Moniek Bloks's Blog, page 148

The Year of the Duchess of Windsor – The Second World War comes to France

After the Duke and Duchess were married on 3 June 1937, they settled first in a hotel in Paris. Both initially assumed that they would be allowed to live in England and were reluctant to settle permanently in France. Wallis wrote to her aunt, “I don’t think we will be settled anywhere until the English atmosphere is cleared, but the terror of the Duke’s return remains – everyone is so afraid that it would upset the King’s so-called popularity. If that is so well-established as they all say, what is there to worry about?”1 It soon became clear that they would not be welcomed home any time soon.

They considered moving to the United States but did not do so for tax reasons – France would become their home. Wallis began searching for a home to rent. She would have preferred to live in the city itself, but the Duke wanted a country house so that he could garden. She eventually settled on a house in Versailles called the Château de la Maye, which had a large private garden, and they signed a six-month lease. Nevertheless, the Duke continued to long for England. In early 1938, Wallis learned that Villa La Croë was available for rent, and they quickly signed a ten-year lease. It would soon become their favourite home. Furnishings from England were shipped over to France to fill their new home. The lease on the home in Versailles was not renewed, and they began to search for a Paris base. They eventually leased 24 Boulevard Suchet – a large four-story townhouse – near the Bois de Boulogne.

As the Windsors tried to find their footing in a new world, international tensions rose to a boiling point. On 1 September 1939, Poland was attacked by the Nazis. The Duke sent a pleading cable to Hitler that he should not embark on a war. Hitler replied that he had no desire for war, but if it came to it, it would not be his fault.2 Two days later, the United Kingdom declared war on Germany. The Duke immediately offered his assistance and received word that King George VI wanted him and Wallis to return to London as soon as possible and that he would have a choice of two different posts: regional commissioner of Wales or a post with the British Military Mission attached to the French General Headquarters in Vincennes. However, he soon also learned that they would not be allowed to stay in a royal residence while in England, and the Duke promptly refused the offer.

A close friend later chastised the Duke, “You only think of yourselves. You don’t realize that there is at this moment a war going on, that women and children are being bombed and killed while you talk of your PRIDE.”3 The Duke and Duchess quickly began packing up their belongings, and they were soon on their way to Vichy, where they awaited further instructions. On 12 September, they arrived in Cherbourg, where the HMS Kelly waited to take them across the channel (Wallis hated flying). It had been almost three years since they had been in England.

As Queen Elizabeth wondered what to do about “Mrs. S,” Winston Churchill had the thankless task of arranging something for the returning Duke and Duchess. He arranged for a naval guard of honour at Portsmouth, and as they descended the gangway, they were saluted by the Royal Marine Band. However, they did not even have a place to stay, and they spent the first night with Sir William James, commander in chief at Portsmouth. They then stayed over at the Metcalfes – Fruity Metcalfe was a friend and the Duke’s former equerry – but requests for accommodation were denied by the Palace, and a car for their use was also out of the question. Lady Alexandra Metcalfe wrote, “I do think the family might have done something. He might not even exist…”4

The Duke went to meet his brother on the 14th, and the Duke told his brother he wanted to take the job in Wales. However, King George VI had heard of the extensive press coverage of the Duke’s return and took the choice away from him. France would be his job, but the Duke had to learn this from someone else. It was yet another humiliation, and the Duke would meet with no other member of the Royal Family – they all stayed away. By the end of September, the Duke and Duchess were on their way back to France. Wallis returned to Paris while David reported to his job at Vincennes.

During those first seven months of the war, there was little military action in France. The Duke toured the French defenses and made reports, which were forwarded to London. However, the information was largely ignored simply because it came from the Duke. It has been alleged that the Duke leaked information to the Germans, specifically by Count Julius von Zech-Burkersroda, who reported in a memo to Berlin that the Duke was unhappy in his role and talked about the defence plans in an indiscrete manner. Perhaps he spoke without thought, and this was heard by the wrong people, but there does not seem to be any hard evidence that he deliberately leaked information.5

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While the Duke was in Vincennes, Wallis also did war work. She became the honorary president of the French relief organisation Colis de Trianon, which distributed kits of clothing and necessities to the front. Wallis learned to knit, and she often donated money as well. She also donated money to a soup kitchen in Montmartre. In addition, she volunteered for the Section Sanitaire of the French Red Cross and often drove to the front with boxes of bandages and cigarettes. She quickly became a favourite among the French soldiers.

