Author Topic: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II  (Read 235983 times)

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Mary R.

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #330 on: June 10, 2007, 10:09:20 PM »
I agree, Her Majesty rarely does attend other royal events unlike her counterparts. The Queen does not have anyone relatively close to her age at these events; she is now part of the "older" generation of royals.
Mary R.

Eric_Lowe

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #331 on: June 10, 2007, 11:04:02 PM »
Indeed ! HM is always more of a British country woman than a continental royal.

True although in the middle years, Queen Ingrid was a close friend of the British Royal Family (her mother being Princess Margaret of Connaught) and visited her grandfather as a teenager. King Olav was another close friend of the British Royal Family (his mother being Princess Maud of Great Britian). It was rumoured that after the death of his wife , Matha, he courted both the Queen Mother & Marina, Duchess of Kent to no avail. Nonetheless he made regular trips to England and remained friendly to both the Queen Mother & HM.  ;)

Alexander1917

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #332 on: June 11, 2007, 07:30:04 AM »
Well, it is the same if you're Queen Margarethe or another Scandinavian royal--their links are much tighter than with that of the British royals. Queen Margarethe is first cousin to the King of Sweden (their mother and father respectively being siblings) and King Harold of Norway's mother (Martha) was a Swedish princess as well. The Swedish link (through Princess Astrid, sister of Crown Princess Martha) ties together the families of Belgium and Luxemburg as well since those rulers are grandchildren of Astrid. These royals attend each other's events (weddings, baptisms, funerals, etc) much more frequently than the British royals do it seems. The British royals often seem to send a token royal (often Edward & Sophie) whereas it seems much warmer with the other houses. Plus, the heirs & their wives of thsoe countries seem to be more of an age than either Charles or William--they fall in between generally.



Of course the liks between Britain and Danmark is a bit long ago (via Alexandra and Maud) but its there....sure, its only 3rd, 4th or more grad cousins

I remember that ER II only once attend a funeral outside from Britain.....

Duke of New Jersey

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #333 on: June 11, 2007, 02:48:53 PM »
Quote
he courted both the Queen Mother & Marina,


Didn't he also court Alice of Althone or was that Gustav Adolf of Sweden?

-Duke of NJ

Duke of New Jersey

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #334 on: June 11, 2007, 02:57:07 PM »
Quote
Quote
he courted both the Queen Mother & Marina,


Didn't he also court Alice of Althone or was that Gustav Adolf of Sweden?

-Duke of NJ

I just realized that Alice was born in 1883 and Olav was born in 1903 so I doubt that Olav courted Alice so it must have been Gustav VI Adolf after Louise of Battenberg died.

-Duke of NJ
« Last Edit: December 08, 2011, 01:52:52 PM by Alixz »

Offline grandduchessella

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #335 on: June 11, 2007, 04:33:37 PM »
It was Gustav Adolf, not Olav. Alice frequently visited Sweden and they'd been friends for decades. I don't think GA liked being alone.
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Eric_Lowe

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #336 on: June 11, 2007, 07:38:05 PM »
Although I heard the match between Marina & Olav was discussed at some point. Wonder what Queen Alexandra would have thought of it if she were alive ?  ???

alixaannencova

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #337 on: June 12, 2007, 08:59:51 AM »
Has anyone any idea what became of the wonderful coller de chien Alix wore with the 'Ballet Russe' inspired gown of c.1913? I vaguely recall a later photo of QM wearing a very similar/same collar, but no evidence thereafter has ever come to light!

I think the ensemble was probably worn to Alix Fife and Arthur Connaught's wedding, though am not certain!

Also, what about the superb 'huge' brooch/sautoir thingy Alix wore for the Francois Flameng portrait! It looks like a moonstone to me, but then again, maybe it is a cabochon white sapphire! I love the protrait as it conjurs up all the glory of the Edwardian age for me and Alix looks real in it, rather than airbrushed (particularly Fildes) as she so often does in other portraits! I wonder what happened to the saitoir thingy?



 

Offline Martyn

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #338 on: June 12, 2007, 09:49:40 AM »
This is the Francois Flameng, isn't it?



The necklace in question is Alexandra's famous Cartier collier resille, which we know that May subsequently wore (not looking quite so resplendent wearing it in this photo).



We have talked about the fate of this piece; it would be lovely to think that it still languishes amongst the present Queen's jewels, just waiting to be brought into use again by a beautiful young princess.  However the possibility exists that, considered an outmoded and perhaps very large piece, it was broken up and its diamonds used to furnish new pieces of jewellery


As for the huge brooch, my memory escapes me and my books are at home.......alas......such is old age.....
'For a galant spirit there can never be defeat'....Wallis Windsor

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Offline Eddie_uk

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #339 on: June 12, 2007, 10:04:08 AM »
I believe they are different necklaces? There is a good picture of Alexandras one in the Menkes book I believe.
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Offline Martyn

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #340 on: June 12, 2007, 10:20:34 AM »
They are one and the same necklace.

The Collier Resille necklace is misidentified in the Menkes book; the one depicted is by Cartier but it is not Alix's.

Flameng has taken some artistic liberties in his depiction of this piece, but there is a photo of Alix weaing the collier which clearly shows that it is the necklace that May is wearing in the above photo.
'For a galant spirit there can never be defeat'....Wallis Windsor

'The important things is not what they think of me, but what I think of them.'......QV

Offline Eddie_uk

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #341 on: June 12, 2007, 02:15:11 PM »
Very interesting - thank you Martyn! I really thought they were different necklaces and Alexandras looks longer and higher. Perhaps May had it altered? One would have thought it would have reappeared, since QM's time, on one of the royal ladies by now. Are there many incidents of any jewels being broken up and remodelled in recent years?
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Mary R.

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #342 on: June 12, 2007, 04:17:55 PM »
The most recent "break up" I can think of is Princess Alice of Greece's tiara which lent diamonds to Queen Elizabeth's engagement ring. I'm certainly no expert... I'm sure someone else has more current and relative examples. ???

Mary R.

Offline grandduchessella

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #343 on: June 12, 2007, 04:23:34 PM »
I think a number of pieces have been broken up/remodelled in recent years by royals from the Queen Mother to the 'lesser' royals like the Duchess of Kent (the Cambridge sapphires coming to mind). Some are just really too large to wear--EII, for example, only wears a portion of Queen Mary's diamond stomacher. I think she's worn the full stomacher just once in recent years.

Here's one of QA wearing the necklace at the wedding of her granddaughter Alexandra Fife in 1913:



and a color of the Flaeming portrait:

They also serve who only stand and wait--John Milton
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Eric_Lowe

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Re: Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II
« Reply #344 on: June 12, 2007, 07:40:28 PM »
The break up of Princess Alice tiara...is it the big one she wore all the time ?  ???