Princess Hélène d'Orléans
Encyclopedia
Princess Hélène of Orléans ' onMouseout='HidePop("28854")' href="/topics/York_House,_Twickenham">York House, Twickenham
– 21 January 1951, Castellammare di Stabia
, Italy) was a member of the Orléans royal family
and by marriage Duchess of Aosta.
, and Ferdinand, Duke of Montpensier
, among others.
Her father was a grandson of Louis Philippe I, King of the French, and had been his heir-apparent from 1842 to 1848.
Her suitors were no doubt encouraged by the fact that Hélène was considered a great beauty for her day. One contemporary source stated that she was "the personification of womanly health and beauty, distinguished as a graceful athlete and charming linguist".
, and grandson of then reigning monarch Queen Victoria), but they were forced to end their relationship due to the disapproval of various parties involved.
At first, Queen Victoria opposed any engagement because Hélène was Roman Catholic. Victoria wrote to her grandson suggesting Princess Margaret of Prussia
, another of her grandchildren, as a suitable alternative, but nothing came of her suggestion. Once the couple confided their love to her, the Queen relented and supported the marriage. Hélène offered to convert, and Albert Victor offered to abdicate his succession rights to marry her, writing to his brother "You have no idea how I love this sweet girl now, and I feel I could never be happy without her". His mother the Princess of Wales
sympathized with their predicament and approved the match. To the couple's disappointment, her father refused to countenance the marriage and was adamant she could not convert. Hélène traveled personally to intercede with Pope Leo XIII
, but he confirmed her father's verdict and the affair ended.
Albert Victor never got over his feelings for Hélène; their relationship is commemorated at his tomb at Windsor Castle
by a bead wreath with the single word "HELENE" upon it. An engagement to Princess Mary of Teck
was later arranged, but he died before their marriage could take place.
and Empress of Russia
for their eldest son, Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich of Russia
(later Emperor Nicholas II). The relationship did not progress beyond friendship and Nicholas went on to marry Princess Alix of Hesse-Darmstadt in late 1894.
, the Prince of Naples
. A few years before her marriage to the Duke of Aosta, Hélène traveled to Naples with the hope of attracting the King and Queen's attention. No match was made, however, and Umberto became engaged to Princess Elena of Montenegro
in 1896. There were also hopes that she would marry Infante Afonso, Duke of Porto
, who was brother of her sister's Amélie husband. The rumours proved to be false as he showed no interest in Hélène.
, Hélène married Prince Emanuele Filiberto Vittorio Eugenio Alberto Genova Giuseppe Maria, 2nd Duke of Aosta
(1869–1931). He was a much lower match than her parents had desired, but was also first in line to the Italian throne should the main branch die off. The wedding was attended by many important royal figures, including Crown Prince Victor Emmanuel of Italy
(the former possible match for her hand) and the Duke
and Duchess of Connaught.
The couple had two sons:
Widowed in 1931, Princess Helene was married for a second time in 1936 to Colonel Otto Campini (1872–1951) (born Oddone Maria Campini).
York House, Twickenham
York House is an historic stately home in Twickenham, England, and currently serves as the Town Hall of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames...
– 21 January 1951, Castellammare di Stabia
Castellammare di Stabia
Castellammare di Stabia is a comune in the province of Naples, Campania region, southern Italy. It is situated on the Bay of Naples about 30 kilometers southeast of Naples, on the route to Sorrento.-History:...
, Italy) was a member of the Orléans royal family
House of Orleans
Orléans is the name used by several branches of the Royal House of France, all descended in the legitimate male line from the dynasty's founder, Hugh Capet. It became a tradition during France's ancien régime for the duchy of Orléans to be granted as an appanage to a younger son of the king...
and by marriage Duchess of Aosta.
Family
She was the third of eight children born to Prince Philippe, Count of Paris, and Infanta Maria Isabel of Spain. Hélène was a sister of Amélie, Queen of Portugal, Isabelle d'Orléans, duchesse de GuiseIsabelle d'Orléans, duchesse de Guise
Princess Isabelle of Orléans was a member of the French Orleanist royal family and by marriage Duchess of Guise....
, and Ferdinand, Duke of Montpensier
Ferdinand, Duke of Montpensier
Ferdinand d'Orléans, Duke of Montpensier, was a member of the House of Orléans and a Prince of France....
, among others.
Her father was a grandson of Louis Philippe I, King of the French, and had been his heir-apparent from 1842 to 1848.
Potential matches
Hélène's parents had great hopes that she would marry an heir to a throne. Her other siblings all married well; they included Queen Amélie of Portugal and Isabelle, Duchess of Guise. There were rampant rumors of various suitors leading up to her eventual marriage in 1895.Her suitors were no doubt encouraged by the fact that Hélène was considered a great beauty for her day. One contemporary source stated that she was "the personification of womanly health and beauty, distinguished as a graceful athlete and charming linguist".
Relationship with the Duke of Clarence
She was in love with Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale (eldest son of Edward VIIEdward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
, and grandson of then reigning monarch Queen Victoria), but they were forced to end their relationship due to the disapproval of various parties involved.
