BOOK REVIEW-Born to Rule: Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria by Julia P. Gelardi

Born to Rule: Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen VictoriaBorn to Rule: Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria, by Julia P. Gelardi provides a fascinating look at the family of Queen Victoria and five remarkable and tragic women. They are Maud, Queen of Norway (1869-1938), Sophie, Queen of the Hellenes (1870-1932), Empress Alexandra of Russia (1872-1918), Marie, Queen of Romania (1875-1938), and Victoria Eugenia, Queen of Spain (1887-1969). These women shared two things in common. They were all princesses, the granddaughters of Queen Victoria. And although Maud was fortunate enough to remain in her position as Queen Consort of Norway all her life (she died on vacation in England, but not in exile), and Marie died as a Queen Dowager in Romania, they also saw their fair share of tragedy. Of their three cousins, one was brutally murdered, and the other two were in exile after revolutions drove them from their thrones.

Queen Victoria was not called the Grandmother of Europe for nothing. She had nine children, most of whom had large families of their own. Her children and grandchildren married into the royalty of Europe. They and their families often returned to Balmoral, Winsor, or the Isle of Wight for long vacations with Gan-Gan, who had a hand in bringing up many of her descendants. The five of her granddaughters who were lucky enough to catch a consort's crown along with their bridal bouquets would need all her lessons as they navigated the dangers ahead of them.

Gelardi does a wonderful job in weaving the lives of these five women together. While Maud, Alix, Sophie, and Marie were more of an age, Ena was born several years after her cousins. Yet her story, which takes up much of the final chapters of the book, does not overshadow those of the others. Through their letters, Gelardi lets readers see the British Royal Family as human beings who lived, loved, fought, laughed, and had their fair share of good times, bad times, and drama as does every other family. She also shows how deeply war and revolution decimated this family. The British Royal Family at that time had a large share of German blood. Sophie and Alix were German princess by birth. That fact would later frustrate the extended family's efforts to help both of them, with particularly tragic consequences for Alix.

This is a good popular history, suitable for a general reader who has a little background in who these people are to begin with. If you're familiar with Queen Victoria's family, and the sad fate of Tsaritsa Alexandra, it's a must read.