August Annotations

“Baby”
By Susan Flanders

She was the baby of the family and her story is one of my favorites. This is a picture of Princess Beatrice on her wedding day, wearing her mother’s wedding veil. Her mother, of course, was Queen Victoria. Beatrice was the only daughter—and there were many—to be given the privilege of wearing Victoria’s own veil of honiton lace.

It might seem at times that whenever you read about the royals, Queen Victoria’s name pops up somehow. That’s because Victoria really was considered the “grandmama of Europe.” That’s because her relatives—and then her children and grandchildren went on to assume many of the thrones of Europe.

But back to Beatrice…the baby. As much as Victoria moaned about being pregnant and loathed it—in the end, the pregnancy and birth of baby Beatrice was to begin one of the fulfilling relationships of her life. It all began on a chilly night in December, 1861. It was the night that young Beatrice’s father died in the Blue Room at Windsor. But this just wasn’t any father…this was Prince Albert, Queen Victoria’s adored–and I mean adored–husband. The night he died, the agonized and grief stricken Queen, picked up her youngest child and carried Beatrice to her own bed, laying with her throughout the night, holding Albert’s nightclothes and clutching their youngest child. There was something special about Beatrice…in some ways she was the nearest link to Albert. Beatrice comforted her.

The baby had been a happy and carefree child, full of enthusiasms–but, as Victoria’s world crumbled on that terrible night, so would Beatrice’s personality. Never again would relatives see the confident, bubbly personality of the old Beatrice. After that night it was buried away forever, and she became guarded. I’m sure it was partly shock–seeing her distraught mother and family–but it was also partly in response to the years of mourning that went on in the daily life of Victoria’s court…crying, hushed voices, tension, melancholy, melodrama.

Each elder daughter took her turn in looking after her mother. They acted as liaisons, secretaries and precious shields, keeping away the world. Eventually, Beatrice rightfully assumed her turn. Because Beatrice was the baby, there was no question that she would stay in this needed position. Whilst her other sisters married, marriage for Beatrice could not be a consideration. Quite frankly, Queen Victoria simply couldn’t do without her. And that was that.

Beatrice lived a quiet life, in rooms near her mother. She was at the Queen’s side from morning till night, reading her letters, taking dictation and notes, keeping callers at bay and keeping her dear mother company. Beatrice was very good at it too. She naturally deferred to her mother’s authority and her life was filled with all of the things that a loving companion would naturally do. She was protective, caring and genuinely adored her mother and enjoyed being with her, for the most part. She accompanied her from Buckingham Palace to Windsor Castle, then to Osborne House and we can’t forget Balmoral Castle in Scotland. For the most part they traveled to and from the latter three homes as Victoria was much too nervous to spend too much time in London.

But there always comes a time, when…well, things change. And things changed in a big way for Beatrice. In her late twenties and already a confirmed spinster, she met Henry of Battenberg at a large family event in Darmstadt. She fell in love instantly with the very handsome Battenberg…all the Battenberg brothers were known to be very handsome. And that was that. She could be as stubborn as her mother when it came right down to it. Well, she was her mother’s daughter, wasn’t she?

She was absolutely determined to marry the man of her dreams and I must say—Queen Victoria was even more determined that things would stay just the same. There would be no marriage, the Queen decreed. She simply couldn’t do without her—she would not survive it.

But, as you saw above, the Princess was in her wedding dress and so, did it happen and if so, how the heck did Beatrice pull it off? When I tell you, you won’t believe it. We’ll leave that story for another day. See part 2: “Baby Grows Up” at: http://writerofqueens.blogspot.com

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Susan Flanders is the creator of Writer of Queens and Queen Victoria Revealed
Susan has studied Queen Victoria since 1988 and has most of her memoirs, letters and biographies. To Susan, Victoria wasn’t the widow in black, tucked away in a castle, she was much, much more. Visit Susan’s blogs to know more and to read part 2: “Baby Grows Up“.

The Royalist Interview: Her Majesty’s 80th Birthday Stamp Cover

Unusual Nuptials:
The Prince and Camilla To Wed!

The betrothed have known each other for years and have been each other’s confidante through tough times. They both know for certain that they have found their soulmate in one another. They also share the same sense of humor and interests. The bride-to-be wears as her engagement ring a touching family sentiment: it is a ring that once belonged to her fiance’s beloved grandmother. It is all sweet and romantic, for certain, but this is not your usual wedding story.

