lunedì 13 settembre 2021

The touching story of Princess Marie of Hesse, Queen Victoria's granddaughter.





They were so many the mournings Queen Victoria had to deal with: if it's true that's quite normal for long living people, it must be said that this tragic fate of hers began when her husband, Prince Consort Albert from Saxen-Coburg and Gotha, died at the age of only 42.
She had his same age and never recovered from such a loss and showed her deep pain wearing the mourning for all the rest of her life. 
During the Victorian age child mortality was quite high, and, if we think to the ereditary desease which affected most of the Queen descendants 
 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were cousins and transmitted haemophilia to some of their children and grandchildren – we can easily understand why she lost the most frail of her scions.
This pathology, which induces severe bleeding even in the event of minor traumas, can really become a significant complication to survival, especially for the little ones.
In fact, Queen Victoria lost numerous grandchildren before they reached their adulthood, including Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence as well as Princes Waldemar and Sigismund of Prussia, sons of the eldest daughter of hers, Victoria, Crown Princess of Prussia. Tragically another grandson, Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Hesse, second son of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse, and Princess Alice of the United Kingdom, died at the age of three. Queen Victoria also had a granddaughter destined not to become an adult: she was called Marie Victoria and, like the Queen, who was her grandmother, she was born on May 24, albeit 55 years later.
Her brother, Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Hesse, "Frittie", had died just a year before her birth, falling out of her mother's bedroom window in the Neues Palais in Darmstadt. The little Prince was precisely ill with hemophilia, as did his uncle, Queen Victoria's son, Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, who was also the Prince's godfather. It is reasonable to assume that Princess Marie's birth was a consolation to Princess Alice, who was still deeply mourning the tragic loss of her baby.
She was baptized in July 1874 and received the full name of Marie Viktoria Feodore Leopoldine. Princess Marie was an enchanting child and although images portraying her are quite rare, those that exist strongly testify to the child's charm. 



One of the very first shots portraying Princess Marie of Hessen-Darmstadt and by Rhine



Photograph of Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse (1837-92) and Princess Alice, Grand-Duchess of Hesse (1843-78), with Princess Victoria (1863-1950), Princess Elizabeth (1864-1918) and Princess Irene (1866-1953), in matching dresses, Prince Ernest Louis (1868-1937) in Highland dress, Princess Alix (1872-1918) and Princess Marie (1874-8). Oval image. Courtesy of the ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST



 Princess Marie of Hesse-Darmstadt and by Rhine aged three


Some of the beautiful images of hers were taken by the photographer Alexander Bassano, who portraied her in a series of oval portraits. Princess Alice in her letters to Queen Victoria often referred to the 'beauty of the couple', referring to her two younger daughters, Princess Alix of Hesse and Marie.
Princess Alix of Hesse was nicknamed "Sunny" in the family, while Alice called little Marie - or Maly - "Sunshine". Often Princess Alice wrote to her mother, Queen Victoria, attaching photographs of them to her letters:

 “Maly doesn't really have such fat cheeks; she nevertheless is very dear. The two girls are so sweet, so dear, cheerful and nice. I don't know which she is the dearest; they are both so endearing

Marie was clearly a charming child, whom she called her mother in her particular childish language “my (s)weet heart”.



Princess Alix and Princess Marie of Hesse-Darmstadt and by Rhine, July 1878, 





In November 1878, in Darmstadt, Princess Alice's children were listening to their older sister, Princess Victoria, reading aloud Alice's adventures in Wonderland. Princess Marie would then have complained for the first time of a sore throat. It was then that a white membrane was seen in her throat, a typical symptom of diphtheria. One by one, every member of the family was struck by the fatal disease except Princess Elisabeth, called "Ella", who was sent to her grandparents' home in Darmstadt during the epidemic. Princess Alice followed her entire family with lovingly devotion, including her husband, who was also infected.
Princess Marie fell ill on November 11 and, despite the nursery was promptly disinfected, she succumbed to the disease on November 16, 1878.
As her children gradually began to recover, Princess Alice succumbed to the disease herself and died on the 17th anniversary of the death of her father, Prince Albert, on December 14, 1878. It is significant to note that Princess Alice mentioned the names of Prince Albert, her father, and that of the little Princess Marie before falling asleep, in a state of unconsciousness from which she would have never wake up again.


When she passed away she was still very young, she was only 35 years old.

You might also be interested in:


a post from a few years ago telling you the story of two Marie's surviving sisters, Ella (Elisabeth) and Alix (Alix was the sister of Marie who was often photographed with her when they were baby girls). 