At first, Queen Victoria opposed any engagement because Hélène was Roman Catholic. Victoria wrote to her grandson suggesting Princess Margaret of Prussia
Princess Margaret of Prussia
Princess Margaret of Prussia was a daughter of Frederick III, German Emperor and Victoria, Princess Royal. She married Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse. In 1926 they became Landgrave and Landgravine of Hesse...
, another of her grandchildren, as a suitable alternative, but nothing came of her suggestion. Once the couple confided their love to her, the Queen relented and supported the marriage. Hélène offered to convert, and Albert Victor offered to abdicate his succession rights to marry her, writing to his brother "You have no idea how I love this sweet girl now, and I feel I could never be happy without her". His mother the Princess of Wales
Alexandra of Denmark
Alexandra of Denmark was the wife of Edward VII of the United Kingdom...
sympathized with their predicament and approved the match. To the couple's disappointment, her father refused to countenance the marriage and was adamant she could not convert. Hélène traveled personally to intercede with Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
, but he confirmed her father's verdict and the affair ended.
Albert Victor never got over his feelings for Hélène; their relationship is commemorated at his tomb at Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
by a bead wreath with the single word "HELENE" upon it. An engagement to Princess Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
was later arranged, but he died before their marriage could take place.
Tsarevich Nicholas of Russia
She was the first choice of bride by the EmperorAlexander III of Russia
Alexander Alexandrovich Romanov , historically remembered as Alexander III or Alexander the Peacemaker reigned as Emperor of Russia from until his death on .-Disposition:...
and Empress of Russia
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
for their eldest son, Tsarevich Nicholas Alexandrovich of Russia
Nicholas II of Russia
Nicholas II was the last Emperor of Russia, Grand Prince of Finland, and titular King of Poland. His official short title was Nicholas II, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Russias and he is known as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer by the Russian Orthodox Church.Nicholas II ruled from 1894 until...
(later Emperor Nicholas II). The relationship did not progress beyond friendship and Nicholas went on to marry Princess Alix of Hesse-Darmstadt in late 1894.
The Prince of Naples
There were great hopes that Hélène would marry the eldest son and heir of Umberto I of ItalyUmberto I of Italy
Umberto I or Humbert I , nicknamed the Good , was the King of Italy from 9 January 1878 until his death. He was deeply loathed in far-left circles, especially among anarchists, because of his conservatism and support of the Bava-Beccaris massacre in Milan...
, the Prince of Naples
Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
Victor Emmanuel III was a member of the House of Savoy and King of Italy . In addition, he claimed the crowns of Ethiopia and Albania and claimed the titles Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Albania , which were unrecognised by the Great Powers...
. A few years before her marriage to the Duke of Aosta, Hélène traveled to Naples with the hope of attracting the King and Queen's attention. No match was made, however, and Umberto became engaged to Princess Elena of Montenegro
Elena of Montenegro
Elena of Montenegro was the daughter of King Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš of Montenegro and his wife, Milena Vukotić...
in 1896. There were also hopes that she would marry Infante Afonso, Duke of Porto
Infante Afonso, Duke of Porto
Afonso Henriques, Prince Royal of Portugal was a Portuguese prince of the House of Braganza, the son of King Luis I of Portugal and his wife, Maria Pia of Savoy.-Biography:...
, who was brother of her sister's Amélie husband. The rumours proved to be false as he showed no interest in Hélène.
Marriage and children
On 25 June 1895, at the Church of St. Raphael in Kingston upon ThamesKingston upon Thames
Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
, Hélène married Prince Emanuele Filiberto Vittorio Eugenio Alberto Genova Giuseppe Maria, 2nd Duke of Aosta
Emanuele Filiberto, 2nd Duke of Aosta
Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy-Aosta, 2nd Duke of Aosta was a member of the House of Savoy, former Crown Prince of Spain and a cousin of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy.-Biography:...
(1869–1931). He was a much lower match than her parents had desired, but was also first in line to the Italian throne should the main branch die off. The wedding was attended by many important royal figures, including Crown Prince Victor Emmanuel of Italy
Victor Emmanuel III of Italy
Victor Emmanuel III was a member of the House of Savoy and King of Italy . In addition, he claimed the crowns of Ethiopia and Albania and claimed the titles Emperor of Ethiopia and King of Albania , which were unrecognised by the Great Powers...
(the former possible match for her hand) and the Duke
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn
Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn was a member of the shared British and Saxe-Coburg and Gotha royal family who served as the Governor General of Canada, the 10th since Canadian Confederation.Born the seventh child and third son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and...
and Duchess of Connaught.
The couple had two sons:
- Prince Amedeo, 3rd Duke of Aosta (21 October 1898 - 3 March 1942)
- Prince Aimone, 4th Duke of Aosta who briefly ruled as King Tomislav II of Croatia. (9 March 1900 - 29 January 1948)
Widowed in 1931, Princess Helene was married for a second time in 1936 to Colonel Otto Campini (1872–1951) (born Oddone Maria Campini).