Hermine Reuss of Greiz - Marriage To Ex-Emperor Wilhelm II

Marriage To Ex-Emperor Wilhelm II

In January 1922, a son of Princess Hermine sent birthday wishes to the German Emperor Wilhelm, who then invited the boy and his mother to Doorn. Wilhelm found Hermine very attractive, and greatly enjoyed her company. The two had much in common, both being recently widowed: Hermine just over a year and a half before, and Wilhelm only nine months prior.

By early 1922, Wilhelm was determined to marry Hermine. Despite grumblings from Wilhelm's monarchist supporters and the objections of his children, 63 year-old Wilhelm and 34 year-old Hermine married on 5 November 1922 in Doorn. By all accounts, it was a happy marriage. Hermine's first husband had also been older than she was, by fourteen years. Wilhelm and Hermine were 5th cousins through common descent from George II of England.

In 1927 Hermine wrote An Empress in Exile: My Days in Doorn, an account of her life up to that time. Hermine remained a constant companion to the aging emperor until his death in 1941. They had no children.

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