CAROL II: (1893-1953) King of Romania 1930-40 & HELEN (1896-1982) Princess of Greece and Denmark, the daughter of ...

CAROL II: (1893-1953) King of Romania 1930-40 & HELEN (1896-1982) Princess of Greece and Denmark, the daughter of King Constantine I of Greece.
A fine vintage signed 7.5 x 10 photograph by both the future King Carol and his wife Princess Helen individually, the image depicting the Crown Prince standing in a full length pose, in military uniform, alongside his bride, wearing a simple white dress and with a Romanian 'Greek Key' tiara upon her head, on the occasion of their wedding day. The Royal couple are accompanied by their two bridesmaids, one of whom is the bride's sister, Katherine, and are also seen wearing simple white dresses and chaplets. Signed ('Carol') by the Crown Prince and signed ('Helene') by the Princess, both in fountain pen ink at the base of the image, the Princess adding the date 1921 in her hand. Also signed ('Katherine') by their bridesmaid in bold, dark fountain pen ink with her name alone to a light area at the base of the image. VGKatherine (1913-2007) Princess of Greece and Denmark, daughter of King Constantine I of Greece.Crown Prince Carol and Princess Helen first met in 1920 following the conclusion of Carol's round the world trip which he had taken to forget his morganatic wife Zizi Lambrino (1898-1953) whom he had married in 1918 (the marriage was annulled a year later). On a train journey from Greece to Switzerland Helen fell in love with the heir to the Romanian throne and soon after their arrival in Switzerland Crown Prince Carol asked for Helen's hand in marriage, much to the joy of the Queen of Romania, but not to the princess' parents. Their engagement was announced in Zurich in November 1920 and they were married in the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens on 10th March 1921. Being the first Greek Princess to marry in Athens, Helen wore the Romanian 'Greek Key' tiara, a gift from her mother-in-law. Following their two month honeymoon, the newlyweds returned to Romania on 8th May 1921, the Princess already pregnant and giving birth to their only son, Prince Michael, just seven and a half months after the wedding.King Carol II was the first member of the Romanian royal family to be raised in the Orthodox faith. Married three times, Carol possessed a hedonistic personality that contributed to the controversies and misrule that marred his reign. On 6th September 1940, he was forced by his Prime Minister, Ion Antonescu, to leave his country and withdraw into foreign exile.Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark was noted for her humanitarian efforts to save Romanian Jews during World War II and was titled Queen Mother of Romania during the reign of her son, King Michael, from 1940-47.