Moniek Bloks's Blog, page 183

Egyptian Queen’s tomb opens for virtual tour

With many of us stuck at home and unable to travel, the Egyptian Tourist Board has now virtually opened the 5,000 years old tomb of Queen Meresankh III. She was the daughter of Hetepheres II and Prince Kawab, who were brother and sister. She married the pharaoh Khafra, and they had four sons and at least one daughter together. She died shortly after her husband.

The tomb she rests in was originally planned for her mother, but her mother donated it for her use, which could mean that her death was rather unexpected. Her tomb was discovered in 1927.

See the full tour here.

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Dear aunt Daisy…

Although the grand birthday celebrations for Queen Margrethe II of Denmark have been cancelled, royals from all over Europe recorded a message for her. For those wondering, Daisy is Margrethe’s nickname!

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and his wife Silvia kicked off the video with the words, “Dear Daisy and cousin, Us from Sweden, Queen Silvia and I, would like to send a greeting on your special day. We would like to have been with you to celebrate your birthday as we have done so many time before. But because of the circumstances, it can’t be.”

King Harald V of Norway and his wife Sonja then appear, “We are sorry that we cannot be with you as we were supposed to be. The Coronavirus has meant that we must that at home but that doesn’t mean that we are not thinking of you on this day.”

Next up are King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his wife Máxima. “Queen Máxima and I would have loved to have joined you for the celebration of your 80th birthday. Unfortunately, circumstances have dictated otherwise.”

King Felipe VI and his wife Letizia are next. “Hello, aunt Daisy! We are joining in for this surprise, I understand, since we cannot be there with all of you to celebrate your 80th.”

Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and his wife Maria Teresa also appear. “During this period when we are affected by a pandemic, which forces us to stay home, we think of you in particular on your birthday.”

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden appears with her family holding the flags of Sweden and Denmark. She says, “Your Majesty, dear aunt Daisy, we would like to congratulate you on your big day and we hope the spring birds sing especially for you today.”

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and his wife Mette-Marit then appear. “Dear aunt Daisy, happy birthday! We were looking forward to helping you celebrate in Denmark but unfortunately, it is not possible now so that’s why we send you this greeting instead.”

Prince Carl Philip of Sweden also recorded a message, “Your Majesty, dear aunt Daisy, dear godmother, a happy birthday! I hope you have a wonderful birthday!”

Back with King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia, the Queen says, “But of course we want to pay tribute to you and we are thinking of you. I’m thinking of you when I look outside at the snow here. It is a little unusual for April but it is in your honour. I want to thank you for all the good advice you have given me over the years. Of course, I want to thank you too for the fond memories we share.”

King Philippe of the Belgians has recorded a voice message only. He says, “We want to wish you a happy birthday!”

The camera cuts back to King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. “Denmark is going through a very difficult time, just like the Netherlands and the rest of the world. We can all relate to the serious situation, we find ourselves in. But as long as we support each other, we will find the strength to pull through.”

King Felipe VI continues, “We are under this pandemic, all across the world, especially in Europe. And so we are saddened by all that but we have to keep these times to be able to celebrate and remain happy within the family.”

The camera cuts back to Crown Princess Victoria and her family. She says, “A fourfold Swedisch cheer! Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah!”

Crown Princess Mette-Marit adds, “We send you this short greeting to wish you a fantastic birthday and we hope you celebrate it well with your beautiful family.” Her husband waves, “Congratulations, bye!”

Queen Letizia also weighs in, “I am sure we will have the opportunity to share the celebration very soon. Please send all our love from us to you and all your family.”

Queen Silvia says, “I also want to congratulate you, Daisy, and also on behalf of our children. Congratulations.”

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg smiles and says, “Happy birthday, dear Daisy!”

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima toast the Queen with words, “Happy birthday, cheers!”

King Harald V of Norway and Queen Sonja end the video with the words, “Congratulations!”

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Queen Margrethe II of Denmark – The foundation of a royal calling

When Princess Margrethe of Denmark was born on 16 April 1940, she had no succession rights whatsoever. She was the firstborn child of the future King Frederick IX of Denmark and Ingrid of Sweden, and it was probably expected that brothers would follow. Margrethe was baptised on 14 May in the Holmen Church in Copenhagen. Ingrid gave birth to two more daughters: Princess Benedikte in 1944 and Princess Anne-Marie in 1946. Margrethe’s grandfather King Christian X died in 1947, making her father the new King. Without a son, it was expected that her uncle Prince Knud would one day succeed as King.

