Alexander Palace Forum
Discussions about the Imperial Family and European Royalty => Having Fun! => Topic started by: TampaBay on August 06, 2005, 11:12:02 AM
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Drumroll & Bagpipes please:
1. Missy, Queen Marie of Romania-got lemons and made lemonade
2. Alix, Queen Alexanda of Great Britian-looked beautiful and 30 years old until the day she died
3. Sarah, Duchess of York-a survivor
4. Wallis, Duchess of Windsor-style & wit
5. Old Emerald & Diamond Drawers May, Queen Mary of Great Britian-the most devoted royal to the Monarchy and for her taste in jewels
6. Miechen, Marie Grand Duchess Vladimir of Russia-wit, style and ambition
7. Bertie, Edward VII of Great Britian-very underated King. The world would be very different if he had lived to 1920
8. Fat Mary, Mary Adelaide, Duchess of Teck-my kind of gal with great taste & style in jewelry and she gave us Old Diamond & Emerald Drawers
9. Leopold, Duke of Albany-intelligence! Would have made a great King or Prime Minster
10. Victoria, Marchioness Milford Haven-becuase of her pure common sense and intelligence.
QEII is not on my list because she is in a class all her own.
TampaBay
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Oh, what a good idea, TampaBay!
I think I read that VMH dropped her own titles after the name change and became Victoria, Marchioness of Milford Haven, using only her husband's titles....
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Hmmmm.
On personality alone:
1. Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna "Ella," because she is a saint and did so much for the poor.
2. Victoria, Princess Royal, eldest daughter of Queen Victoria, later Empress of Prussia, because she was intelligent and interesting.
3. Victoria, Marchioness of Milford Haven, because she had a brain.
4. Queen Victoria -- she certainly had her faults, but she is an interesting character. Very alive across the centuries.
5. Victoria Melita "Ducky," because she had the guts to divorce Ernie and marry Kyril for love.
6. Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna, a Russian princess who had the gumption to make something of her life after the Revolution. She didn't sit around accepting handouts like other members of the family did.
7. K.R., Grand Duke Konstantin, the author, because he was bright and more insightful in his writing than others in the family.
8. Queen Marie of Roumania "Missy," mainly due to her bright writing and her very artistic, theatrical photos.
9. Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch, because he had the nerve to escape Nicholas's guards and married Natasha for love.
10. Prince Leopold, because he had a brain.
There are some I enjoy looking at picture-wise more than others. Those would be Missy and her children because of their theatricality.
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Bookworm, I so agree with you about Olga Alexandrovna. Most of her family could have learned a good lesson from her....
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I don't know if I could do it. I need 10 Top 10 lists. :) Top 10 British Royals, Top 10 Russian Grand Duchesses, etc...
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I don't know if I could do it. I need 10 Top 10 lists. :) Top 10 British Royals, Top 10 Russian Grand Duchesses, etc...
Post whatever lists you would like to post-the more the merrier. I am very interested (read nosy) in seeing your rankings.
TampaBay
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LOL I'll try to make some up then.
Top 10 British Royals (female)
1. Queen Mary (long list of reasons but I admire a good number of her qualities and think she's more complex than given credit)
2. Princess Alice of Athlone (sense of duty combined with a great sense of humor--a real pip)
3. Princess Patricia of Connaught (stylish, artistic, fought to marry for true love)
4. Queen Victoria (really too many reasons)
5. Princess Mary Adelaide (humor and duty--along with QM's sense of duty I think she more than the Queen Mum helped to start the modern monarchy)
6. Princess Louise (Argyll) (witty, artistic, sharp-tongued but could also be very kind)
7. Queen Alexandra ( a lot about her drives me nuts but she had such a kindly, charitable nature and was so lovely inside and out)
8. Alexandra of Fife (hard to explain since she's less well-known but she always interested me)
9. Helen, Duchess of Albany ('took on' Leopold despite his illness and gave him the love he long looked for and mourned him sincerely but carved a successful place for herself as widow)
10. Princess Victoria of Wales & Margaret Grosvenor (who was Duchess of Teck) (Toria I can often dislike for how she treated QM but feel for the position she was placed in and I think she had many qualities which would've come to the fore if she'd been allowed to flourish; Margaret because of reading lately about what a down-to-earth person she was among other qualities)
(male) This is harder since I'm more female royalty oriented.
1. Arthur Duke of Connaught (good, upright prince who did his duty faithfully to his country up until he was about 90; good husband and father; military man ;) )
2. Edward VII (despite faults had a good heart, charm and personality)
3. George V ( I go for the gruff types I guess ;) ; I admire the devotion to his country, his wife and understand his faults; like QM I think underappreciated for what he contributed to his country; outpouring at his Jubilee & funeral were immense even by today's standards)
4. Prince Leopold (artistic; tragic life but fought self-pity and the pity of others)
5. Louis Battenberg (well, he IS a Battenberg; his relationship with his wife & family; his devotion his profession and his adopted country)
6. Prince Arthur of Connaught (dedication; the kind of prince who flies beneath the radar but devoted his life to Britain)
7. Christian Victor of Schleswig-Holstein (same as above)
8. Prince Albert, Prince Consort (his brains; his relationship with Vicky; his contribution to his adopted country)
9. 'Alge' Athlone (good husband & brother; devoted public servant)
10. George, Duke of Kent (artistic; brought out the softer side of QM; complex)
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Ok, Duchess - here we go.
Top 10 British Royals:
1. Vicky, Princess Royal, Crown Princess of Prussia and German Empress Frederick - An amazingly compassionate and intelligent woman. He good points easily outweigh the bad ones.
2. Alexandra of Denmark, Queen of Great Britain - beautiful, charming and amiable
3. Marie of Edinburgh, Queen of Romania - her dramatic personality is highly endearing.
4. May of Teck, Queen Mary - a formiddable and interesting woman, but with a heart underneath
5. Queen Victoria - what you might call 'a real character
6. Edward VII - such an affable man, and a good king
7. Maud of Wales, Queen Maud of Norway - a very likable and conscientious woman.
8. Victoria of Hesse, Marchioness of Milford-Haven - a thoroughly sensible woman
9. Leopold, Duke of Albany - intelligent and gentle, strived for a normal life
10. Princess Mary, Duchess of Gloucester - easily the most likable of George III's 13 surviving children
Now, all the others!
1. Maria Theresa, Empress of the HRE and Queen of Hungary - what a woman! Fearless in the face of danger, and never gave up
2. Dagmar of Denmark, Tsarina Marie Feodorovna - a very good Empress
3. Sophie of Prussia, Queen of Greece - her story is so sad, but she had guts, and definite personality.
4. Carl of Denmark, Haakon VII of Norway - took to being king exceptionally well
5. Marie of Mecklenburg, Grand Duchess Vladimir - a woman of definite character
6. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands - the only woman that Churchill confessed to be 'a little afraid of'
7. Juan Carlos I of Spain - has done great work in ridding Spain of fascism
8. Franz Josef of Austria - I've always felt kinda sorry for the poor old guy
9. Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna of Russia - I appreciate the keen sense of dept she felt towards her English relations
10. Madam Royal, Princesse Marie-Therese of France - Another poor unfortunate I feel sorry for, but admire for pulling herself together after the revoltuion
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Top 10 Romanovs
Grand Duchess Division
1. Ella (natch) (beautiful inside & out)
2. GDss Marie N. (my favorite of OTMA when I was a child--still holds the appeal; sweet nature)
3. Olga N. (the smartest who probably would've made a good Tsarina in her own right)
4. GDss Tatiana (elegance)
5. GDss Alexandra (nee Greece) (soft spot for lovely princesses who are well-loved by everyone and who die tragically young)
6. GDss Alexandra Iosifovna (flighty princess who matured into a strong matriarch)
7. Ducky (a lot to dislike but holds interest as well)
8. Miechen (same as above; had a lot of charm and culture as well)
9. Xenia (hard to put finger on but partly due to the kindness she always tried to extend to AF)
10. Olga A. (reasons others have named--not the 'fairytale' type but tough and resilient)
Top 10 Female Consorts
1. Vicky (brains, culture, great love affair, would've done great things if she'd been allowed)
2. Queen Mary (listed previously)
3. Queen Olga (kindly, strong, who else called GV 'tootsums'? ;) )
4. Queen Marie of Romania (beautiful, vain, kindly, artistic, left a great set of memoirs)
5. Queen Maud (really blossomed as a reluctant Queen Consort of a brand-new country)
6. Queen Ena (pretty little princess who overcame adversity--especially in her marriage & family life--to become a strong, confident, stylish woman)
7. Queen Sophie of Greece (devotion to Vicky; could've done a lot for Greece if given the opportunity; rose above adversity)
8. Queen Amelie of Portugal (strong, resilient, I mean pictured sitting on a bull--what's not to like?)
9. Queen Louise of Sweden ('ugly duckling' princess who was given the opportunity as Crown Princess and Queen to really shine--even if she did replace one of my all-time favorites, Daisy)
10. Queen Alexandra (reasons listed previously)
German Royals
1. Vicky (see above)
2. GDss Alice Hesse (could be a bit mopey for my tastes but her contributions to her adopted country and the mark she left on her children were great; had a sensitive and inquiring nature)
3. Victoria Hesse (as someone said--what a character!; fellow military wife)
4. Irene Hesse (gentle nature; helped Vicky as her DIL (unlike Dona); like VMH a real survivor of the family tragedies as well as ones of her own with the hemophilia)
5. Crown Princess Cecile ('bright young thing' who matured into a strong mother; care for her Down Syndrome child; possibly would've been a good successor to Vicky if possible)
6. Victoria Louise (romantic love story--gets me all the time; brought out the softer side of her father)
7. Moretta (tragic princess personified but never lost her kind nature)
8. Mossy (another of Vicky's supports; strong to survive such family losses)
9. GDss Anastasia of Mecklenberg-Schwerin (like VMH--what a character; flamboyant but loved her children)
10. CPss Antonia of Bavaria (lovely princess who survived concentration camp)
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Top 10 QV's Grandchildren (female) (reasons mostly given prior)
1. Ella
2. Alice Athlone
3. Ena
4. Daisy Connaught (lovely inside and out; tirelessly worked on behalf of relatives and prisoners during WW1; universally beloved by family & country)
5. Victoria Hesse
6. Sophie Greece
7. Patsy Connaught
8. Queen Maud
9. Missy
10. Empress Alexandra (difficult to warm up to for me but always an interest)
(male)
1. George V
2. Arthur Connaught
3. Ernie Hesse (cultured; artistic; sensitive but found peace with his 2nd family)
4. Henry Prussia (like GV gruff but had many good qualities and was a good son to Vicky in the end--mostly due to Irene's influence; devoted to service)
5. Eddy (I'm not the fan many are but think he's been given a very bad rap; brought out GV's soft side)
6. Christian Victor
7. Leopold Battenberg (like his namesake uncle, a promising, artistic prince whose life was cut short by hemophilia)
8. Maurice Battenberg (strong, intelligent prince cut down in war)
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(1) Wallis, Duchess of Windsor. Someone in the family had to know how to dress.
(2) Marie-Therese, Duchesse d'Angouleme. She survived, and she did it with grace.
(3) Elizabeth I.
(4) Anne of Cleves. She beat the odds.
(5) Olga Alexandrovna. She could give lessons about survival and grace.
(6) Charles II
(7) Ella. Saintliness counts.
(8) Nicholas and Alexandra.
(9) Mary Tudor
(10) Catherine the Great.
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I notice that George VI and the Queen Mother are not on anyone's list . . . interesting.
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I notice that George VI and the Queen Mother are not on anyone's list . . . interesting.
Neither is Lady Diana!
TampaBay
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Mine would have to be:
1) Maud (of course)
2) Margaret of Connaught (of course)
3) Margaretha of Sweden (later Princess Axel of Denmark)
4) Xenia Alexandrovna
5) Alexandra of GB
6) Astrid of Belgium
7) Vicky, Princess Royal
8) Marie of Romania
9) Victoria of Milford Haven
10) Sissi (although she wasn't exactly saintly, something about her just draws me)
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Here is mine.......in descending order.....
Diana, Princess of Wales, for beauty grace and her humanity
Katherine Duchess of Kent, for her kindness, compassion and sense of duty
HM the Queen, for her professsionalism and selfless devotion to her rôle as monarch
Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, the most beautiful and talented of QV's daughters
Princess Alice, the most complex and fascinating of QV's daughters
Victoria Milford Haven, for her wonderful character and incisive mind, not to mention her utterly endearing eccentricity
Queen Mary, for her sheer passion for all that is beautiful and fine, and for her unshakeable belief in the concept of royalty
Queen Alexandra, for her fierce love for her British and Danish families, and for her unique and totally individual charm and beauty
Queen Maud of Norway, for her success as queen in a new monarchy, and for her rich legacy of period fashion
Wallis, Duchess of Windsor, if the USA had royalty she would certainly qualify anyway, and for the fact that she had more style and savoir faire than the woman who mounted the throne by default.......
