Franz Joseph greeted her, but his gaze wandered to the young, lively girl next to her. She was a serious 17-year-old who appeared austere and ascetic in her dark clothing. In Bad Ischl, a lovely town in Austria's Salzburg Lake District, Helene was to be presented to His Majesty Franz Joseph, ruler of the Habsburg Empire. Now they had to appear before the emperor in black for their meeting on that fateful August 16, 1853. Duchess Ludovika of Bavaria and her daughters Helene and Elisabeth were in mourning because of a recently deceased aunt. Whatever the case, the suitcases containing their colourful summer wardrobe could not be found. What exactly happened to the ladies' luggage that day will forever remain a mystery.
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