Princess Beatrice (1857-1944) and Prince Henry of Battenberg (1858-1896)

[petersymonds2]

With Victoria's journals, they are currently a third of their original length. Here's a quote from Dennison, used from a copied extract made during Victoria's life: "I undressed as quickly as possible and then Singer, Peneyvre, Rebecca and Dehler set of for Woolwich. Skerrett and Margaret return to Osborne" Beatrice has written: "Undressed as quickly as possible, the maids having to leave for Woolwich." The close relationship Victoria had with her maids was deleted by Beatrice for posterity.

Furthermore, her destruction was preservation of Victoria's reputation. The queen wrote with vigour, force and confidence, and parts of her journal would have shocked the public and hurt her living relatives, especially material relating to the Kaiser, who was an unreliable friend of England even during the Edwardian period.

[gogm]

Two turned up of this remarkable lady.



and:

[eejm]

In his biography of Princess Beatrice, Matthew Dennison makes reference to a portrait of Beatrice painted by Sohn. The portrait was painted a couple of years before Beatrice's marriage, and was apparently very unflattering. Dennison describes Beatrice as looking pudgy and quite unhappy in it, evidence of her increasing dissatisfaction of being designated as her mother's maiden caretaker.

Does anyone know where I can find a picture of this portait? Dennison did not include it in the biography. I'd like to see it and have been unable to locate it online.

Dennison refers to a Sohn portrait of Helena of Waldeck-Pyrmont (Leopold's wife) as being lovely; I have seen this painting and don't quite agree with his opinion. While not hideous, Helena's cheeks are overly rosy (it almost looks like acne) and she has a very strange expression on her face.

[PssMarie-Elisabeth]

Princess Beatrice in her bridal gown, 1885
http://i33.tinypic.com/f1z8na.jpg

* Many thanks to my friend, Lynn for coloring it * although her version does not show a diamond necklace :P

[colynsmomma]

I just got done with the Matthew Dennison book and while it was good, I fond that it was more about QV then about Beatrice. Many of the feeling and accounts of what happened came from QV's journals. Another thing was that he only wrote about 3 or 4 chapters about the Battenburgs when married. They were married for 10 years. This book also put QV as a very selfish woman. And I kinda have to agree with him on this one.