Hope that I haven't forgotten any of my Brit faves.....Sarah, Duchess of York would come in at number 11, just because I admire her phoenix-like quality....... ;)
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Ok, mine would have to be:
1)Missy of Romania(for her artistic talent and personality
2)Marie of Denmark(stong-minded)
3)Astrid of Belgium(very pretty--a great personality)
4)Prince Leopold(dared to defy his mother)
5)Olga Alexandrovna(didnt look for sympathy like others did)
6)Amelie of Portugal(dunno why, just always have liked her)
7)Elena/Margherita of Italy(helped the poor,encouraged the arts in Italy)
8)Henry of Battenberg(again, i dont know)
9)Princess Kazunomiya(japan)(strong minded, dared to defy the traditions of the Japanese court)
10)Gdss Ella(saintly, helped the poor)
There, I modified it.Others would also be QM,QA and VMH.
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10 Favorite Female Royals:
1. Victoria, Marchioness of Milford Haven (for her honesty and discretion, she seemed to be truly royal, could have made a home for her family anywhere. A caring person, un-jaded)
2. Princess Alice of Battenberg, Princess Andrew of Greece (her one goal in life seems to have been to model her life on that of Ella, something good must be said for that)
3. Princess Marie Bonaparte, Princess George of Greece (lived life on her own terms, and I like royals who had a true interest some aspect of life, could have had a job outside of being royal)
4. Queen Mary (for her love of genealogy and jade collecting, epitome of royalty)
5. Marie, Queen of Romania (a good natured person, liked to have fun)
6. Princess Olga Paley (for her beauty and love of her family)
7. Princess Thyra of Denmark, Duchess of Cumberland, Crown Princess of Hanover, etc. (seemed to have had a happy life, dispite her early misfortune. Her kids seemed to be happy and she wasn't burdened with great responsibilities like her sisters were)
8. Charlotte, Princess of Wales (seems to have been fun-loving, and loved Leopold, can't help but wonder what the monarchy would have been like had she survived)
9. The Empress Frederick (brains)
10. Queen Alexandra (beauty)
10 Favorite Male Royals:
1. King Edward VII (seems like he would have been fun to be around)
2. Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse (much like his sister VMH, love of arts and architecture)
3. Prince Christopher of Greece, (no great royal responsiblities, kept his mother company and married wealthy women)
4. King Leopold I of the Belgians (sheer ambition)
5. Prince Louis of Battenberg, Marquis of Milford Haven, (an easy-going person, devoted to family and job)
6. King Christian IX of Denmark, (took his unexpected role as king seriously and turned out to be a good monarch, great family man)
7. Grand Duke Dimitri Pavlovich of Russia (sad orphan, tried to change the status quo, no matter what it cost him)
8. Prince Vladimir "Volodia" Paley, (brains and poetry)
9. Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein (handled his mother in law well, good to his wife and children)
10. Prince Henri de Bourbon, Count of Paris (family man)
Now, I've added my reasons....
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Is it too much to ask for a quick comment as to why they are favourites?
Otherwise it is very dry reading....... ;)
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EDDY - for his gentle, kind-hearted, self-effacing nature and gorgeous looks.
ALIX - for her love of family, dignity, simplicity, sense of humour and glamour.
DIANA - as above (these two royal ladies have so much in common)...
LOUISE, TORIA AND MAUD - sorry to lump them together , but I love all three - home and fun-loving, down to earth and stylish.
LEOPOLD - for his love of life, passionate nature and refusal to let his illness overtake him.
QUEEN VICTORIA - for her wisdom, truthfulness and passion.
YOUNG AFFIE - a sweet boy who never knew true acceptance or love from his family.
VICKY - a intellectually brilliant lady blessed with a generous, warm-hearted and loving nature.
LENCHEN - so often over-looked and over-criticised. Practical, wise and good. Adored by her family.
MARY ADELAIDE - a compassionate, disorganised, lovable yet sensible royal lady.
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Is it too much to ask for a quick comment as to why they are favourites?
Otherwise it is very dry reading....... ;)
Ack--what a job. :) I went back and amended my (long) lists. Sometimes it's hard to pin exactly what draws you to someone though. Sometimes it's accomplishments, looks, a combination of those, a respect for survival or contribution or service--sometimes just that certain something that draws you in.
Now after reading some others I realize (despite my lengthy lists) there are still some I forgot. :-/
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So far the leaders seem to be:
Female
(tied) VMH, QA and Missy
Vicky
Queen Mary
Queen Maud
Male
Leopold
Bertie
Interesting. :) Except for Olga A and Ella, no Romanovs have really gathered repeats.
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I must say that I am very surprised about the relative absence of Nicholas and Alexandra here!
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Ella
Prince Albert
Princess Alice
Queen Victoria
Vicky
Alexei
Leopold
Marie Louise
Marie of Roumania
Victoria of Hesse
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So far the leaders seem to be:
Interesting. :) Except for Olga A and Ella, no Romanovs have really gathered repeats.
GD Ella,
Many people have listed Miechen, GD Vladimir. I think the reason (pure conjecture on my part) is that there are so many Americans on this thread. American's tend to admire hard work, surviving skills and/or acheivement over other traits.
TampaBay
Think about it: If Missy were alive today she would have a very high rated talk show being a good cross of Oprah Winfrey & Sharon Osborne.
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GD Ella,
Many people have listed Miechen, GD Vladimir. I think the reason (pure conjecture on my part) is that there are so many Americans on this thread. American's tend to admire hard work, surviving skills and/or acheivement over traits.
TampaBay
Think about it: If Missy were alive today she would have a very high rated talk show being a good cross of Oprah Winfrey & Sharon Osborne.
Well, I'm not an American and I admire Grand Duchess Vladimir. But I see what you mean. But what would Missy's talk show be called? Marie? Missy?
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Well, I'm not an American and I admire Grand Duchess Vladimir. But I see what you mean. But what would Missy's talk show be called? Marie? Missy?
I do not know what it would be titled but I think it would be a KILLER talk show.
Missy should really hire the "Duchess of Dermount" to be her "side kick". On each show the "Duchess of Dermount" would wear a different "borrowed" Sapphire paure collection .
Each show would have 15 minute segment discussing nothing but expensive jewelry.
Each show would also have a 15 minute segment devoted to "E-Bay Anonymous" for recovering E-Bay addicts who lost the "family farm" buying jewelry and Royal Cabinet Cards.
TampaBay
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1) Queen Victoria (a complex, fascinating woman)
2) Eleanor of Aquitaine (ditto)
3) Regent Sofia (an uppity woman in an age and culture where women were usually invisible)
4)Victoria (Empress Frederick) (a highly intelligent woman in an impossible situation)
5) Peter the Great (dragged Russia kicking and screaming into the western world)
6) Queen Elizabeth 1 (a woman who survived despite all odds and became a great monarch)
7) Juan Carlos of Spain (a modern monarch for the modern age- pulled Spain out of dictatorship and has kept it there)
8 )Charlotte of Wales (came from an awful home situation with the war between her parents and grew into a relatively stable young woman, made a happy marriage- what might have been, one wonders?
9) GDss Olga Alexandrovna-(lived a life of simplicity and grace, survived an unhappy marriage and found happiness despite the odds)
10) Prince Leopold (intelligent young man who rebelled against the strictures placed upon him and made a life for himself)
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1. St. Alexei
2. St. Elizabeth
3+4. Sts. Nicholas and Alexandra
5+6. George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
7. Prince John
8. St. Louis, King of France
9. St. Helen, mother of St. Constantine the Great
10. Tsar Alexander II
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1. St. Alexei
2. St. Elizabeth
3+4. Sts. Nicholas and Alexandra
5+6. George VI and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
7. Prince John
8. St. Louis, King of France
9. St. Helen, mother of St. Constantine the Great
10. Tsar Alexander II
Greshniya,
Your list is very and extremely interesting. Are you Russian?
TampaBay
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Man I had to think hard about this list.Here goes my picks.
1.Empress Sissi-something about her just fascinates me,maybe because some of the paintings of her are so risqué.
2.All of OTMA-Their story is so captivating and I wonder where their lives would have led them had they lived.
3.Peter the Great-like Jehan said,for dragging Russia kicking and screaming into the western world.
4.Catherine the Great-for her love of art
5.Queen Victoria-One of the strongest female rulers
6.Queen Elizabeth II-she really shows what royalty should be
7.Princess Alice of Hesse-I really admire the strength and grace this woman showed in dealing with the tragedies in her life.
8.Empress Marie Feodrovna-It takes a lot of guts to marry your fiancés brother and make a happy life together.
9.Sarah Duchess of York-for taking responsibilty for the mistakes in her life and reinventing herself.
10.Diana Princess of Wales-Her caring nature,her style,grace,poise and for showing the world what a truly beautiful human being she was.
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LOL I'll try to make some up then.
Top 10 British Royals (female)
1. Queen Mary (long list of reasons but I admire a good number of her qualities and think she's more complex than given credit)
2. Princess Alice of Athlone (sense of duty combined with a great sense of humor--a real pip)
3. Princess Patricia of Connaught (stylish, artistic, fought to marry for true love)
4. Queen Victoria (really too many reasons)
5. Princess Mary Adelaide (humor and duty--along with QM's sense of duty I think she more than the Queen Mum helped to start the modern monarchy)
6. Princess Louise (Argyll) (witty, artistic, sharp-tongued but could also be very kind)
7. Queen Alexandra ( a lot about her drives me nuts but she had such a kindly, charitable nature and was so lovely inside and out)
8. Alexandra of Fife (hard to explain since she's less well-known but she always interested me)
9. Helen, Duchess of Albany ('took on' Leopold despite his illness and gave him the love he long looked for and mourned him sincerely but carved a successful place for herself as widow)
10. Princess Victoria of Wales & Margaret Grosvenor (who was Duchess of Teck) (Toria I can often dislike for how she treated QM but feel for the position she was placed in and I think she had many qualities which would've come to the fore if she'd been allowed to flourish; Margaret because of reading lately about what a down-to-earth person she was among other qualities)
ella, were in the world is Daisy, huh ;)
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ella, were in the world is Daisy, huh ;)
I was going to put her in my Scandinavian list! I told you I have a lot of favorites. :) She's in my Top 10 QV's Granddaughters List though.
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So here's the Scandinavian list:
1. Daisy!
2. Queen Maud
3. Queen Louise of Sweden
4. Queen Alexandrine of Denmark (gracious lady who navigated the waters of being at war with her native country twice)
5. Queen Ingrid of Sweden (helped to continue her mother Daisy's legacy)
6. GDss Marie (Princess Wilhelm of Sweden) (tough character who made her own way after the Revolution)
7. Princess Marie of Denmark (Mrs Waldemar--quite a character and it took some character to deal with her marital situation)
8. King Frederick IX of Denmark (anyone who speaks so devotedly of his wife & daughters is OK in my book)
9. Gustav Adolf of Sweden (for having the sense to marry both Daisy & Louise and for his cultural interests)
10. Queen Louise of Denmark (despite criticisms from QV she was her equal in the matchmaking dept and had the undying love of her family)
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Hard enough to get it down to ten, so must post in alphabetical order...impossible to rank further!
Elizabeta Feodorovna Romanov, Princess of Hesse and by Rhine, Grand Duchess of Russia "Ella"
Elizabeth I, Queen of England
Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom
George VI, King of the United Kingdom
Juan Carlos I, King of Spain
Louise, Princess of the United Kingdom, Duchess of Argyll
Marie, Queen of Romania
Victoria I, Queen of the United Kingdom, Empress of India
Victoria, Marchioness of Milford Haven
Victoria, Princess Royal, The Empress Frederick
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Favorite 10 Modern Royals:
1. Princess Diana (for all the obvious reasons)
2. Prince Michael of Greece (for his books)
3. Dr. Otto von Hapsburg (for his scholarly historical writings)
4. Queen Elizabeth II (I think she has managed quite well and has retained her dignity)
5. and 6. King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece (A nice, family oriented couple, one of the few last true royal marriages)
7. and 8. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain (same as 5 and 6)
9. Princess Alexia of Greece (for her work with underprivileged children)
10. Prince William of Wales (for heading in the right direction)
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Hmm . . . I haven't really considered modern royals . . .
