Princess Elena Petrovna, wife of Prince Ioann Konstantinovitch

[HollyMI]

I believe that Helen wrote a book of memoirs after the revolution.  Does anyone know what the book was titled and has anyone read it?


Thanks,
Holly

[Marc]

I also think she wrote something,but just don't know the name...

[Suzanne]

Regarding Helena's stated visit to the Ipatiev house, where she met with the commander - presumably Avdeev - who agreed to pass on a message to the Imperial family, I wonder why Alix's 1918 diary does not mention this message. In the diary Alix is meticulous about recording who she wrote to and which relatives and friends kept in contact. Helena's memoirs - as described by Zeepvat in Romanov Autumn - mention that Helena recieved a message (verbally, from one of the Ipatiev House sentries) from the Imperial family, acknowledging her inquiry. Quite strange that Alix's diary for 1918 does not mention Helena. Are there any other primary sources that confirm the events described in Helena's memoirs?

[Marc]

Could you post the picture again!I can't see anything  

[Speedycat]

From "Royalty Digest" #43.  A group photo taken in 1922.  It says that Helen is the one standing to the left behind her brother King Alexander(seated, second from left), but it does not look like her...too old.  Maybe the Revolution aged her, but the lady seated to the left of Alexander looks more like her.  The children seated in the front are Helen's..Vsevolod and Ekaterina.  Many other familiar faces in this picture also

[Maria_Pavlovna]

Whos in it?

[Marc]

I would also like some identification of other people on the photo!About the lady who stands!About the lady standing to the left of King Alexander I of Yugoslavia,it could be Helena Petrovna,and also looks like her!At the time this picture was taken she would be 48 years of age,so...

[Marc]

Yes,I forgot!The title of her memoares are ''I was at Ekaterinburg''!

[Speedycat]

Whos in it?

Unfortunately the magazine only stated the date as 1922 and that Helena was the woman standing behind her brother, King Alexander, to the left.  I see Queen Marie of Romania in the middle and her husband, King Ferdinand, to her right.  Then I think that is Marie's sister Beatrice next and perhaps those are Marie's daughters on the far right seated and also seated next to Marie(immediate left).  In the back I see the Duke of York (later George VI)and Crown Prince Carol of Romania.  I couldn't even venture a guess at the others.  Helena was 48 in 1922?  I thought she was much younger then that.

[Marc]

Princess Helena was born in 1884 so she would be 48 at the time!I can recognize two more persons standing on the right!It is Prince Paul Regent Paul of Yugoslavia(second from the right) and his father Prince Arsen of Serbia standing far on the right!The picture is taken in Serbian palace-for sure!The ocation was gathering for the marriage of King Alexander of Yugoslavia with Princess Maria von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen of Roumania!

[Speedycat]

Wouldn't 1884-1922 make her 38?  Is that Marie(the younger) of Romania sitting to the immediate right of King Alexander?

[Maria_Pavlovna]

Unfortunately the magazine only stated the date as 1922 and that Helena was the woman standing behind her brother, King Alexander, to the left.  I see Queen Marie of Romania in the middle and her husband, King Ferdinand, to her right.  Then I think that is Marie's sister Beatrice next and perhaps those are Marie's daughters on the far right seated and also seated next to Marie(immediate left).  In the back I see the Duke of York (later George VI)and Crown Prince Carol of Romania.  I couldn't even venture a guess at the others.  Helena was 48 in 1922?  I thought she was much younger then that.

Well thank you anyway.

[Marc]

Well Speedycat,you are right!I was always bad in mathematics   Anyway,I think,allmost for sure,that this lady witch stands left to King Alexander I of Yugoslavia is his sister Princess Helena Petrovna of Russia!

[Suzanne]

That picture made me think of that excerpt from Tatiana's letter to her Aunt Olga, on hearing of the engagement of Ioann and Helena, in "The Romanovs: Love, Power and Tragedy". I don't have the book in front of me so I can't quote exactly but I believe Tatiana (aged 14) writes, "Did you hear that Ioann is to be married to Helene of Serbia. Isn't that funny? What if they have children? Can you imagine kissing him?"

Zeepvat states in Romanov Autumn that the marraige was surprise to the entire family since Ioann had considered becoming a monk and he was teased a great deal by his relatives about the romance.

[Marc]

Didn't know about those facts!Very interesting!I can't see the picture  :-/