Herzogin Helene von Orléans (1814–1858)

Hélène of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was born at Schloss Ludwigslust in northern Germany, in the capital city of her family dynasty. Her parents were Grand Duke Frederick Louis of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and his second wife Princess Karoline Luise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. Her parents died when Hélène was a small child, leaving her and her siblings to be raised by their paternal grandfather. In 1837, Hélène was married to Ferdinand Philippe, duc d'Orléans, eldest son of King Louis Philippe I of France, making her duchesse d'Orléans. Their descendants include Henri d'Orléans, Comte de Paris, a pretender to the French throne, as well as pretenders to the throne of Italy, and the present-day kings of Spain and Belgium. Her memoirs and letters were published after her death.