Another Royal Who Chafed at Etiquette

Princess Letitia's hair is of raven darkness, her large eyes are black, and she possesses a superb figure. She resents the restrictions of etiquette, is addicted to flirting to an outrageous extent and is a continual source of dismay and anxiety to her uncle and brother-in-law, King Humbert.

PRINCESS LETITIA

The Italian Grandniece of the Great Napoleon

Princess Letitia of Savoy-Napoleonic Duchess of Aosta—is now 30 years old and has what is in feminine eyes the distinction of being one of the best dressed women at the Italian court. Аs the only daughter of Princess Clotilde of Italy and Prince Jerome Napoleon, this lady has a good right to her headstrong nature. She is the leader of the brilliant Italian court established at Turin, the capital of Lombardy, where is located the greatest military camp in Savoy and the chief soldiers of the Italian king.

With the latter, the Princess is in high favor on account of her esprit and unconventional manner—attributes rare at the court of Rome, She was the pioneer wheel-woman at the Italian court— an accomplishment once viewed there with much disfavor as being unwomanly. But this enthusiastic royal cyclist cared naught for that, and has since convinced Queen Margherita herself of the delights of a sport which is now practiced so assiduously in every court circle in Europe. She is an ardent amateur photographer and is very fond of taking pictures of her only child, Prince Humbert, count of Salamis.

She was on the point of marrying her cousin, the present young Duke of Aosta, when suddenly his father, who may or may not have been aware of his son's| sentiments, offered himself and was accepted by the Princess, who is exceedingly ambitious and who believed at the time that she had a better chance of becoming Queen of Italy by marrying the father than by marrying the son. The wedding took place and created a considerable amount of talk at the time, not only by reason of the fact that the bride had jilted the handsome son for the monstrously ugly father, but also because the latter was her mother's brother— that is to say, her uncle. The union was short lived. Today the Duchess is a widow.

Princess Letitia's hair is of raven darkness, her large eyes are black, and she possesses a superb figure. She resents the restrictions of etiquette, is addicted to flirting to an outrageous extent and is a continual source of dismay and anxiety to her uncle and brother-in-law, King Humbert. —New York Tribune, 1897

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

19th C. Florentine Ball Etiquette

To the stranger in Italian society, a fashionable ball in this city of beauty and art presents many phases of social etiquette, at once novel and picturesque. The invitation consists of an ordinary card with “At Home” written or printed in one corner, with the hour, probably 9 or 10 o'clock.

— photo source, Pinterest  

Habits and Manners of Florentine Ladies of Fashion

To the stranger in Italian society, a fashionable ball in this city of beauty and art presents many phases of social etiquette, at once novel and picturesque. The invitation consists of an ordinary card with “At Home” written or printed in one corner, with the hour, probably 9 or 10 o'clock. On the guest's arrival, even as late as 11 o'clock he is handed “No. 2,” for his carriage. Ladies and gentlemen are alike ushered into a great hall or ante-chamber, sometimes on the ground floor, sometimes on the first, and are waited on by the same attendants, and the fleecy delicate wraps of ladies are arranged beside the rougher garments of the sterner sex. 

There is seldom a mirror before which a belle can pose and exasperate her escort by detaining him in the draughts of the corridor, to take the chances of catching a severe cold. Next, ascent is made by an immensely wide, carpeted stairway, bordered on either side by a wall of blooming azalea and japonica trees, such as are only seen elsewhere at the great balls in Paris, to the drawing-room door, where the host and hostess are always in waiting to welcome their guests, who, on being received, pass along to explore the line of brilliantly lighted salons before the crowd fills them, or seat themselves in a feminine row against the wall, to observe and criticise the guests us they arrive. 

Ices, syrups, cakes, and tea and sandwiches are dispensed from a table or buffet in the dining-room until supper is served, by a throng of gaily liveried lackeys, and refreshments are never expected to be furnished beyond the dining-room door. A bottle of champagne is placed at each plate, as was the custom at the Tuileries, at those grand entertainments given by Napoleon III. A smoking-room is open the entire evening, and as much frequented by ladies as gentlemen. 

When I first saw this, it nearly took my breath away; I don't mean the smoke, which was dense, however; but I was appalled at a custom that has become too familiar in Europe to create surprise, except among strangers. One English lady of high social rank even brought her cigarette out into the drawing-room, aud puffed away among the dancers, entirely at ease and exciting no comment whatever. After the supper and during cotillion, refreshments are passed around and partaken of freely, and at 8 or later in the morning, a hot breakfast refreshes the guests, whose carriages have been ordered at 10, or in some cases, not until noon.— Florence Letter to the New York Tribune, 1881

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia