Queen Elena of Romania / Helen of Greece-Romania

[KarlandZita]

Carol and Helen :

[KarlandZita]

Princess Helen wearing her famous Greck key tiara :





Helen seems to have been one of the princesses of Europe's poorest jewelry. In fact, I only know one tiara, the one that gave her her stepmother Queen Marie on the occasion of her marriage to Carol of Romania.

It may seem strange that neither her paternal grandmother, Queen Olga of Greece or her own mother Sophie of Prussia have offered her any other ornaments on the occasion of her wedding.

Helen, however, destined to rule one day in Romania, had much less of jewelry that some of her cousins - like Olga of Yugoslavia - which would not inherit any throne.

[Eric_Lowe]

Helen later did borrow her mother's big tiara (last worn by Queen Frederica) and took some photos in it. Well her sister-in-law Elisabetta was worse off than her, Missy complained about Sophie's lack of jewelry to her daughter. "At least I gave her daughter (Helen) a tiara".

[KarlandZita]

Helen later did borrow her mother's big tiara (last worn by Queen Frederica) and took some photos in it. Well her sister-in-law Elisabetta was worse off than her, Missy complained about Sophie's lack of jewelry to her daughter. "At least I gave her daughter (Helen) a tiara".

The family of Elisabeta would have been welcome as coldly Princess Helen after her marriage to Carol. How was she received and perceived by her in-laws in Romania, including King Ferdinand, Queen Mary and her sisters-in-law Marie and Ileana ? Was she quickly adopted by her step-family ?

[Eric_Lowe]

The story of how Elisabetta married into the Greek Royal Family was detailed in a series of articles on her by researcher John Wimbles in the old Royalty Digest. Poor Elisabetta was given no jewelry by Sophie after her wedding ("she would not even let me see them.") and cold shoulder by her in-laws. In family parties, they would talk Greek when they do not want her to join in the conversation. It was only George's love that kept the marriage going. Helen was luckier that Missy treated her nicely, and they both enjoyed a keen sense of humour. The constant appearance of sister Irene (who was suggested as a bride for Prince Nicholas) made her life more bearable.

[KarlandZita]

Helen in Saint Moritz, 1917 :



Helen and Carol in the early years of marriage :



Helen with her sister Irene and another lady :



Beautiful portrait of Helen holding a dog, 1947 :

[grandduchessella]

Could the third lady be one of the Italian princesses?

[Eric_Lowe]

Maybe Maria ? The Greek Princesses were close to the Italian Royal family. Both Nicholas girls (Olga & Elisabeth) attended Malfelda's wedding and of course Irene marrying the Duke of Sporleto.

[seriya]

It's Jolanda. Three princesses arrived in Rome, 1941

[Carolath Habsburg]

I got  that same picture and the lady in the middle is Jolanda of Italy, countess calvi di bergolo

[KarlandZita]

Helen and Carol :



Princess Helen with her brother George of Greece, Carol and Marie of Romania and her two sisters-in-law Mignon and Elisabeth :



Helen, Mihai, Filip and Ileana ? :



Helen and Mihai adult :

[Eric_Lowe]

Great photos ! I like the one with Missy & her children plus spouses. I wonder where it was taken ?

[KarlandZita]

Crown Princess Helen with her sisters-in-law Marie and Ileana  of Romania :



From left to right, Princess Ileana of Romania, Irene of Greece, Marie of Romania and Crown Princess Helen :



I think these photos were taken in 1922 during celebrations of the coronation of rulers of Romania. But I'm not quite sure.

[Eric_Lowe]

I think so. The quality is really fuzzy in these pics.

[KarlandZita]

These are old pictures that I kept but the scanner has unfortunately not reproduced as clearly as I wanted.