In no order:
1. HM Queen Elizabeth II - for her stalwart professionalism and for the fact that in 79 years she had never let slip her opinion on anything remotely controversial
2. HM Queen Margrethe II of Denmark - she's so media friendly. It's refreshing.
3 & 4. TM King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain - for their happy family life
4. Charlotte Casiraghi - because she is so beautiful
5. HRH Princess Madeleine of Sweden - as above
6. HRH Princess Caroline of Monaco - because she had the guts to hit back at the media in a grown-up and professional way
7. HRH the Princess Royal - I know she's a bit 'horsy' but I admire the way she just gets on with things and doesn't care what people say about her.
8. HRH Prince Carl Philip of Sweden - I admire his modesty
9. Katharine, Duchess of Kent - a totally unassuming woman
10. HRH Crown Princess Mary of Denmark - a foreigner and a commoner who married into a royal family, she has coped admirably.
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Favorite 10 Modern Royals:
1. Princess Diana (for all the obvious reasons)
2. Prince Michael of Greece (for his books)
3. Dr. Otto von Hapsburg (for his scholarly historical writings)
4. Queen Elizabeth II (I think she has managed quite well and has retained her dignity)
5. and 6. King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece (A nice, family oriented couple, one of the few last true royal marriages)
7. and 8. King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain (same as 5 and 6)
9. Princess Alexia of Greece (for her work with underprivileged children)
10. Prince William of Wales (for heading in the right direction)
Admirable selection! :)
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These are my favourite living royals, in no particular order.
1) Queen Silvia of Sweden - a beautiful woman who seems to do the job and have fun doing it. And she's the best-dressed queen.
2) and 3) Juan Carlos and Sofia of Spain - his institution of democracy evokes a time when monarchs were actually rulers. She's very simple and effective in her work and very original in her thinking. And I find it endearing that she's, IMO, the worst-dressed queen - her mind's on other things. She also might just mark the end of an era in being the last royal-blooded queen consort the world will ever see. This is, perhaps, as it should be, but it does make her interesting.
4) Queen Anne-Marie of Greece - a beautiful woman whose grace has lent the GRF a greater air of dignity than other deposed and exiled royals often have.
5) QEII - I've heard the criticism and can't argue with a lot of it, but, to me, she's not just a woman but an institution in and of herself. I love her!
6) Queen Anne of Romania - she's another who's so simple. She proves that a queen doesn't have to be rich or aloof to be majestic. She's funny and open.
7) Duchess of Kent - She seems kind and gracious, and I admire that she gave up her HRH, saying it's not relevant to today's world. HRH's are a bit crass when you think about it. What is "highness"? Why not call them something that's a quality that the person theoretically has or can try to live up to, like "Your Royal Virtuousness" or "Your Royal Graciousness" or "Your Royal Magnanimousness". But to call them "highness" is to have to say, Yes, you are above me. I don't blame her for getting sick of it.
8) Duchess of Cornwall - I'm treading on dangerous ground here, and I sympathise with those who aren't happy about the situation. But I like her horsey lack of grandeur, and I find her family background and early life very interesting. And I like her "Never complain, never explain" philosophy. And with all the punishment she's taken, she's gotta love him.
9) Alexandra Manley of Denmark - she's what a modern royal should be, IMO. I like that she came to the DRF speaking several languages and having had a career that took brains. And she knows when to keep her mouth shut.
10) Victoria of Sweden - I think she'll make a great monarch. She's dedicated and she seems like she'll really embrace the role. Plus, while she's attractive, it's cute the way she's looking a little dowdy lately. The specs make her look like a young Margrethe.
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7. HRH the Princess Royal - I know she's a bit 'horsy' but I admire the way she just gets on with things and doesn't care what people say about her.
LMAO!!!!! ;D :D ;D ;D :D
Prince, you are so precocious...
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LMAO!!!!! ;D :D ;D ;D :D
Prince, you are so precocious...
Aww . . thanks emeraldeyes. I'm always pleased to have amused. : - )
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We have some new members in the Windsor Section so I decided to resurrect this thread from the almost dead.
New members please post away! ;) ;) ;)
TampaBay
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We have some new members in the Windsor Section so I decided to resurrect this thread from the almost dead.
New members please post away! ;) ;) ;)
TampaBay
Great idea TB! Post away, indeed! :D
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This thread is great but hard! I must think! Response coming...eventually.
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My top ten:
1.Eleanor of Aquitaine for never giving up and presiding over a court that professed women as superior to men.
2.Isabella of Castile for keeping her country together, educating her daughters, and accomplishing her dreams.
3. Queen Elizabeth I for ruling well, outwitting many, and refusing to marry.
4.Queen Victoria for saying exactly what she thought because her thoughts are really funny.
5.Prince Albert for loving his adopted country,showing concern for society, and loving his family.
6.Princess Vicky, Empress Frederick for refusing to relinquish her morals in the face of constant adversity.
7.Fritz, for having the same ideals as Vicky and loving her.
8.Grand Duchess Olga Nicolaievna for writing poetry, refusing to marry Carol II, and having a mercurial personality.
9.Princess Diana because she refused to put up with a bad marriage just because her husband was PoW, telling the public her story, visiting people with AIDS, and b/c one of my first memories is watching her marriage on television when I was two years old.
10.Marie Antoinette because she was actually pretty nice, and she never said "Let them eat cake".
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Well, you got there in the end, Lenelor. ;) Good selection.
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1. Queen Victoria - maybe the last monarch who dabbled in politics?
2. Prince William of Orange - just to plunge myself into controversy
3. King George III - so what if he has a nasty reputation?
4. King George VI - wasn't really suited to be king but made a good job of it anyway
5. Tsar Alexander III - tried his best for his people
6. Queen Elizabeth I - she had character ;)
7. Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother - she had a faults but she is, IMO, much to be admired
8. Empress Marie Feodorovna - I just like her ::)
9. Queen Mary (wife of George V) - a true lady; I think her efforts during the war years are admirable
10. Queen Alexandra (wife of Edward VII) - sister to Dagmar lol :P
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Which Prince of Orange do you mean, lass?
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Husband of Queen Mary, King William III (I think ::)).
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Why is it you like him?
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I just do. ;) Well, I like the way he and Mary were equally King & Queen instead of a monarch and a consort. That's one thing.
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I just do. ;) Well, I like the way he and Mary were equally King & Queen instead of a monarch and a consort. That's one thing.
Express you opinions and ideas! We all learn from each other on this thread and the Forum as a whole. "I just do" is an Ok answer but I know you have greater thoughts on the matter. Please share your thoughts on William & Mary and facilliate the exchange of ideas and debate.
Respectfully yours,
TampaBay
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Express you opinions and ideas! We all learn from each other on this thread and the Forum as a whole. "I just do" is an Ok answer but I know you have greater thoughts on the matter. Please share your thoughts on William & Mary and facilliate the exchange of ideas and debate.
Respectfully yours,
TampaBay
Was that a formal reproof?! ;D Probably my main reasons for liking him are that he was Protestant & he rescued us from the House of Stuart. :D
8. Empress Marie Feodorovna - I just like her ::)
I think that is worse. :P But then, perhaps, you can relate to that better! :D
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Probably my main reasons for liking him are that he was Protestant & he rescued us from the House of Stuart. :D
Did we need rescuing from the House of Stuart?
It has always seemed to be a very odd thing that we found it necessary to have William as King. Why didn't we just have Mary as Queen and her husband as Consort? I mean, Anne became queen in her own right...
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Did we need rescuing from the House of Stuart?
It has always seemed to be a very odd thing that we found it necessary to have William as King. Why didn't we just have Mary as Queen and her husband as Consort? I mean, Anne became queen in her own right...
Blue,
Here's the deal!
Mary was in line for the crown! The third in line for the crown (behind her sister Anne) was...Low and Behold....Prince Willaim of Orange. Now who do you suppose Mary was married to but....Low and Behold...William of Orange. Mary did not want to be Queen, for what reason I did not know. So to make a short story even longer, Mary agreed to accept the crown if her husband was crowned as a co-soverign.
I hope someone has more information. It is my conjecture that Mary wanted to be a wife, Queen & mother and let her hubby see to the day to day soverign duties. It really turned out for the best and was a good compromise to get Protestant Mary on the throne. William was a good King from all I have read and they both were protestant to their last ounce of bone marrow & blood.
Tampabay
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Mary had no interest in politics. She was completely dominated by William, who was 11 years her senior, and he didn't just want to be 'his wife's lackey'. So, they became co-monarchs, though William had all the real power, which suited Mary fine, though she was regent when he was abroad. as for Anne, her husband was not only not in the line of succession, but very dull and a little stupid - he wouldn't have cut an imposing figure as King Consort.
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Prince,
Do you agree William III was a descent King. I believe I read somewhere that Mary wanted to be a mother and raise "Royal" children. Of course this did not happen. I always had a soft spot for her.
Also, William III knew alot about the milliatry if I am not getting my Williams mixed up. The co-soverign deal worked and that is what is important.
William & Mary College in Virginia USA is named after them. Americans have alweays loved the British Royals! ;D ;D ;D
TampaBay
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William was a good king, but he was never popular in England (unlike Mary, who was loved) and had a tendency to invlove England in costly foreign wars, but on the whole a good king. If you're interested, TB, pop over to the Stuart board and tsaria and I will give you a warm welcome. :)
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As for Anne, her husband was not only not in the line of succession, but very dull and a little stupid - he wouldn't have cut an imposing figure as King Consort.
From my studies I conclude, Anne really loved old George of Denmark.
Though stupid, I understand him to be remembered as a "very good man and husband". Anne had 17 pregancies so there was something to their realtionship. He also gave her two killer necklaces of pearls if my memory is correct.
TampaBay
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I don't know about the necklaces, but yes they were happy. Charles II, Anne's uncle, said of George - 'I have tried him drunk and I have tried him sober and there is nothing in him.' Mind you, Charles also said this when Mary and William were being 'bedded': 'Now nephew, to your work, St George for England! Hey!' so he wasn't known for his tact!
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Ok, here's my Top 10 favourites.
1. Diana, Princess of Wales - a star that shone too brightly and too briefly. Often imitated, but never eclipsed.
2. Princess Eugenie of York - a stunner in the making.
3. The Queen. Well, she's been doing the job for 50+ years now, without a blooper, so she deserves to be this high in the ranking.
4. GD Anastasia Nicholaevna - the Imp of the family. As I was nicknamed the Holy Terror as a child, I know we'd have been great friends!
5. The Duchess of Kent. A Yorkshire Beauty whose style and gentle nature make her much loved.
6. Princess Alexandra (Ogilvy). Relaxed, calm and unstuffy.
7. Princess Victoria, The Princess Royal. A treasure that went to Germany, adored by Fritz and briefly Empress, she died in agony, despised by her son - but much loved in Britain.
8. Catherine the Great of Russia - killed her husband, took control of a huge country and ruled it all. Wow!
9. Empress Carlotta of Mexico. Beautiful but tragic - such a sad story.
10. Lady Louise Windsor (Wessex). A 2 year old pretty girl happy to toddle along beside her Mum on holiday. And, she's never given an interview ...!
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1. Queen Elizabeth II - for all the charm grace and professionalism she has shown throughout her 50 something year reign
2. King Juan Carlos I & Queen Sofia - I just like them, I think Sofia is so sweet
3. Queen Silvia - the most beautiful and elegant Queen in Europe today
4. Tsar Alexander III - I just always liked him as Tsar
5. Empress Marie Feodorovna - a beautiful charming woman the perfect Empress
7. Peter the great - for his huge accomplishments and for finding such a beautiful city
8. Queen Beatirx - basically the same as Elizabeth II a wonderful Queen
9. Crown Prince Haakon of Norway-for defying tradition and marrying the love of his life regardless of her background
10. Princess Grace - exemplified everything a princess should be
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Here's my favourites, and being a Dane, I think I'll start with my top ten of danish royalty.
1. Princess Alexandra of Wales. (She was born princess of Denmark, so I added her here) A beautiful woman, perhaps a little naive once in a while, but with a kind heart and a warm soul.
2. Princess Dagmar. (Empress Maria Feodorovna) As beautiful as her older sister, and who was very brave and strong when the revolution destroyed her world.
3. Crown princess Mary. A very lovely, natural and open woman. And, in my opinion, the most "ladylike" crown princess in Europe since Diana.
4. Daisy (Queen Margrethe II) A queen all the way, wise and artistic, and still very down to earth.
5. Crown prince Frederik. Who has grown from being an unsecure boy, to a strong and selfconfident man, who aren't afraid of showing his feelings. And let's not forget he's handsome too. :-*
6. King Christian IX and Queen Louise. A couple who's harmonic marriage, family life and love for each other, truly is something for all couples to idolize, royal or not.
7. Queen Caroline Mathilde. I have every sympathy for this poor girl, who was forced into exile, just because she loved another man than her insane husband.
8. King Christian IV. The most famous monarch in danish history, and even though he did'nt have much luck on the battlefields, and all his building projects ruined the country, he was a strong leader and is remembered as the greatest ruler in the danish history.
