Princess Margarita of Greece and Denmark
The eldest daughter of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark and
Princess Alice of Battenberg, Margarita was born at the Royal Palace
in Athens on 18 April 1905.
Family
Through her mother, Margarita was the eldest great-great grandchild
of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. Contrary to the custom of
the time, her father attended her birth because her grandmother,
Queen Olga, believed that "it is only justice that men see the suffering
they cause to their wives, and from which they completely escape".
She also was a great-great grandchild of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia,
trough her father.
With their mother, Margarita and her sisters communicated in English,
but they also used French, German, and Greek in the presence of their
relatives and governesses. The princesses were formally educated
in English and Greek.
Balkan War
Between 1912 and 1913, Greece engaged in the Balkan Wars, which put
the country in opposition to the Ottoman Empire and to Bulgaria. Called to
join the army again, Prince Andrew served under Crown Prince Constantine
while Princess Alice worked as a nurse for wounded soldiers.
the country in opposition to the Ottoman Empire and to Bulgaria. Called to
join the army again, Prince Andrew served under Crown Prince Constantine
while Princess Alice worked as a nurse for wounded soldiers.
Too young to follow their parents, Margarita and her sisters spent the
duration of the conflict in Athens, with the exception of a brief stay
in Thessaloniki in December 1912.
duration of the conflict in Athens, with the exception of a brief stay
in Thessaloniki in December 1912.
Greece came out of the Balkan Wars with an expanded territory, but the
conflict also led to the demise of George I, who was assassinated in
March 1913.
conflict also led to the demise of George I, who was assassinated in
March 1913.
The death of the King of the Hellenes caused significant changes in the life
of Margarita and her relatives. In his will, the sovereign bequeathed the
Corfiote palace of Mon Repos to Andrew. After years of living in close
proximity to the monarch, in the palaces of Athens and Tatoi, Andrew
and his family therefore finally had their own residence.
of Margarita and her relatives. In his will, the sovereign bequeathed the
Corfiote palace of Mon Repos to Andrew. After years of living in close
proximity to the monarch, in the palaces of Athens and Tatoi, Andrew
and his family therefore finally had their own residence.
When peace returned, Andrew, Alice and their daughters left Greece in
August 1913. After a visit to Germany, they stayed in the United Kingdom,
with Margarita's maternal grandparents. For little princesses, this trip was
an opportunity to visit St Paul's Cathedral and London Zoo with their parents.
August 1913. After a visit to Germany, they stayed in the United Kingdom,
with Margarita's maternal grandparents. For little princesses, this trip was
an opportunity to visit St Paul's Cathedral and London Zoo with their parents.
Returning to Greece on 17 November 1913, the family was then retained
in the country by Alice's fourth pregnancy and, above all, by the outbreak
of the First World War.
in the country by Alice's fourth pregnancy and, above all, by the outbreak
of the First World War.
World War I
With Greece having proclaimed its neutrality, this new conflict initially
hardly affected Margarita and her relatives. She and her sisters thus spent
the summer of 1914 in Corfu, where they enjoyed the sun and the sea
for four months.
hardly affected Margarita and her relatives. She and her sisters thus spent
the summer of 1914 in Corfu, where they enjoyed the sun and the sea
for four months.
Things changed as war creeped into the life of the country's people.
Stationed in Thessaloniki with his garrison, Andrew was thus confronted
with the occupation of the city by the Allies in October 1915.
Stationed in Thessaloniki with his garrison, Andrew was thus confronted
with the occupation of the city by the Allies in October 1915.
Shortly after, in December, the routed Serbian army found refuge in Corfu,
leading Alice and her daughters to abandon Mon Repos for the capital.
Over the months, the amount of threats against members of the royal
dynasty increased.
leading Alice and her daughters to abandon Mon Repos for the capital.
Over the months, the amount of threats against members of the royal
dynasty increased.
In July 1916, an arson attacked the domain of Tatoi, while the king was
there with his wife and several of their children.
there with his wife and several of their children.
In addition, on 1 December, the French navy bombarded the royal
palace in Athens, forcing Margarita and her sisters to take refuge
in the cellars with their mother.
palace in Athens, forcing Margarita and her sisters to take refuge
in the cellars with their mother.
Exile
In June 1917, King Constantine I was finally deposed and driven
out of Greece by the Allies, who replaced him on the throne by
his second son, the young Alexander.
out of Greece by the Allies, who replaced him on the throne by
his second son, the young Alexander.