Then again, what can you expect? This is no ordinary couple. The groom is Prince Charles, 57 years old and heir to the throne of England. The bride is Camilla Parker Bowles, long reviled by much of the public for her relationship with Charles after his marriage to Diana Spencer had failed.

What Went Wrong?

Charles was once seen as a dashing and sporty young prince. He easily charmed lots of girlfriends with the hope to win one as his wife. It was no easy task. Each girl knew what responsibilites lay ahead should they accept any marriage proposal. A few wanted to be with Charles, but failed the test of decorum and discretion needed of a British Princess. Others simply shrugged off the idea of marriage to him.

“I already have a title. I don’t need another one,” was the icy response to such a question by Lady Wellsley, a descendant of the ‘Iron Duke’ of Wellington.

Out of all of the companions the Prince had had, one woman really did love him. She wasn’t worried about the pressure of being his one and only. That woman was Camilla Shand.

Once a serious girlfriend of the Prince of Wales, Camilla wondered whether she would be seen as a possible bride. Her father was a Calvary officer in the Royal household, and her mother was a member of the Cubitt family who built most of Pimlico and Belgravia. And Charles was completely besotted with her. Approaching his thirtieth birthday, he knew that he was expected to soon find a wife and provide an heir to the throne. He thought he had found “the One” in Camilla. They had the same tastes, interests, and humor, and loved each other very much.

The Prince was nervous however. The Monarchy had certain rules in regards to the suitability of a future Queen. She had to be free of scandal, and if possible, a virgin. She should also be discreet, duty-bound, and be able to deal with the inevitable spotlight. The public worried him most of all. What if they did not accept Camilla as a future queen? She was pretty, but wasn’t exactly beautiful or glamorous in any way. She was also a commoner who did indeed have a past. What to do? He had to marry and get it right the first time. There was no divorce for the heir.

Charles pondered the situation, and carefully considered what he should do. She did not seem to be right for the public image of royalty, but at the same time he loved Camilla more than anything. They would be perfect together, and surely she would have fit in beautifully with the Royal Family in private: she hunted, rode horses, loved the outdoors, and wasn’t a bit pompous.

However, Charles dithered and left the possibility of marriage up in the air. Instead of making his move, he left his beloved and went into the Royal Navy. He wrote to her and proclaimed his affections, but the young Camilla soon decided that she was not going to marry the Prince. She wasn’t exactly lacking for admirers, and subsequently dated several men. In 1973, she wed cavalry officer Andrew Parker Bowles, a longtime suitor. They had two children together: Tom, now 30 and Laura, 25. Charles stood for each as godfather, crushed though he was. He did not understand why she didn’t wait for him. He was used to things happening in his time in his way, and for Camilla to go off and marry someone else hurt him.

The Prince of Wales, one of the most materially privileged men in the world, was now lacking the most important privilege of all: true love of a soulmate. His delicate sense of self was further damaged.

Regardless of the Prince’s mood, his father, Prince Philip, would continue to harangue him. He was almost thirty.

“Get on with it Charles,” the Duke of Edinburgh would say, referring to his son’s search for a wife. “Or there won’t be anyone left.”

With that ringing in his ears, coupled with the recent death of his mentor Lord Mountbatten, Charles’ emotional state was worse than before. He felt helpless, and his chart for his life now seemed undecipherable. He at least had his wonderful granny to love and comfort him, and the Queen Mum was more than happy to attend to the search for a wife for her favorite grandchild. In time, her well-meaning search would prove to be disasterous for him.

Lady Ruth Fermoy, a friend and lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother, had a granddaughter named Diana Spencer. She was eighteen years old, very jolly and full of life. Diana gave Charles the impression that she, too, enjoyed the outdoors and going to Scotland for holidays like he did. Even though there was a huge age difference between the Prince and Diana, the impression she made on Charles was a good and lasting one. Temporarily Camilla slipped from his mind.

Diana was thrilled and a bit awed that she had Charles’ romantic attentions. She had grown up playing with his younger brothers, Andrew and Edward, who were her age. Charles had always been the impressive elder brother, and she just child. Now, she was being considered a serious marital contender.

Lady Diana had a distinct advantage in the contest to becoming Charles’ bride. Her family, the Spencers, were one of the most aristocratic families in Britain. They had been wealthy sheep farmers from centuries past with five lines of descent, mostly through illegitimate children, from King Charles the Second. This pedigree linked her to the Stuart dynasty, Bonnie Prince Charlie, George Washington, and many other historical figures. The fifth Earl Spencer was even Viceroy of Ireland under Queen Victoria.

