Princess Helena (1846-1923)

[chrissy57]

Originally Posted by Furienna

Well, I still don't think the Kaiser had any reason to be ashamed of his mother being a Brittish princess. Britain was mightier than Germany, and Queen Victoria was still very much remembered. I think the Kaiser had every reason to be proud of having her as his grandmother. And his mother Victoria had probably taught him to appreciate his Brittish relations. So I don't see anything strange with the Kaiser sending a telegram to his Brittish aunt.

My point was more that it was during the war when getting a telegram between friendly nations was difficult (based on the problems my great-grandmother had sending one to her husband's family telling them of his death - took 6 months to do so) but he managed to get one to a warring country.

Everything I have read about him suggests that he despised his British heritage, except for loving his grandmother. Even aged 4 he is supposed to have told the doctors not to stop a bleeding nose so his 'English blood' could flow out.

I suspect some of it was jealousy that as the eldest child of the eldest child he wasn't the heir to the British throne.

Even with the infidelity, it would have been a 50th anniversary of a king's and queen's wedding, so I don't think it would be too hollow. Maybe between Edward and Alexandra, but not officially.

I actually think that in his way Edward loved Alix, mainly due to the fact that he never ever allowed anyone to insult her. Who knows, if he had more to do officially, maybe he wouldn't have strayed? Then again Alix's illness in her third pregnancy and her deafness was hard to live with for a man who enjoyed company as much as he did - not an excuse of course but a bit of an explanation.

[Avareenah]

Well, from an early age, Wilhelm was under the influence of his paternal grandparents who were not liberal-minded as his parents were. I think they prejudiced him against his English side really. He was a problem child anyway, by most accounts. Some have even claimed his difficult birth resulting in his damaged arm may have also deprived him of oxygen for a time and this might have affected his later behaviour.

[Furienna]

That sounds sad, that Wilhelm was actually taught to despise his Brittish heritage. But I still think, that him sending his aunt and uncle a telegram shows, that he didn't totally hate all of his Brittish relations.

[Warren]

Originally Posted by Furienna

That sounds sad, that Wilhelm was actually taught to despise his Brittish heritage. But I still think, that him sending his aunt and uncle a telegram shows, that he didn't totally hate all of his Brittish relations.

Maybe not all his British relations, but it didn't stop him placing his mother under virtual house arrest following the death of his father.
Wilhelm II was a man with quite a few "issues", as we'd say today.

[Furienna]

Aaaaah... Issues... That explains it.

[petersymonds2]

Originally Posted by Furienna

Well, I still don't think the Kaiser had any reason to be ashamed of his mother being a Brittish princess. Britain was mightier than Germany, and Queen Victoria was still very much remembered. I think the Kaiser had every reason to be proud of having her as his grandmother. And his mother Victoria had probably taught him to appreciate his Brittish relations. So I don't see anything strange with the Kaiser sending a telegram to his Brittish aunt.

He was proud of his grandmother, but despised his mother. Though Vicky taught him to love everything English, she also inflicted cruel attempts to "fix" his withered arm. Therefore, he naturally became closer to his grandparents, who doted on him and treated him with affection. But his aunt was the husband of a Prussian prince (well, Danish by birth, Prussian by right of conquest) and was a great friend of the German imperial family. He was closer to some than others.

And the Kaiser didn't send the telegram personally, as is commonly believed. Princess Marie Louise, Helena's daughter, states in her memoirs that the Queen of Sweden was informed of the K's congratulations for the occasion. Though his congratulations are undisputed, I wonder why he didn't ask the Queen of Sweden (Sweden was neutral during WW1) to pass a letter to them. After all, Queen Mary and her aunt, Augusta of Cambridge (German Grand Duchess by marriage), exchanged letters through the Q of S.

[Roderick]

I rather think he had a love/hate relationship with his mother. I do not think he simply despised her. Some of his letters indicate a strong emotional bond with her but it was a difficult relationship most certainly.

[PssMarie-Elisabeth]

Lenchen in the 1850's