Duchess Helene of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

Duchess Helene of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (16 January 1857 – 28 August 1936) was a daughter of Duke Georg August of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and his wife, Grand Duchess Catherine Mikhailovna of Russia. She was the second wife of Prince Albert of Saxe-Altenburg.

Early life and marriage As the only daughter of Grand Duchess Catherine (herself the principal heiress to her father Grand Duke Michael), Helene was quite notably wealthy. She belonged to the Russian branch of the House of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and as such, had many ties to her mother's native country. There were also negotiations regarding a marriage between Helena and Milan I of Serbia, intended by his regents to strengthen his ties with Russia; however, in the end, nothing came of it.

On 13 December 1891 at Remplin, Helene married Prince Albert of Saxe-Altenburg. He and his family retired to their Schwerin estate. Sources reported that Wilhelm's "arbitrary manners" became so intolerable to Albert and others, as they were used to the days of social courtesy under the old Wilhelm I. and in Hellerup, Denmark from 1923 to at least November 1925.

After the death of Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna in 1928, Princess Helena settled in Paris, where she became professor of music at the Conservatoire Rachmaninoff and chair of the newly founded Russian Musical Society Abroad. She eventually took up residence at Schloss Remplin in Mecklenburg with her nephew George, Duke of Mecklenburg and his family. They were joined in 1930 by her brother Charles Michael, Duke of Mecklenburg, who owned the property.

Death It was at Remplin that Duchess Helene died on 28 August 1936, aged 79. Her body was interred at Friedhof Remplin in Mecklenburg, Germany. Ancestry