A robbery, an arrest, another arrest, and the threat of nuclear war. No big deal, right? But that’s exactly what happened to Alix – let’s wrap up the story of her life and find out what happened to her tiara.
I started researching Germany after Grand Duchess Hilda of Baden’s tiara disappeared. I’d mostly researched Britain, France, and Russia before 2017 – so a lot of German history was new to me. But Hilda and her parents were in the thick of it, from the unification of Germany in 1871 to the collapse of that empire in 1918. Here are all the posts I’ve done that touch on German history.
Alexandra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin’s Tiara: Part 2
A putsch, a Reich, a war – and the family drama that went on in spite of and because of it. Find out what happened to Alix and her family when they came home without a job or a position after World War I. (Here’s a hint: It wasn’t smooth sailing.)
Alexandra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin’s Tiara: Part 1
This is part one of the story of Alexandra of Mecklenburg-Schwerin’s tiara. It was supposed to be a simple story about a tiara – a pretty hat made of diamonds. I didn’t expect it to take me to the darkest places of the 20th century. From war and betrayal to the Third Reich, Soviet prisons, and nuclear war, this story has it all – including a happy ending.
Marie Louise: The Princess of Nowhere
A wife without a husband. A princess without a country. Meet Princess Marie Louise, a woman who lived life on her own terms.
Secrets of the Gotha: Source Report
A book that promises to give us secrets of the European royal families? I’m in! Find out what juicy tidbits I found…as well as what you won’t find, which surprised me a little. Read more in this post, available exclusively for Patreon supporters.
Tiaras in the News: 2019
It’s not often that tiaras make international headlines. There’s something special about 2019. From the Swedish burial regalia theft to the Portland tiara to the two spectacular Fabergé tiaras up for auction this May, there’s a lot to talk about. Let’s dive in.
The Downfall of Three Dynasties: Source Report
This book has more details on Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna’s flirtation with Prince Alexander of Hesse and by Rhine. What juicy secrets did I learn? Find out in this post, available exclusively for Patreon supporters.
5 Types of Kokoshnik Tiaras
There’s a surprising variety of design possibilities for kokoshnik tiaras. Here are 5 drool-worthy examples and their stories. Let’s take a look at tiaras belonging to Grand Duchess Hilda of Baden, the Duke of Westminster, Queen Alexandra of Great Britain, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna (Ella), and Crown Princess Cecilie of Prussia.
Who Stole Grand Duchess Hilda of Baden’s Tiara?
In 2017, a thief walked away with a tiara worth $1.2 million. I bet they didn’t even know who Hilda was. I sure didn’t, but the news sent me on a quest to find out everything I could. I’m still going, but you wouldn’t believe the amazing, sad, and heartbreaking stories I’ve uncovered about Hilda and her family in the meantime.
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