The troubled times of an Austrian Empress were brought to life at a talk given in West Wickham earlier this month.

Neil Lloyd delivered a presentation on Elisabeth, Empress of Austria (1837-98) on Thursday March 20 at St Mark's Hall, Braemar Gardens, as part of Spring Park Social Club's March programme.

The talk was accompanied by a slide-show, and refreshments were served in the usual fashion.

Born in 1837 in Munich, Bavaria, Elisabeth (or "Sisi" as she was affectionately known) was of the House of Wittelsbach, and became Empress of Austria upon her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph in April 1954.

She gave birth to three daughters, Sophie, Gisela and Maria Valerie, and a son, Rudolph who was born into the role of Crown Prince.

Rudolph committed suicide in 1889.

Despite her popularity Elisabeth felt constrained by court life in Vienna and took to travelling, spending most of her time abroad.

She also found it difficult to cope with the influence of her mother-in-law, Sophie, Archduchess of Austria and Princess of Bavaria, in part due to the latter's involvement in the upbringing of the children.

Elisabeth became famous for her fashion sense, life of travel and her interest in diet and fitness.

In 1867, the old Austrian Empire (which encompassed Hungary) was re-cast as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, leading to Elisabeth being crowned as dual-monarch - Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary.

Yet after that she resumed her life of travelling, until she was assassinated in Geneva by an Italian anarchist, Luigi Lucheni, in September 1898.

For further details about Spring Park Social Club contact Peggy Spencer on 020 8777 7871