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Today marks the Anniversary of the Death of Princess Helena, Duchess of Albany, who died on this day in 1922! The fifth daughter of George Victor, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont and Princess Helena of Nassau, she was born Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont and was a sister of Queen Emma of The Netherlands. In 1882, she married hemophiliac Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, the youngest son of Queen Victoria, and had two children, Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone and the Duke of Albany and Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, who was born after his death in 1884. The Duchess of Albany resided with her children at Claremont, heavily involved with social work, notably founding the Deptford Fund, until her son was selected to succeed his uncle as the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in 1899, when she moved to Germany for a period. The Duchess remained an active member of the British Royal Family until she passed away while visiting her son in Austria in 1922.
Diamond Necklace | Diamond Star | Sapphire Bracelet
Diamond Necklace![](https://i0.wp.com/64.media.tumblr.com/ffb807d746cc0e09958e0bd91d7cb9c8/c908a4fd5142b94b-e2/s640x960/0ab625d86cfd694385b5e440077bd44786f83923.jpg?resize=656%2C910&ssl=1)
Diamond Star![](https://i0.wp.com/64.media.tumblr.com/d2bd10e79e97a34b17a07652dbe72260/c908a4fd5142b94b-39/s1280x1920/037079650fff10d97e0bc74c438720f501b7677b.jpg?w=656&ssl=1)
Sapphire Bracelet![](https://i0.wp.com/64.media.tumblr.com/b7811fec3650b5609bae8b48391e09fd/7f40f1a9001d6b30-99/s1280x1920/e6516041a9eff9d364413d63f6e8284aa55b4e52.jpg?w=656&ssl=1)
Princess Emma and Princess Helena are two sisters who were destined to be young widows. Princess Emma because she married an elderly King and Princess Helena because her husband unfortunately suffered from hemophilia. They were also quite important in the future of two families, the royal family of The Netherlands and the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family. Amazing destinies!
It’s amazing how two Princesses from a tiny Principality had such an impact on the Royal Families!