Biography

Eleonore of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich was born on September 17, 1871 in Lich, Grand Duchy of Hesse, German Empire [now Hesse, Germany]. She was married to Ernest Louis. She died on November 16, 1937 in Ostend, Flanders, Belgium.

Sister of Charles of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich (1866-1920), Reinhard Louis (1867-1951), Anna Elizabeth (1868-1950), Marie Mathilde (1873-1953), Caroline (1877-1958) and Dorothea (1883-1942) .

Eleanore and Ernest Louis had two sons: Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine (1906-1937) and Louis, Prince of Hesse and by Rhine (1908-1968).

Eleanore married Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse in Darmstadt on 2 February 1905. His first wife was Princess Victoria Melita of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. They had become estranged and divorced on 21 December 1901, on the grounds of "invincible mutual antipathy" by a special verdict of the Supreme Court of Hesse.

She was the fourth child and second daughter of Hermann, The Prince of Solms-Hohensolms-Lich, and his wife, Countess Agnes of Stolberg-Wernigerode.

Eleonore died in an airplane crash on her way to her son Louis's wedding in London. Also killed in the crash was her elder son Georg Donatus, Hereditary Grand Duke of Hesse, his wife Princess Cecilie of Greece and Denmark, and their two sons, Ludwig and Alexander.