An aristocratic Protestant from a wealthy family, Diana also had no public scandal attached to her name and no lovers ever publicly ‘outed’. Charles had finally found his wife. In February of 1980, Charles proposed to Diana, and that summer they publically announced their engagement. Diana was to be the Princess of Wales, and sported a large oval sapphire surrounded by diamonds as her engagement ring. The Windsors were overjoyed, as was Diana’s family.

The Queen was extremely happy over the betrothal, having known the difficulties that Charles had in finding the best partner for himself and the Monarchy. Her Majesty had known Diana as a child and her father, Johnnie Spencer, had been an equerry to King George VI and the Queen herself. The Queen Mother was also very jubilant, even though it was not the original Spencer girl she had planned on. All seemed well, and a happy married life seemed to be around the corner for the Prince of Wales.

Pre-wedding ‘Jitters’

Diana realized what she was letting herself in for. Admirably, she tried to put the best face on it all, but her nerves were weakening. She was going to be put under enormous pressure, and could simply no longer do what she wanted to do with her own time. For a nineteen-year-old, this must’ve been unbearably difficult to come to terms with, especially when her soon-to-be-husband was not always around to help calm her. Palace staff were dispatched to help her learn about her new role and place in the monarchy, but Diana had already decided that she was not going to go through with any of it.

“It’s too late to back out now, Duch,” said her sisters, calling her by her nickname. “Your face is already on the tea towels.”

Diana was locked into the marriage. If it had been an ordinary man, perhaps she could’ve changed her mind and went her separate way. This was the future king she was marrying, and could not escape. Diana knew she and Charles would not work out, yet they had to marry each other since the world knew about them dating. When it came down to brass tacks, he either had to propose or drop her, as anything further would have been seen to compromise Diana’s reputation. Since she seemed suitable, Charles wanted her to be his wife. She was starry eyed at the thought of being a princess. But now the reality set in.

The emotional and mental instability that had plagued Diana for years was becoming more evident. Back when the thrill of the chase made her happy and outgoing, her emotional problems were able to be hidden. Charles had no idea who he was marrying. Now her nerves were on edge and depression set in. Courtiers were not sure what to do with her, but felt that her mood swings and sudden strange attitudes were only pre-wedding jitters. Diana tried to convince herself that is all it was, too, but she knew in her heart that she was not right for Charles or this way of life.

The only one that had personal knowlege of Charles’ preferences, habits, and tightly scheduled life was Mountbatten. Perhaps if he had seen Diana, he would have turned Charles in another direction, knowing that they wouldn’t be compatible. The marriage of a 30 year old with a rigorously scheduled existance to a 19 year old who was used to getting her own way would make a volatile situation. But with Philip pushing for Charles to “get on with it”, the Queen’s anxiousness that her heir would end up like the Duke of Windsor, the Queen Mum’s preference for an aristocratic insider, and no Mountbatten to combat it all, the Prince felt forced to choose Diana.

Starting Over

I feel that now is the time to start fresh. It has been an appropriate amount of time to start anew. Why can’t Charles be allowed happiness the way Diana was with Dodi Fayed? Diana and Dodi were always shown as the glorious, happy couple who wholeheartedly deserved each other. He liked to impress and please, and she loved attention. They were a match made in heaven. Diana seemed to be perfectly content spending time with him and involving her sons in their new life. All this when Dodi’s father was well-known for corruption and buying Harrod’s only to - in Mohammed Fayed’s words - “p*ss on the British”. The public seemed happy with the Di and Dodi coupling regardless.

Charles never had a string of women during or after his marriage like Diana had men. He knew he had lost the one woman he had ever loved in Camilla, and after he and Diana’s relationship died out, Charles set out to regain what he had let slip away. The Prince and Princess should have properly divorced in the eighties and went on with their separate lives, but at the time it just did not seem comprehendable for an heir to the throne to do so, and neither Charles nor Diana thought there was a way out.

Now, Charles should be allowed his marriage to Camilla. The Prince has made several concessions and has jumped through hoops in order to make his new marriage acceptable to the public. To forgo a church wedding; to accord to Camilla a lesser style than that to which she would be entitled as his wife; and his delay of a full seven years after Diana’s death. Most importantly, William and Harry like Camilla and her children, and accept her as their father’s permanent partner. They are glad that Prince Charles has finally found happiness. We should be, too.