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King Frederick and his three daughters were quite popular with the people. So they began work on a new Act of Succession that would allow for a woman to succeed in the event that she had no brothers (male-preference primogeniture). This law had to be passed by two successive Parliaments and by a referendum, which finally took place on 27 March 1953. The 12-year-old Margrethe thus became the new heiress presumptive to the throne. On her 18th birthday, she was given a seat in the Council of State.

Margrethe attended the N. Zahle private school in Copenhagen, from which she graduated in 1959. She spent a year at a boarding school for girls in England before going on to study prehistoric archaeology at Girton College and political science at Aarhus University. She is fluent in Danish, English, Swedish, German and French.

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On 10 June 1967, Margrethe married Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, a French diplomat. He received the style and title of “His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark.” Margrethe’s wedding dress was designed by Erik Bender. Margrethe’s first pregnancy was announced on 9 October 1967, and she gave birth to a son named Frederik on 26 May 1968. A second son, named Joachim, was born on 7 June 1969.

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The death of Margrethe’s father came rather unexpected. He gave his traditional New Year’s Address to the nation on 31 December 1971 and fell ill shortly after. He suffered a cardiac arrest a few days and was rushed to the hospital. He died on 14 January 1972 at 7:50 pm surrounded by his family. At 31 years old and with two small children, Margrethe became the second woman to rule Denmark in her own right. She was proclaimed Queen on 15 January by the Prime Minister.

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The new Queen addressed the nation with the words, “The task which for almost 25 years was my father’s has now been laid upon my shoulders, and I pray God to help me and give me strength to bear the heavy bequest. The love and faithfulness which the Danish people have shown my father in all these years was the very foundation of his royal calling.1 In just two years time, Margrethe will celebrate 50 years on the throne. In that time, her family has grown with eight grandchildren, but she also suffered the loss of Prince Henrik, who passed away in February 2018. Though they reportedly had a happy marriage, he was unhappy with the lack of a defined role for him and resented being relegated to third when the Crown Prince began to pick up more duties. In 2005, he was officially created Prince Consort of Denmark, but he gave up that title when he effectively retired in 2016.

Margrethe is an avid painter who has also held many art shows over the years. Her work featured in the Danish translations of The Lord of the Rings. She has also designed costumes, for example for the Royal Danish Ballet, and designs her own clothes. She is also known to be a smoker, though she had refrained from smoking in public after criticism.

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In 2009, Denmark changed the succession laws once more to allow for absolute primogeniture. This means that the eldest child will succeed regardless of gender. Queen Margrethe will be succeeded by her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik and he, in turn, will be succeeded by his eldest son Prince Christian.

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Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil – Heiress of the Empire (Part three)

Read part two here.

Isabel revelled in her new role as a mother. She urgently needed medical advice for his limp arm, and he underwent several treatments, such as electric shocks. But more duties were to come as well. Her father wanted to go abroad for a longer time and once more named Isabel as regent from March 1876. This time, she faced more challenging questions, and her credibility as regent suffered as a result. All the while, Isabel faced yet another pregnancy and tragically, yet another miscarriage. At the end of August, she began to suffer from pains and took to her bed. She miscarried on 11 September 1876. Gaston could not be counted on during this time as he was “always subject to that state of nervous agitation.”1 He took a two-week vacation even though Isabel was still losing blood after her miscarriage.

The following year, Isabel was forced to take rest despite the country facing a severe drought as she once more struggled through a difficult pregnancy. She desperately wrote to her father, “Daddy mine, why don’t you write to me anymore?”2 Her father returned in September 1877, and he avoided Isabel as he had done with her first regency. On 26 January 1878, Isabel gave birth to a second son, and he was named Luís in honour of his paternal grandfather. Just three months later, Isabel, Gaston and their two young sons sailed for Europe to reside there for two years. They would also seek medical treatment for Pedro’s arm. While there, Isabel was able to distance herself from her parents and come into her own, at last. She loved living in France and extended the visit. However, their stay was a drain on their finances, but when Isabel found herself pregnant once more in early 1881, she feared a repeat of the disaster of 1874 when she was forced to return home pregnant. She asked permission from her father to give birth in France and to return by the end of the year. On 9 August 1881, Isabel gave birth to a third son – named Antônio.