Fifteen days later, Margarita's family was in turn forced into exile in
order to remove the possibility of the new monarch being influenced
by those close to him.
order to remove the possibility of the new monarch being influenced
by those close to him.
Forced to reside in German-speaking Switzerland, the small group
first stayed in a hotel in St. Moritz, before settling in Lucerne, where they
lived with uncertainty about their future.
first stayed in a hotel in St. Moritz, before settling in Lucerne, where they
lived with uncertainty about their future.
Exile was not the only source of concern for the family, however.
With the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917, several of Margarita's
relatives were murdered in Russia.
With the fall of the Russian Empire in 1917, several of Margarita's
relatives were murdered in Russia.
Shortly after these events, the Grand Ducal family of Hesse, to which
Margarita was closely related through her mother, was overthrown along
with all the other German dynasties during the winter of 1918–1919.
Margarita was closely related through her mother, was overthrown along
with all the other German dynasties during the winter of 1918–1919.
Finally, the family went through some health problems, several of them
contracting the flu in 1920.
contracting the flu in 1920.
At the beginning of 1919, Margarita nevertheless had the joy of reuniting
with her paternal grandmother, the Dowager Queen Olga, spared by the
Bolsheviks thanks to the diplomatic intervention of the Danes.
with her paternal grandmother, the Dowager Queen Olga, spared by the
Bolsheviks thanks to the diplomatic intervention of the Danes.
In the months that followed, she reconnected, moreover, with her
maternal grandparents, whom the war forced to abandon the name
of Battenberg for that of Mountbatten.
maternal grandparents, whom the war forced to abandon the name
of Battenberg for that of Mountbatten.
A short return to Greece
On 2 October 1920, King Alexander, cousin of Margarita, was
bitten by a domestic monkey during a walk in Tatoi. Poorly
cared for, he contracted sepsis, which prevailed on 25 October,
without any member of his family being allowed to come to his
bedside.
bitten by a domestic monkey during a walk in Tatoi. Poorly
cared for, he contracted sepsis, which prevailed on 25 October,
without any member of his family being allowed to come to his
bedside.
The death of the sovereign caused a violent institutional crisis
in Greece. Already stuck, since 1919, in a new war against Turkey,
Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos lost the 1920 Greek legislative
election. Humiliated, he retired abroad while a referendum reinstalled
Constantine I on the throne.
in Greece. Already stuck, since 1919, in a new war against Turkey,
Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos lost the 1920 Greek legislative
election. Humiliated, he retired abroad while a referendum reinstalled
Constantine I on the throne.
Prince Andrew was received triumphantly in Athens on 23 November 1920,
and his wife and four daughters joined him a few days later.
and his wife and four daughters joined him a few days later.
Margarita then returned to live in Corfu with her family. At the same time,
Princess Alice found out that she was pregnant again.
Princess Alice found out that she was pregnant again.
On 10 June 1921, the family welcomed Philip (1921–2021), the future
Duke of Edinburgh. The joy that surrounded this birth, however, was
obscured by the absence of Prince Andrew, who joined the Greek forces
in Asia Minor during the Occupation of Smyrna.
Duke of Edinburgh. The joy that surrounded this birth, however, was
obscured by the absence of Prince Andrew, who joined the Greek forces
in Asia Minor during the Occupation of Smyrna.
Despite worries about the war, Margarita and her siblings enjoyed life
at Mon Repos, where they received a visit from their maternal grandmother
and their aunt Louise in the spring of 1922.
at Mon Repos, where they received a visit from their maternal grandmother
and their aunt Louise in the spring of 1922.
In the park near the palace, built on an ancient cemetery, the princesses
devoted themselves to archeology and discovered some pottery,
bronze pieces and bones.
devoted themselves to archeology and discovered some pottery,
bronze pieces and bones.
During this period, Margarita and her sisters also participated, for the
first time, in a number of great social events. In March 1921, the princesses
attended in Athens the wedding of their cousin Helen to Crown Prince Carol
of Romania.
first time, in a number of great social events. In March 1921, the princesses
attended in Athens the wedding of their cousin Helen to Crown Prince Carol
of Romania.