© 2005 MandysRoyalty.org

A Short Note on The Funeral

Well everyone, the funeral is finished, and the Queen Mum has gone to see her dear Bertie and Margaret. The funeral was done wonderfully. No other place in the world can do what England does when it comes to ceremonies, and this was no exception. The fly-past was especially emotional, and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house when that occurred. The Queen Mother was laid to rest with much dignity and grandeur. Here is a remarkable woman whom we remember fondly, and recalling all she did certainly draws a smile and makes you stand a little bit taller… proud to have her as Queen, Royal Matriarch, and ‘Favourite Grandmother’.

©2002 Mandy’s British Royalty”

The Jubilee - Does Anyone Care?

My answer would have to be a resounding ‘Yes’. After 50 years of a successful reign, I think it is quite safe to say that people care about their Queen and want to celebrate this milestone! Of course, there have been the occasional ups and downs - a scandal here, a rumor there - but if you notice, they have never really brought down the opinion or affection for Her Majesty. If anything, she is the glue that holds the Royal Family together. She works hard and tries to see to it that everything runs smoothly.

Although she may not have always succeeded with some personal aspects of the family, she IS the integral part of keeping ‘the Firm’, as a whole, united. And this is no ordinary family! This is a dynasty whose culture and traditions are still envied, imitated, and inspiring to many for its regal beauty and seemingly divine authority. And to make it all the more inspiring is that Elizabeth II’s position in this dynasty could have passed her by… it was truly believed to be a divine act of events to get her to the throne. Her father Albert was only the Duke of York, but when his older brother abdicated, Albert became the king. Styled King George VI, he was an honorable man who was admired for his fortitude during WWII. Along with his wife, now the Queen Mother, they braved the bombs and won the hearts of their people. George also had a disciplined work ethic, which was instilled in his eldest daughter Elizabeth.

When he passed away, the new Queen Elizabeth II embraced her future as calmly as she could. She knew what lay ahead and soldiered on as she had been taught. Her Majesty has always been admired, even loved, as a princess. As Queen, she has gained even more respect by demonstrating tireless resolve in her work. Her Empire may now be a just a small Commonwealth, but it is no matter. It is the person who represents it that counts. Whenever the Queen visits a territory of the Crown, droves of people turn out to see her, come rain or shine. They hand her bouquets of flowers, chatter excitedly to her and are breathless and happy that she says even a small ‘hello’ in their direction. Even the staunchest republicans know that Elizabeth is a jolly nice woman whose fanbase is larger than they will admit. She has an enormous following, and it is not just her work ethics people admire, but her physical presentation as well. The Queen will flash a brilliant smile, which is highlighted by her glittering tiaras or cascades of jewelery. It is a look that makes her seem serene yet authoratative.

She travels all over the world, dressed in her fabulous Queen Wear - bright greens, reds, lavenders or yellows make up Her Majesty’s wardrobe. But that is for her public side when she meet dignitaries and other heads of state. That is her ‘business’ side. In private, the Sovereign lives simply. When at Balmoral, for example, she wears a plain shirt and tartan skirt. She’ll put on her boots and pull a scarf over her hair to go out riding. It has been said that The Queen makes sure that lights are turned off in unoccupied rooms in her palaces, and that the heat is turned down so as not to raise bills. This has been credited to her ‘Scottish sense of thrift’. The monarch will sit at her desk and read through stacks of paperwork so that she is well briefed in the affairs of state.

This is done even when she is on holiday at Balmoral. To The Queen, her work is never done. To be successful, she puts her whole heart and soul into it, and is conservative and down-to-earth. That is why people love her. While as ‘The Queen’ she exudes grace, a touch of celebrity, and professionalism, the private side of Elizabeth is also practical, warm, and friendly. It is a perfect mix! It was once said (and even echoed by Queen Victoria herself) that once Victoria’s reign was over, the ‘natural’ order of things would be restored when a king was on the throne again. But after such a long reign and given the fact that Victoria had lent her name to an era, the sentiments were exactly the opposite when she died. She was a queen who was loved, and I feel that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is like Victoria in this way. After Elizabeth, things will never be the same. Great and unique queens are rare, and Elizabeth is certainly a sovereign of distinction. All someone has to hear is ‘The Queen’, and they know immediately of whom you speak.

There are other queens in this world, but it is Elizabeth II who is The Queen. So celebrate the Jubilee Year! It is not only a time of happiness and remembering all of the momentous events in the Queen’s reign, it is a celebration of a woman who has worked hard and found a great love from her people.

©2002 Mandy’s British Royalty”