Royal Tea and Soup Faux Pas

 

Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, “Vicky” was the eldest child of Britain's Queen Victoria and Prince Albert — Through marriage she became Empress Consort in Germany and Queen of Prussia, late 19th century.

Public domain image, Wikipedia 

You may stir your tea so as to rattle the spoon and cup, and it is your privilege to sip soup from the side or the point of the tablespoon, and still be counted as Courtly; for so doth the Empress of Germany and the Queen of Prussia. — Chicago Times, 1888

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

Prussian Princess Etiquette

On State occasions, there is comparatively little ceremony observed here, but everyday life of the Prussian royal family seems to be regulated more strictly on the principle of etiquette, than that of Queen Victoria. 

Victoria's Daughter in Prussia

The Berlin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph writes as follows: The reserve manner at the Royal palace has given rite to various rumors, which have caused much delight to the good people here. The heroine of the incidents I refer to is Princess Victoria. You must know that on State occasions, there is comparatively little ceremony observed here, while the everyday life of the Royal family seems to be regulated more strictly on the principle of etiquette, than that of Queen Victoria.

A Prussian Princess, for instance, is not allowed by her Mistress of the Robes to take up a chair, and, after having carried it through the whole breadth of the room, to put it down in another corner. It was while committing such an act that Princess Victoria was lately caught by Countess Perponcher. 

The venerable lady remonstrated, with a considerable degree of official earnestness. 'I tell you what,' she replied — nothing daunted the royal heroine of the story — 'I tell you what, my dear Countess, you are probably aware of the fact of my mother being the Queen of England?' The Countess bowed in assent. 'Well,' resumed the bold Princess, 'then I must reveal to you another fact. Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, has not once, but very often, so far forgotten herself as to take up a chair. I speak from personal observation, I can assure you. Nay, I am not greatly deceived, I noticed one day my mother carrying a chair in each hand, in order to set them for her children. Do you really think that my dignity forbids anything which is frequently done by the Queen of England?' 

The Countess bowed again and retired, perhaps not without a little astonishment at the biographical information she had heard. However, she knew her office, and resolved to prove not less staunch to her duties than the Princess to her principles. A scene similar to the one narrated recently happened, when Countess Perponcher, on entering one of the remote chambers, took the Princess by surprise, while busily engaged in the homely occupation of arranging and stowing away a quantity of linen, but all objections the Countess could urge were again beaten back in another equally unanswerable argument taken from the every day life of the Mistress of Windsor Castle. 

After having gained these two important victories, Princess Victoria, true to the auspicious omen of her name, carried the war into the enemy's camp. The Chambermaids, whose proper business it is to clean the rooms, discharge the duties of their position in silk dresses. The daughter of the richest sovereign in the world decided to put a stop to this extravagance.

One fine morning she had all the female servants summoned to her presence, and delivered what may be considered a highly successful maiden speech. She began by telling them the expense of their dresses must evidently exceed the rate of their wages. She added that as their wages were not to be raised, it would be very fortunate for them if they were allowed to assume cotton articles of clothing. 'In order to prevent every misunderstanding,' the Princess continued, 'I shall not only permit, but order you to do so. You might know that there ought always to be a difference in the dress of mistress and servant. Don't think that I want to hurt your feelings ; you will understand my intention at once, if I tell you that.' 

And now came the same unanswerable argument from the Court of St. James, she told them briefly that at that Court, people in their position performed their duties in cotton, and that she liked to be ruled by her mother's practice. — The Daily Alta, 1858

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

Etiquette and a Future Empress

Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, “Vicky” was the eldest child of Britain's Queen Victoria and Prince Albert — Through marriage she became Empress Consort in Germany and Queen of Prussia, late 19th century.
Public domain image, Wikipedia 

That the Veil That Hides the Future Is God’s Kindest Gift

Clara Morris Says... I think most of us will confess to a sort of half-laughing desire to peep into the future, to question the stars. By palmistry, crystal-gazing, dream interpretation, clairvoyance, cards, tea leaves, melted lead, we seek to drag aside the veil, impalpable as woven mist, yet impenetrable to human eyes. Even Victoria's Prince Consort wished his daughter could see the future, but Heaven spared her that!