9. Queen Ingrid. The queen who took the royal house into the modern age. A woman who was much loved by her family and the people, and who inherited the title as "Europes grandmother" after Queen Victoria.
10. King Frederik IV. I'm such a romantic soul, and the story of how this king "kidnapped", (or rescued, depends on how you look at it) the love of his life, Anna Sophie, who was locked up in her room by her mother, just went straight into my heart, and made him one my favourite kings in history. ;)
And here's my top ten of european royals
1. Sissi (Empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary) This beautiful woman with the tragic fate, immediatly put me under her spell from the day where I first saw the famous winterhalter portrait of her in a book.
2. GD Anastasia Nicholaievna. The little imp of the russian court. I just love her, but one can only mourn over her and her family's tragic fate. :'(
3. Queen Victoria. The very symbol of the british empire, a woman who was born to rule, and who sat her mark on the history of her country.
4. Marie Antoinette. Again a woman with a sad fate, who just couldn't live up to the role she was supposed to play.
5. Anne Boleyn. Here's a woman who knew what she wanted, got it all, and then lost it, when she could'nt pay the price for her crown.
6. Catherine the Great. A woman who knew that real power is never given, it's taken. Not even a russian by birth, she became the supreme ruler of Russia, and made it one of the most powerful nations by her time. What a woman, I say.
7. Henry VIII. He is mostly remembered for his six wifes, and that's a little unfair because he was quite a personality. Badtempered, no doubt about that, but also very poetic, romantic and gifted.
8. Elizabeth I. Another strong woman with a will of iron and more courageus than any man. Anne Boleyn did indeed gave England an heir. If Henry knew what Elizabeth would do for England, he would have celebrated her birth for the rest of his life, instead of killing her mother. Talk about ironi of fate.
9. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. Perhaps not as beautiful as her sister, but far the most royal of the two of them, and at the same time, she's very natural and open.
10. Princess Diana. A complexed, lovely and tragic woman. At the beginning she was a shy young girl, who then developed into a headstrong woman. The people's Princess, and the world's Queen of Hearts.
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1. Queen Elizabeth II
2. Prince Philip, Duke of Ediburgh
3. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
4. Prince of Wales
5. Duchess of Cornwall
6. Queen Mary
7. King Abdullah II of Jordan
8. Queen Silvia
9. King George VI
10. King George IV
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Would you mind explaining your choices Earl of Leicester? It makes the thread more interesting. :)
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My top 10 favorites
1. Queen Victoria Very Majestic and sensible.
2. Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden. Mysterious
3. Emperor Franz Josef of Austria. Royal beyond belief!!!
4. Queen Ingrid of Denmark. Personality plus.
5. Princess Alexandra, Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Just for being herself.
6. Princess Thyra, Duchess of Cumberland. A rather tragic person but inspite of all that happened her family
turned out well.
7. Tsar Alexander III of Russia. A real man's Tsar.
8. Empress Maria "Dagmar" of Russia. Beautiful and tragic.
9. Queen Maud of Norway. Another mysterious creature.
10. Queen Astrid of Belgium. Warm, Lovely, died to early.
Plus a whole lot more. :D :D :D
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Oooh what a wonderful thread! It's so nice to see who your favorite royals are.
My favorites are probably:
1. "The Big Pair"- Olga and Tatiana- were beautiful both inside and out
2. "The Little Pair"- Maria and Anastasia- same as above but with a less mature quality
3. Ella Feodorovna- I greatly admire the things she did in life, mostly reasons stated by others here
4. Sissi- another pretty face with a tragic fate on this list! I feel really sorry for her that it didn't work out well for her.
5. Queen Victoria- she had personality!
6. The Daughters of Henry VIII- both fascinating, and I can never decide which was my favorite of the two.
7. Alexandra Feodorovna- Funny how one woman can be the trigger for so much!
8. Missy, for exactly the reason TampaBay said: 1. Missy, Queen Marie of Romania-got lemons and made lemonade
9. QEII- she's not really so low on my list, but I greatly admire her.
10. Diana, Princess of Wales- everyone's already said the reasons
...and of course, her son William for the same reason every other 15 year old girl I know likes him! :D (Kidding, sorta)
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Love your list Margarita!! Though i don't know that much about Sissi, and Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary would be on mine ;D ;D
Oh yes and Vicky, Maud, Marie Feodorovna and dozens of others too ;D ;D
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Love your list Margarita!! Though i don't know that much about Sissi, and Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary would be on mine ;D ;D
Oh yes and Vicky, Maud, Marie Feodorovna and dozens of others too ;D ;D
Thank you! Most of the ones you just named are pretty high up there, but not top 10.
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Well first of all what a great thread!!! :D
Here ore my (10) ;D favourit royals.
1. The three Queens Emma,Wilhelmina,Juliana because the saved the dutch monarchy.
2. Queen Alexandra ( she was a beaty untill the end)
3. Empress Marie ( Dagmar) such a strong and brave woman.
4. Empress Elizabeth ( Sissi) because she did it her way
5. Queen Mary because beeing a Queen was her job, but still a verry nice ( shy) person I read.
6. Queen Astrid (the Snowprincess) she looked like an angel but died way to young.
7. Queen Maud fore beeing so fashionable and a great Queen in a new Country.
8. Queen Victoria a woman with absolute power.
9. Queen Elisabeth of Belgium she was so artistic and had her own will ( Just like her family member Sissi)
10. King Christian IX and Queen Louise the gave the World a piece of history, because of thier great childeren married in to many monarchys.
That was it but I could go on fore houres. ;D
royal netherlands
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1) Elizabeth II: I love her calm, her serenity, her reserve, her sense of history, her attitude towards clothes and jewels, her steadfastness, her wholesomeness, the twinkle in her eye, and the fact that whenever I see a picture of her genuine smile I can't help but smile myself.
2) Prince Philip: I love his forthrightness, his honesty, his commitment, his energy, his leadership abilities, his ogranizational skills, his sense of humor, and how drop-dead-handsome he was when I saw him in 1959.
3) Princess Anne: For her no-nonsense style, for being a really good daughter.
4) Prince Charles: Because I have sympathy for his earnestness, honesty, and good-humor in the face of a cynical public.
5) Prince Andrew: Because of the week I spent before his birth worrying that the Queen was going to be all right. Because he doesn't complain and just goes on with his job.
6) Prince Edward: For trying to break the mold and then accepting gracefully his "royal" job. A good son (not that the other two aren't).
7) Edward VII: Because I've always wondered what his life would have been like if he had had a wife who was more social, more intellectual, and more challenging than Alexandra.
8 ) Queen Beatrix: Because when I was a kid, I read a magazine article about the Dutch Princesses which stated that she asked a journalist writing about them "How long do you chew your gum?" I thought right away she must really be something.
9) Princess Laurentien: I saw a picture of her, knowing nothing about her, but she had such an attractive face, full of character, that I was drawn to it. The bit of reading I have done about her since has done nothing to make me doubt my instinct.
10) I just realized I don't have a solid 10...must lump just about every person who has been mentioned on these boards into this level, then.
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7) Edward VII: Because I've always wondered what his life would have been like if he had had a wife who was more social, more intellectual, and more challenging than Alexandra.
Alexandra stopped socialising (which she thoroughly enjoyed early in the marriage) because of her deafness, Janet, and her husband's constant unfaithfulness.
Who knows -- if she hadn't lost her hearing and been able to get about more, he may have cut his extra-marital women down to 50 odd, rather than the reputed 2000. ??? >:(
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Alexandra stopped socialising (which she thoroughly enjoyed early in the marriage) because of her deafness, Janet, and her husband's constant unfaithfulness.
Who knows -- if she hadn't lost her hearing and been able to get about more, he may have cut his extra-marital women down to 50 odd, rather than the reputed 2000. ??? >:(
Grace, yes, that is exactly what intrigues me, the what-if... (And I knew about her deafness)... how he might have been different in his life with a different wife.
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No need to jump on Janet--these are our own personal lists and as such are very subjective. Wondering what Bertie might've been like with a different kind of wife is fine--same as if one wonders what Alexandra might have been like married to a husband like Arthur who wasn't a womanizer. Curiosity--not an insult to Alexandra.
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Grace, yes, that is exactly what intrigues me, the what-if... (And I knew about her deafness)... how he might have been different in his life with a different wife.
Yes, I see what you mean, Janet. :) However, I personally doubt Bertie would have been faithful to any one woman but had Alexandra been able to keep up with him socially (and had wanted to), I suppose things could have been somewhat different. I guess we'll never know.
Grandduchessella, I was not "jumping" on Janet at all and I am sure she is capable of remonstrating with me herself if she feels that is the case, thank you.
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Yes I'm sure Janet could. I saw the use of the >:( as rather a jumping on though. Perhaps I'm a little sensitive as so many people PM me about angering people and then being afraid to post or leaving altogether.
I had to break mine up by category but I'm going to make a stab at narrowing it down to just 10. (no particular order)
1. Vicky--brains, culture, great love affair, would've done great things if she'd been allowed
2. Ella--beautiful inside & out
3. Daisy--lovely inside and out; tirelessly worked on behalf of relatives and prisoners during WW1; universally beloved by family & country
4. Ena--pretty little princess who overcame adversity--especially in her marriage & family life--to become a strong, confident, stylish woman
5. Missy--beautiful, vain, kindly, artistic, left a great set of memoirs and worked tireless for her country
6. Fritz--strong, dedicated soldier; could've been a real gift to Germany if given the chance; dedicated husband and father
7. Queen Mary--long list of reasons (many of which I've gone over on various threads) but I admire a good number of her qualities and think she's more complex than given credit
8. GV--I admire the devotion to his country, his wife and understand his faults, though I don't excuse all them; like QM I think underappreciated for what he contributed to his country; outpouring at his Jubilee & funeral were immense even by today's standards
9. Alice Athlone--sense of duty combined with a great sense of humor--a real pip
10. leaving blank because I know as soon as I send I'm going to realize someone really obvious I left off the list--also because there are so many that would basically 'tie' for this one
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7. Queen Mary--long list of reasons (many of which I've gone over on various threads) but I admire a good number of her qualities and think she's more complex than given credit
8. GV--I admire the devotion to his country, his wife and understand his faults, though I don't excuse all them; like QM I think underappreciated for what he contributed to his country; outpouring at his Jubilee & funeral were immense even by today's standards
I certainly agree with these. I almost included them on my list. Queen Mary continues to fascinate, I think because there is that tantalizing feeling that there is so much more to her than we really know...just beneath the surface, almost seeable but wafting away in a lazy column of smoke if looked at directly. People will always be wondering "What was she really like?", as they do and will of her granddaughter the present Queen.
I think George V's grasp of constitutional matters has been overlooked or underestimated. I get the feeling that he was a wise old bird in this way.
Yes I'm sure Janet could. I saw the use of the >:( as rather a jumping on though. .
:D Yes, you are right, I could. Truthfully, though, I didn't take it as any kind of attack or anything. I thought it was just conversation.
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my choice:
1. Marie ,Queen of Romania-no further comment,i could write 100 pages of qualities yet all were already mentioned :)
2.Elisabeth ,Empress of Austria,Queen of Hungary-"a seagull entraped in a gilded cage"-also intelligence,beauty,grace+100 more qualities
3.Daisy of Sweden-most of the reasons were already listed:pretty,kind,she spread love and she was rewarded with love.a very lucky lady IMO
4.Ena ,Queen of Spain--lovely character,stylish person,kind,elegant,beautiful+...
5.Ella,Grandduchess of Russia--beautiful,faithful,interesting even when she became a nun and... my only Hessian option :-/
6.King George V --devotion +grandduchessella's reasons; ... aaaa + "the Missy thing":)
7.Queen Elizabeth,the Queen Mother--wonderful consort,lovely mother,grandmother and greatgrandmother.
8.Princess Diana:many faults but:beautiful,modern,charitable,she would have made a wonderful and beloved Queen.
9.Queen Alexandra:beautiful,beautiful,beautiful representative of what was called "the Belle Epoque "
10.Maud of Norway: most reasons listed before:elecance,a wonderful Queen in a new monarchy etc
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Lovely list Laura and great reasons!! :) :-* :-*
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thank you Eddie :) :-* would love to see your choice!...of course if this is not too hard,since i find this thread quite difficult.
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Your welcome Laura :) :-* I couldn't make a list, I just have so many favourites....ok let me try ;D ;D
1. Queen Victoria - very shrewd, know one got the better of her, and was very funny even though she didnt mean to be!! Once she was hissed at Ascot by a couple of Duchesses. She said they "aught to have been flogged!!!" that sort of thing makes me laugh! Also very loyal to her family. I love reading how she looked after Vicky.