In July 1922, they went to the United Kingdom to be bridesmaids at the
wedding of their uncle Louis Mountbatten to the wealthy heiress
Edwina Ashley.
wedding of their uncle Louis Mountbatten to the wealthy heiress
Edwina Ashley.
However, the military defeat of Greece against Turkey and the political
unrest that it caused disrupted the life of Margarita and her family.
unrest that it caused disrupted the life of Margarita and her family.
In September 1922, Constantine I abdicated in favor of his eldest son,
George II.
George II.
A month later, Prince Andrew was arrested before being tried by a
military tribunal, which declared him responsible for the defeat
of the Sakarya. Saved from execution by the intervention of foreign
chancelleries, the prince was condemned to banishment and
cashiering. After a brief stop in Corfu, the prince and his relatives
hurriedly left Greece aboard HMS Calypso in early December 1922.
military tribunal, which declared him responsible for the defeat
of the Sakarya. Saved from execution by the intervention of foreign
chancelleries, the prince was condemned to banishment and
cashiering. After a brief stop in Corfu, the prince and his relatives
hurriedly left Greece aboard HMS Calypso in early December 1922.
Love
After a journey of several weeks, which led them successively to
Italy, France and the United Kingdom, Margarita, her parents and
her siblings settled in Saint-Cloud in 1923.
Italy, France and the United Kingdom, Margarita, her parents and
her siblings settled in Saint-Cloud in 1923.
Settled in a house adjoining that of Princess Marie Bonaparte,
the family depended for seven years on her generosity, and
two other aunts of Margarita: first Princess Anastasia and then
Lady Louis Mountbatten.
the family depended for seven years on her generosity, and
two other aunts of Margarita: first Princess Anastasia and then
Lady Louis Mountbatten.
Marie Bonaparte financed the studies of her nieces and nephew,
while Lady Mountbatten got into the habit of offering her nieces
her "used" clothes.In fact, Margarita's parents had little income and
the children were the regular witnesses to their money problems
and their difficulty in maintaining a household.
while Lady Mountbatten got into the habit of offering her nieces
her "used" clothes.In fact, Margarita's parents had little income and
the children were the regular witnesses to their money problems
and their difficulty in maintaining a household.
Deprived of their Greek nationality after the proclamation of the
Second Hellenic Republic in March 1924, Margarita and her family
received Danish passports from their cousin King Christian X.
Second Hellenic Republic in March 1924, Margarita and her family
received Danish passports from their cousin King Christian X.
Now of marrying age, the princess and her sister Theodora regularly left
France for Great Britain, where they lived with their maternal
grandmother, the Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven.
France for Great Britain, where they lived with their maternal
grandmother, the Dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven.
The two princesses also took advantage of their stays in London to
visit their many relatives, such as their paternal grandmother, Queen Olga,
who was Queen Alexandra's regular guest at Sandringham.
visit their many relatives, such as their paternal grandmother, Queen Olga,
who was Queen Alexandra's regular guest at Sandringham.
However, the young girls' lack of fortune and their life in exile meant that
they hardly had any suitors, which was a matter of concern to their mother.
they hardly had any suitors, which was a matter of concern to their mother.
During the summer of 1926, Margarita met Prince François-Ferdinand
d'Isembourg-Birstein, eldest son of Prince François-Joseph
d'Isembourg-Birstein, during a stay in Tarasp with her great-uncle Ernest Louis,
Grand Duke of Hesse. The two young people enjoyed each other's company
and their families met at the beginning of the following year. Margarita
was enchanted by her suitor and by the region where he lived.
d'Isembourg-Birstein, eldest son of Prince François-Joseph
d'Isembourg-Birstein, during a stay in Tarasp with her great-uncle Ernest Louis,
Grand Duke of Hesse. The two young people enjoyed each other's company
and their families met at the beginning of the following year. Margarita
was enchanted by her suitor and by the region where he lived.
However, François-Ferdinand was of the Catholic faith and the princess
refused to give up Orthodox faith, which soon put an end to their
romance. Thus, by 1930, neither Margarita nor Theodora had yet
found a fiancé.
refused to give up Orthodox faith, which soon put an end to their
romance. Thus, by 1930, neither Margarita nor Theodora had yet
found a fiancé.
Married after all
In 1930, Margarita was 25 when she met Gottfried ("Friedel"),
hereditary prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, The prince was heir to a
fortune made up of castles, farmland and forests.
hereditary prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, The prince was heir to a
fortune made up of castles, farmland and forests.
