Prince Nicholas & Grand Duchess Helen (Elena)

[KarlandZita]

Princess Nicolas of Greece with King Gustav V during a charity Ball :

[Eric_Lowe]

Great photo ! I wonder who the woman in the middle was ? Was the ball in Paris or Sweden ?

[KarlandZita]

Great photo ! I wonder who the woman in the middle was ? Was the ball in Paris or Sweden ?

The gala is held in Nice, organized by the society of the Russian colony in the presence of the King of Sweden, Princess Nicolas and Countess Osaki (center).

[Eric_Lowe]

Thanks. It looks like it was in the 30's ?

[Inok Nikolai]

On some letters by Prince Nicholas of Greece, see:

http://forum.alexanderpalace.org/index.php?topic=10539.msg501636#msg501636

[Eric_Lowe]

It is interesting that English was used so often the letters.

[Maria_Pavlovna]

Prince Nicholas of Greece and his siblings spoke English to their parents, and Greek to each other. while the King and Queen spoke German together and later Ellen of Russia spoke Russian with Queen Olga. From Nicholas' brother Christopher's memoirs, Christopher spoke six languages. i'm sure Nicholas spoke of course Greek, English, French, possibly German and some Danish, but i'm not sure about Russian, while Christoper can speak Greek, English, Danish, Russian, French, and Italian.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes. Although Georgie of Wales (King George V) wasn't too good with languages like his cousins.

[KarlandZita]

Prince and Princess Nicholas :

[Eric_Lowe]

Taken in Paris ?

[Marie Valerie]

I just read that Ellen disliked her sisters-in-law except Queen Sophie.
Was that only because of their "not so royal" Background? Alice von Battenberg & Marie Bonaparte...

[Eric_Lowe]

I think I read somewhere that the daughters-in-law of King George I did not get along.

Indeed Ellen did not think Alice & Marie were royal enough to be on the same level with her. But Queen Sophie did not have the personality to become a center of unity in the family as Queen Olga was able to do. But to be fair, Ellen became reconciled with Alice later in life, as the latter's letters were full of references of what they did together in Greece during WW II.

[Maria_Pavlovna]

[Gabriella]

I just read that Ellen disliked her sisters-in-law except Queen Sophie.
Was that only because of their "not so royal" Background? Alice von Battenberg & Marie Bonaparte...

According to Hugh Vickers' biography of Alice of Battenberg Ellen was very uppish and condescending towards Alice
when they had been young woman because Alice was not so blue-blooded.

As Eric points out in their older ages they were on very friendly terms. I think the loneliness during WWII drove them together.

Thanks Mandy for posting that glamourous picture of Ellen. With her aristocratic features she could have made career in Hollywood
in the 1920ies.

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed. Her daughters all have movie star looks.

That is true. It was war that drove the two together and made past disagreements unimportant. In fact Alice was really angry at Freddy, when she failed to inform her that Ellen was dying. Therefore deprived her a chance of saying a final goodbye. That is how far they have come.