Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1899–1948)

Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont (German: Prinzessin Helene Bathildis Charlotte Maria Friederike zu Waldeck und Pyrmont; 22 December 1899 – 18 February 1948) was the only daughter of Friedrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont, last reigning Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont, and wife of Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg.

Early life

Helena was born at Arolsen, Waldeck and Pyrmont the third child and first daughter of Friedrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont (1865–1946), and his wife, Princess Bathildis of Schaumburg-Lippe (1873–1962), daughter of Wilhelm Karl August, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe. She was a first cousin of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. She was named after her aunt Princess Helena, Duchess of Albany (1861–1922) who married Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, youngest son of Queen Victoria.

Marriage and family

Helena married on 26 October 1921 in Arolsen, Nikolaus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Oldenburg (1897–1970), third child and first son of Frederick Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg and Duchess Elisabeth Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.^[1]

They had nine children:

• Anton-Günther, Duke of Oldenburg (b. 16 January 1923)
• Duchess Rixa of Oldenburg (28 March 1924 – 1 April 1939)
• Duke Peter of Oldenburg (b. 7 August 1926)
• Duchess Eilika of Oldenburg (b. 2 February 1928); married Emich, 7th Prince of Leiningen
• Duke Egilmar of Oldenburg (b. 14 October 1934)
• Duke Friedrich August of Oldenburg (b. 11 January 1936)
• Duchess Altburg of Oldenburg (b. 14 October 1938)
• Duke Huno of Oldenburg (b. 3 January 1940)
• Duke Johann of Oldenburg (b. 3 January 1940); married Ilka Gräfin zu Ortenburg, his daughter Eilika married Archduke Georg of Austria

She died at the age of 48, her husband married again, two years after her death in 1950 to Anne-Marie von Schutzbar gennant Milchling.

Titles and styles

• 22 December 1899 – 26 October 1921 : Her Serene Highness Princess Helena of Waldeck and Pyrmont
• 26 October 1921 – 18 February 1948: Her Royal Highness The Hereditary Grand Duchess of Oldenburg
  • Title in pretence: 24 February 1931 – 18 February 1948: Her Royal Highness The Grand Duchess of Oldenburg

Ancestry

Notes and sources

• thePeerage.com - Helene Prinzessin zu Waldeck und Pyrmont
• Genealogics - Leo van de Pas - Princess Helene zu Waldeck und Pyrmont
• The Royal House of Stuart, London, 1969, 1971, 1976 , Addington, A. C., Reference: II 277, 349