Princess Ileana of Romania (1909-1991) was officially the youngest daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie of Romania. As with many of the children of this marriage, however, there is some doubt about the true paternity. It has been suggested that Ileana's biological father was actually Boris Romanov.
In 1931, Ileana married the Habsburg Archduke Anton of Austria. This marriage was encouraged by Ileana's brother, King Carol II who was jealous of Ileana's popularity in Romania and wanted to get her out of the country. Carol claimed that the Romanian people would never tolerate a Habsburg living on Romanian soil, and on these grounds refused Ileana and Anton permission to live in Romania.
After World War II, Ileana settled first in Argentina and later in the United States. Her marriage to Anton eventually ended in divorce. Ileana later became an Orthodox nun. Taking the name Mother Alexandra, she served as abbess of the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, until her death. She visited Romania again in 1990, at the age of 81.
Prince Mircea of Romania was born in 1913 and died in 1916.
Officially, Mircea was the third son and youngest child of Queen Marie and King Ferdinand of Romania.
Prince Mircea died of typhoid in the autumn of 1916, during World War I. Mircea's brother the subsequent King Carol II and his first wife Zizi Lambrino named their son (who was born in 1920) Mircea, in memory of Prince Mircea who had died four years previously.
Prince Nicholas of Romania (1903-1978) was the second son of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie of Romania.
He was therefore at first delighted when Carol returned home to Romania in June 1930, becoming King Carol II and thus putting an end to the regency arrangement.
Marie of Romania and her son Prince Nicholas (copyright ajv private collection)
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