Social Victorians/People/Christian of Schleswig-Holstein

Also Known As

 * Family name: hers, Saxe-Coborg; his, Schleswig-Holstein
 * Princess Helena Augusta Victoria
 * Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
 * Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
 * HRH Prince Christian

Organizations

 * The " Royal Mob"

Timeline
1866 July 5, Princess Helena and Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein married.

1897 July 2, Friday, Prince Christian, Princess Helena and their daughter Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball. (Princess Helena was #7 in the list of attendees; Prince Christian was #6; and Princess Victoria was #10.)

Princess Helena
At the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 fancy-dress ball, Princess Helena, or Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, sat at Table 7. Princess Helena of Schleswig-Holstein was dressed as Sophia Charlotte of Hanover (30 October 1668 – 1 February 1705), who was George I's only sister. The London Evening Standard disagrees with the others about the color of her dress, saying it was old-torquoise instead of old-pink brocade.
 * She was dressed as "Sophia Charlotte, daughter of the Electress Sophia of Hanover and sister of George I."
 * Mr. W. Clarkson "supplied the wigs and headdresses for the Royal Family."
 * "Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein was a Princess of the same period, the dress of old torquoise and gold brocade. The front of her skirt was richly embroidered with gold, the sleeves being of blue brocade, slashed with white crepe, pearled and studded with gold. The headdress was a small pearl crown."
 * According to the Pall Mall Gazette, "Princess Christian never looked better than as her ancestress, Sophia Caroline of Prussia, and her old pink brocade was vastly becoming."
 * "Princess Christian was in vieux-rose brocade, richly trimmed, and had her hair dressed after the style of Sophia Caroline of Prussia, whose portrait inspired the costume."
 * "PRINCESS VICTORIA OF SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN as a princess, Elizabethan period. Dress made of old torquoise and gold brocade. The front and all round skirt richly embroidered gold, bands of white satin pearled. The sleeves of old blue brocade with crevés of white crepe pearled and studded gold. Cherusque old lace, embroidered gold. Small pearl crown headdress, Ecran. Pearl necklace."
 * "Princess Christian was beautifully dressed as "Sophia Caroline of Brunswick," copied from the picture in Buckingham Palace. The dress of pale vieux rose brocade, with effective design, was made with full-gathered skirt and a very long-pointed bodice, bordered with silver galon, studded with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls. The neck was enframed with the same galon, terminating in graceful curves at each side of the stomacher, and which was covered with diamond ornaments, chains of pearls, fell over the bust, and there were a tucker of old lace and white muslin sleeves slashed with the brocade and caught up by straps of the jeweled galon."
 * "Princess Christian, in eighteenth century costume of pink and gold, had her hair looped with pearls."

Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein
Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein sat at Table 6 in the first supper seating. He was dressed as the Earl of Lincoln in the court of Elizabeth:
 * "Prince Christian as Earl of Lincoln (Elizabethan period). Black velvet costume lined with ermine; fawn satin tunic and trunks, the latter, as well as the sleeves, slashed with white satin. Black velvet cap, with white feathers fastened in with a jewelled ornament."
 * "Prince Christian, as the Earl of Lincoln, was splendidly attired in white velvet doublet, white satin breeches, the black velvet coat being caped and lined with ermine."
 * "Duke Adolphus of Schleswig-Holstein Gottorp, who received the Garter in 1560 from Queen Elizabeth."
 * Mr. W. Clarkson "supplied the wigs and headdresses for the Royal Family."
 * "Prince Christian [was one of the] courtiers of the same Elizabethan period."
 * "Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein was a courtier of the age of Elizabeth, in mantle of black silk velvet, lined and bordered with cream coloured silk, pourpoint of deeper cream velvet with sleeves bouillonne over cream silk, trunks of the same coloured velvet over very full loose bouillonne of cream silks, breeches of cream silk, velvet shoes, puffed cream silk, waist belt, baldric and sword, toque of black velvet with cream feather, Blue Riband and Badge and Order of the Garter."
 * "PRINCE CHRISTIAN OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN. Mantle of black silk velvet lined and bordered cream-coloured silk. Pourpoint of deeper cream velvet with sleeves bouillonné over cream silk. Trunks of bands of same coloured velvet over very full loose bouillonné of cream silk. Chausses of cream silk. Velvet shoes puffed cream silk. Waist belt. Baldric and sword. Toque of black velvet with cream feather. Blue ribbon and badge Order of the Garter."
 * "Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, as the Earl of Lincoln in the time of Elizabeth, wore a rich costume, carried out in white velvet and satin, with a cloak of black velvet, lined with crimson."
 * "Prince Christian, as Earl of Lincoln, wore white satin and velvet, his black velvet cape being lined with ermine."
 * "H.H. Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein wore a mantle of black silk velvet, lined and bordered cream-coloured silk; pourpoint of deeper cream velvet; trunks of bands of same coloured velvet over very loose bouillonné of cream silk; blue ribbon and badge, Order of the Garter."
 * Prince Christian's original costume was used in the production of The White Heather at the Drury Lane.

Alexander Bassano's portrait of Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein as Duke Adolphus of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, A.D. 1560 in costume is photogravure #17 in the album presented to the Duchess of Devonshire and now in the National Portrait Gallery. The printing on the portrait says, "H.R.H. Prince Christian as Duke Adolphus of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, A.D. 1560."

Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein was dressed as Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (25 January 1526 – 1 October 1586), son of King Frederick I of Denmark and the first duke of Holstein-Gottorp. The portrait (upper right) of Adolf, Duke of Holstein shows him in his last year of life, about 60 years old. Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein was 65 years old at the time of the ball. The Duke of Holstein-Gottorp is wearing armor in his portrait, so it is not likely to be the original, if one exists, of the costume worn by Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein. This portrait has been in the collection of the National Museum in Sweden since 1866.

Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein
Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein sat at Table 8 and is treated on her own page.

Demographics

 * Nationality: hers, English

Family

 * Frederick Christian Charles Augustus, Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (22 January 1831 – 28 October 1917)
 * Princess Helena Augusta Victoria (25 May 1846 - 9 June 1923)
 * 1) Prince Christian Victor (14 April 1867 – 29 October 1900)
 * 2) Albert, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein (26 February 1869 – 27 April 1931)
 * 3) Princess Victoria (Helena Victoria) of Schleswig-Holstein (3 May 1870 – 13 March 1948)
 * 4) Marie Louise, Princess Aribert of Anhalt (12 August 1872 – 8 December 1956)
 * 5) Prince Harald (12 May 1876 – 20 May 1876)
 * 6) Unnamed male baby (7 May 1877)

Relations

 * Mother, Queen Victoria (Helena was Victoria's 5th child, 3rd daughter)
 * Father, Prince Albert