Consuelo Vanderbilt and Nicholas

[Katherine_The_O.K.]

I just finished reading "Consuelo and Alva Vanderbilt: The Story of a Daughter and a Mother In the Gilded Age", and I was really surprised to find out that the 'American Duchess' had visited Russia and sat beside the Tsar at the Bal des Palmiers! Apparently she found him a 'gentle, quiet little man', and they discussed matters of government over dinner (interestingly, as Nicholas was known to hate doing so. Consuelo wrote in her memoirs that she would never forget the conversation. She was also asked to dance a mazurka by Grand Duke Mikhail (she was taught a different version from the one he knew- so he replied 'Never mind, I'll do the steps.')

Apparently Consuelo remembered these details for the rest of her very long (80 something year old) life. Did Nicholas or his brother, or indeed, any imperial family members who met her record what they thought of her?

(another interesting side note, she disliked the Tsarina because Alexandra failed to grant an audience to the Marlborough party).

[Bev]

You should read her autobiography, it is really interesting - "All That Glitters"

[Romanov_fan]

Yes, I believe that is where she wrote about this.I was intrigued by it as well. I don't believe any of the Romanovs ever said what they thought of her, although I might be wrong. I suppose she was just another guest to meet them. She was of course a Vanderbilt, but she was also English nobility by virtue of her marriage to the Duke of Marlborough, so she was fairly high ranking among the English nobility. She did remember it, and wrote about it in her memoirs which are interesting, although not perhaps as interesting as that biography, but that is the original source.

[Janet_W.]

It's possible that somewhere in his diary Nicholas may have noted speaking with the Duchess of Marlborough, though I wouldn't bet my life on it, since he was introduced to and spoke with so many people. Consuelo, however, would certainly be worthy of comment . . . not just because she was an American, and wealthy, but also because of her wit, intelligence, and of course her distinctive looks: tall, slender, with a lovely, swanlike neck and beautiful dark hair and eyes.

If about 30 or so years ago a film or miniseries had been made of Consuelo's life, Audrey Hepburn would have been perfect casting for the title role.

[Romanov_fan]

I agree, she was distinctive. Nicholas would probably have remembered it, but whether he had any distinct impressions I don't know. If he did, they are most likely lost to history except for a brief notation. It's not that she wasn't worthy of comment, it is just that Nicholas at least later wasn't the society type, although he wasn't as bad as Alexandra who hated society, which refusing an audience would be part and parcel of.

[Eddie_uk]

Interestingly Nicky wrote to cousin George on the 31st January 1902 "We are here in the midst of a boisterous season. The duchesses of Sutherland and of Marlborough have spent over a fortnight in Petersburg appearing at all the balls and parties we gave. I greatly admire the former of them and have had long and interesting conversations with her"

George replied on the 2 March "I was so delighted to get your dear letter, which the Duchess of Sutherland brought from Petersburg. I went to see her the other day and she talked of nothing but your great kindness to her and how much she enjoyed her stay in Petersburg. I am glad you liked her, she is clever and very pretty"

Quoted from "A lifelong passion".

[ashdean]

When one visits the Marble House at Newport Rhode Island which is just one of the 5 homes Consuelos parents shuttled between.One can easily see why Consuelo was not really dazzled by the splendour of the Russian court.. Millicent Duchess too living at Sutherland (now Lancaster House) on the mall when not at her husbands various country homes (they had at that time 1,250,000 acres..) herself could hold her own even among the Youssoupoffs or Shouvalovs..

[Eddie_uk]

Very interesting ashdean, they must have been minted!! Who were the Shouvalovs??

[Janet_W.]

Good for you, Eddieboy, in retrieving that quote!

As for what Ashdean said about Consuelo not being dazzled by glamour and ostentation, I'll second that. Consuelo had been brought up in wealth and shortly after her marriage went to live at Blenheim Palace. But both turned out to be less than satisfactory experiences, one of the reasons being that Consuelo's values were far more centered on quality relationships than quantities of possessions.

[Eddie_uk]

You are welcome Janet!

It would be interesting to know what Nicholas wrote in his diary about Consuelo. She sounds fascinating! On Wikipedia it says she was reluctant to marry the Duke of Marlborough and her mother tried every trick in the book until she relented. Apparently she claimed it was affecting her health, once Consuelo consented, her mother made a miraculous recovery!!

[Katherine_The_O.K.]

Actually, I'd read the opposite in 'Consuelo and Alva'- that Consuelo felt very under-dressed and relatively plain next to the Russian women who were 'over-flowing' with jewels. (But she disliked the geography and the modern buildings in St. Petersburg). Here's a quote from her autobiography- "We had heard much about the fabulous furs of Russian nobles; it is true my sable coat was fine, but I had only one." And it was, as she said, a memory she never forgot, or ever became foggy.

But she did come from a great deal of money, and Stuart makes the point that Consuelo, far from being impressed by Blenheim, was horrified- because it only had one bathroom.

[ashdean]

Actually, I'd read the opposite in 'Consuelo and Alva'- that Consuelo felt very under-dressed and relatively plain next to the Russian women who were 'over-flowing' with jewels. (But she disliked the geography and the modern buildings in St. Petersburg). Here's a quote from her autobiography- "We had heard much about the fabulous furs of Russian nobles; it is true my sable coat was fine, but I had only one." And it was, as she said, a memory she never forgot, or ever became foggy.

Yes Consuelo did mention the abudance of finery among the russians..but remember Consuelo and her husband at that time had a equivalent yearly income of $14:2million dollars from her marriage settlement !!! & the luxury in which she lived in later years after her second marriage...showed she was more fond of the good life than she prepared to admit ( not as anyone could blame her !!).Consuelo's pearls had cost her father (he bought them for Alva,who passed them on) over a million 1890 $....and there was a grand diadem & several smaller ones to enhance further..meanwhile Millicent had among other gems the 22 enormous diamonds from the notorious diamond necklace in the celebrated affair of that name which helped bring down Marie Antoinette.....the girls were not quite Cinderella's..

[ashdean]

Very interesting ashdean, they must have been minted!! Who were the Shouvalovs??

The Shouvalov's were a large & mainly vastly wealthy clan.Count Peter Shouvalov was the father of 5 daughters including Princess Olga Doulgoruky (who left Russia on the Marlborough) & Countess Sophie Benckendorff (wife of the last Tsarist ambassador in London) these 5 sisters shared amongst other things a mine at Lysva in the Urals that produced half the worlds platinum in 1914.
Countess Betsy,nee Princess Bariantinskaya was the hugely wealthy childless widow of Count Paul Shouvalov..one of St Petersburgs most celebrated hostesses she spent the war nursing on hospital trains & eventually made her way to France where she died in 1938.Other members of the clan included Countess Alexandra 1869-1959 whose husband was killed in Moscow in 1905 leaving her with 8 children.Alexandras own mother "Lily" the widow of the Viceroy Count Ilarion Vorontsov -Dashkov was a Shouvalov.

[Eddie_uk]

Fascinating! Thank you ashdean. An amazing way of life!!

[Katherine_The_O.K.]

No, I don't think Consuelo was a Cinderella, but we also have to remember that she felt very alienated and surprised by the rigidity of court life, and the scramble for glamor everyone participated in. She certainly came from greater wealth than most of her English compatriots, but it wasn't organizedwealth. It was full of upstarts and nuevo (sp?) rich. She was at first impressed and somewhat terrified of aristocratic life, what with all it's little protocols and traditions.