On 10 December 1881, Isabel and her family returned to Brazil just after her father celebrated his 56th birthday. He had begun to suffer from diabetes and so more attention focussed on Isabel as the future Empress. By early 1887, Isabel and her family were itching to go abroad again, and they sailed to France much to the regret of her father who wrote, “The departure of my children and little grandsons caused me much pain.”3 Isabel was recalled in June after she received a telegram informing her that her father had fallen ill. As her father sought medical care in Europe, Isabel was once again left in charge. On 13 May 1888, Isabel signed the Golden Law, as it was known, which enabled the complete cessation of slavery. For her actions, she was given a Golden Rose by Pope Leo XIII.

Her father returned to Brazil in August 1888, but his life as a semi-invalid slowed down government business, and Isabel did not make a move to fill that void. She was all too happy to be a mother and would rather leave the government to her father. Intrigue then came from her nephew Prince Pedro Augusto of Saxe-Coburg, Leopoldina’s eldest son who had once expected to succeed the then childless Isabel. Although the abolition of slavery had won Isabel popularity, it had also damaged the relationship with those who held the slaves. The fact that she was a woman only added to their scorn. A radical newspaper wrote, “In conclusion, the countess d’Eu is not fit to occupy the throne of a country where the democratic tide is daily mounting. The reign of the princess and her entourage will bring disgrace to her family, disaster to the cause of liberty, and tremendous calamity to Brazil.”4 Attacks on Isabel and her family began to become more frequent.

On 15 November 1889, her father was deposed during a military coup. The family was informed that they had to leave Brazil as soon as possible. Isabel issued one final public message, “It is with my heart riven with sorrow that I take leave of my friends, of all Brazilians, and of the country that I have loved and love so much, and to the happiness of which I have striven to contribute and for which I will continue to hold the most ardent hopes.”5 Their exile began on board the Alagoas, which would take them to Europe.

On 7 December, the Alagoas arrived in Lisbon where they were received by Pedro’s great-nephew King Carlos I of Portugal. While the Emperor and Empress stayed, Isabel and her family travelled on for a visit to the south of Spain. This also meant that Isabel was not with her mother when Teresa Cristina died of a heart attack on 28 December 1889. Even Pedro was not with her when she died, leading to intense remorse on his part. Isabel rushed home and arrived on 30 December. She fainted upon seeing her mother’s body. The Portuguese offered to give the Empress a state funeral on 9 January. The family left for Cannes the day after the funeral, and they would take up residence there. Isabel found a villa to rent, which she paid for with an allowance from Gaston’s father. Just a short while later, they moved to the outskirts of Paris. On 7 December 1891, Pedro died of pneumonia. Isabel would have become Empress – a role she did not covet – but now she simply succeeded as the Head of the Imperial House of Brazil – an empty throne. Her father received a state funeral from the French government.

Isabel became financially independent when her parents’ property in Brazil was sold, and she received half of the proceeds. She devoted her time to her sons’ upbringing, and she also took up the care of Gaston’s father in his old age. As the years went on, her sons grew up and left home. Her eldest son married Countess Elisabeth Dobrzensky of Dobrzenicz who was not of royal descent and he gave up his succession rights – something he would later retract. They went on to have five children together. Her second son married Princess Maria di Grazia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies in a dynastic match, and they went on to have three children together. Her third son Antônio would never marry. Isabel delighted in the arrival of her grandchildren. Antônio died in an air crash shortly after the end of the First World War. In 1920, her second son Luís died after suffering from bone rheumatism he had contracted in the trenches. Isabel too was in ill-health.

During her final years, Isabel was confined to a wheelchair due to swelling of her legs and ankles. She was unable to attend the reburial of her parents in Brazil because of this. In November 1921, she contracted influenza, and she began to prepare for death. She told the parish priest, “Prepare me for death. I would have liked to have lived some more time in the midst of my family, but I ask for nothing. The Good Lord knows better than we what we need.”6 On 14 November 1921, she lost consciousness and was administered the last sacraments. She died that day. Her husband would follow her to the grave less than a year later. They were both initially buried at Dreux before being moved to Brazil in 1953.

