Francis Joseph of Austria

Between Christmas 1870 and summer 1871 the Emperor lodged four times at Trauttmansdorff Castle.

In 1871 the 11-year old Crown Prince Rudolf also came twice to Meran. The boy's harsh military upbringing, stipulated by the Emperor, caused Elisabeth to rebel. Finally, with her ultimatum on behalf of Rudolf in 1865, she was also able to gain for herself those freedoms that subsequently permitted her to indulge in her constant travels.

After the suicide of Crown Prince Rudolf the relationship between Francis Joseph and Elisabeth became yet more marked by melancholy. When the Emperor again came to Trauttmansdorff at the end of October 1889, the now 21-year old Marie Valerie wrote in her diary: "Mama is now even more disconsolate than when we are alone".