Marienbad. Archduchess of Austria Princess Stéphanie Clotilde Louise Herminie Marie Charlotte of Belgium and her daughter Archduchess Elisabeth Marie come to the resort.
As “Marienbaden Kurliste” informs with due respect, on a page dedicated only to the subject, “Their Imperial and Royal Highnesses” are staying at the Hotel Egerländer . Alsace was given as their place of permanent residence.
The arrival of such guests, although not uncommon , must have been a great event in Marienbad. Certainly, it also became the subject of many conversations, especially since the lives of both aristocrats: turbulent, full of tragic events (the suicide of Rudolf, Clotilda’s husband and Elisabeth’s father, committed together with his mistress), difficult relationships (for example with Empress Sisi, but also between the two women, because Elizabeth blamed her mother for her father’s suicide), scandals (rumours about the infidelity of Elisabeth’s husband, Prince Otto Windisch-Graetz, and about the shooting of his mistress in Paris), unusual for those times decisions (in August 1915, Elisabeth began to seek a divorce, which she eventually led to in 1948) and views (with time Elisabeth was called the “red archduchess”) – provided reasons for gossip and discussion .
Perhaps their arrival was connected with the Marienbad solemn celebrations of the 85th birthday of Emperor Franz Joseph I, which took place on August 17 and 18. (mo) (transl. mw)