The post Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil – Heiress of the Empire (Part three) appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil – Heiress of the Empire (Part two)

Read part one here.

Leopoldina fell pregnant quickly – within four months of her wedding – but she suffered a miscarriage in May. She conceived again rather quickly and gave birth to a son – named Pedro Augusto – on 19 March 1866. A second son – named Augusto – was born in 1867. Two more sons followed in 1869 and 1870. However, Isabel did not become pregnant right away, and she anxiously wrote to her husband in 1865, “I am sure that you are also impatient to see me pregnant. I so much want to be Mother of your child.”1 By 1867, she was desperate, and on the advice of the Countess of Barral, she was examined by the court physician. Whatever he prescribed to her, it didn’t work. In September 1868, they spent time at several spas, taking the waters.

Early in 1871, Leopoldina fell ill with typhoid fever in Vienna. Isabel and Gaston were on their way to Italy when they heard the news and travelled to be with her. Isabel was only allowed to see her sister after all hope of a recovery was lost. Leopoldina died on 7 February 1871. Leopoldina’s mother-in-law wrote, “The abbot Blumel recited the prayer of the dying, we were all kneeling around her bed, and at 6 p.m. her breathing ceased, without the slightest contraction of her physiognomy. She was really beautiful then, and she had an angelic expression. Now she is lying in a coffin dressed in white silk clothes, a white crown, and her wedding veil over her head. She has not changed, it is good to look at her. She is all surrounded by fresh flowers, of crowns sent by all the princesses. Tomorrow there will be a religious ceremony at home, and she will leave for Coburg, where we will all attend, including Gaston and Isabel who are very good. The latter is desperate. I embrace you, pray for us, we much need it. All yours, Clémentine.”2 Isabel accompanied her sister’s body to Coburg for burial and wrote, “Faith is indeed the only consolation for such a loss! Leopoldina was so good that she in Heaven!”3

Isabel and Gaston returned to Brazil early where they found themselves suddenly facing a regency as Isabel’s father and mother were to go on a tour of Europe. Isabel was completely politically inexperienced, and it was expected that her husband and the prime minister were to hold the true power of the regency. Isabel followed her father’s style, intending to keep “the shack standing.”4 On 27 September 1871, Isabel signed a new anti-slavery act, The Law of Free Birth, which freed all children born of slaves after that date. Her father returned in March the following year, taking back the reins of government as though he had never been away.

Shortly after relinquishing the regency, Isabel found herself pregnant at last. She suffered from dizzy spells, had an aversion to food and nausea. Soon, however, she also began to discharge blood, and in October 1872, she suffered a miscarriage. The following year, Isabel returned to Europe to seek medical advice, and she also made a pilgrimage to Lourdes. By the end of 1873, she was pregnant again, and they were forced to return to Brazil as the first-born child had to be born in Brazil. However, Isabel was very wary of the long journey, and she pleaded with her father to allow her to stay in France. And so, in May 1874 they embarked on the journey home, arriving there in June. Her labour began at midnight on 25 July but would drag on for fifty hours. By the evening of the 27th, the child was clearly dead, but it could not be extracted until early in the morning of the following day. Gaston later wrote, “Our little girl was a term, perfectly formed, very pretty with a large quantity of curly blond hair extraordinarily long and thick.”5 Isabel’s mother praised her “incredible courage” throughout the ordeal and Isabel seemed to recover well enough.

In early April 1875, Isabel was pregnant again. Although she was happy to have conceived again, it probably filled her with dread as well. She refused to let her father visit her on the first anniversary of the stillbirth. She became gloomy and suffered from insomnia. The arrival of a French doctor brought some peace of mind to Isabel, though the decision was heavily criticised in Brazil. On 14 October 1875, Isabel went into labour with Gaston pacing in the room next door. The labour lasted for 13 hours, well into 15 October – which also happened to be their wedding anniversary. The doctor decided to use forceps to prevent another tragedy, but the child did not cry and appeared to be asphyxiated. A midwife who had accompanied the doctor blew into his mouth, tickled his nose and plunged him in water – saving the child’s life. It was only a day later that the doctor noticed that the newborn Prince could not move his left arm. Despite this, Isabel was over the moon, and the little Prince was named Pedro de Alcântara.

