Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), Part II

[Eric_Lowe]

Not really...She looked like a battleship, without the grace. Like Queen Alexandra's snake bracelet, Missy said it becames a part of her as times go on. The big necklace is very huggingly close to the neck. 

[Martyn]

I'm still of the opinion that the necklace that Alexander1917 illustrated is not the collier resille that belonged to Alix.  We have had this discussion before and no one has been able to come up with a photo of her wearing that large necklace; there are however photos of both Alix and May wearing a piece that Field insists is the collier resille by Cartier.

I doubt if even Alix could have worn that other necklace; it would have required such a low decolletage to display all those jewels that it might only have been a piece that a courtesan like la belle Otero could have worn (Cartier actually made the latter a collier resille with stones taken from a diamond bolero - the finished result was a cross between Alix's collier and the infamous Boehmer and Bassange necklace that brought such grief to Marie Antoinette!).

I have to agree that on May the collier looks less successful.......

[Eric_Lowe]

Glad we agree on that. I guess May is more majestic while Alix is more fashionable. 

[ashdean]

Yes and May was more sensible while Alexandra was more selfish !!!

[Eddie_uk]

I disagree. Personally I think May could have worn ANYTHING and still looked good. She held herself so well and knew it!

[Martyn]

Yes and May was more sensible while Alexandra was more selfish !!!

I think that's a bit harsh but......

Alix and May had very different styles.  It must be mentioned as well that May laboured for years in Alix's shadow; the latter's reputation as a well-dressed and elegant woman meant that May could never compete.  Her own style was developed as a mature woman, and especially when Queen, and was iconic and impressive, in marked contrast to Alix's occasionally eccentric and possibly egocentric notion of style.  May's style was tied in to her sense of duty to the public image of the monarchy........

[Eric_Lowe]

I could not agree more...too harsh ! I think Alix is more expressive in her feelings than May. She wore her heart on her sleeve, while May was more restrait in her feelings. 

I also think that Alix's style is more fashionable and charming, while May's was more institutional and proper. 

[Mary R.]

Mary's style was, in a sense, a representation of the monarchy to which she was devoted to. The look worked for her making her an icon in changing times, something appreciated by Britons. Alexandra was more fashionable, not selfish at all, she just had a little more "pizazz."

Mary R.

[Duke of New Jersey]

not selfish at all

I believe even George called her selfish.

-Duke of NJ

[Mary R.]

She was selfish when it came to the attention and affection of her children, but I doubt she was extremely selfish when it came to material possessions.
Mary R.

[TampaBay]

Yes and May was more sensible while Alexandra was more selfish !!!

I think that's a bit harsh but......

Alix and May had very different styles.  It must be mentioned as well that May laboured for years in Alix's shadow; the latter's reputation as a well-dressed and elegant woman meant that May could never compete.  Her own style was developed as a mature woman, and especially when Queen, and was iconic and impressive, in marked contrast to Alix's occasionally eccentric and possibly egocentric notion of style.  May's style was tied in to her sense of duty to the public image of the monarchy........

Martyn,

IMO Alexandra's style had an element of sexuality that Old Diamond and Emeralds Drawers' style did not. 

This may be due to the lack of any real fashionable style in Quenn Victoria  in the same way that  Diana looked "sensual", even when dowdied out to the max, compared to QEII or Princess Ann .

TampaBay

[Eric_Lowe]

Well...With Bertie disapearing more and more from her life, Alix only grip was to cling on to her children. Can anybody blame her.   Alix was very giving as far as relatives and even strangers are concerned. One story totally illustated their different styles. Once one worker from the Sandingham estate died, Queen mary came to visit the widow. After inquiring some information about the dead man, May went out soon. An hour later, Queen Alexandra (late again) rushed into the cottage and clapsed the widow in the hug crying "My Dear...My poor dear." and started to really confort the widow.  

[grandduchessella]

Where was that story from? I haven't heard it before.

Despite Bertie's cheating, I don't think you can ask 'can anybody blame her'. I'm sure plenty of people could. Unfaithfulness on the part of a spouse may be an explanation but not an excuse. There was some damage done there through the possessiveness, especially to Toria who (and Alexandra wasn't alone here) was denied a life of her own. Even QV, no paragon of unselfishness, gave Beatrice at least a limited shot at marriage and family.

[Eric_Lowe]

The story was featured in a few of bios about QA (I got them all...so I forgot which one, maybe the David Duff one).

Nope...QV would be just as happy to keep Beatrice unmarried, however her daughter was dertermined to fight for it. QV later relented and allowed them to marry, but only if they stayed with her. Henry was bored with such a life and went on the Ashanti Expedition that utimately took his life. Poor Toria had no such fighting spirit. At least Louise threaten to put her head in the oven if she cannot marry Fife. So she instead of Toria got married. 

[Martyn]

I don't think that there ia any doubt that a strong bond existed between Alix and her children; whether this bond was entirely healthy and beneficial is open to discussion.......

We have talked previously about the attitudes of QV and Alix towards their daughters in relation to their marital expectations, and I think that we agreed that, in expecting at least one daughter to remain unmarried, this was a notion shared by both, and perhaps not unique to the British RF but perhaps more of a reflection on family values of that era.

Alix and May were really so different in temperament and attitudes; this perhaps is reflected in their respective styles.  Tampa, I take your point about Alix's style being more sensual but would be grateful if you could explain this in more detail.  Would you mind?