Messages

1

The Windsors / Re: Andrew, Duke of York

« on: August 26, 2013, 08:46:44 AM »

I agree with Chris that she should be given royal etiquette lessons but I don't think it will happen. If she would keep her mouth shut, stay away from the wine and learn how to handle her bank account, she has a chance, but no, it won't happen.  Leopard's don't change their spots.  Do you think this  announcement was timed because there may be an engagement for Beatrice?  If so, Prince Philip couldn't stop her from being at the wedding.

2

The Windsors / Re: Prince William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

« on: January 11, 2013, 12:19:17 PM »

I agree, the portrait is not becoming. Showing bags under the eyes, small wrinkles and tired eyes, it really looks like a passport photo.  I think they could have found a better artist to do the portrait.

3

Their World and Culture / Re: Royal & Imperial Mourning Customs & Funerals

« on: February 20, 2012, 09:01:35 PM »

For a russian imperial funeral (emperor, grand dukes,duchesses), did the women have a mourning court dress that they would wear to the church services before the funeral and then at the funeral itself? Would the dresses be off the shoulder like other court dresses or were the shoulders and arms covered?

4

Their World and Culture / Re: The War, 1914-1918: What was it called? And when?

« on: February 02, 2012, 04:12:13 PM »

The terms "World War I and World War II" were not used in the U.S. until after 1945.  During the 1920's and 30's the first war was commonly referred to as "the war".  Into the late 1930's and after the invasion of Poland in 1939, the Americans referred to the "war in Europe".   When the U.S. entered in 1941, it really was a world war but again, it was referred to as "the war". It wasn't until after the surrender of the Japanese in 1945 that the term WWI and WWII were used and I think that came from one of the major news magazines (Time or Newsweek) that started it.  When I lived in France, the french referred to the first war as "the war of 14-18" and then "the second war".  Correct me if I'm wrong but I think in Russia WWII is referred to as "the great patriotic war".

5

Russian Noble Families / Re: Nadezhda Dmitrievna Wonlar-Larsky

« on: February 01, 2012, 08:19:23 AM »

In Nadezhda Wonlar-Larsky's memoirs, she stated that in 1910 a "deep tragedy overtook the Larsky family and shipwrecked their lives". It was too painful and too personal to discuss in the book but it seems they were ostracized in St. Petersburg for several years and finally the first person to visit her was the GD Olga Alexandrovna.  I know this is a shot in the dark but does anyone know what happened?

6

The Windsors / Re: Prince William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

« on: January 18, 2012, 07:34:30 PM »

I don't either!  I think it's entirely media-generated.  Catherine is not playing their game, i.e. giving them lots of candid photo opportunities whilst out and about like Diana did - she is either outsmarting them or is being better protected - that's why they're still focussing on Pippa all these months after the wedding and she's not really doing anything of interest besides just being a normal young woman.  Pathetic!

Catherine isn't outsmarting the media, she hasn't reached that level yet, but William is very protective of her.  I understand that his office has already come down on some of the tabloids for being rather catty about her smiling and the press being unjust about the girl guides.

7

Iberian Royal Families / Re: Iñaki and Christina,Duke and Duchess de Palma de Mallorca

« on: January 05, 2012, 11:56:54 AM »

Lucien,
Since Princess Christina's name is associated with this "charity", how is the Royal family handling her involvement or non-involvement in this scandel?  I personally don't think she was involved in this, it was Inaki and his partners who were up to no good.

8

The Imperial Family / Grand Duke Peter Nikolaevich "killed in a duel"?

« on: December 12, 2011, 06:16:58 PM »

While doing research , I was looking throught the Washington Post archives and found an article from Dec. 1892 that stated that "Count" Peter Nikolaevich, son of the late G.D. Nickolai Nikolaevich (brother of the late czar), quarrelled with an american at the casino in Monte Carlo, fought a duel with pistols on the seashore the following morning and was killed.   We all know the story is false and he lived a fairly long life, but has anyone else heard this story?

9

The Windsors / Re: Prince William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

« on: December 01, 2011, 09:53:34 AM »

No, Duchess Catherine or Duchess Kate is not appropriate but that is better than some of the titles the British tabloids are using.  To many, she's still Kate Middleton and (when lumped with her sister), "The Middle-class Middleton's" and the wisteria sisters.  I'm still trying to figure if the British press likes her or not and since her sister signed this enormous book deal on party planning, they want to put the duchess down as much as her sister. 

10

Their World and Culture / Re: Kissing the hand (baise-main)

« on: November 13, 2011, 02:32:46 PM »

When a Russian empress or grand duchess offered her hand for a kiss by somebody outside the close court circle, it was considered a great grace and a matter of pride. The lucky guy boasted "I've been admitted to the little hand!" [был допущен к ручке!].

  That's what I wanted to know.  So it was really just the imperial perogative whether they would give their hand or not.

11

Their World and Culture / Re: Kissing the hand (baise-main)

« on: November 13, 2011, 02:29:10 PM »

Not sure how reliable this was, but when I was learning German at school in the mid-1970s, our German textbook informed us that when in Vienna it was the done thing for a gentleman to greet a lady with, 'Kuss die Hand, gnadige Frau,' (sorry about the umlauts) but not do any actual handkissing. So when Herr Whatever greeted his inamorata in this fashion she declared, 'Ach, du bist ganz Osterreicher.'

Ah, the things you remember from being 15!

Ann

Oh how I love that!!  Aren't those Vienesse suave!

12

Their World and Culture / Re: Kissing the hand (baise-main)

« on: November 12, 2011, 06:23:37 PM »

This article states that a man's lips never touch the hand and he doesn't look at the woman's eyes when he gives the baise-main but, for heaven's sake, don't look at her low neckline!  If a man greets a group of women, he should greet each of them with the baise-main, but if one of the women is of high class and who is also older and more venerable than the other women present, he will greet that particular woman and is not obliged to greet the others with the baise-main.

13

Their World and Culture / Re: Kissing the hand (baise-main)

« on: November 12, 2011, 05:43:20 PM »

I found an austrian website (but it's written in French) that gives the rules and conditions for giving the "perfect" baise-main.  The viennese consider themselves the experts  at giving the baise-main which was brought to the austrian imperial court from Spain.
[url]www.piaristenkeller.ar

14

Their World and Culture / Kissing the hand (baise-main)

« on: November 10, 2011, 06:21:38 PM »

When a member of royalty (female) was introduced to a man (ex. a general or governor)  for the first time, would she extend her hand for the baise-main and then pull the hand away or would it be more appropriate to offer the hand after she had already made his acquintance or would just a nod of the head be sufficient?  Also, when presented to a woman for the first time, would the same rule apply?

15

The Windsors / Re: King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson (Duke and Duchess of Windsor)

« on: September 02, 2011, 07:14:36 AM »

The funeral was a beginning for the Queen Mum. She followed through by sending her flowers (roses) with a card "In Friendship Elizabeth" to Wallis in Paris and even thought of visiting Wallis during her trip to Paris. However by that time, Wallis was already too sick to receive her. The book that carried the information was "Royal Feud" in which the author finally admitted that the Queen Mum co-operated with  him with information. So she did finally forgave her.

  Eric, thank you for that information.  If Wallis had been in better health, how do you think she would have taken this gesture?