Schlosshotel Kronberg (Castle Hotel Kronberg) in Kronberg im Taunus, Hesse, near Frankfurt am Main, was built between 1889 and 1893 for the dowager German EmpressVictoria and originally named Schloss Friedrichshof (Friedrichshof Castle) in honour of her late husband, Emperor Frederick III (Friedrich III). The principal architect was Ernst von Ihne, who was also the royal architect to Frederick III and Kaiser Wilhelm II; von Ihne designed many royal residences for nobility in and around Germany and Austria.
Schloss KronbergPlaque on the facade of Schloss Hotel KronbergMain hallway of Schloss Hotel KronbergRear view of Schloss Hotel KronbergLandgrave Moritz in front of the hotel after meeting with visitors from Sweden in 2010
Today the castle is a five-star hotel[1] which belongs, together with the accompanying park, to the House of Hesse.
After World War II, Friedrichshof was used as an officer's club by the military authorities during the American occupation.
Princess Margaret's son Wolfgang, fearing for the family jewels, had buried them in a zinc-lined box in the subcellar of the castle.[2] On 5 November 1945, the manager of the club, Captain Kathleen Nash, discovered the jewels and together with her future husband, Colonel Jack Durant, and Major David Watson, stole the treasure and took the jewels out of Germany.[2] Many of the pieces were broken up and the gems sold separately, ruining the priceless heirlooms of the House of Hesse.[3] In early 1946, Princess Margaret discovered the theft when the family wanted to use the jewels for the wedding of Princess Sophia who was preparing to remarry. Princess Sophia and Landgravine Margaret denounced it to the Frankfurt authorities; the culprits were imprisoned in August 1951. Major Watson was sentenced to three years, but paroled early. Captain Nash was sentenced to five years and Colonel Durant was sentenced to fifteen years. Only 10 percent of what had been stolen was recovered and returned to the Hesse family.[2]
Author Charles Higham claimed that Anthony Blunt, an MI5 agent and Soviet spy, acting on orders from the British royal family, made a successful secret trip to Schloss Friedrichshof towards the end of the war to retrieve sensitive letters between the Duke of Windsor and Adolf Hitler and other leading Nazis.[4] What is certain is that George VI sent the Royal Librarian, Owen Morshead, accompanied by Blunt, then working part-time in the Royal Library as well as for British intelligence, to Friedrichshof in March 1945 to secure papers relating to the German Empress Victoria, the eldest child of Queen Victoria. The papers rescued by Morshead and Blunt, and those returned by the American authorities from Chicago, were deposited in the Royal Archives.[5]
^ abJana Randow; Piotr Skolimowski (2019-11-14). "Christine Lagarde Musters ECB Team for Huddle at Castle Fit for an Empress". Bloomberg.
^ abcPetropoulos, Jonathan, Royals and the Reich, Oxford University Press, New York, 2006, pp. 344-349. ISBN0-19-516133-5
^From Wire Dispatches (June 9, 1946). "Dime-In-Slot Locker yields Last of Hesse Crown Gems". The Courier-Journal. pp. 1 & 15. Retrieved June 5, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Higham, Charles (1988), The Duchess of Windsor: The Secret Life, New York: McGraw-Hill Publishers, pp. 388–389
^Bradford, Sarah (1989), The Reluctant King: The Life and Reign of George VI, New York: St Martin's, p. 426
^Andriotis, Mary Elizabeth (17 November 2021),"You Can Visit These Castles and Houses From Spencer", House Beautiful. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
External linksedit
Media related to Friedrichshof Castle at Wikimedia Commons