Margarita and Gottfried fell in love and married on 20 April 1931.
Organized at Langenburg Castle, their wedding consisted of a double
religious ceremony, both Lutheran and Orthodox.
Organized at Langenburg Castle, their wedding consisted of a double
religious ceremony, both Lutheran and Orthodox.
The occasion was a large family reunion, at which Margarita's
mother Alice was not present.
mother Alice was not present.
Among the many guests were the Dowager Queen Marie of Romania
and Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia (aunts of the groom)
as well as Prince George of Greece and Denmark and Louise, Crown
Princess of Sweden (uncle and aunt of the bride).
and Grand Duchess Victoria Feodorovna of Russia (aunts of the groom)
as well as Prince George of Greece and Denmark and Louise, Crown
Princess of Sweden (uncle and aunt of the bride).
Once their marriage was celebrated, Margarita and Gottfried settled
at Weikersheim Castle, located not far from the town of Langenburg.
at Weikersheim Castle, located not far from the town of Langenburg.
Children
After a stillbirth in 1933, Margarita gave birth to three children:
Kraft (1935–2004),
Beatrix (1936–1997),
and Georg Andreas (1938–2021).
Kraft (1935–2004),
Beatrix (1936–1997),
and Georg Andreas (1938–2021).
Nazis
When she was not taking care of those close to her, Margarita was involved
in charitable works, which soon earned her the admiration of the inhabitants
of the former principality of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.
in charitable works, which soon earned her the admiration of the inhabitants
of the former principality of Hohenlohe-Langenburg.
Like several members of her entourage, Margarita joined the Nazi Party on
1 May 1937 at the same time as her husband.
1 May 1937 at the same time as her husband.
Thereafter, the couple used their family connections to promote the
rapprochement of the Nazi regime in the United Kingdom.
Enlisted in the Wehrmacht, Gottfried participated in the Anschluss in 1938.
rapprochement of the Nazi regime in the United Kingdom.
Enlisted in the Wehrmacht, Gottfried participated in the Anschluss in 1938.
Gloria Vanderbilt affair
In October 1934, Gottfried and Margarita visited New York to testify
in favor of Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt in the lawsuit involving her and
her in-laws for the custody of her daughter Gloria Vanderbilt.
in favor of Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt in the lawsuit involving her and
her in-laws for the custody of her daughter Gloria Vanderbilt.
A few years before his marriage to Margarita, Gottfried had an affair
with the wealthy American widow, whom he even almost married with
the blessing of his parents.
with the wealthy American widow, whom he even almost married with
the blessing of his parents.
For her part, Margarita visited Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt at her
aunt Nadejda Mountbatten's place.
aunt Nadejda Mountbatten's place.
However, the in-laws of Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt accused her of having
abandoned her daughter by leading a dissolute life with Gottfried in
Europe. Margarita further suspected the young woman of having a
romantic relationship with Nadejda.
abandoned her daughter by leading a dissolute life with Gottfried in
Europe. Margarita further suspected the young woman of having a
romantic relationship with Nadejda.
Margarita therefore had interest in restoring the honor of her family
by participating in the trial with her husband.
by participating in the trial with her husband.
In spite of the testimonies of the Prince and the Princess of
Hohenlohe-Langenburg, who assured the good morality of
their friend in front of the press and in court,
Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt lost the lawsuit. Her daughter was
then placed in the care of her paternal aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt
Whitney, until she came of age.
Hohenlohe-Langenburg, who assured the good morality of
their friend in front of the press and in court,
Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt lost the lawsuit. Her daughter was
then placed in the care of her paternal aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt
Whitney, until she came of age.
Gottfried and Margarita left the United States in early November
to attend the wedding of Marina, cousin of the princess, and the
Duke of Kent in London.
to attend the wedding of Marina, cousin of the princess, and the
Duke of Kent in London.
A new World War
The outbreak of the Second World War greatly affected Margarita,
whose family found themselves divided by the conflict.
whose family found themselves divided by the conflict.
While her husband and brothers-in-law Prince Christoph of Hesse
and Berthold, Margrave of Baden, joined the German ranks, her
brother Philip fought in the British Royal Navy.
and Berthold, Margrave of Baden, joined the German ranks, her
brother Philip fought in the British Royal Navy.
