Re: Cousin Toria

[Jane]

I am unsure whether "Toria" did leave behind any memoirs--if she did, someone around here is bound to know!  

I know very little about her, myself.  It was probably a very difficult life that she led.  Most historical works paint her as a rather sad old sour "spinster," simply because it's such an easy cariacture (gee I hope I spelled that right) to lean back on.  I suspect she was a much more complicated person than simply "poor Toria."  She suffered from poor health, as did both of her sisters.  I know she apparently nursed an unrequited passion for one gentleman in her brother's government.  And her mother certainly expected her to be a constant companion.  I've always felt rather sorry for her in a way--she seems to have been kept on a bit of a leash by her mother.

Jane

[Janet Whitcomb]

Far too many young royal women seem to have become "servants" to their mothers.  Among the most famous: Queen Victoria's youngest daughter, Beatrice, acted as her mother's lifelong assistant, but also was able to marry--very much against her mother's wishes, at least at first--and have a family, before eventually becoming widowed.

Olga Alexandrovna seemed to be headed in the same direction as Toria; her mother did marry her off, but since the marriage was a sham, her situation wasn't much better than Toria's. Fortunately, Olga--like Beatrice--not only fell in love, but also showed some mettle and was able to forge her own life.  

Toria was not as fortunate, and many people have remarked upon her mother's selfishness, despite the fact that Queen Alexandra was otherwise very much loved, respected, and admired.  

I have read that Toria had something of a youthful crush on Tsarevich Nicholas.  As she continued to act as "glorified secretary" to her mother, she did keep albums which included many photos of Nicky and Alix's children.  Upon her death her brother, George V, is said to have been inconsolable.

[Ilana]

I believe the unrequited love for Toria was Lord Roseberry.

She did grow up to be a very stylish looking woman with a lovely figure.  I believe she would have loved to have gotten married and away from her mother.  So many people remarked that she spent her time being spiteful, esp. towards Queen Mary because of her confining life.

Oh, and as far as I know, there are no memoirs.

[Janet Whitcomb]

Yes, Ilana, I've read in several places--can't remember them now, sorry!--that Toria's last hope was that gentleman.

For my money Toria was prettier than either of her sisters. The spitefulness people talk about is to be expected if a woman isn't allowed to live her life in any other way than "a glorified maid" to her dear, deaf, frequently befuddled mama. (I think I'm quoting Olga Alexandrovna when it comes to the "glorified maid" bit.)

Despite whatever verbal sharpness or sulks, depression, etc., Toria might have displayed, I still think of her as a beautiful young woman, but definitely "on the shelf" and, as a career spinster, one who continued to keep photobooks of  other people's children.  Likewise, it is of some comfort to remember that she and her brother, King George, were close, and that until her death they would enjoy long and often humorous phone conversations.  

[Ilana]

Janet, I agree with you... from her childhood pics, you would never believe that she would grow up to be the beauty she was... but there are some really stunning pictures of her in beautiful gowns, wonderful figure and hair, looking just great.

[Sarai_Porretta]

She was definitely buried at Frogmore Royal Burial Ground in Windsor Great Park. I have read that in February 1937, Queen Mary commissioned a gravestone for her.

Here is a bit of history I found on the Royal Burial Grounds (from http://mypage.uniserve.ca/~canyon/frogmore.html): "In the grounds just outside the royal mausoleum is a statue of Christ.  It was commissioned by Queen Alexandra in 1903 as a tribute to her mother-in-law, Queen Victoria.  This enclosed parcel of land, immediately south and adjacent to the royal mausoleum, was consecrated in October 1928. [...] The royal burial ground is never open to the public.  An information board nearby indicates who is buried in the enclosure."

[grandduchessella]

I agree that Toria has been sadly maligned in the "looks" category. While she looked rather sickly as a child and young woman, when you see pictures of her c.1900-1910, she's really rather lovely. I have one picture of her from this period and she's wearing a lovely gown and jewelry, with her thick, lustrous hair gathered in the Gibson Girl style of the time (which suited her MUCH better than Victorian "fringe" styles) and her eyes (which I imagine are blue) look so large and beautiful. Really in the bloom of her life. I think she would've made someone (peer or royal) a wonderful consort. Queen Mary is one of my favorites, so I don't like how nasty Toria could be towards her, but as another posted mentioned, who wouldn't be bitter and rather spiteful and all she'd had to sacrifice to be her at her mother's beck & call? I know about the legendary love between Nicholas & Alexandra, but reading about his summer "crush" on his cousin Toria, one can't help but wonder how well they might have gotten on together.

[Gerjo]

Who haves pictures of this princess (maybe in combenation with the IF)?

[atomic]

I've just done a quick search for photos and I found these:

Left to right: Maud, Toria and Louise


Louise, Victoria and Maud


Victoria on her own


Louise, Maud and Victoria


Victoria, Queen Alexandra and Dagmar (The Empress Marie Feodorovna)


Victoria alone at Sandringham

[grandduchessella]

Who haves pictures of this princess (maybe in combenation with the IF)?

I've managed to get a bunch of them, but the ironic thing is, it's almost harder to find pictures of her ALONE. Until fairly recently, most of the ones I had bought of her were Toria/Alexandra, Toria/her sisters, Toria/her siblings, Toria/her various nieces/nephews, Toria/her cousins, etc...Since she spent so much time as her mother's companion, so many photos of her are either with her mother, or in groups on family visits--plus the family did like to take shots of the 3 daughters.  The individual ones are out there but more often 'poor Toria' seems to be lurking in the background of various family scenes.

[Gerjo]

One of my dearest photo's of her is her with Nicky. I can't never find her in big group shots!

[Svetabel]

I have recently re-read “Emperor Nicholas II” by A.Bokhanov (Russian edition) and found a sad episode in Toria`s life .In 1887 Grand Duke Michail Michailovitch, an elder brother of famous “Sandro”, visited Enland. Queen Victoria had believed in possible engagement between Michail and Toria. But the shameless Grand Duke declared to young Toria that he “did not love her” and “would not love her”  though “if it was necessary he would marry her”. Poor Toria burst in tears.
QV was shocked.
Well, in 1891 the same Grand Duke married morganatically and settled in Enland. Did he meet Toria? Unlucky princess….

[Karentje]

Hi Svetabel

I hadn't heard that story about Toria yet. How awful for her. If he had to, he would marry her... not exactly the nicest way of phrasing things. Shame on you, Michail!!

[grandduchessella]

Hi Svetabel

I hadn't heard that story about Toria yet. How awful for her. If he had to, he would marry her... not exactly the nicest way of phrasing things. Shame on you, Michail!!

And was this before or after he proposed to her sister Louise (and was rejected of course) as well as her cousin Irene of Hesse (ditto).   I'm surprised QV didn't kick him out of England right back to the Riviera.

[Svetabel]

Hi Svetabel

I hadn't heard that story about Toria yet. How awful for her.

I had been surprised too. Hmm, some sons of Grand Duke Michail Nikolaevitch and his sharp-tongued wife Olga Fedorovna were unbelievably misunderstanding and heartless from time to time.