Monday, May 6, 2013

A new king for Albania

May 6, 1913

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Prince Wilhelm of Sweden, younger son of King Gustav V, will be the new King of Albania, "by the grace of the powers of Europe.

The prince is 29 years old.  He is married to Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia, daughter of Grand Duke Paul, and a first cousin to Emperor Nicholas II.

The marriage between the Swedish prince and the Russian Grand Duchess is said to be a "love match."  Maria, at 23, is six years her husband's junior.   She is a "beautiful woman," and despite the tragedies in her life, she is said to be "gay and lighthearted."  

Her mother, Princess Alexandra of Greece, died when she was only a year old, following the birth of Maria's younger brother, Dimitri.    She spent most of her childhood, "away from home," and her education is "English rather than Russian."

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