2. Queen Mary - just wonderful. Very keen on history like me. A great Queen and looked wonderful in her jewels. devoted to her role and excellent at it. Sad she outlived so many but did so well to live until 1953!
3. Queen Alexandra - very kind! Sweet, loved animals like me. Very beautiful.
4. Dagmar - Knew how to be an Empress, and was tragic how her life turned out :'( :'(
5. Vicky - very nice, annoys me she had such hard time. Wrote beautiful letters and was very shrewd and kind. Wanted ALL her daughters to marry and be happy. Sad she died after such suffering and so soon after her mother.
6. Quen Elizabeth - A splendid Queen, now almost 80, still going strong and long may she. She's wonderful.
7. Empress Alix - well...just amazing! Love the fact that she never stopped acting like an Empress after 1917, call it arrogant, but I find that appealing!! She was a Princess from Hesse and had such a huge impact on the world. Was a great wife and mother in my opinion. So good to Nicky.
8. Marie Antoinette - Great Queen. Knew how to die when the time came. Saddens me she had such grief. love everthing about her life. Like her sister Maria Carolina too. :)
9. OTMA - Beautiful Grand Duchesses. Loyal to each other. Love looking at their photos. Coped well with hardship. Managed so admirably with their change of fortunes. Call it hero worshipping but they deserve to be saints. So much potential wasted...
10. Princess Marie Louise - It was this lovely princess that first got me interested in royalty after I found a picture of her, and i will never forget that.
Is that my ten already?? ;D ;D
Also my other favourites are..Edward VII, George V, Leopold, Beatrice, GD Xenia and Olga, Queen Mother, Madame Elisabeth (wonderfully loyal), Toria, Maud, Louise of Wales and Eddy (found their pictures in the barn and hung them on my wall)!! Victoria and Irene of Hesse. Princess Alice of Hesse - wonderful very humane.
Queen Sophie of Greece. Missy, amazing Queen. Ena. Ella!!
And dozens of others. All fascinating and all wonderful.
Still awake?? ;D ;D
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Great list Eddie! :D
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lol, thanks prince!! ;)
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i can't build a top ten, the order changes all the time. so here's a list of favorite royals, in no particular order:
henry 7th of england: i know, a very unlikely choice and no-one will ever agree with me, but he simply fascinates me. he was descending from a bastard, with no right to the throne, and yet he won it and kept it. and he managed to bring peace to his country, he raised it higher on the european diplomatic table after the so devastating wars of the roses... i could go on, he just seems like an amazingly interesting person... i've always been after the ones where there seems to be more than meets the eye
elizabeth 1st of england - so much like her grandfather, mentioned above, so much better known. tolerant, inteligent, a wonderful queen. i find it hard to imagine england being what it is today without her.
napoleon 2nd - such a sad short life. such prommise. such a shame.
prince alfred of edinburgh - everyone describes him as kind of rude. but my impression in missy's book was of a solitary man who had many interesting things to say when he actually wanted to (very rarely apparently). another 'more than meets the eye'
henry 4th of france - another king who brought peace to his country after devastating wars. everyone calls louis xiv the best french king. i disagree, i think henry was what france needed when it needed him, he made it stronger and louis xiv would have been nothing without him. also, a very interesting fellow, if you read about his personal life
queen victoria + prince alfbert - i just love their love story, their children, themselves
queen marie of romania - for my country, because she did so much good to it, for her fascinating life
it's kinda late and i can't think of any more royals. i would make an honourable mention with the borgias. they're not royals (unless you count lucrezia's marriage into the d'este family), but they are amazingly fascinating.
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wonderful list Eddie,that's a hard work there! :-*--the truth is that i find it so hard to chose just 10 Royals :)
Still awake?? ;D ;D
lol, NO! i read it this morning -a very pleasant surprise ;D :D :D
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Thank you Laura!! :-* :-*
Yes, i just find them all fascinating in their own way! Royalty is always interesting IMO!
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henry 7th of england: i know, a very unlikely choice and no-one will ever agree with me, but he simply fascinates me. he was descending from a bastard, with no right to the throne, and yet he won it and kept it. and he managed to bring peace to his country, he raised it higher on the european diplomatic table after the so devastating wars of the roses... i could go on, he just seems like an amazingly interesting person... i've always been after the ones where there seems to be more than meets the eye
Don't be so sure no one will agree! That's a great choice ilyala! :D I agree 100%.
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My top 10 favourite list :
1. King Ludwig II of Bavaria - My absolute favourite ! Haunting, fascinating & unhappy at heart. Disappointed with the world that surrounded him he took refuge in his own dream world, got caught and could never escape from there. And last, a very feminine reason, his beautiful haunting eyes !
2. Empress Carlota of Mexico - She was born the beautiful, clever, cultured daughter of a wealthy & respected King and yet her life was an endless succession of dramas. A truly tragic character !
3. Kaiser Karl I of Austria-Ungary "der Friedenskaiser" - The noblest of men at heart. He inherited a situation no one could have handled & yet did his utmost to stop WW1. Devoted to his country & fellow countrymen, exile killed him at the young age of 35. He died like a true Christian. I also greatly admire his wife Zita, a strong woman, who knew how to keep her head high & retained her dignity when humiliation & poverty looked at her in the face.
4. Sophie Charlotte, Duchess of Alençon - Heaven & earth fought for her possesion. Another great tragic character !
I am also a great admirer of her elder sister Marie Queen of Naples.
5. Queen Margherita of Italy - She truly was a born queen, knew her job & did it wonderfully well. I also admire her beauty & flamboyance.
6. Princess Clémentine of Saxe Coburg - Quite a character !
7. Queen Marie Amélie of the French (Clémentine's mother) - A loving wife & a caring attentive mother, she was the mainstay of her family who simply worshipped her. Talleyrand called her "la dernière grande dame d'Europe" and so she was !
8. King Louis XIV of France "the Sun King" - THE embodiment of greatness & power ! He showed all the others what "to be a king" meant.
I have a soft spot in my heart for his handsome great grandson Louis XV in spite of all the mistakes he made.
9. King Louis XVI of France & wife Marie Antoinette - Louis XVI was not the silly obese fool history wants to make of him but a good man, clever & well educated together as a good king. Marie Antoinette revealed her true self after the revolution had started. Her wonderful dignity in the face of adversity cannot but arise respect.
10. Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany - I devoted long chapters of my university thesis to Wilhelm & did a lot of research about him. I cannot help seeing the complexed, little boy asking for love behind all his actions as a man.
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In no order:
Marie of Battenberg (Erbach-Schonberg) - four larger than life brothers yet never eclipsed.
Empress Michiko - now thats what I call courage.
Henry V - read the play, see the film.
Elizabeth I - "...and I think foul scorn that any Prince... should dare invade the borders of my realm."
Vicky - "Vicky had an incurable tendency, one that experience failed to alter, to do exactly what she pleased and to speak her mind with arresting bluntness, indifferent if not oblivious to the consequences of her behaviour. She was charming and impressive but tryingly difficult."
From Cecil: Prince and Emperor
(According to my nearest and dearest, that also describes this contributor so accurately as to be uncanny - especially as we share the same birthday!)
Peter the Great - Colossus of history
The late King Hussein of Jordan - swoon
Fat Mary - irresistably endearing
Helen, Duchess of Albany - reasons as given elsewhere
Irene of Hesse - ditto. Probably my favourite of all QV's Gds.
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Great list Tdora! Why Irene? I like her too! :)
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Well, here is my list and I've tried to be a bit different. I've chosen personality over "niceness" in some cases 8)
Oh, and they aren't in any particular order;
1) Fat Mary; So she was fat, who cares, you go girl.
2) Anne Boleyn; darkly intelligent,sexually alluring, mysterious and truely fascinating.
3) Katherine Duchess of Kent; a sweet and beautiful Lady.
4) Isabeau of Bavaria,wife of Charles VI of France; incredibly powerful due to her husband's frequent bouts of insanity. Nothing "nice" about her but fascinating nonetheless.
5) Elizabeth II; in spite of her offspring :D and she looks like she is having such a wonderful time in Oz.
6) Christian IX of Denmark; The grandaddy of European Royalty.
7) Edward VII; he just makes me smile. :D
8) Henri IV of France; what a mother in law from hell he had! King of the "one-liners".
OK I am a Yorkist 8)
9) Edward IV; Randy, handsome and god-like but extremely shrewd.
10) Who else but Richard III of blessed memory; dark, mysterious,tragic and very much maligned.
Cheers Kim.
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Wonderful list Kim! :D
Your was good too, Tdora, though of course Shakespeare glorified Henry V a bit. ;)
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Shakespeare...look what he did to poor Richard :o
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I found 'favourite' such a broad definition that I just decided in the end to pick a broad bunch who represent a broad swathe of monarchy!
My reasons are therefore going to differ vastly.I am a huge fan of VMH and she should be in my top 10. However, sticking to the remit I'd given myself, Irene of Hesse got in instead because I have felt increasingly drawn to, and empathetic with her. More a 'favourite' in that way, although its an invidious thing to choose! I was 'introduced' to her through the lives of her sisters. I liked her quiet determination and support for her family, in the face of so much adversity, theirs and hers. The thread Irene of Prussia in the Hesse-Darmstadts has more of our discussions on her if you'd like to take a look.
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Don't be so sure no one will agree! That's a great choice ilyala! :D I agree 100%.
Ilyala - count me in too!
Re: Henry VII:
I was 10 and we'd just started the Tudors. I remember complaining to my teacher, standing in a class group in the Winter Dining Room at Hatfield House in 1976, that there was surely more to tell us about him than conjoining roses and sireing sons: we went more or less straight on to Henry VIII. We'd be given very little background on York/Lancs and the early Tudor period was therefore ignored. I had to get the info myself from library books in the end.
A much misunderstood and even underrated king.
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Tdora, come over to the Tudor thread and start a discussion on the
usurper, erm, King Henry VII. You would be most welcome ;)
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Kim - you will probably eat me alive but I will be soon there as I'm a
glutton for punishment delighted to be invited to discuss my choices and comments ;D
BTW I'm with you on Richard III
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;D ;D ;D
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I'm really more like AFI (American Film Institute) and need a top 100 list (well maybe not that bad). Just ten is way too hard.
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Ilyala - count me in too!
Re: Henry VII:
I was 10 and we'd just started the Tudors. I remember complaining to my teacher, standing in a class group in the Winter Dining Room at Hatfield House in 1976, that there was surely more to tell us about him than conjoining roses and sireing sons: we went more or less straight on to Henry VIII. We'd be given very little background on York/Lancs and the early Tudor period was therefore ignored. I had to get the info myself from library books in the end.
A much misunderstood and even underrated king.
wow, good to know that others like henry too :D
and kimberly, i have a nice and friendly neener neener neener to tell you, since henry did win
:D :D :D
kinda kidding
i'm more into the dark and mysterious people in history. henry surely is one of them :)
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Ilyala my darling, I will be sedate and graceful and answer you with a :P :P :P :P :P :P :P :P
ZAP ;D
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right back atcha kim ;D
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Thought I'd give this a bump up now that we can poll. :)
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'Twas between VMH and Missy at the end, Missy won by an inch. ;D
P.S--Tdora--totally with you on Michiko. To have the courage to defy that mother-in-law of hers...totally admirable.
On King Hussein of Jordan--I thought his Iranian counterpart(Mohamed Reza Pahvlavi) was much better looking when he was young. ;D
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On King Hussein of Jordan--I thought his Iranian counterpart(Mohamed Reza Pahvlavi) was much better looking when he was young. ;D
Aren't the majority of us? ;)
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But of course, Grace! Including me 8-) 8-)
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I'm bringing back an oldie but a goodie. While lurking I definitely enjoyed reading this.
In no particular order:
Ella: Such an inspiration. I'm not Orthodox, but I have a necklace with an engraving of her on it. Better at forgiveness than I will ever ne.
Missy: It's hard not to like her. There are many things that she did and believed that I don't agree with, but she was larger than life and exciting. The Angelinas and Britneys on today's tabloid covers have nothing on her. A movie star before there were movies.
Vicky: An intelligent woman that shared her opinions. Had she not been royal I can see her as one of those women like Mrs. Banks in Mary Poppins, championing the right for women to vote.
Alice of Hesse: I think Ella learned a lot from her in the way of faith and charity and love. Someone that thought of others before thinking of herself. The way she died was beyond tragic.
Queen Mary - I think Old Iron Drawers is a compliment. She was iron willed and strong, with a true dedication to duty. They don't make 'em like her anymore!
VMH - Ahh to be able to pick her brain. I love gossip and she loved to talk. I love that she thought that the concept of royalty was outdated but she was royal she was going to enjoy it while she could.
