A number of European princesses have acquired skills that would allow them to work for a living, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.
The Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is an "accomplished typewriter and stenographer. " She learned her trade as a student in a German business college, and she boasts that "she can earn 100 marks per month for herself if need be."
Viktoria Adelheid is the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderberg-Glücksburg. Viktoria Adelheid's mother, Caroline, is a sister of the German Empress.
The Glücksburgs are "among the poorest royalties in Europe." When his daughters were growing up, the Duke insisted that each learn a trade "to guard against a rainy day."
Viktoria Adelheid's sister, Princess Alexandra Viktoria, who is engaged to Prince August Wilhelm of Prussia, studied art and is "earning considerable pin money by miniature painting. She paints on ivory the portraits of most of Europe's sovereigns, and "is always sure of a good prince.
Duke Friedrich Ferdinand's third daughter, Princess Helena has trained as a nurse. Whenever "a relative of hers falls ill she comes to aid by the next train. Princess Eleonore Reuss, who is engaged to marry the Prince of Bulgaria, is also a trained nurse.
Princess Adelheid's education is not completed. She is studying cooking. At the present time, she "makes only the dessert for the ducal table," but she has a goal to "cook an entire dinner for a party of twelve."
The Duke and Duchess' youngest daughter, Princess Karoline, is only 12. According to her older sisters, Karoline has selected "an easy trade." She wants to be a Kindergartnerin, a kindergarten teacher. She has lessons with her governess, but when she is older to expects to study at a "celebrated Vienna institute" after her confirmation.
Princess Hermine of Schoenaich-Carolath does watch repair. She "mends most of the watches of royalty, at least those of the younger set." Real Kings "carry timepieces that require little repairing." At Schloss Schoenaich, packages containing broken watches and clocks arrive each day. The Princess makes about 5000 marks per year with her watch repair business.
Every so often, Hermine says to her husband: "If you would let me open a shop in Unter den Linde I might make five times as much or more."
Duchess Philipp of Württemberg, who was born an Archduchess of Austria. "comes to aid of suffering royalty with bandages and other medical apparatus.
She is an expert in making rubber stockings, and she receives royalties from several War Ministers on bandages she invented.
Archduchess Friedrich of Austria has "adopted a most unusual trade." The mother of "numerous pretty daughters," is a candlemaker. Her candles are "most beautifully decorated and smell so sweet." The Archduchess "makes a lot of money" as her candles are used in the "boudoirs of her royal and imperial sisters."
A devout Catholic, the Archduchess also supplies the Pope with candles for his bedroom, and "on festive occasions also furnishes altar candles for the Sistine Chapel or St. Peter's when the Pope says mass there."
3 comments:
The portion regarding Princess Adelheid is fascinating. I wonder if any other royals of her period or even up to recent times were known to be interested in cooking or baking.
Point of disclosure: I am hooked on 'The Cooking Channel' and 'The Food Network' :-)
Marlene, you write about Princess Alexandra Viktoria wife of Prince August being a painter. I have read that she ended up living in a trailer selling her paintings. Do you know if this is true? Bea
Bea, I have several musings about Alexandra being an artist. She spent a year or so in the USA as well.
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