schlosshotel, kronberg, castle, hotel, kronberg, kronberg, taunus, hesse, near, frankfurt, main, built, between, 1889, 1893, dowager, german, empress, victoria, originally, named, schloss, friedrichshof, friedrichshof, castle, honour, late, husband, emperor, f. Schlosshotel Kronberg Castle Hotel Kronberg in Kronberg im Taunus Hesse near Frankfurt am Main was built between 1889 and 1893 for the dowager German Empress Victoria and originally named Schloss Friedrichshof Friedrichshof Castle in honour of her late husband Emperor Frederick III Friedrich III The principal architect was Ernst von Ihne who was also the royal architect to Frederick III and Kaiser Wilhelm II von Ihne designed many royal residences for nobility in and around Germany and Austria Schloss KronbergPlaque on the facade of Schloss Hotel KronbergMain hallway of Schloss Hotel KronbergRear view of Schloss Hotel KronbergLandgrave Moritz in front of the hotel after meeting with visitors from Sweden in 2010Today the castle is a five star hotel 1 which belongs together with the accompanying park to the House of Hesse Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II and post war looting 1 2 Fire 1 3 Filming location 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThe Empress a daughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg and Gotha spent most of her time at the castle until her death in 1901 when the castle with its entire contents art collection and the Empress s correspondence were inherited by the Empress s youngest daughter Princess Margaret of Prussia Landgravine of Hesse World War II and post war looting edit After World War II Friedrichshof was used as an officer s club by the military authorities during the American occupation Princess Margaret s son Wolfgang fearing for the family jewels had buried them in a zinc lined box in the subcellar of the castle 2 On 5 November 1945 the manager of the club Captain Kathleen Nash discovered the jewels and together with her future husband Colonel Jack Durant and Major David Watson stole the treasure and took the jewels out of Germany 2 Many of the pieces were broken up and the gems sold separately ruining the priceless heirlooms of the House of Hesse 3 In early 1946 Princess Margaret discovered the theft when the family wanted to use the jewels for the wedding of Princess Sophia who was preparing to remarry Princess Sophia and Landgravine Margaret denounced it to the Frankfurt authorities the culprits were imprisoned in August 1951 Major Watson was sentenced to three years but paroled early Captain Nash was sentenced to five years and Colonel Durant was sentenced to fifteen years Only 10 percent of what had been stolen was recovered and returned to the Hesse family 2 Author Charles Higham claimed that Anthony Blunt an MI5 agent and Soviet spy acting on orders from the British royal family made a successful secret trip to Schloss Friedrichshof towards the end of the war to retrieve sensitive letters between the Duke of Windsor and Adolf Hitler and other leading Nazis 4 What is certain is that George VI sent the Royal Librarian Owen Morshead accompanied by Blunt then working part time in the Royal Library as well as for British intelligence to Friedrichshof in March 1945 to secure papers relating to the German Empress Victoria the eldest child of Queen Victoria The papers rescued by Morshead and Blunt and those returned by the American authorities from Chicago were deposited in the Royal Archives 5 Fire edit The building suffered from a fire in 1967 1 Filming location edit The hotel was used as a filming location for the 2021 film Spencer where its interiors doubled for Sandringham House 6 See also editList of hotels in GermanyReferences edit a b Jana Randow Piotr Skolimowski 2019 11 14 Christine Lagarde Musters ECB Team for Huddle at Castle Fit for an Empress Bloomberg a b c Petropoulos Jonathan Royals and the Reich Oxford University Press New York 2006 pp 344 349 ISBN 0 19 516133 5 From Wire Dispatches June 9 1946 Dime In Slot Locker yields Last of Hesse Crown Gems The Courier Journal pp 1 amp 15 Retrieved June 5 2023 via Newspapers com Higham Charles 1988 The Duchess of Windsor The Secret Life New York McGraw Hill Publishers pp 388 389 Bradford Sarah 1989 The Reluctant King The Life and Reign of George VI New York St Martin s p 426 Andriotis Mary Elizabeth 17 November 2021 You Can Visit These Castles and Houses From Spencer House Beautiful Retrieved 1 January 2022 External links edit nbsp Media related to Friedrichshof Castle at Wikimedia Commons Official website German version English version50 11 20 N 8 30 36 E 50 18889 N 8 51000 E 50 18889 8 51000 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Schlosshotel Kronberg amp oldid 1211418922, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