Fritz - For many reasons but mainly for the picture of him hugging his daughters while they sit on his lap. I think it's Sophie and Mossy. It's one of the sweetest pictures I've ever seen.
George VI - Broke the chain of bad parenting and had good relationships with his daughters. I'll ignore the fact that he was totally whipped. Took the burden of the throne during an unprecedented scandal and got the country through a horrific war.
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My favourite is the man I adore: Eddy
(http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m67/feliciavictorianumberthree/1img083c.jpg)
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Heeey long time no see!!! :D
I thought bringing you a nice collage, of some (favorit) Royals ladies. (Wearing some dazzeling jewels!! :o)
Hope you enjoy it all!!!
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f78/opzich/Bejewelled.jpg)
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f78/opzich/Bejewelled.jpg
Royal Netherlands :)
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Beautifully put together collage RN! I'm embarrassed to admit I don't recognise some of them by name, even though I know I've seen their faces! :-[ :)
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Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth of Belgium, Queen Victoria (Sweden), Missy, Queen Juliana, Countess of Paris, Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Maud
Queen Astrid, GDss Charlotte, GDss Victoria Feodorovna (Ducky), CPss Martha Norway, CPss Margaret Sweden, Queen Emma, Queen Ingrid, Queen Maud, Pss Victoria Wales (Toria), Queen Marie Jose. (The small, dark photo I don't recognize but it looks Beaton-ish)
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (?), Olga of Yugoslavia, Marina (Duchess of Kent), Queen Margherita (2 photos), Queen Alexandra, Empress Marie, Queen Elizabeth (Greece), Alice of Greece, Queen Sophia (Sweden), Princess Nicholas of Greece, Marie (Duchess of Coburg), Alice (Countess of Athone), Alexandra Kent, Queen Louise (Sweden), Princess Mary (Countess Harewood, Princess Royal), Empress Alexandra
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thank you for taking time to write their names i did not recognise some of them,granduchessella.
(BTW sorry for this useless post )
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I will give a list of my top ten (roughly) British Royals. I'm too tired to give reasons at the moment.
Prince Eddy
Queen Alexandra
Queen Adelaide (the nicest lady)
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
King William IV
Princess Victoria (Toria)
Prince John
George V
Edward VII
Louise Fife and Queen Maud of Norway
and many others, but I can't go past those ones.
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Golly, number 1's a shock!!! :o ;) ;D
I like everyone on your list, BF, except, I'm afraid, Bertie - though he had some good points.
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Hmm, Bertie - he had some good points - but some major shortcomings as well. Still I think he was fundamentally good. He had failings as a father, maybe particularly to Eddy - but I believe he was genuinely devastated at his death.
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Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth of Belgium, Queen Victoria (Sweden), Missy, Queen Juliana, Countess of Paris, Queen Wilhelmina, Queen Maud
Queen Astrid, GDss Charlotte, GDss Victoria Feodorovna (Ducky), CPss Martha Norway, CPss Margaret Sweden, Queen Emma, Queen Ingrid, Queen Maud, Pss Victoria Wales (Toria), Queen Marie Jose. (The small, dark photo I don't recognize but it looks Beaton-ish)
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (?), Olga of Yugoslavia, Marina (Duchess of Kent), Queen Margherita (2 photos), Queen Alexandra, Empress Marie, Queen Elizabeth (Greece), Alice of Greece, Queen Sophia (Sweden), Princess Nicholas of Greece, Marie (Duchess of Coburg), Alice (Countess of Athone), Alexandra Kent, Queen Louise (Sweden), Princess Mary (Countess Harewood, Princess Royal), Empress Alexandra
(The small, dark photo I don't recognize but it looks Beaton-ish)
That's HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester. :)
Thank's fore writing them all down gdella!!! I thought of doing it myself. But than I thought, a what the heck!!!. Let them guess who the are themself!! ;D :D
So you won todays price gdella!!!! ;) A beatifull portrait with signature of my favorit Royal lady 'HM Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands'. And a bouguet of flowers presented by her daughther (And another favorit) HRH Princess Juliana of the Netherlands. (Sorry it's no picture of Ella ;D)
And thank you Prince Lieven, fore the kind words. :)
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f78/opzich/img341.jpg)
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f78/opzich/img341.jpg
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f78/opzich/img342.jpg)
Royal Netherlands
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Thanks so much, RN. :) I thought it might be Alice (the cheekbones and all) but wasn't sure.
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I think this is a much nicer thread than the “dislike” one, so I decided to try to make a list of my “favourite royals”. Strangely enough, I feel it more appropriate to talk in pairs or couples than in individual terms, so I hope you will bear with me!
(1) Empress Zita and her son Archduke Otto (Zita was extraordinarily committed to the house of Habsburg, was extremely brave in accompanying Emperor Karl to Hungary in a vain attempt to regain the Hungarian Crown, was dignified, coped with numerous difficulties including exile, the death of her husband at such a young age, bringing up eight young children on her own, emigration to the USA during the Second World War etc etc. Archduke Otto because he did not rest on his laurels as Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary, but played an active role in the European Parliament and is still, at the age of 95, a very active and interesting character…a real gentleman. My absolute favourites!!)
(2) Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (An extraordinary double act that has been going on for over half a century. I especially admire their sense of duty and the tactfulness of the Queen. While I can’t claim that Prince Philip is exactly tactful, I do admire him for coping so well with the difficult position of prince consort for so many years, especially as he is a man of firm views and strong personality. I like the way he helped the Queen in the early days and used to make small jokes to make her smile, thus lessening the tension of official engagements which she initially found very stressful. I have no doubt that things were not always smooth within their marriage, thus I especially admire their tact and discretion in this regard and the fact that they remained together all these years. I also think Prince Philip was, and to some extent still is, an extremely handsome man. I think they did their best to be good parents, so I feel rather sorry about the way things turned out)
(3) King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth of Belgium (I especially admire how they rallied the country around them during the First World War. A studious, quiet man, Albert was disliked by his uncle, King Leopold II (another reason as to why I like King Albert I), but as the only male member of his generation he was crowned King of the Belgians upon Leopold 's death. After Albert’s tragic death in a mountaineering accident, Queen Elisabeth became a patron of the arts. During the German occupation of Belgium from 1940 to 1944, she used her German connections and influence to assist in the rescue of hundreds of Jewish children from deportation by the Nazis. After the war she was awarded the title “Righteous Among the Nations” by the Israeli government. During the 1950s, she aggravated the Americans by visiting Russia, China and Poland, trips that led to her nick-name: the “Red Queen”).
Those three (or should I say SIX??) are my absolute favourites. The “runners-up” are as follows:
(4) King Edward VII (I like him for his sense of humour…how many kings called themselves tum-tum”???)
(5) Archduchess Gisela of Austria (Despite being treated rather badly by her mother (Sisi), who never tired of describing her as “ugly”, and being married at quite a young age to a man her mother knew was somewhat difficult, she nevertheless coped quite well and comes across in her correspondence as an extremely well balanced personality)
(6) Folke Bernadotte, Earl of Wisborg (Grandson of Oskar II (1829-1907), King of Sweden and Norway, for his humanitarian work, which in the end cost him his life)
(7) Alexander II (for his reforms)
(8) Charles IV (He made Prague the capital of the Holy Roman Empire and was a great builder in that city, e.g. Charles University, Charles Bridge, Charles Square, Prague Castle and much of the cathedral of Saint Vitus, were completed under his patronage)
(9) Archduke Franz-Ferdinand and Sophie Chotek, Duchess of Hohenberg (I feel they had a rather raw deal, whatever way you look at it)
(10) Katherine, Duchess of Kent, for her kindness and compassion
Gosh, that took far longer than I expected!!!
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I thought Edward VII was called Tum Tum behind his back, and hated it? ???
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That's what I thought as well. He did have a sense of humor but not usually when directed at himself. One lady (I forget who) felt relaxed enough to call him 'Tum-Tum' to his face and got a withering glance and social banishment. Still, I have a fondness for Bertie as well, despite all his faults. His devotion to his sister Vicky (one of my favorites) especially endears him. That relationship could've splintered on the rocks of paternal preference, intellectual superiority, being on opposing sides of many political issues and wars, etc...but he was a steadying and comforting figure for his sister till the very end--even paying a visit to her just weeks after being King, knowing how ill she was.
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Wow! I do apologise if I have given false information (cringe, deep shame), but I was always under the impression that he used that term to describe himself and as he was a rather jovial sort of chap it sort of fits! I do know when his horse Minoru won the Derby in 1909 the crowd screamed "Good old Teddy" as he led the horse back to the winner's enclosure and he is said to have responded to the cheers by beaming all over his face. As "Tum-tum" lay dying, the Prince of Wales (shortly to be King George V) told him that his horse 'Witch of the Air' had won at Kempton Park to which he replied, "I am very glad". These are said to be his final words.
Does anyone know the ancedote about the buttered toast? I'm almost afraid to relate it just in case it is not true. Anyway, I do admire Edward VII, and I'm not at all surprised that he had such success with the opposite sex, although I do accept it must have been galling for Alexandra....
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What is the anecdote about the buttered toast?
I read somwhere a man called him ''tum-tum'' while they were all having a good time in a club, Bertie became very mad and had him thrown out of the club! He was a bit sensitive about his weight I think...
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QM and GV got rather irate about their (EVII and QA) perceived lack of domestic discipline whenever their brood were sent up to the Big House at Sandringham while the parents undertook their tours.
One reported favourite activity between the grandfather and the kids was that he let them race his buttered breakfast toast down the seams of his trousers. That and the banishment of the dreaded languages governess (during the India 1901 trip I think - QM had a good fret in her diary and letters about it - its in the 1950's biog by oooh GDE help me out I forgot!) went towards capturing the childrens' hearts.
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Yes - hilarious!!! They departed to Sandringham and left Madame Bricka behind, fuming in London!! James Pope Hennesseys official bio of Queen Mary recounts the story well!
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Oh of course - that buttered toast incident! I know that.
The wonderful TV miniseries "The Lost Prince" portrays the younger sons of QM and GV doing just that with their grandfather, it is the opening scene in fact of the first episode. Very cute it was. :)
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Eddie-Boy,thanks, of course! James P-H.
I know...' go to my room' :P
Mme Bricka did a pretty good job with her beloved Princess May, though. I'm going to post some quotes on QM's thread from an hilarious 20's hagiography on QM by a certain Kathleen Woodward, which if you can get through the lush prose actually contains some marginally worthwhile info..and I also want to get to the bottom of her terminal illness diagnosis too.
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JPH's bio on Queen Mary is one of the best royal bios ever, in my opinion. While it's a bit staid by today's standards and doesn't touch on some controversial issues, the in-depth look at the whole life of the subject (many bios just skip as quickly as possible towards being consort or monarch, depending on who a book is written about) and the skill of the writer really elevate it. You not only get a sense of Queen Mary's life from childhood on, but there are many stories about those around her. I wish more royal bios were like it.
QM was definitely driven up a wall but the lack of intellectual curiosity and artistic pursuits of her in-laws and spouse. Ironic that she, poor by royal standards, received such an exemplary education while the children of the heirs to the throne had a rather slap-dash one.
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Thanks to one and all for confirmation on the buttered toast anecdote! Delighted that my memory has not failed me altogether!
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QM was definitely driven up a wall but the lack of intellectual curiosity and artistic pursuits of her in-laws and spouse.
So true GD Ella - she couldn't believe it that George V had never visited Hampton Court!!!
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1.Queen Mary.
2.Tsaritsa Marie Feodorovna of the Russias.
3.The Queen Dona Sofia.
4.Queen Elizabeth II.
5.Diana,Princess of Wales.
6.Tsaritsa Alexandra Feodorovna.
7.Queen Frederika
8.Kaiser Wilhelm II
9.King Louis XV
10.Queen Elzabeth the Queen Mother.
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Hello Noelle, good list - I agree with most of them! What is it you like about the Kaiser? And wasn't Queen Frederika a bit of a hand full? :)
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So was Number 10 on Noelle's list too, according to some. ;) :D
I'm interested to know why Willy's on the "favourite" list of NR also - just out of curiosity!
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I greatly admire George V but he was not much of an intellect. A story I found quite amusing shows his lack of appreciation for art which Mary adored.
During one of his infrequent visits to the Tate Gallery, King George V called out to Queen Mary in quarterdeck tones: 'Come here, Mary. This will make you laugh.' And he pointed to a row of French Impressionists. ;D
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Hi you guys! Thanks for the compliments about my list.Well I like Kaiser Wilhem II and Queen Frederika,is because I like their look.Not necessarily their personalities.The Kaiser was such a "show-boy" who loved to put on a fabulous show that certainly would make anyone pay him a great deal of attention.Alot like Ms.Paris Hilton of late.His Majesty adored decorating himself with all those medals and orders.I know it sounds terribly superficial,but I like a Monarch that looks like a Monarch.As for Queen Frederika,I also like her because she was so glamorous and eccentric.And I deeply adore her daughter, H.M.Queen Sofia.So I feel some affection for her.The Queen of Spain turned out really well.I think Queen Frederika had something to do with that.
