ladysophy

[ladysophy]

We thought that Alexander Palace forum has gone to the abyss some time ago. We have been mistaken! The forum is back up again!!

#romanov #romanovs #royalty

[ladysophy]

Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, 1887.

'She had besides a special talent for wearing her clothes, in a way quite her own. Of course everything suited her, for she was tall, slim and incredibly graceful, and no blush rose could have competed with her complexion. There was also something of a lily about her; her purity was absolute ; one could never take one’s eyes off her, and when parting from her in the evening one longed for the hour when one would behold her again next day.' Queen Marie of Romania

#romanov #romanovs #grand duchess elizabeth feodorovna

[ladysophy]

The Family of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich

Vladimir and his wife, Maria Pavlovna the Elder, seated in front with their children (from left), Andrei, Elena, Kirill and Boris behind.

#romanov #vladimirovichi #grand duke vladimir alexandrovich #grand duchess maria pavlovna the elder #grand duke kirill vladimirovich #grand duke boris vladimirovich #grand duchess elena vladimirovna #romanovs

[ladysophy]

Princess Alice with her sister Victoria, Crown Princess of Prussia, Berlin, 1865.

Alice to Queen Victoria, Berlin, January 29, 1865 | The journey went off very well, and we are so happy to be here. Vicky and Fritz are kindness itself, and Vicky so dear, so loving! I feel it does me good, that there is a reflection of Papa's great mind in her. He loved her so much, and was so proud of her.

Alice to Queen Victoria, Berlin, February 4, 1865 | I have not been sight-seeing anywhere, as it is too cold for that. We drive in a shut carriage, and then walk in the Thiergarten. We spend the whole day together, which is a great enjoyment to me, and of an evening we go out together. It is pleasant to have a sister to go out with, and all the people are so kind and civil to us.

Alice to Queen Victoria, Berlin, February 14, 1965 | We leave next Saturday. I shall be so sorry to leave dear Vicky, for she is often so much alone. Fritz is really so excellent, it is a pleasure to look at his dear good face; and he is worked so hard - no health can stand it in the long run.

Alice to Queen Victoria, Berlin, 17 February 1865 | This will be my last letter from here, and I only regret leaving here on account of parting with dear Vicky and Fritz, whom we see so rarely, and usually but for a short time. I have spent such pleasant hours with dear Vicky: that is what I shall look back to with so much pleasure and satisfaction.

#princess alice #empress victoria #victoria princess royal #grand duchess of hesse #kaiser frederick iii #prince alfred #louis iv

[ladysophy]

Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich, Princess Alix of Hesse, Grand Duke Louis IV, Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, Prince Ernest Louis, 1888.

#grand duchess elizabeth feodorovna #romanov #empress alexandra feodorovna #grand duke serge alexandrovich #louis iv #ernest louis grand duke of hesse #hesse #russia

[ladysophy]

St. Petersburg 1865

Grand Dukes Alexander Alexandrovich, Vladimir Alexandrovich with their cousin Prince Nicholas Maximilianovich and Prince Albert of Saxe-Altenburg.

#romanov #romanovs

[ladysophy]

I just found out about Kate. My heart goes out to her, her children and Will. And I will take back my previous message I made about a week ago. I got too carried away. This is truly horrible news.

I do wish her a full recovery.

Quick update: No matter how you feel about both Kate and Will, Cancer is truly awful. My late mother had cancer and while she didn’t die directly from it, seeing your love ones going through it (along with the treatment) is very sad. I don’t wish this on anyone, including my enemies.

#brf

[ladysophy]

Princess Victoria and her pet Dash (oil on canvas) by George Hayter (1792-1871).

Princess Victoria later became the renowned Queen Victoria.

Royal Collection. Dated between 1830 and 1837.

#queen victoria #portrait #painting

[ladysophy]

This may be a controversial opinion to some, but it keeps on bothering me so I’m going to tell it. The latest episode of the Princess of Wales’ photoshop fiasco shows to me that the BRF’s PR is disorganized and incompetent (which is a huge shame because the late Queen would not put up with this nonsense) at best and something really strange (and sadly sinister) is going on behind the palace walls.

Now before people start coming at me with a pitchfork in hand saying leave Kate alone, please hear me out. In my defense, I did give Kate privacy when the announcement came about her surgery for a month. Then I intuitively got the feeling that something seems weird. I’m beginning to think that William’s and Kate’s marriage is NOT all sunshine and roses as we were led to believed. I think there is some kind of tension going on. And this is coming from someone who likes Kate. As much I strongly dislike and still strongly dislike Harry, I’m also beginning to think he was saying some truth about William’s temper (and no, I’m not going to get his book).