Then came the spring of 1940. On 10 May, Luxembourg and the Netherlands were invaded, and the Nazis quickly moved west, and the front was breached. The Duke suddenly appeared in their Paris home on 15 May, telling Wallis that they needed to leave immediately. Wallis initially refused as she did not want to be seen as a coward. However, he convinced her to leave, and they left Paris the following day for a hotel in Blois. The Duke sent Wallis to Biarritz before returning to his post. Just a few days later, he called her to say that they had to leave France altogether. The Duke left behind his friend Metcalfe, whose son later commented, “The Duke had buggered off to get the Duchess, without bothering to inform him he was even leaving. My father was terribly upset and betrayed, but the Duke didn’t give a shit about anyone but the Duchess.”6 However, the Duke did not desert his post, and he had been given permission by his superior officer to leave.

The Duke and Duchess arrived at La Croë on 29 May, and by the second week of June, they could hear the sounds of gunfire from Genoa. The British Consul urged the Duke and Duchess to accompany him to Spain, and on 19 June (Wallis’ birthday), a procession of four cars departed from La Croë. They passed many refugees on the route, and they were in continued danger as neither possessed diplomatic papers. Rosa Wood, who was with them, later wrote, “I thought of Wallis and how so many people believed she cared only for clothes and jewels, and how they always pictured her against backgrounds of castles, with maids, couturiers, and hairdressers. I saw her in mud and dirt, sleeping cars, eating sardines out of tins, I saw when we were held up for hours before we could go south, when we had to sit all night long in the lobbies of little hotels. I saw her when we had no place to wash, much do any of the things women like to do to make themselves look nicer. I saw her awaken at four o’clock in the morning and come out in the drizzle and help the Duke and my husband arrange things on the lorry, when we didn’t where we were going and whether we were walking into traps or whether we would be bombed. Never once did I see her cross or hear her complain or even falter except at the sight at the sufferings of others.”7

They were initially refused entry into Spain, and the Spanish ambassador had to intervene before they were finally granted asylum. They were safe at last.

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Netflix announces ‘Bridgerton’ spinoff featuring Queen Charlotte

Netflix and Shondaland have announced plans for a new limited series based on the early life of Queen Charlotte, while also telling the tale of a young Violet Bridgerton and Lady Danbury.

The series will be written by Shonda Rhimes and she will serve as an executive producer alongside Betsy Beers and Tom Verica. An official title and more details will be revealed at a later time.

Netflix executive Bela Bajaria said, “Many viewers had never known the story of Queen Charlotte before Bridgerton brought her to the world, and I’m thrilled this new series will further expand her story and the world of Bridgerton. Shonda and her team are thoughtfully building out the Bridgerton universe so they can keep delivering for the fans with the same quality and style they love. And by planning and prepping all the upcoming seasons now, we also hope to keep up a pace that will keep even the most insatiable viewers totally fulfilled.”

Read more about Queen Charlotte (the real one!) right here.

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Anne Boleyn with Jodie Turner-Smith – The first trailer

See the trailer below:

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Dominique-France Loeb-Picard – A marriage in exile

The future Princess Fadila of Egypt was born Dominique-France Loeb-Picard on born 23 November 1948 as the daughter of David-Robert Loeb and Paule-Madeleine Picard in Paris, France.

Not much is known about her life before she met the deposed King Fuad II of Egypt. He had reigned briefly as King of Egypt as an infant, and he had never been crowned.

They were married in a civil ceremony on 16 April 1976 in Paris, followed by a religious ceremony in Monaco on 5 October 1977. She wore a dress designed by Jean-Louis Scherrer. She was recognised as Her Majesty Queen Fadila of Egypt by royalists and converted to Islam. The couple went on to have three children together: Muhammad Ali, Prince of the Sa’id (born 1979), Princess Fawzia-Latifa (born 1982) and Prince Fakhruddin (born 1987).

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The family lived in Paris until the marriage ended in divorce in 1996. Fadila was styled as Princess Fadila of Egypt after their divorce, and Fuad became estranged from his children for several years. While Fadila divided her time between Paris and Monaco, Fuad moved to Switzerland to be near his half-sisters (Princess Ferial, Princess Fawzia and Princess Fadia of Egypt).