Part three coming soon.

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Isabel, Princess Imperial of Brazil – Heiress of the Empire (Part one)

Isabel, the future Princess Imperial of Brazil, was born on 29 July 1846 as the daughter of Emperor Pedro II of Brazil, the younger brother of Queen Maria II of Portugal, and Teresa Cristina of the Two Sicilies. The labour had lasted from the early morning until Isabel was finally born at 6.30 P.M. Her father immediately took her to the adjourning room to be displayed to the dignitaries and afterwards she was washed and swaddled. She was fed by a wetnurse, as was the common practice, and given her own establishment under the charge of one of her mother’s ladies-in-waiting, Rosa de Santa Ana Lopes. On 15 November 1846, Isabel was baptised in the Imperial Chapel with water from the River Jordan.

At the time of her birth, her elder brother Afonso was still alive, but he would tragically die the following year. Isabel also became ill around this time, but she survived. His death briefly made Isabel the heiress presumptive to the Brazilian throne. A sister named Leopoldina was born in 1847, followed by a brother named Pedro in 1850. Pedro’s birth placed Isabel one step down in the line of succession, but he too would die before his second birthday, plunging the family into deep grief. Her father wrote, “This has been the most fatal blow that I could receive, and certainly I would not have survived were it not that I still have my wife and two children, whom I must educate so that they can assure the happiness of the country in which they were born.”1 By 1852, it became clear that Teresa Cristina would have no more children and Isabel’s as heir to the throne was confirmed.

Isabel grew up in the company of her younger sister and her parents. They often spent the winter and spring at São Cristóvão and the summer and autumn at Petrópolis. The Empress and Emperor were affectionate parents, but the sisters’ upbringing was rather sheltered, and they lived their lives outside of the public eye. The sisters learned to read and write with the help of a teacher named Valdetaro, who called them “Little Ladies.” At the age of seven, Isabel was placed in the care of an aio (supervisor) who traditionally oversaw the education of the heir. He realised that Isabel and Leopoldina would need more than the traditional education for girls and wrote, “As to their education I will only say that the character of both the princesses ought to be shaped as suits Ladies who, it may be, will have to direct the constitutional government of an Empire such as that of Brazil. The education should not differ from that given to men, combined with that suited to the other sex, but in a manner that does not detract from the first.2 Tradition also required that the girls be educated by a woman and Pedro did not believe that there was a suitable woman for this task in Brazil. He turned to his stepmother Empress Amélie (born of Leuchtenberg), but she refused to take up the post. He eventually found a suitable woman with the help of sister Francisca; her name was Luísa Margarida Portugal de Barros, the Countess of Barral.

The Countess of Barral took up her post in 1856 and attracted the immediate dislike of the girls’ mother, who was the exact opposite of the enigmatic Countess. Yet, she hid her dislike as best she could, not wanting to antagonise her husband. The Countess was also well-liked by the two Princesses, and Isabel became deeply attached to her. By the end of 1850s, both girls were following a strict educational program that lasted 9,5 hours a day, six days a week. The Countess of Barral did not personally teach them all their subjects, but she did supervise. Even their father took it upon himself to teach his daughters. Isabel would later write to her father, “How greatly I thank you for having taught me, for having given me teachers so that I now understand the greater part of the things I see, even though I am ignorant about so much.”

Upon her 14th birthday, Isabel took an oath at the ends of the Senate president as required by article 116 of the Constitution to “maintains the Apostolic Roman Catholic Religion, to observe the political constitution of the Brazilian nation, and to be obedient to the laws and the emperor.” Despite their excellent education, they were still kept in social seclusion and surprisingly, Pedro also excluded Isabel from the affairs of state. Yet, in 1863 – shortly before her 18th birthday – Pedro launched the search for a husband for Isabel and Leopoldina.