I may say more later. I still honor Kate’s need for privacy, but I hope she’s truly okay.

That being said, does this mean I’m losing respect for the BRF and royals in general? Of course not! I still respect the institution of monarchy from both a historical and modern standpoint. I’m just saying there may be something going on.

#brf #the princess of wales #kate middleton #this is my personal opinion

[ladysophy]

Grand Ducal siblings Maria and Dmitri Pavlovichi during a visit to their cousin, the Tsar Nicholas II., 1905

#romanov #romanovs #grand duchess maria pavlovna of russia #grand duke dmitri pavlovich of russia

[ladysophy]

Grand Duchesses Olga Alexandrovna and Maria Georgievna

#romanov #romanovs #grand duchess olga alexandrovna #grand duchess maria georgievna

[ladysophy]

The Emperor of China gave me this tea.

MARIE ANTOINETTE (2006) dir. Sofia Coppola

requested by anonymous

#marie antoinette #marie antoinette 2006 #movie #film #sofia coppola

[ladysophy]

What was Tsar Nicholas's relationship with other Grand Dukes? Which one did he not like and which ones did he greatly respect and admire?

Assuming you mean Nicholas II:

Among his uncles, Nicholas was not very fond of Vladimir Alexandrovich, because the latter had a very forceful personality and intimidated Nicholas. They also had a great conflict over Kyril´s marriage, which resulted in Vladimir shouting at Nicholas and even tearing off his epaulettes and throwing them into the Tsar´s face.

With Grand Dukes Sergei and Pavel Nicky had a good relationship, especially because he was very fond of their wives, but Sergei was later murdered and Pavel, after the death of his first wife, married a commoner without Nicholas´ permission, thus earning exile and the relationship was pretty much completely severed, up until the revolution.

His favourite uncle was Grand Duke Alexei. We know him as a person who loved life and was pretty much useless when it came to doing any meaningful work, either in politics or Navy, in which he had the post, but he was funny, always kind to Nicholas and pretty much an antithesis to Vladimir. Tsarevich Alexei was named after him.

When it came to cousins and other Grand Dukes, with most of them nicholas had good and even close relationships when he was younger, but as the time went by and the Imperial family closed off themselves (because of Alexei´s hemophilia and other issues) from the rest of the Romanovs, most of those relationships deteriorated. Mikhail Alexandrovich and Kdyril Vladimirovich married without permission and pretty much against the family law. Boris and Andrei Vladimirovichi were good for nothings with loose morals. Sandro had distinctly different political (and other) views (and frankly suffered from a big head, especially in later years).

The favourite relatives, besides Grand Duke Alexei, who died in 1905, were Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich, whom both Nicholas and Alexandra, for the longest time, treated with great love and warmth , until the moment he involved himself with Rasputin´s murder, after which he pretty much ceased to exist to Alexandra and Nicholas had him banished (which ironically saved his life). The other great favourite was grand Duke Konstantin Konstantinovich (KR). His whole family remained close to the Tsar, his daughters being friends with OTMA, his sons serving during the war at the front and in the headquarters.

#tsar nicholas ii #romanov #romanovs

[ladysophy]

Princess Victoria Kaʻiulani Kalaninuiahilapalapa Kawekiu i Lunalilo Cleghorn of Hawaii, the last heir to the Hawaiian Throne

#princess ka’iulani #hawaiian royalty

[ladysophy]

Photograph of a three-quarter length double portrait of Victoria Eugenia of Battenberg, Queen of Spain (1887-1969) and her brother Lord Leopold Mountbatten (1889-1922).

Royal Collection Trust / © His Majesty King Charles III 2023

#queen victoria eugenia #spain #lord leopold mountbatten

[ladysophy]

“My eldest daughter Alexandra is soft, sensitive and intelligent; she is very sweet, although not beautiful. But Elena is surprisingly good; she is extremely kind, but too playful. Maria has a brilliant mind and a beautiful heart, but her beautiful appearance was damaged by smallpox. Ekaterina, this one is a beautiful little doll, darling; very funny; the youngest, spoiled child of her mother.”

- Grand Duchess (later Empress) Maria Feodorovna of Russia on her four elder daughters, Grand Duchesses Alexandra, Elena, Maria, and Ekaterina, ca. 1791.