Since the divorce, Fadila has faced some financial difficulties and claimed her problems began when her ex-husband refused to follow a court order to pay her an allowance of £750 a month. “He accused me of being lazy and wasteful, but that’s not true,” she said. “I believe he’s sitting on a secret fortune. Stories that he is suffering from severe depression because I ruined him are nonsense.”

“I have no money at all,” she said. “My only income is handouts from Saudi and Moroccan princes and kings. I think there’s something very odd about the sale, a sort of plot if you like. After all, this is really the official residence of Egypt’s royal family.”1 The forced sale of her apartment in Paris took place in 2002.

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She appears to have gotten back on her feet, and she regularly attends society events in both France and Monaco, also alongside her children. Through her three children, she currently has four grandchildren.

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Sun – The Blemished Reputation of a Ming Dynasty Empress

Empress Sun was the second empress of the Xuande Emperor (also known as Emperor Xuanzong). For centuries, Empress Sun has been portrayed in a negative light in Chinese history. She has often been called “Generation Demon Empress.”[1] When the popular television series Ming Dynasty (which is centered on her life and starred the famous Tang Wei as Empress Sun) aired, it was criticized for portraying her as a virtuous empress.[2] Did Empress Sun deserve her unflattering title?

In 1403, C.E., Empress Sun was born in Zouping (modern-day Shandong Province).[3] There is no historical record of her first name. Her father was Sun Zhong, an assistant magistrate in Yongcheng District.[4] Her mother’s identity still remains unknown to this day.[5] As unassuming as her early life was, she made her mark on Chinese history.

Empress Sun was known to be a local beauty.[6] When the crown princess (the future Empress Zhang, who also grew up in the Yongcheng District) visited her hometown, she heard about Empress Sun’s beauty.[7] Curious about the young girl’s beauty, Crown Princess Zhang brought Empress Sun to the palace.[8] There, Empress Sun received praise from the palace women.[9]

The Yongle Emperor ordered his wife, Empress Xu, to care for and educate the young girl.[10] In 1417, Empress Sun was selected to be a consort to Zhu Zhanji, who was the imperial grandson-heir.[11] When Zhu Zhanji became Emperor Xuanzong in 1425, she became Honored Consort Sun, which was the second-highest position after the empress.[12]

Legends say that Honored Consort Sun was a manipulative and enchanting beauty.[13] When she saw that Emperor Xuanzong began to be tired of Empress Hu because of her infertility, Honored Consort Sun seized her opportunity.[14] She used more effort to seduce him.[15] Even though the emperor’s affections for her grew, Honored Consort Sun was still childless.[16] Therefore, she stole another woman’s son as her own.[17] This child would be the future Emperor Yingzong.[18] However, historians believe that this story is false.[19] The child was indeed Honored Consort Sun’s son because it would be the motive that Emperor Xuanzong used to appoint Sun as his empress.[20] Emperor Xuanzong would not have made her empress if he believed Yingzong was not her child.

In 1428, Emperor Xuanzong proposed to depose Empress Hu and install Honored Consort Sun as the new empress.[21] At first, Honored Consort Sun refused and said that Empress Hu would eventually have a son that would take precedence over her own son.[22] However, Emperor Xuanzong insisted and finally, Honored Consort Sun agreed. Thus, the emperor appointed her as Empress Sun. By dethroning Empress Hu and installing a new empress, Emperor Xuanzong started a custom for his successors. Four of his successors would dethrone their first wives in favour of a new empress.[23]

The investiture of Empress Sun was a very grand affair. In the palace, the investiture ceremony of the empress is the most important ceremonial event.[24] Empress Sun wore a ceremonial robe decorated with twelve rows of pheasants and a “headdress with nine dragons and four phoenixes.”[25] Empress Sun would wear this same ceremonial clothing for court audiences and other important ceremonies.[26] She would fast for three days where she would announce her investiture at the Temple for Imperial Ancestors.[27] Once her formal announcement was made, the palace held congratulatory banquets, one for the emperor and the other for the empress.[28]

After Empress Sun was invested, she held court in her residence and regularly met with eunuchs and female officials.[29] Her official duties included personnel evaluation, approving budgets, and planning royal marriages. [30]Emperor Xuanzong’s consorts and imperial princesses would make regular visits to her.[31] She reported daily to her mother-in-law, Empress Zhang on family affairs.[32] She also performed the rites at the ancestral altar.[33] On special occasions, the empress would dine with the emperor at his residence.[34]