Two Princes were chosen and shipped to Brazil so that the Princesses could meet them. Although Pedro would have the final say in the matter, he did not wish to force them. The Princesses did not learn of all of this until just three weeks before Prince Gaston, Count of Eu and his cousin Prince Ludwig August of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha were due to arrive. They first met on 2 September 1864 before returning the following day for a longer meeting. Prince Gaston wrote home, “The princesses are ugly, but the second decidedly less attractive than the other, smaller, more stocky, and in sum less sympathetic.”3

Though Isabel was love-struck, Gaston was less so. He wrote that the Emperor’s proposal, “at first greatly upset me, but I believe less and less that it is my duty to reject this important position that God has placed in my path.”4 Ludwig August had been instructed by his parents to only settle for Isabel, but he found that he preferred Leopoldina. The engagement between Isabel and Gaston was settled on 18 September 1864, and they were to marry just one month later.

On 15 October 1864, the bride and groom heard mass at the palace before departing to the Imperial Chapel. They knelt before the high altar and were married by the Archbishop of Bahia. Afterwards, they departed on a two-week honeymoon. Isabel had been left utterly ignorant of any sexual matters, but her new husband later reported to her father, “I have the joy of telling you that Isabel feels perfectly well.” Isabel reminisced on her first wedding anniversary, “I shall certainly sleep more tonight than I did a year ago, but what a difference!! I was agitated, yes, but I was so content and so happy!!!”5 On 15 December 1864, Leopoldina married Ludwig August. Just one month later, Isabel and Gaston left Brazil to go on an extended honeymoon to Europe.

Part two coming soon.

 

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A dukedom inherited by a Princess – Fife

On 27 July 1889, Alexander Duff, Earl Fife married the eldest daughter of the then Prince and Princess of Wales – the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. She was then known as Princess Louise of Wales and would be created Princess Royal after her father’s accession and the death of Victoria, Princess Royal. On their wedding day, Alexander was elevated to the further dignity of Duke of Fife and Marquess of Macduff, in the County of Banff, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom by Louise’s grandmother, Queen Victoria.1 As was usual, the titles were limited to the heirs male.

Louise and Alexander went on to have three children but tragically, their only son – named Alistair – was stillborn on 16 June 1890. Two daughters named Alexandra and Maud followed, and they were styled as “Lady” as the daughters of a Duke. They were, however, not eligible to inherit the Dukedom.

When it became clear that they would not have any further sons, Queen Victoria created a second Dukedom of Fife (with the subsidiary Earldom of Macduff) that had a special remainder to Alexandra and her heirs male or, in default thereof, to Maud and her heirs male. The 1889 creation upon his marriage would thus go extinct upon his death, along with the Marquessate of Macduff, but the 1900 creation would go to his eldest daughter Alexandra.

In 1905, Princess Louise was created Princess Royal, and their two daughters were bestowed the title of Princess of Great Britain and Ireland with the style of Highness. They also held rank and had precedence after all the members of the royal family with the style of Royal Highness.2

When Alexander died on 29 January 1912, Alexandra became Duchess of Fife and Countess of Macduff in her own right. On 15 October 1913, Alexandra married her first cousin, once removed, Prince Arthur of Connaught and she gave birth to her only child – yet another Alastair – on 9 August 1914. He would predecease her in 1943 without leaving any issue. Upon her own death in 1959, the Dukedom of Fife and the Earldom of Macduff thus passed to the heirs male of her sister Maud – as Maud had died in 1945. Maud had married the future Earl of Southesk on 13 November 1923, and they had one son – named James – together. With the special remainder all worn out, the Dukedom of Fife is now limited again to the heirs male. The current holder of the title is James’ son David, who succeeded to the title in 2015.

There are some other titles that are not limited to heirs male, though usually women can only inherit these in the absence of a brother. There is only one other Dukedom – that I know of – that has a remainder to women, the Dukedom of Marlborough. However, it seems unlikely that this will come to pass since there are plenty of male heirs.

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Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach – The first German Empress (Part two)

Read part one here.

On 2 August 1861, William’s brother passed away, and he became King of Prussia with Augusta as his Queen. Her increasing ill-health prevented her from enjoying the role. She underwent several unspecified operations which failed to improve the situation. Victoria would later write of her ever-complaining mother-in-law, “She stands so alone – she has and makes so many enemies and there so few who bear her with foibles and know what she really is. And yet you do not know how difficult it is to be he her friend for she always is her own enemy! I am sure there are few mothers-in-law on so good and warm a footing with their sons’ wives as she is with me – and she spoils me a great deal. It is my greatest endeavour to do all I can to keep up this good feeling, but I must acknowledge that I make many sacrifices for I am at her beck and call all day long.”

