Apropos of the name of this group - no person exemplifies royal splendor more than Queen Alexandra at the Coronation of her husband, Edward VII and herself in August 1902. Alexandra has always been a very intriguing and endearing figure for me. She was born a Danish princess and grew up in relative obscurity for most of her childhood until her father suddenly found himself heir-presumptive then King of Denmark. She was a great beauty and upon becoming Princess of Wales at the dawn of the age of photography was the worlds first media darling. Her image was known throughout the world. She and her husband, Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, waited almost 40 years to become King and Queen of England. By the time they did the full bloom of her youth had faded though she was still a striking woman. Traditionally the Queen of England is attended by 8 Maids of Honour who act as train-bearers at the Coronation. The prospect of being followed on HER day by 8 beautiful, youthful, virginal maidens did not please Queen Alexandra. She let it be known that she would be attended by 8 young and handsome lords instead. The Earl Marshall - the Duke of Norfolk informed her this was unacceptable as it had never been done in the 1,000 year history of the British monarchy. She replied that 8 young lords would attend her at the Coronation or she would not be present. Her original idea for her Coronation dress was that it should be of great simplicity thus allowing her ermine-lined velvet robes of state and the Crown Regalia with which she would be invested to take pride of place. However, once she dressed on the morning of the Coronation, and seeing the lavish toilettes of the arriving royal ladies at Buckingham Palace she immediately regretted her decision and ordered her dressers to bring forth all of her jewel boxes and had them hastily pin brooch after brooch, necklace after necklace, pin and bibelot after pin and bibelot to her bodice and Medici Collar. ( She was the final Queen of England to wear a Medici Collar.) When she entered Westminster Abbey there was an audible gasp from many as she appeared in a blaze of light and scintillating diamonds.
Posted on: Thu, 21 Aug 2014 00:38:54 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015