Seven years after she became Empress, Emperor Xuanzong died. Empress Sun’s son, Yingzong, became emperor. Because Emperor Yingzong was eight years old, she was appointed Empress Dowager.[35] During the Battle of Tumu Fortress in 1449, Emperor Yingzong was taken prisoner in the North.[36] Empress Sun ordered Yingzong’s brother, Zhu Qiyu, to be in charge of state affairs.[37] He was immediately installed as Emperor Daizong. Empress Dowager Sun was also given two honorary characters, “Shangsheng” (which translates to rise up), to her title.[38] During Emperor Yingzong’s imprisonment, Empress Dowager Sun repeatedly sent him warm clothes.[39]

When Emperor Yingzong was finally released from prison, he returned to the capital. Once he arrived, Emperor Daizong immediately placed Yingzong under house arrest[40]. During his imprisonment, Empress Dowager Sun made regular visits to him.[41] In 1459, the leader of the coup, “Seizing the Door,” sought Empress Dowager Sun’s approval to restore Emperor Yingzong to the throne.[42] The coup was successful, and Emperor Yingzong became emperor. Upon his restoration, Empress Dowager Sun’s title was further expanded upon.[43] In 1462, Empress Dowager Sun died of illness. She was given the posthumous title of “Xiaogong”[44]. She was buried in the Jingling Mausoleum.[45]

Empress Sun seemed to be well-respected as a Dowager Empress by both Emperors Yingzong and Daizong. They both expanded her Empress’s titles. She seemed to be a dutiful empress and mother. How Empress Sun got her negative reputation that lasted for centuries is truly puzzling because Empress Sun seemed to be deeply respected in her lifetime. One can only speculate that this came about from the fact that she was a strong woman, and strong women were seen as a threat in ancient China.

Sources:

“Sun Ruowei is portrayed as a generation of virtuous queens, but history is not like this. The image of the queen dowager is completely opposite to that of film and television dramas” (2020). DayDayNews. Retrieved 6, April, 2021. https://daydaynews.cc/en/history/7577....

McMahon, K. (2016). Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Yanqing, L. (2014). “Sun, Empress of the Xuande Emperor, Xuanzong of Ming.” Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 – 1644. Edited by Xiao Hong Lee, L. & Wiles, S. Routledge. pp. 381-383.

[1] “Sun Ruowei is portrayed as a generation of virtuous queens, but history is not like this. The image of the queen dowager is completely opposite to that of film and television dramas”, 2020, para. 30

[2] “Sun Ruowei is portrayed as a generation of virtuous queens, but history is not like this. The image of the queen dowager is completely opposite to that of film and television dramas”. 2020, para. 3

[3] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 381

[4] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[5] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[6] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[7] Yanqing, et al, 2014,p. 382

[8]Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[9]Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[10]Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[11]Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[12]Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[13]Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[14] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[15] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[16]Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 381

[17]Yanqing, et al, 2014,  p. 381

[18]Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 381

[19] McMahon, 2016, p. 91

[20] McMahon, 2016, p. 91

[21]Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[22]Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[23] McMahon, 2016, p. 91

[24] McMahon, 2016, p. 91

[25] McMahon, 2016 p. 91

[26] McMahon, 2016, p. 91

[27] McMahon, 2016, p. 91

[28] McMahon, 2016, pp. 91-92

[29] McMahon, 2016, p. 92

[30] McMahon, 2016, p. 92

[31] McMahon, 2016, p. 92

[32] McMahon, 2016, p. 92

[33] McMahon, 2016, p. 92

[34] McMahon, 2016, p. 92

[35] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[36] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[37] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[38] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[39]Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382  

[40] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[41]Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382  

[42] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[43] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[44] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

[45] Yanqing, et al, 2014, p. 382

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A sneak peek at Becoming Elizabeth

Starz has given us a first look at their new period drama Becoming Elizabeth below:

 

#BecomingElizabeth is in production! Meet the cast and get your first look. pic.twitter.com/3b3gVDnZja

— Becoming Elizabeth (@BecomingSTARZ) May 11, 2021

Stay tuned for more information on release dates and such!

