[HELENA

Queen Victoria visited Coburg in August 1865 and whilst there approved a matrimonial project affecting her third and eldest unmarried daughter, Helena, who had of late years been her constant companion. Largely at the instance of Duke Ernest, the princess was betrothed to Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, the younger brother of that Duke Frederick whose claim to the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein had been pressed by the smaller German states on Denmark and on the Prussian-Austrian alliance with disastrous results. After the recent Schleswig-Holstein war Bismarck had deprived Duke Frederick and his family of their property and standing, and the claimant's younger brother, Prince Christian, who had previously been an officer in the Prussian army, had been compelled to retire. The Queen however, helped them out of their financial difficulties.