Category Archives: From the desk of Her Serene Highness, The Princess Vilma

King Peter Falls in Love

The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Washington – 09 Sep 1905, Sat) Page 2

It has been rumored that King Peter of Serbia has fallen in love with Princess Lwoff, a painter. Ever since his first wife, Princess Zorka of Montenegro, died, the King has shown very little interest in the fair sex, but some time ago he unexpectedly fell in love. Now it is more than likely that a new queen will soon rule in the Konak, where Queen Draga was assassinated.

Princess Lwoff is better known under her artist name of Parlaghy. In the last fifteen years, the Princess has painted almost every crowned head of Europe. The first husband of the artist was a Prussian official, from whom she was divorced after two years. Then, once more free, she married Prince Lwoff, but this second marriage did not last long.

Soon after King Peter was placed upon the throne, he had her paint his portrait, and it was while sitting for her that he lost his heart. [New York Times]

This story is crafted from a PR photo of The Princess Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy painting Peter I in December 1903.

9 months after this event, was born…


born on July 11, 1844

Peter I of Serbia

Last king of Serbia (1903–1918) and as the first king of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (1918–1921).

born on June 22, 1906

Billy Wilder

Austrian-American filmmaker

King Peter I of Serbia (1844-1921) posing for the painter Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy in the Konak in Belgrade, November 8, 1903, Serbia, photograph by Parkson, from L’Illustrazione Italiana, Year XXX, No 51, December 20, 1903. De Agostini / Biblioteca Ambrosiana

This item was published on the front pages of half a dozen papers between September 8-13, 1905.

Meanwhile, this interesting gossip gets buried on page 6 of the Jackson Daily News!

This placement is profoundly symbolic. It tells the world that knows how the world truly works that everything is fine and that Peter I is under the soul care of exactly the right person, The Princess Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy, who is related to his late wife, Princess Zorka of Montenegro.

Peter I did not marry The Princess Vilma, but for a while this 17 operation upset just the right people, about just the right thing, which is the paramount work of the Princess Vilma.

Peter I and Princess Vilma would enjoy a decade long love affair in their enchanted next life together!

To be continued…

People featured in this post:


Princess Zorka of Montenegro

eldest child of the Montenegrin monarch Nicholas I and his wife Milena


Princess Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy

Her serene Highness - Prolific portraitist of notable Europeans and Americans


Peter I of Serbia

Last king of Serbia (1903–1918) and as the first king of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (1918–1921).

Princess Vilma’s Magic Carpet

From: PAINTINGS & OBJECTS OF ART, THE COLLECTION OF THE LATE PRINCESS VILMA LWOFF PARLAGHY, 1924

IMPORTANT PERSIAN KASHAN SILK THRONE RUG

This rug is a true masterpiece of Persian artistry. It features three borders, with the main one showcasing extremely well-designed undulated vines and flowers on a deep indigo-blue background. In the center, there is a pictorial composition showing a Persian prince seated on the lion throne, with a water basin and fountain in the foreground. The rug boasts very fine knotting and silver overcast on the sides.

Accompanying the rug is a certificate copied after a statement of Professor Abraham Yohannan, Professor of Oriental Languages, Indo-Iranian Department, Columbia University. The certificate reads:

“The gift and the glorious Shah match perfectly,
As the Sun fits the vault of Heaven, as the rose the goblet, and
the diadem the throne,
Throughout the Eastern land it is well known,
That this is the product of forty years of study of the art.
The date is equivalent to ‘Bagdad’
Consequently, its value cannot be overestimated.”

According to the certificate, the word “Bagdad” is a chronogram, and the numerical values of the letters are: B equal to 2, A to 1, G to 1000, D to 4, and I to 1, totaling 1012 A.HI., which corresponds to 1608 A.D. This would date the rug very early 17th century at the time of Shah Abbas the Great, according to Professor Yohannan’s certificate. The rug was most likely woven for Shah Abbas and was plainly a state rug intended for use in the throne room hanging back of the throne. It passed as a most cherished heirloom from the royal family to the late Prime Minister Ali Asker Khan, who presented it as a mark of distinguished courtesy to Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy.

The rug measures 6 feet 6¾ inches x 4 feet 2½ inches. The certificate will be handed over to the purchaser.