Queen Victoria's Family

[eejm]

A bit of an off-topic question here, but I swear that I've read that Ernst II of Saxe-Coburg had several illegitimate children.  These children were well-known to Victoria's family.  I remember something about Arthur speaking to some of Ernst's children at an event.  Someone asked him who the people were he was speaking with.  Arthur had some sort of name for the children - something along the lines of the Ernsts-lings or something.  Does this sound familiar to anyone?  I've been racking my brain trying to remember the name or at least the source and I can't recall either.

[Kalafrana]

The story of Arthur of Connaught and Edward VII meeting up with Ernst II's illegitimates is to be found in Alice of Athlone's book, 'For My Grandchildren.'

I'm away from home and don't have the book to hand, but it goes something like this. Ernst's wife would never have a word said against Ernst, despite his numerous infidelities, and always referred to him as der liber guter Ernst. The two brothers were in Coburg for Charles Edward's installation as Duke and went for a walk near the palace, where rather a lot of well-dressed people greeted them politely but in rather too familiar a fashion. 'Arthur,' said Edward VII at last, 'Who are all these people?' 'Oh they're just some of der liber guter Ernst's illegitimates.'

Ann

[Naslednik Norvezhskiy]

Speaking of Ernst II, I didn't know that he became a German national hero as victorious commander in the naval battle of Eckernförde in the First Schleswig War in 1849. And that he strongly opposed his nephew's marriage to Alexandra of Denmark because of his pro-German stance in the S-H Question.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes. But his brother Albert was all for it, and that settled it.

[THERRY]

With the Queen in the gardens , from "Victoria and Albert  Life at Osborne house" by HRH the Duchess of York
I love this photo

(Click on to see it bigger)
I recognize : future George V and his family, the Duchess of Connaught with daughters Daisy and Patricia, Princess Beatrice with her children, Thora and Louise of Schleswig-Holstein, daughters of Princess Helena

[grandduchessella]

There are actually (at least) 2 more poses from this sitting--all slight variations on this one (heads turned at a different angle, etc). Also some individual and family shots.

From left:
Leopold Battenberg, Marie Louise Schleswig-Holstein, Prince Edward of York, Duchess of York with Princess Mary, Margaret Connaught, Alexander Battenberg (seated on ground), Duke of York with Prince Albert, Queen Victoria, Arthur Connaught, Duchess of Connaught, Princess Beatrice, Patricia Connaught (on ground), Ena Battenberg, Helena Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, Maurice Battenberg

[Eddie_uk]

Does anyone have any more information on the story of a brooch that QV had received from Grand Duke Louis of Hesse that went missing and was found in a Windsor pawn shop?? There was some talk that the munshi had stolen it! Who found it in the pawn shop I wonder?

[grandduchessella]

At Beatrice's wedding:

[Eric_Lowe]

Lovely picture. One I have not seen on this group before. 

[grandduchessella]

I bought a grouping of old Edwardian scrapbooks a couple of years ago--26 volumes in all. Each one had a couple hundred photos, illustrations and clippings from old illustrated magazines. It was a treasure trove but very fragile. Some really rare photos. I just about died. I missed out on a few volumes as they were sold individually.

As for IDs:

Gustav Erbach & Marie Battenberg Erbach
Helena Victoria Schleswig-Holstein
Julie, Pss Battenberg
Irene
Duke of Cambridge
Grand Duke of Hesse
Victoria Battenberg
?
Prince of Wales
?
Victoria of Wales
Louise of Wales
Victoria Melita
Marie Louise
Princess of Wales
Helena
Christian
Alfred Jr
Missy
Sandra
Philip Coburg (I think)
Prince George
Louise Connaught with Margaret & Arthur Jr (faces blurred)
Duke of Edinburgh
Louise Lorne
Duchess of Edinburgh
Alexander of Battenberg/Bulgaria
Maud
Eddy
Marquess of Lorne
Franz Josef (partially obscured)
Alix Hesse
Ernst Ludwig
Louis Battenberg

[Eric_Lowe]

I bought a three volumes...I think a few months ago. Indeed. They will be seen again min my next book. :-)

[Carolath Habsburg]

Here s another shoot of the group. Note that the duke of Connaught wasnt there. Oh,,,that old photoshopping ;-)

http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/collection/2905690/wedding-guests-osborne-july-23-1885

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed. One can see that Eddy was standing quite close to Alicky. She was smiling which is very rare.

[rosieposie]

This thought occurred to me just now.  Did Queen Victoria disapprove of the engagement of Alexandra to Nicholas?     I know she liked Nicholas as a person but felt uneasy about him.    I read it somewhere and can't recall where I read it. 

If the Mods can add this to a Queen Victoria thread that would be great thanks.

[Thomas_Hesse]

She highly disapproved of it. There were a number of things that she disliked in Russia and the IF (not the least her own daughter in law Maria Alexandrovna who caused frictions...).
But first of all it was the danger of the position and of course she knew her grand daughter very well and how uneasy she felt when forced to attend official occasions. I think she was much wiser than most of the other family members