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My Favorites
1. Queen Mary (obviously :))
2. Queen Elizabeth II
3. Queen Alexandra
4. Empress Alexandra
5. King George V
6. King George VI
7. Queen Charlotte
8. Queen Olga of Greece
9. Queen Victoria Eugenie
10. Queen Sophie (Greece)
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Great list MR! I like Queen Sophie too, she seemed like such a nice lady and had a tough time :(
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Thanks for the compliment Eddieboy_uk! I'm very new to the forum so it's good to hear things like that!
As for Sophie, she is one of my absolute favorites. I don't know if you've read Born to Rule, but that's what sparked my interest (it includes great photos too). Sophie was an extraordinary woman who really did have some struggles. It was the Vicky in her that kept her going. ;)
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Yes MR!!! One of my favourite books!! I wish Vicky had lived longer to help Sophie through the tough times she sadly experienced.
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Sophie definitely suffered without the comfort of her mother who she depended so much on during her first years in Greece. If only Vicky had lived long enough to help Sophie with her exiles and the tragedy of her son's death. The book is also one of my favorites! My interest in Victoria Eugenie and Sophie really took off after reading it. The way the book is written is almost suspenseful and just makes you want to keep reading!
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MaryR--You have many of my favorites on your list as well. :)
Have you ever read Empress Frederick Writes to Sophie? It's a gathering of letters that Vicky wrote to Sophie from the time of her marriage until Vicky's death in 1901. While you don't hear Sophie's voice since it's only the letters to her, it gives a glimpse into some of what Sophie went through in her early years of marriage and how close mother & daughter were.
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Hi you guys! Thanks for the compliments about my list.Well I like Kaiser Wilhem II and Queen Frederika,is because I like their look.Not necessarily their personalities.The Kaiser was such a "show-boy" who loved to put on a fabulous show that certainly would make anyone pay him a great deal of attention.Alot like Ms.Paris Hilton of late.His Majesty adored decorating himself with all those medals and orders.I know it sounds terribly superficial,but I like a Monarch that looks like a Monarch.As for Queen Frederika,I also like her because she was so glamorous and eccentric.And I deeply adore her daughter, H.M.Queen Sofia.So I feel some affection for her.The Queen of Spain turned out really well.I think Queen Frederika had something to do with that.
I must say, the handsome, charismatic Kaiser was NOTHING like the filthy, disgusting and monuntally stupid Ms. Paris Hilton.
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It's great to know that we share some of the same favorites. :) I haven't read that book! Thank you for the suggestion. Born to Rule is a great book, but I would love to learn a little more about the relationship between Sophie and Vicky.
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My PERSONAL favourites:1-Queen Elizabeth 11.Queen of every country I've lived in.Still doing a sterling job after 55 years.Good on you old girl!2-Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.From scottish earls' daughter to[quote Hitler]the most powerful woman in Europe.Her iron fist in the velvet glove helped lead the RF and Britain through the abdication crisis,the depression and the war into a brave new world.3-Queen Mary.Truely Royal.4-Queen Alexandra.Her unique charm and beauty moved the profie of the RF to a better place.5-Queen Victoria.A brighter and more complex character than normally given credit.6-The Duke of Edinburgh,Prince Philip.Strong consort yet has carved out a relevant individual role for himself.7-George V1.Overcame physical and emotional difficulties & emerged as a caring King,father and leader.8- George V.Gruff sailor king.The right man to follow his father.Lead his country firmly through WW1.9-Edward V11.Strong understanding of the international and domestic political situation of his time.A dandy but elegant and dignified.10-Prince Albert.Good marriage ,good brain,helped guide his wife through her role.
'
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Welcome Victor. :)
Mary--the book can be hard to find at a good price nowadays. I've seen it going for over $100 now. If your library has it, or can get it through Interlibrary Loan, that may be the way to go until a decently price copy comes up. Theo Aronson's Grandmama of Europe also has some info on Sophie. I think both books were used as sources in Born to Rule.
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Thanks for the compliment Eddieboy_uk! I'm very new to the forum so it's good to hear things like that!
As for Sophie, she is one of my absolute favorites. I don't know if you've read Born to Rule, but that's what sparked my interest (it includes great photos too). Sophie was an extraordinary woman who really did have some struggles. It was the Vicky in her that kept her going. ;)
I wonder what you like about Queen Charlotte, MR, for her to be one of your favourites? She seems a bit mean to me in what I have read of her.
8- George V.Gruff sailor king.The right man to follow his father.Lead his country firmly through WW1.
Well it is the way fate ended up making it, however Eddy was born the right man to follow his father. I really think Eddy could have done just as good a job leading his country firmly through WW1, he was a good man too!
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basilforever I have to agree with you.Even though Ps. Eddie is not on my top10 list he does remain on of the great 'what ifs' of the RF.I know some members say it is pointless to speculate I find it useful sometimes.I belive Eddie would have developed into an excellent leader.His youthful indulgences would have passed.Doesn't the signature of one of the discussion forum members quote William Blake 'The road of excess leads to the Palace of Wisdom'.With his training and background,the example of his grandmother and father and with May of Teck at his side he would have acheived great things.
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Yes absolutely! :) By 1892, he had received a lot more training than George and G. coped fine when his turn came, as E. would have.
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Queen Charlotte was devoted to her country helping to keep the monarchy afloat during some turbulent times. She was patient during her husband's illness and went through a time where she had bad relations with her son the prince of wales (like Queen Mary). I have also read that she was somewhat abrupt but I like her all the same. :)
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Top Ten Living British Royals :
Undoubtedly topped by Queen Elizabeth II and then
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Princess Anne, Princess Royal
The Earl of Wessex
Princess Alexandra of Kent
Prince Michael of Kent
The Duke of Gloucester
The Duchess of Gloucester
The Duchess of Kent
Prince William
20th century deceased British Royals : (in no particular order)
Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
Queen Mary
Queen Alexandra
Edward VII
George V
George VI
Marina Duchess of Kent
Princess Marie-Louise
George Duke of Kent
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon
Top 10 Living European Royals - reigning houses
King Carl XVI Gustav of Sweden
King Juan Carlos I of Spain
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark
King Harald V of Norway
King Albert II of Belgium
Queen Sonja of Norway
Queen Silvia of Sweden
Queen Sofia of Spain
Prince Henrik of Denmark
Top Ten European Royals - non-reigning
King Michael of Romania
Queen Anne of Romania
King Constantine of Greece
Queen Anne Marie of Greece
Prince Alexander II of Serbia
Princess Katherine of Serbia
Dr Otto von Habsburg
Princess Alexia of Greece
Prince Nicholas of Greece
Prince Michael of Greece
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Top 19th Century British Royals
Queen Victoria
Prince Albert
Princess Beatrice, Princess Henry of Battenberg
Princess Charlotte of Wales
Queen Adelaide
Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Henry of Battenberg
Princess Alice
Princess Louise
Duchess of Albany
Top 19th Century European Royals :
German Kaiserin Friedrich
German Kaiser Friedrich III
King Ludwig II of Bavaria
Tsar Alexander III of Russia
Tsarina Maria Feodorovna of Russia, Princess Dagmar of Denmark
King Pedro V of Portugal
King Consort Ferdinand of Portugal
King Leopold I of Belgium
Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary
Empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary
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Royals:
1. Diana of Wales- she was beautiful inside and out, an awesome huminatarian and caring for all of those around her
2. Queen Victoria- even though I wish India had had it's independence, Victoria showed everyone that women CAN do something, and she became Empress of India, the center of economy . . .
3. Olga Alexandrovna- she set up her own life after the revolution
4. Princess Charlotte of Wales- Her life ended too early---another monarch we never had
5. Tsarina Marie Feodorovna of Russia- she was a stunning woman and had immense style
6. Edward VII- Abdicating the throne for love should definitely get him on your fave royal list.
7. HM Queen Elizabeth II- admirable and influential
8. Alexandra Feodorvna, Tsarina of Russia nee Alix of Hesse- The woman is pitiable; she had a tragic childhood, and to come to a country where people exclude you . . . she was frightened because of Alexei's illness, and though very stubborn i don't blame her. The end was even more tragic for her, just another reason how hard it's being royal . . .
9. Xenia Alexandrovna Romanova, Grand Duchess of Russia- she stayed strong after her husband ditched her
10. Prince William & Harry- Both of them are smart men, and so good at making their mother's memory stay alive.
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Yes Princess Charlotte of Wales was such a sad case. I think had she and her still born son survived things would have gone well as she deeply loved her wise husband Prince Leopold, later King Leopold I of the Belgians. The monument to her in St.George's Chapel at Windsor Castle is so deeply touching. It is to be doubted that either mother of baby would have died if modern medicine has been available. I think she would have just had a caesar birth.
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Poor Charlotte, she died so young . . . though if she became Queen then the throne would not have been available for Victoria. But just imagine how her husband Leopold felt . . . losing a baby and his wife. :'(
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Top ten royal women:
1.Queen Alexandra of Uk ( Alix ) - because she still beutiful even in her last years
2.GD Elisabeta Feodorovna of Russia (Ella) - because she was a saint and help poor people
3. Queen Marie of Romania (Missy) - because of her beauty and love for her peole
4. GD Maie Nikolaievna ( Masha)- because she was an angel
5. Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sisi) - for her beauty and tragic life
6. Empress Alexandra of Russia (Alix) -For her tragic life
7. Pricess Diana Of Wales- for her kindness
8.Empress Maria Feodorovna ( Minny)- for her courage and grace
9. Quenn Helen of Romania- For her Cinderella life
10. Queen Astrid - for her tragic death
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1. Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna - because she gave everything up to help others. She was determined to be something other than the rank she was born to. And who could forget her flawless beauty.
2. Victoria, Marchioness of Milford-Haven - She was no-nonsense and met every obstacle with guts.
3. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna - For having strong convictions - she may not have know how to pick her battles, but she never compromised her beliefs.
4. Princess Alice of Greece - Who wouldn't love a chain-smoking nun? And we must never forget she aided Jews during WWII.
5. Princess Louise of Great Britain - for following her own path.
6. Queen Alexandra of Great Britain - for her great beauty, her devotion to her children, and her ability to hold her head up although she had a philandering husband.
7. Queen Mary of Great Britain - for her fierce sense of devotion and respect for the crown.
8. Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden - for her sweet-seeming disposition and her untimely death.
9. King George V - for his devotion to crown and country and his sweet awkward devotion to Queen Mary.
10. Queen Victoria - for giving us all these people.
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Not necessarily in order:
1) Elizabeth I (Very intelligent and astute)
2) Elizabeth II (Devotion to duty)
3) Queen Alexandra (MY ALIX! Except for her treatment of Toria, she is far and away my favorite royal! The faithfulness to her God--God she have to had prayed a lot having a hubby like Bertie/Edward VI. Then after that there's the beauty, the coifs, the clothes, the CDVs, her clothes during any fashion period, her wedding dress, the clothes and did I say...)
4-6) The Next Emperor and Empress of Japan and their Daughter Aiko! This family has knocked the current House of Windsor off the map Except for the Queen, Princes William & Harry and the Wessex branch.
7) GDElla -- Someone tell me she didn't get the Passion Bearer rank? I'm not sure (Before she became a nun great clothes and the patience with a husband I think many didn't understand why she married.) And anybody with the pastachios to fend of WilhelmII.
8) Tsarevich(sp) Alexei Romanov (I like all NII&AF's kids but he has a special place.)
9) Diana, Princess of Wales--One of my clothing role models. A real modern woman in every way!
10) The last of the Ptolemy Monarchs--Queen Cleopatra!!
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Your 4-6 choices interest me, Alix of W hP, since I had Empress Michiko on my Top 10 list too (way back when - dunno if it survived the re-organisations during which so much content bit the dust). I admire her bravery and dignity and resilience in face of unimaginable expectation and stress. The Japanese imperial 'system' and flunkeys were of no help. From her engagement she had hugeoibstacles - being a 'commoner', the stresses of the era post-War on both the nation and the throne and its continuation. She had to come through severe mental and emotional crises without opportunity to remove or even have lessened the factors which almost crushed her. Oh, and I thought she was beautful too...
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Your 4-6 choices interest me, Alix of W hP, since I had Empress Michiko on my Top 10 list too (way back when - dunno if it survived the re-organisations during which so much content bit the dust). I admire her bravery and dignity and resilience in face of unimaginable expectation and stress. The Japanese imperial 'system' and flunkeys were of no help. From her engagement she had hugeoibstacles - being a 'commoner', the stresses of the era post-War on both the nation and the throne and its continuation. She had to come through severe mental and emotional crises without opportunity to remove or even have lessened the factors which almost crushed her. Oh, and I thought she was beautful too...
