PRINCESS OF WIED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22826, 10 March 1936, Page 10

PRINCESS OF WIED

QUEEN FOR SIX MONTHS Extraordinary was the experience of the Princess of Wicd. who died recently in Rumania. Twenty-two years ago she became Queen of Albania, but for only six months. Then, with her husband. Prince William of Wicd, site lied back to Germany. Albania suddenly became an independent principality as the result of the Balkan war of 1012-13. Its search for a king led to Prince William accepting the throne. He took over the kingdom in Alarch, 1914, but trouble came quickly. Following a revolt in Alny, with his wife and children he sought safety in nn Austrian warship, and then in an Italian steamer.

The rebels, however, proved so reasonable that he returned to the palace. Shortly afterwards (lie Queen and their children followed, with some of the 70 trunks and boxes that had been hastily removed.

On arrival at the palace she shook hands with half a dozen Albanian women who were standing idly by the gate.

In September the King and Queen fled with their family a second time. They never returned, although Prince William more than once has said he would do so if his old subjects so desired. The Princess of Wicd was Princess Sopliia of Schoenbtirg-Waldonbiirg until her marriage in 1900. She was a woman of many accomplishments, a singer, a composer, and musician whose_ reputation before (he war as a hostess in Potsdam and Berlin was considerable. Her death occurred on her husband's estate in Aloldavia.