#granddaughters

I’m off to Halifax this afternoon to see these two beauties who certainly don’t look like this anymore, I wouldn’t imagine. I’m staying through the weekend, Father’s Day. I imagine posting will be somewhat limited until then.

Granddaughters of Maria Theresa, Holy Roman Empress

Maria Theresa had 30 granddaughters (one unnamed not included in the images), 13 died in childhood, and the rest lived past the age of 17. Several of her granddaughters became Holy Roman Empress, Queen consorts of Sardinia, Empress of the French, and Empress consort of Austria.

Some people keep a journal. I paint. My paintings are my journal. A canvas is my blank page. A brush the vehicle for expression emphasized by bold exciting colors… I looked around my studio and browsed through my inventory as I prepare for an exhibit beginning this August. Nearly every painting sparked a specific memory. A place in my life. A dancer in my daughter’s image. A pick-up truck…

A quiet suburban neighborhood in Crete, Illinois, was shaken in the early hours of Wednesday morning when a devastating house fire claimed the lives of four family members. What began as a routine emergency call for first responders quickly escalated into a tragic incident that has left a community grieving and searching for answers. The victims were identified as 71-year-old Walter Palmer and…

The granddaughters-in-law of Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria had 20 grandsons, but only 8 were married.

Augusta Victoria, Princess of Schleswig-Holstein, was the first granddaughter-in-law of Queen Victoria, who married Prince Wilhelm of Prussia in 1881, forming a union that strengthened ties within German royal and aristocratic circles. Her husband became Wilhelm II, German Emperor and King of Prussia in 1888. Their marriage was marked by Augusta Victoria’s strong devotion to her husband and her prominent role in supporting imperial duties and charitable causes throughout the German Empire. The couple had seven children, their descendants includes King Constantine II of Greece and King Felipe VI of Spain.

Princess Irene of Hesse and by Rhine, one of Queen Victoria's granddaughters, married her first cousin Prince Henry of Prussia in 1888. Their marriage was known for its stability and affection, with Princess Irene devoted to family life and their shared responsibilities within the German imperial circle. They had three sons, two of them were hemophiliacs, a disease which they inherited through Irene from the maternal grandmother of both of their parents, Queen Victoria, who was a carrier. The pair was known as "The Very Amiables" by their relatives because of their pleasant natures.

Princess Victoria Mary of Teck, a great-granddaughter of King George III, had been engaged to Prince Albert, Duke of Clarence and Avondale who died shortly before they married. As Queen Victoria did not want to lose Mary as a potential suitor for the next heir to the British throne, Mary ended up marrying the younger brother Prince George in 1893, forming a strong and steady partnership at the heart of the British monarchy. In 1910, her husband became King George V of the United Kingdom. Their marriage was characterized by mutual duty and loyalty, with Queen Mary playing a key role in supporting the king and upholding royal traditions during a time of great change. They had six children, and their descendants include King Charles III.

Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, another of the Queen's granddaughter, married her first cousin Ernst Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine in 1894. Their marriage was arranged by their mutual grandmother, producing two children (a daughter Elisabeth, who only lived until eight years-old, and a stillborn son). Despite the dynastic intentions behind the match, their marriage proved unhappy and eventually ended in divorce, a rare occurrence among European royalty at the time.

Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich became the second wife of Ernst Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine in 1905, forming a far happier and more harmonious union than his first. Their marriage produced two sons, and was marked by mutual affection and stability, with Eleonore becoming a beloved grand duchess known for her dedication to family and charitable work.

Princess Alexandra, 2nd Duchess of Fife, a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and a niece-by-marriage of Queen Mary (mentioned above) married Prince Arthur of Connaught in 1913, further uniting branches of Queen Victoria’s extended family. They would only have one son. Their marriage was a harmonious and supportive partnership, with both playing active roles in royal duties and public service in the years that followed.

Princess Victoria Adelaide of Schleswig-Holstein, a niece of Empress Augusta Victoria (mentioned above), married Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1905, strengthening ties between prominent German royal families. Their marriage was stable and produced five children, with descendants including King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. Victoria Adelaide supported her husband in both his ducal responsibilities and later political life.