Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Kaiser agrees to engagement of Prince Friedrich Wilhelm & Princess Agathe of Ratibor





January 2, 1910

Love "has triumphed over etiquette" by "an act" of Kaiser Wilhelm II who today gave his "long-withheld consent" to the marriage of his cousin, Prince Friedrich Wilhelm to Princess Agathe of Ratibor & Corvey, reports the Chicago Tribune.

The couple had been "betrothed privately," but the Kaiser, a strict "upholder of the Hohenzollern family traditions" would not sanction a marriage between a member of his family with the "daughter of a mushroom duke."

The Ratibors are Roman Catholic, which only added to the difficulties. 

Several "influential friends" were finally able to convince the Kaiser, who on New Year's sent a message to his cousin, "giving his consent."  Wilhelm II also sent a message to the Duke of Ratibor,  telling him that his daughter would be welcome into the Imperial family.


The Ratibors "celebrated the betrothal today" with great festivities.  The date for the wedding has not been set.

Prince Friedrich Wilhelm's brother, Prince Joachim, was in disgrace for "attempting to marry Marie Sulzer, an actress."

1 comment:

Ron said...

What was meant by the term "mushroom duke?"