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Louise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach – The fairest flower in the field

Right beside the monument dedicated to King Edward IV of England and his wife Elizabeth Woodville in St. George’s Chapel hangs a plaque remembering the short life of a German Princess – Louise of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. How did she end up there?

Louise was born on 31 March 1817 in Ghent, Belgium as the eldest child of Princess Ida of Saxe-Meiningen and Prince Bernhard of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. Princess Ida was the younger sister of Adelaide, who in 1818 married the Duke of Clarence, the future King William IV of the United Kingdom. Ida spent a lot of time with her sister in the United Kingdom and at least one of her children was born there and he would go on to marry a British lady.

Louise appears to have been born with some sort of partially paralysing disability and in May 1821 (just two months after Adelaide lost her daughter Elizabeth), Louise is mentioned by her aunt in a letter to the young Princess Victoria of Kent (the future Queen Victoria – another niece of Adelaide). Adelaide wrote, “My Dear Little Heart, I hope you are well and don’t forget Aunt Adelaide, who loves you so fondly. Loulou and Wilhelm desire their love to you, and Uncle William also. God bless and preserve you is the constant prayer of your most truly affectionate Aunt, Adelaide.”1 The loving letter reveals little Louise’s nickname of Loulou.

Adelaide had a great love for children, and not having her own must have been awful for her. Thus, she cared deeply for her nieces and nephews and perhaps even more so for Louise with her delicate health. Adelaide and William became King and Queen in June 1830 and the following year, Princess Ida came to England with her six children. It was decided that Louise would stay behind in England so that she could benefit from the Brighton air and the sea baths for her illness.

On 19 September 1831, shortly after Adelaide and William’s coronation, Adelaide, Ida and Louise travelled to Brighton. Adelaide took Louise to her first bath but they were mobbed by a crowd and so it was decided that from then on, Louise would take her baths in the sea. Ida and Adelaide stayed with Louise for two nights before Ida returned home to Europe. She did not know that she would never see her daughter again. Adelaide too returned home, leaving Louise in the care of Lady Bedingfield. Adelaide received constant updates from Lady Bedingfield and she had arranged for every detail – even sending a dentist to care for Louise’s teeth.

Unfortunately, she could not save Louise from chickenpox. Louise appeared to be doing well at first and she seemed to benefit from the sea baths and the clean air. Then Louise’s health began to deteriorate, perhaps chickenpox had done more damage than expected. Adelaide and William travelled to Brighton and she nursed her niece through her final, fatal illness. Adelaide wrote to Princess Augusta that “she had been very unwell from anxiety about the Princess whose mother was not able to come to England. […] My comfort and consolation is the extreme kindness of the King. Nothing can exceed it.”2

When there was no more hope, Adelaide took Louise back to Windsor Castle where she died on 11 July 1832, at the age of 15. Miss Clitherow wrote, “Princess Augusta gave us the account of the closing scene, and, with tears in her eyes, described the feeling and resignation of the Queen, and the extreme kindness and attention of the King to all her little wishes at the time of the funeral, which, by all accounts, was the best managed and most affecting thing possible. She has very much recovered her spirits, which are naturally very cheerful, but she is still most miserably thin.”3 Adelaide herself wrote to Lady Wellesley that she “had to struggle against the impressions that her niece’s long illness and suffering” made on her.4

The Lady’s Magazine and Museum of the Belles-lettres, Fine Arts, Music, Drama, Fashions, Etc wrote of the funeral in detail:

“DEATH OF THE PRINCESS LOUISE DE SAXE WEIMAR.

It is at length our painful duty to record the death of this interesting young lady, who, after a long series of unparalleled sufferings, resigned her spirit into the hands of Him who gave it, on Wednesday, the 11th of July. Ever since her arrival in England the complaint, under which she was then labouring, an affection of the spinal cord, left no room for hope; but the patient resignation, and humble submission to the Divine Will, which the amiable sufferer unceasingly displayed, will long be remembered by that illustrious circle of which she was herself so bright a star. On the evening preceding the day of her decease, at half after nine, the medical attendant, on being suddenly sent for, perceived that a considerable change for the worse had taken place; and his opinion being communicated to her Majesty, and the Duchess of Saxe Weimar5, they both immediately repaired to the chamber of their expiring relative, where they remained until half-past four the ensuing morning. At three o ‘clock (previously to their departure), the Princess was seized with convulsions, which, however, lasted but a few minutes, and she then sunk into slumber, in which state she remained until a quarter before six, when she departed this world, for, we doubt not, the regions of a blessed immortality. Death came, indeed,

“like an untimely frost,

And nipped the fairest flow ‘r in all the field.”

