Prince Henry (Heinrich) of Prussia, his family and descendants , Part 3

[Eric_Lowe]

Great find. Where did you find that ?

[Russka Princess]

 I dont know i just wrote Irene of Hesse in google and looked at the pics and i find this!

its great picture not ??

And i found a great website about the other Royals like VHM,Queen Mary, Ernie of Hesse, Prince Henry of Prussia etc.

here is the Link:

http://shatteredcrowns.wordpress.com/meet-the-family-1-queen-victorias-children/

And there was a short optic of Irene, and there stand that her brother Ernie said: She rode with a light touch and loved to dance, as I did. We often danced together accompanied by our own singing. ” (Her brother, Ernst Ludwig)

So we know a little bit more about her, she loved to ride, loved to dance and singing. Im so glad to get a little more information about Irenes personality.

Its a very interesting side..

so have fun!

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes. At least she wasn't as shy as her younger sister Alix, who shunned dancing and public appearances even in Darmstadt.

[Russka Princess]

Yes you are right, i think alix was shy than her sisters. She even Not danced at  darmstadtb?? I dont understand why...i thouhht irene was the shydt of all but it seems she had the same intrtest like ernie like the music.    I did read that VHM was not so good to play piano

[Eric_Lowe]

Alicky shunned the lime light and very sensitive to criticism (even from those who were close to her). Irene on the other hand was very much the church lady (she cried and cried when Ella converted to Orthodoxy and offer her no encouragement) and busy body who bud into other people's business.

[Kalafrana]

Eric

It is clear that you don't like Irene and are entranced by Ella (and various other elegant ladies).

But Irene was in a sense the 'ordinary' one of the Hessian sisters, and I rather like her for that.


Russka Princess

If VMH wasn't much use as a pianist, it was probably a good thing that she didn't take up the violin!

Ann

[Eric_Lowe]

Kalafrana,

Please do not judge what I like or not like. Irene's image was problematic because of her own actions. There are many examples of that if you care to read about it.

1. Irene did not support Ella when she converted and sided with her father. Only VMH sent encouragement and I loved her for being independent.
2. Irene blackmailed Marie Paulovna to continue with her engagement with William of Sweden  and threatened her if she did not she would be guilty of "killing her aunt" (Ella was recuperating after an operation at that time).
3. Irene got herself involved in the "Anna Anderson" case and made a mess out of it. That is what I say about her being a "busy body".
4. Irene cut her son and his family out of her will because they would not stay with her. Only her granddaughter Barbara returned from Costa Rica and got spoiled by her. She was the sole heiress to her grandmother's fortune. But what kind of a mother would use money as a way of trying to make her children do what she wanted. Not the most loving one I think...

I rest my case.

[Kalafrana]

Eric

1) It is quite clear that conversions to Orthodoxy divided opinion at that time. Alexandra hesitated over marrying Nicholas for that reason. In families not everyone agrees with everybody else. That Irene disagreed with Ella over her conversion does not make her a villain.

2) I rather think we are dealing with things said in the heat of the moment here.

3) As one of Alexandra's two surviving sisters, and aunt to the real Alexandra, and who was, moreover, living in Germany, it is hardly surprising that Irene concerned herself with the issue of whether Anna Anderson was an imposter. or not. Olga Alexandrovna, who was in the same relationship to Nicholas and is usually seen as a sensible person, did too. Most of us, if someone turned up claiming to be our long-lost niece or nephew and who was not an obvious imposter, would want to find out more, and, quite possibly, see them face to face. I have a cousin who disappeared some 15 years ago. If someone turned up claiming to be him, I am quite sure that his sister (both parents are dead) would want to meet him and judge for themselves. Anna Anderson fooled a lot of people. That Irene ended up thoroughly confused and upset is hardly surprising.

Ann

[Russka Princess]

 I must say that Eric is right, but i think noone is perfect and everone have a good and bad side. But she must have something why Henry fall in love with her. I dont know what it is, that he fall in love wih her. But i think it was  her "quite & charming" side that why he loved her.

But at least i think VHM was the best of all Hesse Sisters! she did never judge soemone.. she made her own picture of the people and didnt listen what the people or the newspaper said.

althought she was a tomboy in her childhood, she became a wonderfull Woman!

but back to Irene, i think she has a good side aswell.

[Eric_Lowe]

Thanks Russka Princess.

The fact that Kalafrana did not tackle no.4 tell volumes. In "The Four Graces", Irene's grandson Prince Alfred remembers Irene as "a stern lady". She was no doting grandmother but a very judgmental character that is not above using mischief to secure her own selfish aims. When you contrast that with her sister VMH, you see a less complicated character.

1. It does not make her a villain but one hardly the amiable person of popular legend. In fact she was quite hard.

2. I don;t think that was the heat of the moment, according to Marie Paulovna, Irene chose not to tell Ella the incident even after her recovery. This appears to be a deliberate act and not something "In the heat of the moment". I think you are excusing her too much here.

3. I think it was cursorily rather than concern that made Irene go to see Anna. In fact nobody wanted her to do so and it landed her in hot water. Olga was different, both her Aunt Thyra of Cumberland & Uncle Waldemar of Denmark believes that that should be checked out.

Yes Irene has a good side too, but I really don't like the "busy-bodyness" of her nature. That is why I prefer VMH & Ella over her.

[Kalafrana]

I'm not suggesting Irene was an angel, but such are my contrary tendencies that I feel compelled to defend most people who get a bad press (there are exceptions), and take a dislike to anyone who is praised to the skies.

Irene and Heinrich seem to have had a happy marriage, and Irene's falling-out with Sigismund may have been six of one and half a dozen of the other. After all, we don't know much about Sigismund, and he seems to have been prepared to accept Anna Anderson as genuine on the basis of her answers to his questionnaire, though he never met her.

Ann

[Eric_Lowe]

I don't think Irene got too much bad press. In fact she was mostly described as amiable. Both she & Heinrich were called the "Amiables". She was to me more of a church lady who believes strongly on what is right and what is not. Irene was not as much a bigot as Dona was, but I am sure they found quite a few areas in agreement.

Yes. Irene & Heinrich had a good marriage and very much admired in the royal circles. I could understand Irene cutting Sigismund out of her will due to the disagreements between them. But Alfred ? What could he have done to merit this ? I don't think there is an excuse for that. Also Irene was also guilty of spoiling her only granddaughter Barbara. When Barbara's  other Charlotte Agnes of Saxe-Altenburg returned to Europe, she found her daughter unmanageable.

[Kalafrana]

Eric

Irene is getting a bad press from you!

No, I don't know what Alfred did to upset his grandmother, and I don't believe in spoiling either, but I need to know more about what was going on.

Irene and Heinrich need a biography!

Ann

[Eric_Lowe]

Ann,

I am just redressing her "undeserved good press" ! :-)

No according to Alfred, the reason he did not return to live with his grandmother resulted him excluded from the will. Either you obey my terms or you are out. Not a loving grandmother eh ?

As for the spoiling of Barbara , I got this from a good source. Yet one may ask, isn't it a role for grandmothers to spoil their grandchildren ?

Yes, but Ilana Miller, author of "The Four Graces" told me. There isn't enough information to fill a biography. Irene herself destroyed many letters and diaries.

Eric

[Russka Princess]

 its so interesting to read what you both write

how you both discuess about Irene she would be happy if she know that someone speak about her.

And Ann is right, Irene and Henry need a biography...i want to know how their lovestory stars.. how they lived in Helemark and about their sons and thair characters..