"LET'S HOPE THAT THE SO THREATENING CLOUDS THAT SURROUND US WILL FINALLY DISPERSE AND THAT PEACE BECOMES A REALITY" SOPHIE (Princess of Greece and Denmark, 1914-2001, Youngest daughter of Prince Andrew of Greece, elder sister of Prince Philip)

Fine Autograph Letter in French with Translation to Madame Virginie Kolp-Metaxa thanking her "wholeheartedly for your letter, all your kind wishes for the New Year, and for the birth of my little nephew Charles. I too wish you and your husband, good health and happiness for the year 1949! Let's hope that the so threatening clouds that surround us will finally disperse, and that peace becomes a reality in the world and no more a fiction. This spring, my visit to Greece was a great and deep joy, after 10 years of separation. It was a deep emotion to see my dear country again, and all the relatives and friends. I left my son Charles with the King and the Queen, and now he speaks fluent Greek! Since the 1st of September, we live here in Salem, because my husband has become the director of the school "Schloss Salem". We are very happy to live here in this beautiful place and close to my sister Theodora. My 2 oldest daughters are at school in England ... Theodora and I were in Montreux for a few days in January, where we visited our cousins Olga and Marina. It was a great joy to see them, and we laughed a lot together. My husband makes me telling you many things, and I send many messages to your husband ...", with a postscript apologising for writing in French as "Greek is unfortunately too shaky!", 4 sides 4to., with original autograph envelope, Salem, 15th February

She is referring to her second husband. In 1946 she married her second cousin through Christian IX and third cousin through Victoria. George was a younger son of Ernest Augustus III, Duke of Brunswick, who lost his duchy in 1918, and his consort, Princess Viktoria Luise of Prussia, the only daughter of Wilhelm II, German Emperor. Their elder children were Prince Welf Ernst of Hanover (1947-1981) and Prince Georg of Hanover (born 9 December 1949).
Sophie's marriage to George William constitutes the only known case of permission to marry being withheld by the British sovereign from a descendant of King George II, who had been obliged by the Royal Marriages Act 1772 to apply for royal consent to marry. Although permission to marry had been granted by George VI in 1937 to George William's sister, Frederica of Hanover, future Queen of the Hellenes, when Sophie became engaged to George William, a German citizen, in 1945, the United Kingdom was at war with Germany. Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is her younger brother.
Transcription
15 février 1949
Salem
Chère Madame Kolp,
Je vous remercie de tout cœur pour votre lettre, et pour tous vos aimables souhaits pour la nouvelle année, et pour la naissance de mon petit neveu Charles. Moi aussi je souhaite à vous et à votre mari, bonne santé et bonheur pour l'année 1949 ! Espérons que les nuages si menaçants qui nous entourent se disperseront enfin, et que la paix devienne une réalité dans le monde et plus une fiction.
Ma visite en Grèce ce printemps a été une grande et profonde joie, après 10 ans de séparation. Ce fut une profonde émotion de revoir son cher pays, et tous les parents et les amis. J'ai laissé mon fils Charles avec le Roi et la Reine, et maintenant il parle couramment le Grec !
Depuis le 1er septembre, nous habitons ici à Salem, car mon mari est devenu le directeur de l'école "Schloss Salem". Nous sommes très heureux d'habiter ici dans cet endroit si beau et près de ma sœur Théodora. Mes 2 filles aînées sont à l'école en Angleterre, et nous n'avons que les 3 petits avec nous en ce moment.
Théodora et moi étions à Montreux pour quelques jours en janvier, où nous avons visité nos cousines Olga et Marina. Ce fut une grande joie de les voir, et nous avons beaucoup ri ensemble.
Mon mari vous fait dire bien des choses, et j'envoie bien des messages à votre mari.
Avec mille souhaits, je reste votre affectueuse
Sophia
P.S. Pardonnez cette lettre en français, mais mon Grec est malheureusement trop rouillé !
Translation
February 15, 1949
Salem
Dear Mrs. Kolp,
I thank you wholeheartedly for your letter, all your kind wishes for the New Year, and for the birth of my little nephew Charles. I too wish you and your husband, good health and happiness for the year 1949! Let's hope that the so threatening clouds that surround us will finally disperse, and that peace becomes a reality in the world and no more a fiction.
This spring, my visit to Greece was a great and deep joy, after 10 years of separation. It was a deep emotion to see my dear country again, and all the relatives and friends. I left my son Charles with the King and the Queen, and now he speaks fluent Greek!
Since the 1st of September, we live here in Salem, because my husband has become the director of the school "Schloss Salem". We are very happy to live here in this beautiful place and close to my sister Theodora. My 2 oldest daughters are at school in England, and we only have the 3 little children with us right now.
Theodora and I were in Montreux for a few days in January, where we visited our cousins Olga and Marina. It was a great joy to see them, and we laughed a lot together.
My husband makes me telling you many things, and I send many messages to your husband.
With a thousand wishes, I remain your affectionate
Sophia
P.S. Sorry for this letter in French, but my Greek is unfortunately too shaky!


Item Date:  1949

Stock No:  40577      £275

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