Even today our time is over, dear readers and friends,

and I hope that you found this topic interesting, 

although definitely joyless...

For sure it helps us to understand Queen Victoria's mood,

often veiled with sadness.


See you soon 








La commovente storia della principessa Marie di Hessen, nipote della regina Vittoria.


- FOTO 1 - Una delle ultime fotografie scattate alla principessa Marie di Hessen-Darmstadt 


Molti furono i lutti con cui dovette fare i conti la regina Vittoria: se è vero che si tratta di un fatto abbastanza comune per le persone longeve, va detto che questo suo tragico destino iniziò quando suo marito, il principe consorte Alberto di Sassonia-Coburgo e Gotha morì quando aveva solamente 42 anni.
Ella aveva la sua stessa età e mai si riprese da una tale perdita e mostrerà il suo profondo dolore indossando il lutto per tutto il resto della sua vita.
In epoca vittoriana la mortalità infantile era piuttosto elevata e, se pensiamo alla malattia ereditaria che colpì numerosi discendenti della regina - la regina Vittoria e il principe Alberto erano cugini e trasmisero l'emofilia ad alcuni dei loro figli e nipoti - possiamo facilmente capire perché perse i più fragili dei suoi rampolli.
Questa patologia, che induce gravi sanguinamenti anche in occasione di piccoli traumi, può realmente diventare una complicazione notevole alla sopravvivenza soprattutto dei più piccoli.
La regina Vittoria visse, infatti, la morte di numerosi suoi nipoti prima che raggiungessero l’età adulta: tra di essi si annovera il principe Albert Victor, duca di Clarence, così come i principi Waldemar e Sigismund di Prussia, figli della maggiore delle sue figlie, Victoria, principessa ereditaria di Prussia. Tragicamente un altro nipote, il principe Friedrich Wilhelm di Hesse, secondogenito di Louis IV, granduca di Hesse, e della principessa Alice del Regno Unito, morì alla sola età di tre anni. La regina Vittoria ebbe anche una nipote destinata a non diventare adulta: si chiamava Marie Victoria e, come la regina sua nonna, era nata il 24 maggio, anche se di 55 anni dopo.
Suo fratello, il principe Friedrich Wilhelm di Hesse detto "Frittie" era morto solo un anno prima della sua nascita, cadendo dalla finestra della camera da letto di sua madre nel Neues Palais, a Darmstadt. Il piccolo principe soffriva di emofilia, così come suo zio, il figlio della regina Vittoria, il principe Leopold, duca di Albany, padrino del principe. È ragionevole presumere che la nascita della principessa Marie sia stata una consolazione per la principessa Alice, ancora profondamente in lutto per la tragica perdita del suo piccolo.  
Fu battezzata nel luglio 1874 e ricevette il nome di Marie Victoria Feodora Leopoldine. 
La principessa Marie era una bambina di una straordinaria bellezza e, sebbene le sue immagini siano rare, quelle che ancora esistono testimoniano fortemente quanto fosse incantevole. 


- FOTO 2 - Una delle primissime immagini che ritraggono la piccola Marie 


- FOTO 3 - Fotografia di Louis IV, granduca di Hessen (1837-92) e della principessa Alice, granduchessa di Hessen (1843-78), con la principessa Victoria (1863-1950), la principessa Elizabeth (1864-1918) e la principessa Irene (1866-1953) in abito abbinato, il principe Ernest Louis (1868-1937) in abito tipico delle Highlands, la principessa Alix (1872-1918) e la principessa Marie (1874-8). Immagine ovale. Courtesy of the ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST


- FOTO 4 -  La principessa Marie di Hessen-Darmstadt all'età di tre anni


Alcune delle sue fotografie più belle sono state realizzate dal fotografo Alexander Bassano, e la ritraggono in una serie di ritratti ovali. La principessa Alice nelle sue lettere alla regina Vittoria spesso scriveva della ‘bellezza della coppia’, riferendosi alle sue due figlie più giovani, la principessa Alix di Hessen e Marie, spesso ritratte insieme.  
Alix veniva soprannominata "Sunny" in famiglia, mentre Alice chiamava la piccola Marie o Maly "Sunshine". Scrivendo alla regina Vittoria, sua madre, la principessa Alice allegava spesso ai suoi scritti delle fotografie delle sue due ultimogenite:

Maly non ha guance così grasse in realtà; ciononostante è molto cara. Le due bambine sono così dolci, così care, allegre e simpatiche. Non so quale sia la più cara; sono entrambe così accattivanti…” 

Marie era chiaramente una bambina che non passava inosservata e che chiamava sua madre, nella sua particolare lingua infantile, “il mio cuore”.


