Crownprince Wilhelm & Crownprincess Cecilie, their family, Part I

[HerrKaiser]

Thank you for that information Rhon, indeed. There is such a "hidden" history of some of the most interesting personalities such as Cecelie, Empress Frederick the Fritz himself as well as others in the general German aristocracy. I think their lives and insights present an amazing wealth of historical perspective that helps bring clarity to some of the 'why things are the way they are'.
Did Cecelie or anyone near to her write about her toward the end of her life and her post WWII life?

[Nathan_Davis]

Crown Princess Cecilie is often remembered for her charm, tact, and utter lack of jealousy. Concerning the latter, it is widely believed that the Crown Prince, just before his marriage, had a torrid affair with the American opera singer Geraldine Farrar (1882-1967). If true, it speaks well of Cecilie that she went out of her way to make friends with Farrar and often invited her to visit the family both before and after the war.

Regards,

Nathan

[grandduchessella]

Princess Victoria Louise (her sister-in-law) records in her autobiography:

"...I was overwhelmed with curiousity as to how a proper bride should look....I went through to have a look. Cecile's beauty, grace and charm filled me with astonishment....I went through..several times more in order to have a good look at her...Cecile's bewitching appearance at least conformed to the picture conjured up by my girlish fantasy..."

[jfkhaos]

Did The Kaiser have a special raport with Cecilie?  I have always wondered why Cecilienhof was built for her, but I am not sure if any of the other daughters-in-law received something along these lines from The Kaiser.  Do we know what kind of relationship Dona had with Cecilie?

[HerrKaiser]

From what I have read/heard, Wilhelm had a particular affection for the Crown Princess. Cecilie was well loved by everyone and had such a kind, generous and caring demeanor. Part of the reason for building Cecilienhof was for his son, Crown Prince Wilhelm, as a "war" gift in order to help soothe the problems of WWI. It was named for Cecilie, I think, because she picked the spot on which it was built and EW wanted to create a beautiful English estate for his beautiful daughter in law, although I was told this only be a tour guide. She did live there for many years up until the end of WWII when the allies through her out.

[Marlene]

Thanks Grandduchessella! It is nice to know that apparently Cecilie tried to make life as normal as possible for Alexandrine, not hiding her away from the public. (KGV and Queen Mary could have taken a que from her) I hope she had a happy life...

By the time, Alexandrine was an adult, her mother could no longer care for her, and she spent the rest of her life in institutions.  

[Marlene]

Crown Princess Cecilie is often remembered for her charm, tact, and utter lack of jealousy. Concerning the latter, it is widely believed that the Crown Prince, just before his marriage, had a torrid affair with the American opera singer Geraldine Farrar (1882-1967). If true, it speaks well of Cecilie that she went out of her way to make friends with Farrar and often invited her to visit the family both before and after the war.


Before his marriage???   crown Prince Wilhelm had an affair with Farrar even during the marriage, as with other women.  My grandfather was Farrar[s driver here in the USA.    A great-great-grandmother on my mother's side was a childhood playmate of the Kaiser.

BTW, Cecilie wrote her memoirs, published in English in the 1930s.
Regards,

Nathan

[Marlene]

Cecilie remainined in Prussia until it was due time to leave Potsdam for the West.

Her eldest surviving son, Prince Louis Ferdinand, left Schloß Cadinen as the Russians approached and moved his family to Cecilienhof where Cecilie awaited them.  From here they left to the north of Germany, where they felt safe.


Hmmm ,,, think I read something about this recently

[Nathan_Davis]

Marlene, thanks for your comments re Farrar.    I always suspected as much. Were you ever to mention the Crown Prince in conversation with her, she would gaze at you wistfully with china-blue eyes, utter some poetic nonsense about "ardent youth," and then quickly change the subject...

Nathan

[HerrKaiser]

Was the death of Cecilie and her funeral a large media and well attended event? She was so on the edge of being a great personality of the 20th century when all came crashing down around her. Are there any photos of her in older ages?

[HerrKaiser]

That photo of the Viktoria Luise and Cecelie is amazing! This must be from the early days of WWI. Were they integrated somehow into the military? I can't say the uniforms are very becoming; much prefer Cecelie in her usual high fashion gowns, dresses, tiaras and broadbrimmed hats.

[grandduchessella]

I think it was prior to WW1--probably even before VL's wedding in 1913. VL and her sisters-in-law were all honorary commanders-in-chief of various regiments (just as Olga and Tatiana were in Russia as we've seen in their uniforms). VL's was the Death's Heads Hussars, I'm not sure of Cecile's but as Crown Princess it was probably pretty prestigious. I think Vicky had been Commander of the Death's Heads too--not sure about Augusta Victoria. VL was delighted in her regiment and loved to pose in her uniform--she told her father she regretted not being a boy so she could actually serve.

[Svetabel]

I think it was prior to WW1--probably even before VL's wedding in 1913.  

I guess it was in 1912,Parade in Danzig -there were many photoes taken at that parade.

[HerrKaiser]

Did the German court and media tend to treat VL and Cecelie on equal terms? They, themselves, were quite friendly and liked each other. Unlike the similar status of Diana and Princess Anne wherein Diana was always placed in a superior role/position to Anne, how did it tend to work with VL and Cecelie?

[Marlene]

Did the German court and media tend to treat VL and Cecelie on equal terms? They, themselves, were quite friendly and liked each other. Unlike the similar status of Diana and Princess Anne wherein Diana was always placed in a superior role/position to Anne, how did it tend to work with VL and Cecelie?

HK - you cannot compare the situations.  Berlin's media was largely controlled, with limited freedom of press.  Moreover, the German royals did not carry out the sheer number of duties in comparison today.  VL's primary goal was to marry, and marry well (perhaps another throne.)  However, according to her memoirs and other sources, she appears to have a good relationship with Cecilie (who was instrumental in helping encourage VL's relationship with EA.)