On the ensuing day, a post mortem examination of the body took place by Mr. Davies, the King’s private surgeon, before Sir A. Cooper, Sir C. Clarke, and Messrs. Keate and Brodie, all of whom had been previously consulted. Nothing new, however, was elicited; the disease was a softening of the spinal marrow, from the middle of the back to its termination.

THE FUNERAL. – On Monday morning, July 16th, the regiment of fusileer guards marched into the Castle – yard, Windsor, and formed a line, from the grand entrance to St.Georges’ Chapel; at half-past eleven the procession began to move, in the following order :
Their Majesties’ Pages, two and two.
The Physicians, two and two.
The Coronet, borne on a crimson velvet cushion.
The Coffin, carried on a bier by ten men.
The Pall was supported by six Maids of Honour.
Lady Howe, Chief Mourner, dressed in deep mourning, with a long white veil, which was borne by a Lady.
Then followed Lady Sidney, Lady Fox, Lady F. Fitzclarence, Lady Falkland, Lady Erskine, and Lady Errol.
The Duke of Cumberland, Prince George of Cumberland, the Duke of Gloucester, the Earl of Errol,
Lord F. Fitzclarence, Lord Ashbrook, Sir William Freemantle, Sir C. Thornton, Sir A. Barnard, Sir H. Turner, Lord Falkland, the Dean of Hereford, Sir J. Wyatville, Sir G. Seymour, and Sir H. Wheatley. The Upper Servants of the Household closed the procession.

At the door of the church, the procession was met by the Dean and Canons of Windsor and the Gentlemen of St. George’s Choir and the Chapel Royal, and passed slowly down the western aisle, and from thence, up the middle of the cathedral, to the interior of the choir; during which time was sung Handel’s splendid anthem, “I am the resurrection,” & c. Lady Howe, as the chief mourner, took her seat at the head of the coffin, which was placed on a bier near the altar. The service immediately commenced, the Very Rev. the Dean of Windsor officiating, — the usual psalms and lessons were read, followed by Kent’s sublime anthem, “Hear my prayer, o God! and hide not thy face from my petition.” Immediately on its termination, the procession again formed and moved with slow and solemn steps from the choir to the vault, where the service again recommenced. “For as it hath pleased,” and “I heard a voice from heaven,” were then sung without accompaniment, after which followed (with the organ) Blake’s funeral anthem, “I have set God alway before me.”

The service concluded with the Blessing, and the chorus to Luther’s Hymn for the voluntary. Her Majesty and the Duchess of Saxe Weimar did not leave the Castle, but the King preceded the procession in a carriage to the Chapel, The coffin was an extremely neat one, covered with rich crimson velvet, and studded with silver nails. It bore the following inscription: “Her Serene Highness Princess Louise WILHELMINA, Duchess of SAXE WEIMAR, eldest daughter of Duke BERNARD and Duchess IDA of Saxe WEIMAR, and niece of their Majesties King WILLIAM the Fourth and Queen ADELAIDE, born at Ghent, 31st March 1817, died at Windsor Castle, 11th July 1832, in the 16th year of her age.”

On Sunday night, at 10 o ‘clock, their Majesties inspected the vault; and the Queen, whose attention to her departed niece was such as to occasion the greatest anxiety to those around her, wept bitterly. We are happy to state, however, that the gloom which for a while pervaded the Castle, is gradually disappearing; and we sincerely hope, that time, the great healer of all hearts, will shortly alleviate that distress which must naturally be experienced for the loss of so young, so amiable a relative.”6

In Adelaide’s will, she bequeathed the last piece of needlework done by Louise to her sister Ida, she had kept it with her for all these years.

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Queen of Spain’s tiara up for auction

A tiara belonging to Italy’s royal family will be one of the highlights at a Sotheby’s auctions in Geneva next week.

(public domain)

The tiara was a wedding gift to Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo from her father upon her marriage in 1867 to Amadeo, Duke of Aosta, who later became king of Spain. It features graduated scroll motifs set with diamonds and natural pearls and is on sale with an estimated price of $1 million to $1.5 million.