- FOTO 5 - La principessa Alix e la principessa Marie di Hessen-Darmstadt, luglio 1878, Courtesy of the ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST


- FOTO 6 - La principessa Alix e la principessa Marie di Hessen-Darmstadt in un'immagine recentemente colorata


Nel novembre 1878, a Darmstadt, i figli della principessa Alice stavano ascoltando la loro sorella maggiore, la principessa Victoria, leggere ad alta voce le avventure di Alice nel Paese delle Meraviglie. La principessa Marie si sarebbe allora lamentata per la prima volta di un forte mal di gola. Fu in quell'occasione che in gola le fu scorta una membrana bianca, tipico sintomo della difterite. Uno per uno, ogni membro della famiglia fu colpito dalla malattia mortale tranne la principessa Elisabeth, chiamata "Ella", che fu mandata a casa dei nonni a Darmstadt durante l'epidemia. La principessa Alice seguì con amorevole devozione tutta la sua famiglia, incluso il marito, il quale anche fu contagiato.
La principessa Marie si ammalò l'11 novembre e, nonostante la nursery fosse stata disinfettata, soccombette alla malattia il 16 novembre 1878.
Malauguratamente, a mano a mano che i suoi figli iniziavano a riprendersi, la principessa Alice cedette alla malattia e morì nel 17° anniversario della morte di suo padre, il principe Albert, il 14 dicembre 1878. È significativo notare che la principessa Alice menzionò i nomi del principe Alberto, suo padre, e della piccola principessa Marie, prima di addormentarsi in uno stato di incoscienza da cui non si sarebbe mai più ridestata.


- FOTO 7 - La principessa Alice del Regno Unito in una delle sue ultime fotografie.


Quando si spense era ancora molto giovane, aveva solamente 35 anni.

Vi potrebbe anche interessare:



un post che risale a qualche anno fa e che racconta la storia di due sorelle di Marie che le sopravvissero, Ella (Elisabeth) ed Alix (Alix era la sorella di Marie che spesso veniva ritratta con lei da bambina). 




Anche oggi il nostro tempo si è concluso, cari lettori e amici,

e spero che abbiate trovato questo argomento interessante,

anche se decisamente intriso di mestizia...

Di sicuro ci aiuta a capire lo stato d'animo in cui versava la regina Vittoria,

spesso velato di tristezza.


A presto ❤ 








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21 commenti:

  1. So beautiful and so sad their ending. So many horrible diseases back then.

    Thank you for joining the Awww Mondays Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous Awww Monday and week, Daniela. ♥

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Sandee
      my Dearest, I heartily thank you for being so supportive!
      You're right, until last century there were so many deseases which led to death we were able to fight thanks to medicine progress.
      Wishing you too a most lovely day and week ♡❤♡

      Elimina
  2. A sad tale indeed- lovely photos and I appreciate you taking the time to relate this history.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Kathe W.
      I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your so beautiful words!
      Sending blessings on today and the remainder of your week ❀≼♥≽❀

      Elimina
  3. Mi trovo a pensare che il Principe Alberto e Marie accolsero la Principessa Alice in un abbraccio eterno
    Lieta settimana,Dany
    Franca

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Franca
      carissima, è proprio l'immagine che è apparsa nella mia mente mentre stavo scrivendo le ultime parole di questo post!
      Sempre immensamente grata per il tuo supporto e le belle parole che compongono i tuoi commenti, con un abbraccio auguro anche a te un sereno prosieguo di settimana ⊰✽*Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ*✽⊱

      Elimina
  4. What lovely photographs of these tragic victims of those bygone diseases that took so many. I was surprised that they youngsters wore matching outfits in so many of them; I would have presumed they would have preferred to try to outdo themselves in unique finery!
    Thanks for sharing this story - I didn't know about this family at all.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Tristan Robin
      it is I who thank you, dear friend, both for your far welcome visit and your nice words, I'm always glad when I find archive photographs to share!
      It was usual for royals to dress children in the same way, as we saw later, at our times, just for twins, for examples!
      Wishing you a most lovely day,
      I'm sending hugs and more hugs to you
      ╰⊰✿ Thanks again ✿⊱╮

      Elimina
  5. Oh my I did not realize there was so much loss in her life, wow that is so sad, I can imagine why she would be in mourning clothes most of the time after Albert's death...