The invasion and occupation of France by Germany also block
Prince Andrew on the French Riviera and contacting him became
very difficult.
Prince Andrew on the French Riviera and contacting him became
very difficult.
Margarita spent the duration of the conflict with her
children in Langenburg, a small town far from the zones of combat
and where the family did not suffer much deprivation.
children in Langenburg, a small town far from the zones of combat
and where the family did not suffer much deprivation.
There, she gave birth to twins, Rupprecht and Albrecht, on 7 April 1944.
The war period brought its share of mourning for Margarita's family.
In April 1942, her mother-in-law, the Dowager Princess of Hohenlohe-
Langenburg, died in Schwäbisch Hall after a long illness.
In April 1942, her mother-in-law, the Dowager Princess of Hohenlohe-
Langenburg, died in Schwäbisch Hall after a long illness.
A little over a year later, in October 1943, Prince Christoph, husband
Margarita's sister Sophie, was killed in a plane crash while flying
over the Apennine Mountains.
Margarita's sister Sophie, was killed in a plane crash while flying
over the Apennine Mountains.
Finally, in December 1944, her father Prince Andrew died in Monaco
without having been able to see his children again.
without having been able to see his children again.
After the war
After peace was restored, the revelation of the war crimes of the Wehrmacht
and their role in the Holocaust—brought to light during the Nuremberg trials
—had serious repercussions on the relationship between the Hohenlohe-
Langenburgs and their foreign relatives. Despite her own Germanic
origins, Princess Alice of Battenberg thus developed a deep disgust
for the German people and refused, until 1949, to return to stay in
her daughters' country.
and their role in the Holocaust—brought to light during the Nuremberg trials
—had serious repercussions on the relationship between the Hohenlohe-
Langenburgs and their foreign relatives. Despite her own Germanic
origins, Princess Alice of Battenberg thus developed a deep disgust
for the German people and refused, until 1949, to return to stay in
her daughters' country.
For his part, Prince Philip (officially renamed Philip Mountbatten in 1947)
found himself unable to invite his sisters on the occasion of his marriage
to Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom because of anti-German
sentiment prevailing in Great Britain after the war.
found himself unable to invite his sisters on the occasion of his marriage
to Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom because of anti-German
sentiment prevailing in Great Britain after the war.
The Greek royal family was not the only royal house to show its desire
to reconnect with the Hohenlohe-Langenburgs.
to reconnect with the Hohenlohe-Langenburgs.
In 1950, Margarita was allowed to return to the United Kingdom
on the occasion of the funeral of her grandmother, the Dowager
Marchioness of Milford Haven.
on the occasion of the funeral of her grandmother, the Dowager
Marchioness of Milford Haven.
A few months later, the princess was chosen to be one of the
godmothers of her niece, Princess Anne.
godmothers of her niece, Princess Anne.
Above all, in 1953, Margarita, her sisters, their husbands and
some of their children were invited to the coronation of Elizabeth II.
Satisfied not to have been sidelined once again, the Princess of
Hohenlohe-Langenburg nonetheless noted with sadness the anguish
of her brother Philip, who considered with apprehension his new
status as prince consort.
some of their children were invited to the coronation of Elizabeth II.
Satisfied not to have been sidelined once again, the Princess of
Hohenlohe-Langenburg nonetheless noted with sadness the anguish
of her brother Philip, who considered with apprehension his new
status as prince consort.
In the 1950s, Margarita and her husband also visited Spain on
several occasions. There they found various members of Gottfried's relatives:
Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and her husband Infante
Alfonso, Duke of Galliera (maternal aunt and uncle of the prince),
Princess Alexandra of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (sister of the prince),
as well as Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and his wife
Ira von Fürstenberg (distant cousins of the prince).
several occasions. There they found various members of Gottfried's relatives:
Princess Beatrice of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and her husband Infante
Alfonso, Duke of Galliera (maternal aunt and uncle of the prince),
Princess Alexandra of Hohenlohe-Langenburg (sister of the prince),
as well as Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe-Langenburg and his wife
Ira von Fürstenberg (distant cousins of the prince).
Death
Margarita died on 24 April 1981 in a clinic in Bad Wiessee, Bavaria,
six days after her 76th birthday.
six days after her 76th birthday.
Attended by her brother the Duke of Edinburgh, her funeral took place
in Langenburg, where she was buried alongside her husband.
in Langenburg, where she was buried alongside her husband.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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