“It’s a true, beautiful and historic piece which has remained in the House of Savoy for over 150 years,” said Benoit Repellin, Head of Magnificent Jewels sales at Sotheby’s.

Head over to Sotheby’s Jewels Instagram page to virtually try on this tiara!

 

 

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A post shared by Sotheby’s Jewels (@sothebysjewels)

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Catherine de’ Medici portrait to return to London mansion

A portrait of Catherine de’ Medici, Queen of France, with four of her ten children, will be returned to Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham after it was acquired for the nation in lieu of tax.

(public domain via Wikimedia Commons)

The portrait was originally installed in the mansion built by Horace Walpole and was part of the collection of the son of Sir Robert Walpole, Britain’s first prime minister.

The portrait, an oil on canvas measuring 198 x 137.2cm, is an imposing group portrait of Catherine de’ Medici with her children. She is shown with her arm around and holding the hand of King Charles IX, her third son, who was crowned King of France in 1560, aged just 10, and for whom she acted as regent. An inscription at the bottom of the painting indicates that he was “in his eleventh year.” The others are his brother, the future King Henry III, then Duke of Anjou, his sister, Margaret of Valois, the future Queen of Navarre and France, and Francis, Duke of Anjou and Alençon.

Walpole bought it for £25 in Hertfordshire from the county’s then MP, Thomas Plumer Byde.

Dr Silvia Davoli, the curator at Strawberry Hill House, said: “Thomas was the grandson of the first Thomas Byde … who was a member of parliament under Charles II. I wonder whether Catherine’s painting came in the family with him. In fact, his name appears in a list of members of parliament who were bribed by Louis XIV to prevent a separate peace between England and the Dutch republic. The French ambassador describes Byde as ‘very rich and in great credit’, as well as the receiver of the sum of 300 guineas for his services to the king of France. Did Byde receive something else besides the money?”

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Constance of France – An unhappy marriage

This article was written by Carol.

Constance of France was born in 1124 the daughter of the French King Louis VI and his second wife Adelaide de Maurienne. Her brother was King Louis VII. In 1140 when she was 16, her brother arranged her marriage to Eustace IV, Count of Boulogne. This was a prestigious match because Eustace was the son of King Stephen of England. At the time of her marriage, Constance had every expectation of becoming the next Queen of England. However, this all came to naught when Eustace died in 1153 and Stephen agreed that his rival Matilda’s son Henry would be the next King.

Eustace’s death opened an opportunity for King Louis VII to make another strategic marriage for his sister. Louis wasted no time in marrying his sister to the Count of Toulouse to give him an ally in the south. Raymond and Constance’s marriage was not a happy one, although they had four children. We know this because several letters from Constance to her brother Louis survive. Raymond was known to have affairs. In her letters, Constance complained about her treatment in Toulouse and increasingly sounded the alarm.

In 1164 she wrote her brother, “I call God as my witness unless you help me I am in bad straits and worse will happen in the future.”

Her situation did not improve and she must have worried that Louis was receiving conflicting information from the Count of Toulouse’s supporters because another letter in 1165 stated, “I left the household and entered the home of a certain Knight in the town for I did not have anything to eat or to give my servants. The Count has no concern for me nor do I receive counsel from him or anything from his land which might be necessary for me. That is why I send to you, begging your highness, that you not believe messengers who are come to your court if they tell you I am well. My situation is as I tell it. Indeed if I dared to write it to you, I would say more about the harm to me.”

A final letter in response to his letters, also in 1165, said, “If the promise in them is soon kept, I who have long been unfortunate will be very fortunate and happy. Yet I fear the words of your messengers deceive me…”

Louis must have finally come through with help for his sister because she was next seen living in Paris. Further letters survive in which the people and the Commune of Toulouse ask for their Countess to be sent back to them. Even the Pope chimed in urging her to return to her husband. Constance replied that Raymond would have to give up his illicit lifestyle before she would consider it.

Constance did not return to Toulouse and their marriage was annulled in 1166. She appears to have moved to Jerusalem, perhaps because her brother Peter of Courtenay and his family were living there. Records show she purchased property there in 1176. She died shortly thereafter. Raymond lived until 1194 at which point her eldest son became Count of Toulouse. He named his first child Constance – no doubt in memory of his mother.

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