her girls in matching dresses too.

I don't remember seeing a picture of little Frittie, but I'm sure one exists somewhere on the Web. The disastrous hemophilia took him.

[grandduchessella]

I think there is a group picture in the most recent biography of Alexandra that showed her with her siblings, including May. From that photo, I'd say May would have grown up to look like her sister Irene. Her facial features were similar to Irene's, while Alix more closely resembled Ella.

Came across this:
Princess Alice to Queen Victoria, 27 January 1875
January 27.

. . . My little May has such a cold, which lessens her
usual smiles. She is a fine strong child, more like
what Victoria was, but marked eyebrows, with the fair
hair and such speaking eyes. She and Aliky are a
pretty contrast!

[ChristineM]

The stained glass window which Grand Duchess Alice of Hesse instructed replace the window through which Frittie fell, bore two legends.   'Gone, but not forgotten' and 'For such is the Kingdom of Heaven'.   I believe the New Palace in Darmstadt, so obviously the stained glass window, was destroyed by bombing towards the end of WWII.

[jfkhaos]

Does anyone know where I can find a picture of Princess Marie, Empress Alexandra's sister who died of diptheria as a child?  Thanks in advance!

[grandduchessella]

There are some in the Charlotte Zeepvat book Queen Victoria's Family as well as Royal Cabinet Photos by ?. I have a few a could send you if you send me a private message with your e-mail. I still can't figure out how to post photos.  

[Sarai_Porretta]

Here is a picture of little Marie and her siblings that I found on the Internet:
http://www.btinternet.com/~sbishop100/hesse2.jpg

It is not very good quality but you can still see the subjects.

Here is a famous group shot of the family where Marie is being carried in her father's arms:
http://www.alexanderpalace.org/alexandra/I.html

There are also pictures of her in books showing the young Hesse family, such as The Romanovs: Love, Power, and Tragedy.

[jfkhaos]

Thank you for your responses!

[Ilana]

Sarai,

I'm curious, what is that btinternet site??

Thanks,
Ilana

[Sarai_Porretta]

Ilana,
That site (homepage located at http://www.btinternet.com/~sbishop100/) is an excellent site with hundreds of pictures of Queen Victoria and her family.

[grandduchessella]

I hope that the FA will soon add a photograph of Marie which comes from David William Cripps "Cabinett Portraits of the Victorian Era" I sent him today!.

One of the rare images of the late child.

That is a great book! Usually you get a book and there are a few photos you haven't seen before but this book had SO many and had such cute ones of all the Hesse children as toddlers/young children. There's a great one of the 3 eldest Hessian daughters that's great.

[Sarai_Porretta]

I think this book is also available through the Canadian bookseller Gilbert's Royal Books. It is not available on their website, but I could have sworn I have seen it advertised in their publication "Gilbert's Royal Digest." I will have to check tonight when I get home.

[Robert_Hall]

The Cripps book is indeed available from Gilbert's royal Digest [$36.98 ?] Also Bookfinder lists it at $49.83 with Abbe books via Heraldry Today.  It is a folio & at 96 pages 108 illus. I feel it a bit overpriced, but overpriced. But, having said that, I have paid a lot more for less !! And it all depends on how badly one wants the portraits.  I seem to recall some criticism by another royalist over the captions, but would not take that too seriously.
Cheers,
Robert