Princess Diana

[Greenowl]

Is'nt this the Schratt??

I have seen the photo before and I think it is the Empress.

[Imperial_Grounds]

If I recall I mentioned a book about Sisi, and the parallels with that of Diana. I found it again and it is written by Wim Ewalt(it is a dutch book), I don't know if there is an international release but it is a great book and has great coverage on the Empress' life. That 10th of september, 1898 was so good documented in the book, as was August 31st, 1997. The author explains the death causes, what happend on the day and possible plots to kill them(it is believed Leuchini didn't work on his own and that the plan really was to kill the Empress. It has been said he talked years later about a 'plot' but nothing is found to state that. The author believes that Sisi might have staged her own death(of course that was not possible), with the help of her brother-in-law, the Duke of Alençon(husband of her sister, Sophie). This theory shows that there always will be 'survive'-theories, and even story's.

the translated title: Sisi - haunted by destiny(original title: Sisi - opgejaad door het noodlot)
the subtitle - The parallels on the tragic lives of Empress Elisabeth of Austria and Diana, Princess of Wales(Het tragische leven van Keizerin Elisabeth van Oostenrijk en de parallellen met dat van Diana, prinses van Wales)


the book also features a few rare pictures of Sisi as an older woman, and one with the Emperor and Empress in 1898(rare picture, one shows the empresss very clear. On the picture with the Emperor we see also clearly the empress. Not by face but clothing. Completely black, and with the famous with sunvail(if that's the correct word). Also there is a picture of her funeral, and one of the ensemble she wore on the day she died(you clearly see the mark, left by the sharpened file)

That book sounds very interesting! I've never heared about such a book, which compares destinies of Elisabeth and Diana.
I would love to see photos...
Didn't you mean this photo of Empress with her husband from 1898. I think, it was taken in Kissingen:

 

Indeed, it is that picture Taken in Kissingen indeed. It is the Empress on the picture, indeed, but I have one from her at older age, aldo It's not that clear(I did recognise a painting in the back, one by Winterhalter i I'm correct)

[Princess Susan]

This photo from summer 1898 is perhaps her last one, therefore I thought, that you meant that one Imperial Grounds.
Although, it's quite common.
Anyway I will appreciate to see photo, which you mentioned, because presumably I have never seen it before.
At least I don't remember such a picture.

[Imperial_Grounds]

Here I am with the pictures, I actualy found 2 others from Sisi when she was older, and one of the ensemble she wore september 10th 1898.


A little-known picture of the Empress, sitting on the left with gray hair. On the back you can see one of her famous Winterhalter-paintings


Last known picture of the Emperor and Empress, taken in Kissingen, 1898. Posted earlier by Princess Susan


The last known picture of the Empress in Territet, together with Countess Irma Sztaray



The ensemble the Empress wore the day she died, september 10th 1898. A mark left by the file can be clearly seen


I've got all pictures and information from the next two books:
'Elisabeth' by Martin Ross.
'Sisi, Haunted by Destiny' by Wim Ewalt.

Both books are only available in dutch I am afraid.

Sorry for the quality of some pictures, I'll try to get them better later.

[Eric_Lowe]

Thanks for sharing them.

[Charity]

Thanks for posting the pictures!  That last one of her dress, my, she was thin wasn't she?  Interesting to see the tear in the bodice, though somewhat sad.

[Romanov_fan]

Yes, I too was amazed at how thin she was!

[Imperial_Grounds]

Yea, she really was thin. The first time i saw the picture I was really amazed, yet it feels strange to watch it because it was de dress she wore that day

[Eric_Lowe]

Indeed...At the end of her days, the only thing she ate was the juice (or blood) squeech out of meat. FJ was so disgusted that he turned away when his wife consumed that...No wonder she was thin...

[Imperial_Grounds]

True, people said she was the elegance itself, and beauty, for all of her life and I'm not surprised by it. She was a beautiful woman, and from what we've heard also when she was older, and then being as thin as she was. I can imagine that fore those who lived during her time it was 'different' to see someone who was as thin as she was. These days she wouldn't be thin only, but also seen as sick. Yet again, she always kept onto her diets and all that while most people saw it as something sick and strange.

[Eric_Lowe]

Before Mayerling. Sisi also exerised intensively. She was world known for being a first class rider and installed in private gym in Laxemburg (unheard of in those days !).

[Imperial_Grounds]

I know, her equipment still is there, that all shows how she lived before her time. She would have been much happier living now, then back then, I think.

[Eric_Lowe]

She was up there before Jane Fonda and Karen Carpenter...

[Lucien]

Oh Lawd bare with us mere earthlings and the sillyness they thrive on,well...some,they compare apples and peanuts and never had a taste of either...

[Romanov_fan]

Well, authors have written books talking about both women- there must something there. It isn't just Diana fans on this forum who have come up with the comparison.