After nearly nine years of marriage, Maximillian died due to a chronic kidney disease, leaving the Thurn and Taxis throne in the hands of Helene until their son reached majority.

Her niece Duchess Amalie in Bavaria recorded in her memoirs that Helene had "made life sour" in her girlhood.

By 22 years old, Helene was not yet married, and Ludovika became concerned that her incredibly pious daughter would take the veil and join a convent.

The only difficulty involved was that, although the Thurn and Taxis family were counted among the richest in the land, they were not considered social equals for a princess of royal blood and a member of the House of Wittelsbach.

[citation needed] In spite of the earlier objections to the match, Helene is considered to have had the only happy marriage among the five Wittelsbach sisters.

[citation needed] Shortly after the birth of her second child she traveled to Corfu to visit her sister Elisabeth, who was very ill. She returned by way of Vienna, where she reported to Franz Joseph on the poor state of his wife.

[citation needed] Even though Helene and Maximilian Anton had a happy marriage, this became overshadowed by his severe chronic kidney disease.

[citation needed] Helene took her mind off her sorrows with charitable activities, and received the guardianship of her children from the Emperor of Austria.