You got that right as far as the Japanese imperial system. Fortunately Pss Kiko had her son last year; hopefully they'll get off of CP Masako's back.
Fortunately the last 3 Princesses of Wales had their male children asap, MF of Russia too.
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In no particular order...
1. Queen Victoria
2. Elizabeth 2nd
3. Alice of Hesse/UnitedKingdom
4. Prince Harry
5. Alexandra Feodorovna
6. Ella Feodorovna
7. Katherine Parr
8. Edward VII
9. Queen Alexandra
10. Eleanor of Aquitaine (sp?)
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In no particular order...
1. Queen Victoria
2. Elizabeth 2nd
3. Alice of Hesse/UnitedKingdom
4. Prince Harry
5. Alexandra Feodorovna
6. Ella Feodorovna
7. Katherine Parr
8. Edward VII
9. Queen Alexandra
10. Eleanor of Aquitaine (sp?)
But Why??? Can you give us statememnt about each of your choices????
Tampabay
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In no particular order...
1. Queen Victoria
2. Elizabeth 2nd
3. Alice of Hesse/UnitedKingdom
4. Prince Harry
5. Alexandra Feodorovna
6. Ella Feodorovna
7. Katherine Parr
8. Edward VII
9. Queen Alexandra
10. Eleanor of Aquitaine (sp?)
But Why??? Can you give us statememnt about each of your choices?
Almost everyone there, I love for their personality. Queen Victoria, she held such strong opinions, expressed them in no uncertain terms and as a woman held her prescence for so long. I just love QVs personality.
Alice of Hesse because she was such an angel. Like her mother, had a strong character but was so, (in an quote borrowed from a description of Alexandra) 'beautiful, tranquil and dignified.' She had a wonderful way with words, her letters are just enchanting. And she died so long before her time...again I just love her personality.
Elizabeth 2nd, because she's the Queen and I just like her. I'm not sure exactly why. I love Harry just cause he's awesome.
Alexandra F, because she's just a fascinating, and such a complicated character, to me anyway. Such a tradgic life.
Ella because of her selflessness, her charity, and her general character. Strong like her mother and grandmother, yet gentle and forgiving. There's somthing incredibly...romantic, I don't know how else to word it about her visiting Serge's assasin in prison. It's the sort of thing you hear about is stories.
Edward VII, because as someone above me stated, giving up the throne for love's gotta make you like him.
Katherine Parr, because she managed to put up with Henry in such a dignified and loyal way for four years, despite being in love with someone else. And she had such 'moral rectitude' as it says on wiki.
Queen Alexandra, because she was such a beauty, and had such a sense of style and poise that you can't help admire her.
Eleanor of Aquitane, because she, even more than anyone else was born into a world domanited by men, but managed to hold her own and was determined to do what she pleased. And it payed off.
Now, I look at my list I realize all but 2 are woman. I'm not really that much of a femenist. It wasn't intentional.
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Ummmm, do you mean Edward VIII. I think you missed an "I" off. ;)
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Yes, I do. Sorry
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1. Vicky of Germany: a beautiful and intelligent woman ! Also a real artist.. :)
2. Edward VII 'Bertie': he reinstalled all the court ceremomies that his mother had so long neglected and was the chef of the most brilliant court of Europe.
3. Christian IX of Denmark: head of one of the most interesting royal families of Europe
4. Queen Victoria: too many reasons
5. Queen Alexandra: she looked at her sixtieth like she was thirty
6. Missy of Roumania: a wonderful woman and artist
7. Daisy of Connaught: a great princess and a loving mother
8. Maria Feodorovna 'Minny': a magnificent empress
9. Queen Louise of Denmark 'Aunt Swan': I don't think she is an ugly woman, we have to feel sorry for her :(
10. Queen Astrid of Belgium: how sad she died so young
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9. Queen Louise of Denmark 'Aunt Swan': I don't think she is an ugly woman, we have to feel sorry for her :(
Strange reasons to have someone on one's "favourite" list, but each to their own, I guess!
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This is hard, I'm just gonna start with a regular top 10
1. Diana, Princess of Wales: because she was such a kind person and did chance the English Monarchy and the world for the good.
2. Queen Astrid of Belgium: because she had a gentle and loving heart, cared for the poor and had a huge impagt on the Belgians
3. Empress Elisabeth of Austria: She was no saint I know, but she just had an impact on me and showed you don't have to sit back when life is out your hands
4. Tsarevich Alexei: because he had such a hard, yet protected life, and became victim of the revolution along with his parents and sisters while being innocent.
5. Grand Duchess Elisabeth Feodorovna: because she did so much for the poor, was a kind person and became also victim of the revolution
6. Tsar Alexander II: because he tried to change Russia, and eventually would pay for it with his life
7. King Albert I of Belgium: because he didn't sit back when the war started and choose to join his soldiers on the battlefield
8. Princess Marie-Thérèse-Charlotte of France: because she had such a tragic life, she lost her whole family and lived the rest of het life in exile
9. Queen Marie Antoinette of France: she came to France to be the next Queen, despite her faults she tried to be a good Queen, was a good mother and had such a tragic end
10. Princess Gracia of Monaco: because she gave name to the country and had to leave everything she loved to live her life in a far country
and now the English Royal-list:
1. Princess Diana: reason listed above
2. Queen Elizabeth I: because she turned out to be a great ruler and did allot for England.
3. Queen Victoria: because she ruled over 70 years and bounded the English Court with prominent ones in the world
4. King George V: because he was the only remaining ruler, allong with King Albert I of belgium after the first World War
5. Prince John: because the little Prince had such a tragic life, and lived his life with pleasure and fune despite his ilnesses
6. Prince William: because in my opinion he has all the good qualities of his mother, and may be a great King for England, and cares for the people
7. Vicotria, Princess Royal and Empress of Prussia: because she just had to live in a strange and far Court with other costumes
and to be honest I am out of my favorites now :-[
I'll have to think it over:p and add the others later
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1. Empress Leopoldina of Brazil - For all she suffered in his husband's hand (he was a bad husband to her) and because she was very gentle and intelligent.
2. Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich - Because he was sweet and died so young and also because of his illness (I have pity of the boy).
3. Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna - Because she was very elegant.
4. Princess Grace of Monaco - Because she left all she loved by the love of her life and for her new country.
5. Tsar Nicholas II - Because of the love he had for his family and the love for his country.
6. Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna - Because she was gentle and because she was very elegant.
7. Emperor Pedro II of Brazil - Because he was shy, gentle and wiser.
8. Prince Albert Victor of Wales - Because he was a good person and I think if he had lived he would be a good King.
9. Tsarina Alexandra (Alix of Hesse) - Because the way she suffered by the disease of her son.
10. King George V - Because the love he had for his wife.
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I have too many specific reasons why I love each person on these lists but I have to make my post short.
Top 10 Romanovs:
1) Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia - I can't say how lovely and adorable they are - I'm tripping for words! Their sisterhood is exceptional. I won't separate them even in this ranking.
2) Tsaritsa Alexandra Feodorovna (Alix of Hesse) - she was a great Empress for me, a pity she didn't get credit she deserves; great wife, mother, friend, madame of the palace (she cared for the servants honestly!); her introvertedness is very much the same as mine that's why I totally understand her ; Devotion to God
3) Nicholas II- I wish to find a husband like him (better than he was!!); great Emperor if only he were allowed to prove himself
4)GD Elisabeth Feodorovna - for reasons reiterated in this thread; Devotion to God
5) GD Alexandra Nikolaevna - she's totally adorable and I'm looking much much forward for Dru's book about her!
6) Empress Elisabeth Alexeievna- fascinating life story
7) GD Olga Nikolaevna (Duchess of Württemberg) - wonderful life story, too, and she did lots for her duchy
8) Alexei - Such a sweet boy, very strong in face of the dangers he went through; matured most especially during the war and captivity - I see a great Tsar material in him had he been given a chance
9) Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark) - I hate how she treated her DIL Alix but she's interesting because of her life story
10) Alexander I - He opposed one decision in the Congress of Vienna and didn't allow the international bankers to create a branch of their sinister bank in the Russian soil ( a pity this step has been paid off by the "execution" of my most beloved family among all monarchs from past to present and future)
Top 10 other monarchs:
1) Astrid, Queen of the Belgians - Very interesting! Very good inside. Not a ravishing beauty but she's very beautiful in my eyes! Wonderful wife (I feel jealous of her love story and married life with her Leopold). The original People's Princess!
2) Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary - A complicated personality and tragical life she had! Very fascinating!!
3) Queen Alexandra of UKGB - Very amicable, beautiful; patience and understanding as a wife for an unfaithful husband deserves my applause.
4) Diana, Princess of Wales - tragic life story; I totally wished she was able to marry Hasnat Khan-their love story was so painful because she died before Hasnat could let her know how much he loved her :' (
5) Grace of Monaco - Beautiful! I am jealous of her married life with her Rainier (but oh what rebellious children she had- result of over indulgence in love for them)
6) Baudouin and Fabiola - these lovebirds! When Fabiola died, I felt sad but I thought "She's reunited with her Baudouin again- that's lovely."
7) Albert I, King of the Belgians - one of the best monarchs to rule in the history, imo.
8) Queen Anne Marie of Greece - Beautiful and such a sweet person! Adorable married life with her Constantine!
9) Queen Mathilde of the Belgians - Classy and elegant! Beautiful and a great queen, imo.
10) Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg - Their "you and me against the world" love story is wonderful! Great rulers of their country, too~
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3) Nicholas II- [...] ; great Emperor if only he were allowed to prove himself
He was Emperor and Autocrat for 22 years and you don't think that's being allowed to prove oneself? He needed to reign for a century and have the unlimited powers of an Ivan the Terrible or Peter the Great for people to see how good he really was?
10) Alexander I - He opposed one decision in the Congress of Vienna and didn't allow the international bankers to create a branch of their sinister bank in the Russian soil ( a pity this step has been paid off by the "execution" of my most beloved family among all monarchs from past to present and future)
You mean the Rothschilds? And are you implying the murder of the Romanovs was a conspiracy of Jewish international finance?
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10) Alexander I - He opposed one decision in the Congress of Vienna and didn't allow the international bankers to create a branch of their sinister bank in the Russian soil ( a pity this step has been paid off by the "execution" of my most beloved family among all monarchs from past to present and future)
You mean the Rothschilds? And are you implying the murder of the Romanovs was a conspiracy of Jewish international finance?
And perhaps you're not aware that Russia had its own Rothschild equivalents. (Why import Jews when you have a whole Pale of Settlement full?) Joseph Günzburg / Gintsburg was a Russian / Polish / Belarussian Jew who got rich during the Crimean War, founded the Gintsburg Bank in St. Petersburg which was involved in all kinds of financial and industrial projects in the Russian Empire and was made a baron by Alexander II's brother-in-law, the Grand Duke of Hesse.
A similar Jewish banking family from Russia are the Ephrussis.
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9) Queen Mathilde of the Belgians - Classy and elegant! Beautiful and a great queen, imo.
Agreed. I also love her, along with Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg, for being aristocrats. Stéphanie also for knowing Russian and Mathilde for her chic retro hauteur (unintended), in speaking the majority language, in the country of her birth, worse than the foreign commoners who have married into other RFs! She really sounds so garishly cute when she speaks Dutch!
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About my #10 in other monarchs- It must be Grand Duke Henri.
Pryevyed, about the killing of NII's family, yes, I believe that conspiracy. I will never be anti-Semitic. Honestly that family aren't real Jews. Their ancestors just converted into Jewish religion. They're not practicing Jewish religion, too.
I am sorry I can't comment to everything you said. It's hard to type replies with this mobile phone I have, and I'm outside in the sun. My eyes are squinting and head, aching.. I'm so sorry.
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Pryevyed, about the killing of NII's family, yes, I believe that conspiracy. I will never be anti-Semitic. Honestly that family aren't real Jews. Their ancestors just converted into Jewish religion. They're not practicing Jewish religion, too.
OK, you get your theories from the sites that claim the Rothschilds are originally Khazars?
BTW here is something fun for you:
The Norwegian constitution of 1814 famously banned Jews from entering the realm. (Not so much out of anti-Semitism, but as you point out with regard to Alexander I, out of fear of international finance, which the very weak Norwegian economy would be very vulnerable to). The newborn Norwegian state was broke and had to borrow money. The only one who was willing to risk his capital on this shaky venture was the Danish-Anglo Jewish banker Hambro. But since he was not allowed into the country, Norwegian politicians had to meet him at the Norwegian-Swedish border to negociate the loan!