by Herm, Friday 25 June 2010 07:14
If you stay at The White House Hotel on Herm you will notice that at the end of the garden there is a signpost for ‘Princess Radziwell’s walk’. The path takes you up above the hotel gardens from where there are fantastic views. If you stay in the hotel make sure you take a saunter along the path.
But who is the path named after? Prince Gebhard Lebrecht Blucher von Wahlstatt 3rd came to Herm in 1889 from Prussia. He lived here with his third wife, Princess Wanda Radziwell who was some 50 years his junior. Prince Blucher’s son, Lothair, from a previous marriage fell in love with Wanda’s eldest sister, Princess Lulu and they married and also lived on Herm. Prince Blucher and Wanda lived in the Manor while Count Lothair and Countess Lulu lived in what is now known as The White House Hotel. Countess Lulu chose her own private walkway, barring the servants from the area so no-one could disturb the views!
Prince Blucher’s tenancy on Herm ended in 1915 at the outbreak of the First World War. Although he had renounced his nationality and was technically stateless he was considered, by the British and Guernsey authorities to be an enemy alien and so was evicted from Herm.