Augusta became involved in the acknowledgement of the International Society (later renamed the Red Cross Society) after military nursing staff were recognised as neutral in times of war by the Geneva convention. She also became involved with the founding of a new hospital system in Prussia and helped found the National Women’s Association. When her grandson Prince Sigismund died at the age of 1 in 1866, she personally went to the front where her son was serving to tell him the news. It was unusually empathetic of her, and she later informed Victoria that wearing mourning was not necessary. Victoria was devastated by her son’s death but could not mourn him fully.

In 1871, the German Empire was proclaimed – making Augusta the first German Empress. She considered the bloodshed it had required a personal defeat. Later that year, she celebrated her 60th birthday in Baden-Baden, and she began to withdraw more and more from the court. Her days began to follow a routine. She began her day with a cup of strong tea or coffee, a midday meal of meat soup, and dinner consisting of game and spinach. She often went to bed around ten after having a slice of cake and tea. Her bed was adjusted to make it more comfortable as she could not move around unaided. She would spend her days reading if she could.

In 1881, her grandson William married Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg, and surprisingly, Augusta took her under her wing. It was in stark contrast to the welcome she had given her daughter-in-law. The following summer, she was taken ill with what was most likely breast cancer. She underwent an operation and was in a lot of pain for quite a while. She made a remarkable recovery but was never quite the same afterwards. In 1882, she fell twice and was from then on unable to move without crutches. By 1887, it became clear that both her son and husband were seriously ill. The year 1888 would be the year of the three Emperors. On 9 March 1888, Augusta’s husband died and was succeeded by their son who became Frederick III, German Emperor for just 99 days. Augusta was wheeled to her husband’s bedside as he lay dying and he asked where she was, not seeing that she was holding his hand. On 16 March, she followed her husband’s coffin in a procession in her wheelchair. The new Emperor was already terminally ill with cancer of the larynx, and he died on 15 June 1888. Augusta was not with her son – having gone to Baden-Baden a few days before. Her daughter-in-law informed her via a telegram, “She who was so proud and happy in being his wife mourns with you, poor mother, over the death of your only son. No mother ever had his equal, be strong and proud in your sorrow. Only this morning he sent you his love.” Augusta returned home immediately to be in time for the funeral.

During the last two years of her life, she spent a lot of time with her daughter, but by December 1889, she began suffering from a heavy cold. On 6 January 1890, she took to her bed with a fever and was soon in and out of consciousness. Her daughter held her hand as the hours went by, and she could no longer speak. She died on 7 January, and she was buried with her husband at the mausoleum at Schloss Charlottenburg. Her daughter-in-law later wrote, “She was my darling’s mother, a remarkable woman. How gladly one would have loved her if she had only shown affection & sympathy & kindness. But now I shall only remember what was good & bright, her virtues and her sufferings & forget all the bitterness I endured!”1

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Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach – The first German Empress (Part one)

Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was born on 30 September 1811 as the daughter of Charles Frederick, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia. The disappointment in her gender was great as she was not the hoped-for heir. Her younger brother, the future Grand Duke, would not arrive until seven years later. Augusta also had an elder sister named Marie, who would marry Prince Charles of Prussia.

Young Augusta was nearly forgotten as she “lay as placid and calm in her cradle as if conscious of her future crown.” She would have a rigid upbringing, with her mother supervising the lessons and stating, “A Princess is not permitted to be tired.” In 1824, Augusta would visit the court of Russia with her mother, finally breaking the monotony of her daily life in Weimar. However, Augusta found the splendour of the court distasteful and was praised for her humility. In 1827, Marie married Prince Charles of Prussia, and the sisters were separated. Her father succeeded his father as Grand Duke in 1828.

