Following the untimely death of her husband, German Emperor Frederick III, Queen
Victoria’s eldest daughter Vicky purchased a home for herself, Villa Schonberg
in Kronberg in the Taunus Mountains, and was later presented with the old
Schloss Kronberg by her son, Kaiser Wilhelm II. An aesthete and avid collector
of art and furniture, Vicky delighted in her new home, filling it with beautiful
artistic treasures. Today, the property remains in the hands of her descendants
but is now
a luxury hotel, which clearly, from these images and descriptions
maintains the sort of atmosphere which Vicky created and would still deeply
appreciate. What a wonderful experience it must be to stay there, taking tea in
the library, which is still filled with her books...
Sheer and utter beauty!
Posts
I just received a wonderful gift of an original article from the Strand
Magazine from 1895, which is an interview with Empress Frederick (Vicky) about
her beautiful home at Kronberg (as in the previous post). Every one of the books
on the library shelves, it says, was placed there only after the Empress had
read it, and there is, too, a wonderful description not only of the many
charitable works she carried out virtually unnoticed but also of her appearance
and voice. 
“Her Imperial Majesty’s appearance is not now so familiar in England as
that of other members of the Royal Family; and, in my opinion, photographs do
not do justice to her. She possesses a charming geniality of expression and a
particularly kindly look about the eyes in which respect she resembles the
Prince of Wales. When moved by the recital of some sorrow or trouble, sympathy
imparts great pathos to her voice – at all times a pleasant tone.” 
