Figure 1.-- Grand Duke Ernst Louis remarried (1905). His second wife was Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, Darmstadt. Here she is with her two sons, George Donatus and Louis.

Ernst Louis' remarried (1905). His second wife was Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, Darmstadt. Her father was Prince Hermann V of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich. Her mother was Agnes von Stolberg-Wernigerode. We know little about Grand Duchess Eleonore. Ernst Louis and Elenore had two sons, George Donatus and Louis. We have no informaion on family life at this time. The family appears to have been on close terms with the Russian royal family which they visited. Prince George Donatus was old enough to play with the Tsarevitch Alexis. George Donatus and Louis were fairly close in age. Only 2 years separated them. Thus they were commonly dressed in coordinated or identical outfits. The children wore tunics and sailor suits. The family was sandened by the Grand Duke's death, just a few days before his youngest son's marriage. The family was then devestated by a tragic air accident (1937).

Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, Darmstad (1871-1937)

Ernst Louis remarried (1905). His second wife was Princess Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, Darmstadt. Her father was Prince Hermann V of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich. Her mother was Countess Agnes von Stolberg-Wernigerode. She was their fourth child and second daughter. We know little about the Grand Duchess Eleonore. She was killed in an air accident with her oldest son and his family (1937).

Children

Ernst Louis and Elenore had two sons, Georg Donatus and Louis. The boys wre close in age and grew up together. They were often dressed aloke. Hesse was a small German state, but the Hessian royal family was related to the most important royal families in Rurope. The family appears to have been on close terms with the Russian royal family which they visited. Prince George Donatus was old enough to play with the Tsarevitch Alexis. Georg Donstus joined the NAZI Party, but Louis never did. George Donatus and his family died in a tragic air accident. Louis survived the War.

George Donatus (1906-37)

George Donatus von Hessen-Darmstadt was born (1906). He married Princess Cecilie of Greece (Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg) at the Neues Palais (1931). Princess Cecilie was sister of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. They had four children, all of who died tragiclly. Prince Ludwig Ernst Andreas (1931-37). Prince Alexander Georg Karl Heinrich (1933-37)b was also killed in the air accident. Princess Johanna Marina Eleonore (1936-39) died after her parents and siblings. Both George and Cecilie joined the NAZI Party (May 1, 1937). We have no information on how involved they were in the Party. The NAZIs were known to hsve courted German aristocrts. And of course by 1937, the NSAZIs were in firm cointrol of Germany and there were advanyages to Psrty membership. Virtuallt the entire family was killed in a tragi air accident. The accident occurred as George Donatus and his family was on their way to his brother's wedding. The plane hit a factory chimney near Ostend and crashed into flames. Everyone on board. was killed. Cecilie was heavily pregnant with her fourth child at the time of the crash. The remains of the stillborn child were found in the wreckage, Only baby Elenore who was not with her parents survived. She died 2 years later from meningitus (1939).

Louis von Hessen (1908-1968)

Prince Louis (Ludwig) was born (1908). He married Hon. Margaret Campbell-Geddes (1913-97), in St. Peter's Church, Eaton Square, London in 1937. She was the aughter of Auckland Campbell-Geddes, 1st Baron Geddes. The marriage took place the day after the tragic air crash of the Sabena OO-AUB Ostend carrying his brother and his family. They did not have any children. I'm not sure what he did during the World War II, but he died in Frankfurt several years after the War (1968). They adopted his niece, Johanna (1936-39). Johanna died tagically 3 years later. In an effort to conyinue the family line, he adopted a distant cousin, Moritz, Landgrave of Hesse. He succeeded to the hereditary title Grand Duke of Hesse on the Rhine when Louis died (1968).

Children Clothes

George Donatus and Louis were fairly close in age. Only 2 years separated them. Thus they were commonly dressed in coordinated or identical outfits. The children wore tunics and sailor suits.

Socializing with European Royals

Grand Duke Ernst was related to the British, German, and Russian royal family. His grandmother was a Prussian princess--Princess Elizabeth. His wmother was Princess Alice of Britain, Queen Victoria's second daughter. His aunt was Princess Vicoria, Queen Victoria's first daughter who marriec Ground Prince Frederich of Prusia whose oldest child was Kauser Wilhem II. Wilhelm was a constant visitor in his parent's home. Tsar Nicholas II married the Grand Duke's sister--Princess Alexandra. Thus the Hesse royal family was closely related to the three most important royal families in Europe. And as a result the two boys played bnd socialized with their royal cousins. They were especially close to the Russian royal family before World War I. Quite a number of photograhs show the boys with The Tsarevith Alexis and his sisters.

Created: 9:02 PM 7/23/2008
Last updated: 9:02 PM 7/23/2008