Prince Charles had first come courting with his elder brother William, and William had made a favourable impression on Augusta. He had been in love with Princess Elisa Radziwill, but he had not been allowed to marry her. Augusta was thus his second choice. Their betrothal was celebrated on 25 October 1828, and they were married on 11 June 1829 in the chapel of Schloss Charlottenburg. Augusta wore a gown of interwoven silk and silver. Her train was covered with sprigs of myrtle. If she hoped for a happy marriage, she would be disappointed. Her father-in-law informed her, “If you expect a model of virtue in your husband, you should not have married a Hohenzollern.” William wrote to his sister Charlotte that he thought Augusta was, “nice and clever, but she leaves me cold.”

Augusta was initially received well in Berlin, but she soon found herself bored with the military atmosphere. William was soon in the arms of other women. Augusta was also not friendly with her father-in-law’s morganatic wife Auguste von Harrach and her sister-in-law the Crown Princess (born Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria). Augusta could not put a brave face and remained proud and haughty, signing her name with “née (born) Princesse of Saxe-Weimar” until she became Queen. Despite the early difficulties, Augusta performed her foremost duty quickly. A son named Frederick William was born on 18 October 1831 at the Neue Palais in Potsdam. She had outdone her sister-in-law, the Crown Princess, who was still childless after eight years of marriage. She had several miscarriages before giving birth to a daughter named Louise seven years later. On 7 June 1840, Augusta’s father-in-law died, and he was succeeded by her brother-in-law, now King Frederick William IV of Prussia. Meanwhile, Augusta surrounded herself with intellectuals and her political views were no secret in Berlin.

In 1850, Augusta’s husband was sent to Koblenz as Governor and General of the 8th Regiment, and despite their differences, Augusta went with him. People with liberal ideas continued to visit Augusta, even in Koblenz. She sent her son to the university in Berlin in addition to the military training he received. In 1851, the family was invited to England to attend the opening of the Great Exhibition where her son would have his first meeting with his future wife, Victoria, Princess Royal. Queen Victoria then began a regular correspondence with Augusta. From her early 40s, Augusta began to suffer from rheumatism, and she paid a first visit to Baden-Baden to alleviate her pains in 1850. She became acquainted with the House of Baden, into which her only daughter would marry. On 30 September 1855, Augusta celebrated her 44th birthday and also announced the betrothals of her son to Victoria, Princess Royal and her daughter to Frederick I, Grand Duke of Baden. Her daughter was the first to marry – on 20 September 1856 – and Augusta’s first grandchild was born on 9 July 1857; he would be the last Grand Duke of Baden.

In October 1857, Augusta’s husband became regent for his ailing brother, and they were forced to move back to Berlin. The following year, they travelled to England to see their son marry Victoria. In January 1859, Victoria gave birth to her first son – the future Emperor William II. However, the delivery had been difficult, leaving the child with a limp arm. Augusta’s husband cruelly told his son he did not think it was right to congratulate him on the birth of a “defective child.” Although Augusta initially praised Victoria, the two women were very different. Victoria was more reserved, while Augusta had come to depend on gossip and parties to counter her boredom.1

Part two coming soon.

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What is the Royal Maundy?

The Royal Maundy is a religious service in the Church of England which is held on the day before Good Friday. The British monarch ceremonially distributes silver coins known as Maundy Money as alms.

The ceremony originated from the Last Supper when Jesus Christ instructed his followers to love one another. From the Middle Ages, the monarch washed the feet of the beggars to imitate Jesus as well. The first recorded monarch to have distributed alms was King John. King Edward I limited to Maundy to the Thursday before Good Friday – it had previously been held at various times throughout the year.

The ceremony was no longer attended by the monarch from 1699, and the washing of feet also disappeared over time. In 1556, Queen Mary I held her Maundy and washed the feet of 41 women – the number 41 represented the Queen’s age – while kneeling. She then kissed the feet “as if she were embracing something precious.” Afterwards, the women were presented with alms of 41 pennies, several items of food, cloth, shoes and stockings. The oldest and poorest woman also received the gown the Queen had been wearing.1 If there was a sickness going around, the monarch often sent an official in their place.

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The presence of the monarch remerged again in 1932 at the suggestion of Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein – a granddaughter of Queen Victoria.2 Queen Elizabeth II has only missed four services in her reign, and she always holds the service in a different church. Recipients are now chosen for their service to the community. The Maundy money is now presented in two leather purses.

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Due to the current situation, the Royal Maundy for 2020, to be held at St George’s Chapel, was cancelled.

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