The Alexander Palace Time Machine Discussion Forum

I had to order my copy and it got delayed because of the snow storm, so I didn't get it until last week. I finished it a few days ago and was really impressed. I found myself feeling really bad for Franciska; if my life was that horrible I'd probably want to pretend to be someone else too.

Everyone has at some point in their life found themselves in a series of lies that spiraled out of control, and you get paranoid about getting found out and feel sick and uneasy until it's all smoothed over. Well, for Franciska it turned into her whole life. The book made it seem like she never had any intention of it getting as big as it did or lasting for the rest of her life.

I did not have much sympathy for Harriet Rathlef-Keilmann and the like. This book did make me more willing to believe Gleb Botkin wasn't in on it, but surely some of her other supporters (like the aforementioned Rathlef-Keilmann) had to have figured out she wasn't actually Anastasia or at least realized the good chance that she might not be. Yet they continued to lie and cause problems for Anastasia's family because they didn't "recognize" her. On her own I don't think Franciska would have stirred up so much unpleasantness. It wasn't in her best interest to get anyone's family involved. For her supporters, they had very little to lose and all the more to gain by going for high profile recognitions. But for Franciska she was constantly at risk for being arrested, or for the time the Nazis were in power, killed. I can only imagine how terrified she was when she encountered people who knew her in her former life. To me it demonstrates some level of acting ability that she didn't completely break down out of fear. Being caught in a lie, or even almost caught, is a really unpleasant experience. The bigger the lie, the worse it feels. When Doris Wingender greeted her after all those years, she probably had to keep herself from passing out.

As wrong as what she did was, I feel like she probably got punished enough in the hell of her own making. Even after she knew she wouldn't get caught, and had stopped caring whether people believed her, I don't think she was every really comfortable as Anastasia.

"I did it for a friend..."

Sarah, that's an excuse that doesn't work, even if you're a twelve year old. 

I am so curious as to whether or not this friend exists.

There was never any proof that the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were Nazi sympathizers or collaborated with the Third Reich.Wallis explains in detail her impression of their trip to Germany and David's indignation on the subject of German expansion .There will always be division on the subject of The Windsors.However to exile them for 36 years was unnecessary.Only welcoming their lifeless bodies for burial.There were deep and hurtful injustices done to EdwardVIII.Perhaps in the minds of many to portray him as some weak minded simpleton  makes his mistreatment deserved.That it makes the laws broken to deny his wife her lawful title acceptable.That it justifys his estrangement from his flesh and blood.There is plenty of blame to go around in this situation.Not all of it rests squarely on the shoulders of The Duke and Duchess of Windsor.imo

I agree. There's not much in the way of solid evidence for the Nazi thing. I don't know what happened; I wasn't there. But I feel like in some ways if the exact same stories had gone around (with the same level of evidence) for some less "scandalous" royals who weren't black sheep or anything it wouldn't have been nearly as widely believed.

I did a multi-part post on Wallis on my blog. Well it was originally on Jezebel, but I made a blog for it. Still researching some stuff and fixing errors, but if anyone wants to read it, feel free. I'm probably not right about everything, though.
http://ladytudorrose.blogspot.com/2010/05/wallis-part-1.html

^ Love it. Diana had the figure to pull off pretty much anything, but she looked really great in one-shoulder dresses. I think that style is coming back.

How is it that Wallis was so chic?  I know she had the money to do so, but did she have a personal dresser?

Some people just have the gift. I have a friend like that who's worked as a model and stylist. I'm trying to learn from her. See also, Dita von Teese.

A picture of Alexandra that I've never seen anywhere.

That's one of the more interesting outfits I've seen Alexandra in. Something about the way it's cut. I've always thought she was one of those women (like Princess Diana) who could look great in anything.

I thought someone said she took size five!

Does anyone know if that's current sizing or what it was when the shoes were bought? American or British sizing?

I do think the sizes have changed over the years. I have bought vintage shoes with sizes both much larger and smaller than current sizes, depending on where the shoes were originally made. Either way they probably wouldn't fit me... But those shoes are fierce. I could see them on Carrie Bradshaw.

I agree with everyone who's been listed so far. Except perhaps Princess Michael. I don't know a lot about her (though what I've heard has not been very positive) so I don't think I really like or dislike her. Plus I do have to give her credit for being the only cat person in the family.

Personally, I think it was the right decision for her. She didn't look good in the kind of big hats the Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II have been known for. Also, IMHO some of the hats the women of Windsor have worn are just way too much, to the point of being tacky. When Wallis did wear a hat it was always simple and not overdone.

The pulling of Christmas crackers often accompanies food on Christmas Day. Invented by a London baker in 1846, a cracker is a brightly coloured paper tube, twisted at both ends, which contains a party hat, riddle and toy or other trinket. When it is pulled by two people it gives out a crack as its contents are dispersed.

The wearing of the paper hats and crowns is a British tradition that is often seen in films of that era.  And yes, it's looks goofy to us today.

My English grandmother used to have those at Christmas dinner, but they never had paper hats. Usually there was a little toy and maybe a piece of candy.

Of course this was much later in the 1990's. 

That's the same one I found.

I'm just curious, do you have the hardback copy of the book. I have the paperback and the picture stops right above Wallis' hands.

Yeah, I have the hardback.

In their defense, apparently it was a party and a bunch of other people were wearing the paper crowns too. Still a bit undignified, though.

I just finished reading the thread.  I really enjoyed everyone's thoughts and insights into Wallis and David.

I saw a picture years ago of David and Wallis on New Years.  I assume it was New Years.  Anyway.....they were both wearing party crowns.  I Google'd it and came up empty.  Does anyone have the picture or know anything about it?  I thought it was rather sad.  They were older in the picture.  They just seemed so miserable.  Though with David's perennial woebegone expression who can tell? 

http://i87.servimg.com/u/f87/13/37/91/62/scanfo10.jpg

Scanned from Stephen Birmingham's biography of Wallis. This what you wanted?

Anyone have a scan of the famous Bib necklace ?

I think it was posted earlier on this thread, but the picture may not be showing up anymore... On the subject Amy Adams wore something that reminded me a bit of that necklace to the Oscars. It's one of those pieces that looks rather ugly when you see a picture of it, but when worn properly with just the right outfit it looks really edgy and cool.

http://z.about.com/d/accessories/1/0/K/K/-/-/amy-adams-oscars-2009.jpg

It is a blessing (although Olga would have been out of the country at the time of the revolution) that Olga didn't take Prince Carol.  Having read biographies of the Roumanian royal family and seeing Carol's thoroughly bad behavior to his mother and to his wives, I think Olga would have been miserable.

I also haven't read many pleasant things about Carol. It's a good thing Olga didn't accept him, nor did she like him. It would have been an unhappy marriage.

I can't imagine how awful it would've been for her to loose all her family in the revolution (assuming it still happened like that) and for support only to have an awful husband like Carol. Yes, she would've lived, but it probably wouldn't have been a very good life.

I'd imagine they just bought everything they wanted and didn't think about the price tag. Blowing through huge quantities of money is a hobby members of various royal families have enjoyed since Ancient Rome. Perhaps Marina should've been provided for (she was a war widow and was entitled to something for that alone) but she and if she and George had kept more savings and bought less things she wouldn't have had to sell any of her things.