Charles II died in 1590, and Helena Antonia came into the household of his widow, Maria Anna of Bavaria (born 1551).

[6] Helena Antonia was described by Christian August Vulpius at this time as "healthy, friendly, mild of temperament, skillful in many chores and with quite a good mind.

Her face was long and diminutive, with glowing black eyes, red cheeks; and at the age of eighteen, her beard reached her chest.

[8] The physician Johannes Schenck von Grafenberg at this point referred to Helena Antonia as a monster because of her facial hair.

[9] In December 1605, Constance of Austria, daughter of Charles II and Maria Anna, married the king of Poland, Sigismund III Vasa, in Krakow.