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

[Eddie_uk]

According to Richard Hough Alix was closest to Irene and it was Irene who was most affected by her death...

[lori_c]

She looks more like Ella than any of the sisters, imo.  Was she the same in temperament?  What about her religious devotion?  I'm sure all the ducal family shared the devotion GD Alice instilled in them but did she take it to the depths of Alix or the heights of Ella?  I haven't read much about this Hessian sister so any info would be appreciated.

[grandduchessella]

She was a good Lutheran, I believe. She doesn't seem to have been excessively religious or pious--certainly not at the level of her sister-in-law, Empress Augusta Victoria--but I believe she was upset at Ella's renunciation of the faith they were raised in, especially as it wasn't mandatory like Alix's.

The best sources of information on Irene are probably David Duff's Hessian Tapestry and Richard Hough's The Mountbattens. Ilana's upcoming book deals with all 4 sisters. I can't wait!

[Eric_Lowe]

Don't hold your horses...Ilana told me that the book has very little on Irene as she destroyed most of her letters. I guess she remain elusive since it seemed to be her wish to be so. I will however look forward to Ilana's book about VMH, which has quite a lot of information through her decendents. She promised me quite a few surprises too...

[lori_c]

It's a shame she destroyed much of her writings.  Did she do anything special or meaningful after she was married as far as the Prussian Royal Family was concerned?  or was Irene simply the sister to be remembered as having two hemophiliacs in the family.  Was it Irene that was the carrier in this branch or was there more than one?  Vicky wasn't a carrier.  But what of any others?

[grandduchessella]

Don't hold your horses...Ilana told me that the book has very little on Irene as she destroyed most of her letters. I guess she remain elusive since it seemed to be her wish to be so. I will however look forward to Ilana's book about VMH, which has quite a lot of information through her decendents. She promised me quite a few surprises too...

Yes, but it will have some Irene. I didn't say it was a bio on her. The other books came out a couple decades ago (or more) so this will be the first new book to deal with Irene (even marginally) at all. Ilana has spent a long time on the book and I'm sure it will be well worth it.

[Ilana]

Let's put it this way, I believe that Irene was certainly stronger than some people give her credit for... and yet, she was a pleaser and a peace maker.

Don't get your hopes up that there will be much new info... however, she is present in the book, of course.

Surprises??  I don't know....

Look for it this Spring.

[Eric_Lowe]

I think it is brave of Ilana to tackle this difficult subject. Would be proud to read the fruits of her research...

[grandduchessella]

I can't wait myself. 

[Elizaveta]

Peace-maker, Ilana? It struck me as a big irony! Irene's name means "peace" (please correct me if I'm wrong!) and her mother gave her that name because there's some kind of a war, a very brief war I think, that ended shortly before Irene's birth. So...Irene the Peacemaker 

[VN]

Irenes birthdate - year:

1866 a very important war when you look at germanys History - Preußen gegen Österreich- as we all know, Preußen won the war and the King of Preußen became Emperor of an unified Germany. Alexander von Hessen und bei Rhein, VMH Father in Law (Julie von Battenbergs Husband) fought as the  General of the
8. Armeekorps, for Austria, Preußen ran over the Austrian Army (they didn't really have a clear line, which was not Alexanders fault!!), Alexander came back and had aged extremly after this "short" war, left the Austrian Army afterward, was very dissappointed.




Now refering to Ilanas book (books???) The four Graces, is it "the" book on VMH or is it a seperate one on Victoria coming out later??

[Ilana]

To clarify:  It's THE FOUR GRACES, and it's the story of the 4 sisters through the eyes of VMH.

[Eddie_uk]

Thank you Ilana dear It is a biography?? With letters etc??

[lori_c]

She was a good Lutheran, I believe. She doesn't seem to have been excessively religious or pious--certainly not at the level of her sister-in-law, Empress Augusta Victoria--but I believe she was upset at Ella's renunciation of the faith they were raised in, especially as it wasn't mandatory like Alix's.

The best sources of information on Irene are probably David Duff's Hessian Tapestry and Richard Hough's The Mountbattens. Ilana's upcoming book deals with all 4 sisters. I can't wait!

It does seem that all the Ducal children were innately religious.  And not only was Irene upsent but their father was EXTREMELY upset according to some letters Ella wrote to him and QV.   

I can't wait for Ilana's book as well, but Hessian Tapestry - the only one I could find was on Amazon for $150.00!  My library doesnt' carry it so I guess I'll have save up.  So David Duff's book does delve more into Irene than other sources?

[Marlene]

Why limit yourself to Amazon -- branch out to major search tools - such as www.addall.com

Search out of print titles == and type Hessian Tapestry for the book title - and voila!

She was a good Lutheran, I believe. She doesn't seem to have been excessively religious or pious--certainly not at the level of her sister-in-law, Empress Augusta Victoria--but I believe she was upset at Ella's renunciation of the faith they were raised in, especially as it wasn't mandatory like Alix's.

The best sources of information on Irene are probably David Duff's Hessian Tapestry and Richard Hough's The Mountbattens. Ilana's upcoming book deals with all 4 sisters. I can't wait!

It does seem that all the Ducal children were innately religious.  And not only was Irene upsent but their father was EXTREMELY upset according to some letters Ella wrote to him and QV.   

I can't wait for Ilana's book as well, but Hessian Tapestry - the only one I could find was on Amazon for $150.00!  My library doesnt' carry it so I guess I'll have save up.  So David Duff's book does delve more into Irene than other sources?