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Conniecrafter
      ...and historians often were and still are ironic with Her since She seldom showed a smile!
      First of all it was usual for Victorian ladies not to show their teeths in photographs or portraits - they often had bad teeths given they ate so many sweets and didn't know dentists at all - ans for sure She had more than one reason for not to smile!
      With utmost gratitude
      I'm sending my dearest love across the many miles ಌ•❤•ಌ

      Elimina
  6. So many sicknesses and tragedies Queen Victoria and her family experienced. So much research is done by you, Dany, to enlighten us of all these fascinating historical events. I for one, find your posts enthralling and so informative. Thank you, dear Dany♡

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Kim
      Your words of praise touch me in the deep, you're too generous with me!
      I so love making researches and bring to light something that's known a little or known at all, so as I did with the story of the life of Rudolf von Habsburgh's American son in my last book: it was taken hidden both in Austria and in Russia - her mother was an illegitimate daughter of Czar Alexander II - until I started to work with the State Hystorical Society of Missouri for two years and I published it last March.
      I lived such a joy when I found a publisher who believed the proofs I provided him and gave to everyone the chance to know this story, filled with adventures, sentiment, mistery, so that to sounds like a novel.
      But at the moment it's still in Italian since we cannot find an American publisher interested in it.

      You always bless my day and make my heart sing, Dearie,
      thank you!
      With lots of love, blessings and hugs ♡ஐ♡

      Elimina
    2. As for my book, I forgot to write that the most relevant proof about the life of Rudolf'son in the USA became from a descendant of His which I had the honor to know and which I developed a relationship of confidence with, and with whom I still have e-mails exchanges.
      Thanks again sweet lady •ღ❤ღ•

      Elimina
  7. When you spend even a little time perusing the geneology of the European Royalty--you will see the intense intermingling of the families, where a daughter son was married off to a needed ally. The fact that Albert and Victoria were in love, was an advantage though an unfortunate one with the genetic difficulties then spread across all the households of European royalty. I think it is fortunate that while royalty has become a bit out-dated, they are at least marrying outside of the the tight gene pool that it took centuries to weaken. Very interesting story, and so poignant when you think of how many Queen Victoria lost and the deep family sadness it must have caused. Hugs, Sandi

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Sandi Magle
      Queen Victoria was a far wise and adamant woman, but I think She was adorable and with a delicate soul although suffering for everyone She lost.
      I think that this aspect of Her life didn't harden Her temper and never forgot to be as sweet as She was when She was a young princess.
      She didn't like to speak about Her pains and losses, but never forgot all Her loved ones who left Her, and showed Her mourning all Her life long.

      I just love your comments, Dearest One, you always seem to make my days a bit brighter, and I'm so grateful to you!
      Blessed be ❥

      Elimina
  8. Dolce dany
    Grazie di questo tuo post meraviglioso e ben scritto..era tempo che non passavo da qui .
    Un abbraccio grande
    Daniela

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Daniela
      Che piacere leggere le tue parole!
      Sì, ammetto che mi sei mancata, ma anche io faccio come riesco e so che è trascorso un po' di tempo da che sono venuta a trovarti l'ultima volta...non preoccuparti cara, non abbiamo solo il nostro amato Blog ed i nostri affezionati lettori che ci seguono con interesse, passione e simpatia di cui prenderci cura, questo vale per tutti credo, soprattutto per chi ha una famiglia!
      Contraccambio il tuo abbraccio grande con tutto il cuore •♥•♥•

      Elimina
  9. What a tragic and fascinating story. I knew something of Victoria's children when they were young but after they married, I know little. The history is powerful and you tell it so well. What a beautiful child Princess Marie of Hesse was.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Jeanie
      not always what belongs to the past is a source of gladness and amusement, alas, but we ought to respect it as truth: this is a true but sad story, alas, a tragic and fascinating story, as you rightly say!
      You know, it's my pleasure and delight to welcome you here and read your comments, you give me such a deep joy, indeed, a true happiness since you're an amiable lady with such a kind soul, I feel so fortunate havng you in my heart!

      Thank you hugs coming your way ஜ~Ƹ̴Ӂ̴Ʒ~ஜ

      Elimina
  10. Sorrows seem to dog the footsteps of royalty. Thank you for sharing this story.

    RispondiElimina
    Risposte
    1. Magical Mystical Teacher
      it is I who thank you both for your beautiful visit and for taking the time to write your nice words.
      May your new week be filled with gladness, my sweet friend ✿⊱╮

      Elimina

I THANK YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS AND WORDS, SO PRECIOUS TO ME.