Queen Marie 1875-1938
Queen Marie of Romania was related to both Queen Alexandra (aunt) and Grand Duchess Elizabeth (1st cousin and aunt by marriage). Most Victorians were somewhat snobby by nature, and Marie was no exception. The difference was that she had the intelligence to match it and knew when not to overstate her piousness. Her mother, Marie, was the only surviving daughter of Tsar Alexander II of Russia and her father, Alfred, was the second son of Queen Vicoria. Needless to say Marie grew up in the thick of the european related royals.
She was born in Kent, England in 1875, the eldest daughter. Her father was a naval officer and he moved his family from location to location throughout their childhoods. One of Marie's favorite places was the island of Malta, where she lived for several years. Her parents had 5 children, 1 boy named Alfred and 4 girls, Marie, Victoria Melita, Alexandra and Beatrice. Marie and her next younger sister were particularly close, and in an age where parenting meant little or no affection, this kind of closeness would help mold Marie into a better mother than her own mother.
She was a great correspondent and wrote to a huge amount of people from all over the first world. Some of them she met, some of them not, but the ones who did meet her were greatly impressed by her political, economical and social common sense. They were also the first to admit that Marie was as every bit pompous as they had heard, but they would be suprised at the calming effect Marie had on people "below her rank". She was one of those royals that, if not for her clothes, jewelry and estates, would be just another strong willed woman in post WWI Europe.
She spent her last years writing her autobiography, which was completed in 2 volumes in 1933 entitled "Story Of My Life". It's a good book, a little boring at times but otherwise informative. It is interesting to read directly from the source, one can really get a sense of what Marie was like. She died in 1938 after getting a sudden illness. Some say she was poisoned, having never been sick in her entire life before that time, but some say she was worn out by the constant battling between her and her son Carol. Whatever the case, it was her wish to have her heart taken out of her and buried in the capital of Romania, whilst the rest of her lay next to her husband (some of those royals sure were morbid). Now that Romania is free of communism they can once again explore their history and learn of their Queen who loved them just as much as she loved herself!
Queen Marie of Romania was related to both Queen Alexandra (aunt) and Grand Duchess Elizabeth (1st cousin and aunt by marriage). Most Victorians were somewhat snobby by nature, and Marie was no exception. The difference was that she had the intelligence to match it and knew when not to overstate her piousness. Her mother, Marie, was the only surviving daughter of Tsar Alexander II of Russia and her father, Alfred, was the second son of Queen Vicoria. Needless to say Marie grew up in the thick of the european related royals.
She was born in Kent, England in 1875, the eldest daughter. Her father was a naval officer and he moved his family from location to location throughout their childhoods. One of Marie's favorite places was the island of Malta, where she lived for several years. Her parents had 5 children, 1 boy named Alfred and 4 girls, Marie, Victoria Melita, Alexandra and Beatrice. Marie and her next younger sister were particularly close, and in an age where parenting meant little or no affection, this kind of closeness would help mold Marie into a better mother than her own mother.
She was a great correspondent and wrote to a huge amount of people from all over the first world. Some of them she met, some of them not, but the ones who did meet her were greatly impressed by her political, economical and social common sense. They were also the first to admit that Marie was as every bit pompous as they had heard, but they would be suprised at the calming effect Marie had on people "below her rank". She was one of those royals that, if not for her clothes, jewelry and estates, would be just another strong willed woman in post WWI Europe.
She spent her last years writing her autobiography, which was completed in 2 volumes in 1933 entitled "Story Of My Life". It's a good book, a little boring at times but otherwise informative. It is interesting to read directly from the source, one can really get a sense of what Marie was like. She died in 1938 after getting a sudden illness. Some say she was poisoned, having never been sick in her entire life before that time, but some say she was worn out by the constant battling between her and her son Carol. Whatever the case, it was her wish to have her heart taken out of her and buried in the capital of Romania, whilst the rest of her lay next to her husband (some of those royals sure were morbid). Now that Romania is free of communism they can once again explore their history and learn of their Queen who loved them just as much as she loved herself!
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