#empress maria feodorovna #grand duchess alexandra pavlovna #grand duchess elena pavlovna the elder #grand duchess maria pavlovna #grand duchess ekaterina pavlovna #romanov #romanovs

[ladysophy]

Like it or not, the one who saved and modernized the monarchy was King George V, not king Edward VII, and this is an undisputed fact that all historians would agree with. After all, It was during the reign of King George V that 13 European Monarchies crumbled to the ground while the british monarchy survived. And it survived because of George V, because of his leadership, his modern statesmanship, his will to embrace and encourage changes, his popularity and the respect that his nation had for him, while he led his country to victory during WW1. He was the FIRST Monarch that brought monarchy close to people, hence why he was nicknamed the People's Monarch or the Citizen Monarch. George reigned during the most difficult times in the history of monarchy and of mankind, but he managed to save his monarchy and to modernize it, setting the path for a Constitutional Modern Monarch*. Your bias cannot change it, because facts dont give a damn about your opinions. A pity that you cannot uplift Edward VII without bringing George down. George wasnt dull, he was quite the character. He was genuine, funny, reproachable, a lover of books and cinema, and most importantly he was a SERIOUS LEADER, who acted exactly as a modern head of state is suppsed to act. Oh and he was a FAITHFUL Husband, he was devoted to his wife and loyal to her throughout their entire marriage. Something that can never be said of Edward VII who was unfaithful and over-indulgent in everything ( Im sure his mistresses would have preferred Handsome George though). If being faithful and family-oriented makes a man dull, than give me dull everyday. Queen Alexandra would've been happy to have married a man like George who never embarrassed and humiliated his wife

Oh my, where does this come from? lmao. Tbh, I deserve this kind of message when it's about Wilhelm. I'm totally biased regarding this rascally young fop (Alexander III said it first!). Badmouthing him is one of my favourite pastime. But George, come on! I never been too harsh with him? EXCEPT, perhaps, when it comes down to the Romanovs, but what can I say? When you don't have a backbone, you really don't…

Yet, I'm a tad puzzled by your message because we are talking about George V right? The one who in April 1905 hadn't seen his children for three months. The one who used to shout at his second son "Get it out" when the poor soul was suffering from stammer. The one who in 1917, while on a stroll in the grounds of Sandringham complained to Nora Wigram that his children always avoided him. Nora retelling this story in one of her letters to her parents said how Mary, David and Bertie became "quite cheerful & entirely flippant, writing their names in the snow" when George and Mary had gone home on said stroll. However, do you know who was ACTUALLY a good father? his cousin *whispering* Nicky.

Faithful yes but let me remind you that their marriage was far from smooth sailing. They lived seperately for months on end. You also must have forgotten the countless letters from George trying to apologise for shutting down, being rude or cold towards May. + May's letters complaining on how he would shut her out. The man was unable to articulate his feelings which led to endless misunderstanding. May who once wrote to George while in Paris : "I quite understand about yr not wishing to come to Paris & am not angry, I only thought it wd be nice change as I find life in general very dull- unless one has a change sometimes." She had wanted him to join her but had received a rebuff instead. May who wrote to his brother in 1900 while she was stuck in the gloomy York Cottage: "It is so dull here & I feel very low & depressed tho' Im pretty well on the whole" (alright she was pregnant at that time, but guess where George was?… out shooting birds).

Led his country to victory during WW1? Hmmm, you really mean George V who was described in 1918 by the Viscount Esher in those terms: "he seems virtually a recluse, steadily devoting himself to good purposes and little works of a good kind, but with not conspicuousness, no assertiveness of the King's position." / "making himself a nonentity" ? While May wrote on 19 november 1916 to her son David about the hospital visits: "They are "assomant" (tiresome) & I dislike them more than words can describe!" and then proceeded to explain how much she enjoyed her shopping trips at Goode's.

I'm teasing because OF COURSE I think George V was a good ruler and perhaps he was the kind of ruler the country needed at that time. He was a great arbitrator and was able to adapt and change despite having conservative views and being very much uneducated. How he dealt with the Irish question is a stellar example! He was an ordinary man who disliked society and suffered from bouts of depression. There is a sentence that struck me in Ridley's book which in my opinion sums up George : "He was a man of disconnected feelings".

I could write PAGES about Bertie's shortcomings and how his shenanigans damaged the monarchy. Yet he was a gifted ruler, very much in tune with his time.

So I guess anon, it comes down to... preference. If you are more into shooting birds and collecting stamps, you do you! I, on the contrary, have a soft spot for cosmopolitan kings with a string of scandals.

Now if you'd excuse me, I'm off painting the town red with Bertie!

#this! #i don’t know where anon got that from #brf #king george v