Marriage
On 24 May 1888, Irene married Prince Albert Wilhelm Heinrich of Prussia, the third child and second son of German Emperor Friedrich III and German Empress Victoria. As their mothers were sisters, Irene and Heinrich were first cousins. Their marriage displeased Queen Victoria because she had not been told about the courtship until they had already decided to marry. Heinrich's mother, Victoria, Empress Victoria, was fond of Irene. However, Empress Victoria was shocked because Irene did not wear a shawl or scarf to disguise her pregnancy when she was pregnant with her first son, the haemophiliac Prince Waldemar, in 1889. Empress Victoria, who was fascinated by politics and current events, also couldn't understand why Heinrich and Irene never read a newspaper. However, the couple were happily married and they were known as "The Very Amiables" by their relatives because of their pleasant natures. The marriage produced three sons:
Read more about this topic: Princess Irene Of Hesse And By Rhine/Comments
Famous quotes containing the word marriage:
“Men commonly couple with their idea of marriage a slight degree at least of sensuality; but every lover, the world over, believes in its inconceivable purity.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“A marriage is no amusement but a solemn act, and generally a sad one.”
—Victoria (1819–1901)
“My husband sings Baa Baa black sheep and we pretend
that all’s certain and good, that the marriage won’t end.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)