Published in Windlesora 25 (2009)
© WLHG
In the furthest corner of the Windsor cemetery in St Leonard’s Road is a large tombstone with the crest of the German house of Hatzfeld-Wildenberg and bearing the inscription:
Clara Huntington, Princess Hatzfeld De Wildenberg.
Died 17 December 1928.
Why was a German princess buried in a Windsor cemetery? She had never lived in Windsor, and had died in London. On closer examination it transpired that Clara Princess Hatzfeld-Wildenberg was an American heiress, the niece and adopted daughter of Mr Collis P Huntington of Detroit, from whom she inherited a large fortune. She was said to have beauty as well as wealthand in 1889 married Prince Francis Hatzfeld of the ancient German house of Hatzfeld-Wildenburg. The marriage was solemnised according to the rites of the RC Church at the Brompton Oratory. Together they bought Draycot House in Chippenham in 1896. Prince Hatzfeld was a German Diplomat with an address in London and nephew of Paul Melchior Hubert, Count of Hatzfeld-Wildenberg the German Ambassador in London from 1885-1901.
Prince Francis Hatzfeld was a popular figure on the English racing scene, he owned a number of racehorses and won the Grand National in 1906 with Ascetic’s Silver. An American heiress must have been a great asset to him. He died suddenly at the age of 58 on 3 November 1910 at Draycot House in Chippenham Wiltshire of pneumonia. There was a requiem mass at the church of the Immaculate Conception at Berkley Square, but he was buried in the family vault in Germany. He was an only son and there was no issue.
Clara continued to live in London until her death on Sunday 17 December 1928 at her home in London at the age of 68. Why was she brought to St Edwards Church Windsor for her funeral? A requiem mass at 11am was followed by interment at Windsor cemetery at 2.30, not in the area especially set aside for Catholic burials, but in the main cemetery. Thus the mystery still remains.
Brigitte Mitchell
The Times online 1885-1928.
The Windsor & Eton Express Newspaper files 21 December 1928.
Who Was Who 1897-1916.
Meyers Konversations Lexikon 1898. 8 & 17.
Windsor Local History Group 