It was two days before the marriage at St. James Palace, January 1858, of Victoria, Princess Royal of Great Britain, and Frederick, Crown Prince of Prussia. The restless, imperious 18-year-old bride-elect, with nerves worn to shreds by an endless day of rigid formalities, had begged just a moment in the air before dressing for dinner. 

So with dress skirt looped high over gay, Balmoral tasseled boots, netted hair and turban hat, she no sooner reached the quiet terrace than through the foggy twilight two figures sprang to meet her. The tall, soldierly one was “Unser Fritz,” her fiance. The slighter, shorter, fair-haired one was “Bertie”—Prince of Wales, her best loved brother and her chum. 

Brother and sister caught hands and whirled around and about, like a pair of joy-mad mates in the sunlight. Suddenly a cat—not a royal tabby, just an ordinary cat—raced across the terrace and into the fog-blurred shrubbery. "View halloo—gone away!” shouted “Bertie.” and joining in the fun “Fritz” became "the pack” and gave tongue gloriously, at which the scapegraces seized him by either hand and, etiquette forgotten. The future German Emperor and Empress and the King of Great Britain and Emperor of India, etc., went romping “across country” following the cat-fox. Something loomed dimly before them and—bang!—head-on the whole irreverent pack dashed full into —Papa, the Prince Consort and etiquette personified. 

Guilty heads hung low while that good man, so straitlaced he bent backward, regained his breath. And then those riotous young royalties got a lecture on deportment. “Vicky,” in particular, was urged to “a dignity as strict as was consistent with courtesy.” “Oh.” he cried. “I wish you could see the future, my child!" 

And could she have looked forward to see her son, her firstborn, attacking her native land—crowned, yes, but in full panoply of war; her brother’s heir, in his grave, his second son. crowned, but also armed against his cousin and foe; their armies at death grips and their own hearts black with hate and fear of each other! A sight to blast young love, young hope; to make life unlivable! Oh! Thrice blessed be the impenetrability of the veil that hides from us the future! — Los Angeles Herald, 1915

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

Empress Brings Etiquette Anxiety

Born of the purple~ The eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Empress Frederick (as she was known after the death of her husband) was the Queen Consort of Prussia and German Empress Consort. Victoria, above, in an 1867 portrait by Franz Xaver Winterhalter

Empress Frederick Driven Out of Paris

Extremists Raise an Outcry Against Empress

The Franco-German Feud By No Means at an End

Paris, February 25th. — The organization known as the League of Patriots has violently denounced the visit of the Empress Frederick of Germany to the Palace of Versailles on Monday last. The League decided to hold meetings of protest until the Imperial visitor leaves the city.

It is known here that in Berlin it was expected that President Carnot would call upon the Empress Frederick, but after a special Cabinet meeting it was decided that as the Empress Frederick was traveling incognito, the French Government could compromise the matter by sending the Chief of President Carnot's military household, General Brugere, and M. Ribot, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to call upon the ex-Empress. This was accordingly done. 

This question of etiquette was undoubtedly the cause of much anxiety and worry to the members of the French Cabinet, and was made the subject of long and earnest discussions before it was finally concluded. The Government did not dare to risk the verdict of public opinion in case President Carnot called upon the Imperial visitor. 

It is evident that ex-Empress Frederick's visit to St. Cloud and Versailles was ill-advised. The extremists are shouting very loudly, and even moderate papers urge that her stay be not prolonged. The patriotic league under the lead of Deroulede is organizing hostile demonstrations against the Empress. She will probably leave Friday morning. Her visit has hardly increased the chances of a good French exhibit at Berlin in the art exposition. —Daily Alta California, 1891

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Etiquette, Bismarck and Victoria

Victoria, Princess Royal, German Empress, Queen of Prussia,  detested Prussia's emphasis on its army. This was to be expected, however, considering her British upbringing. “Vicky,”  as she was known, hoped to influence Prussia away from the tradition of “Warrior Kings” in favor of "a new line of enlightened executives." Though supported by her husband, she was bound to clash with Bismarck's rising force. The Chancellor Otto von Bismarck's most important legacy is the unification of Germany. Germany had existed as a collection of hundreds of separate principalities and Free Cities since the formation of the Holy Roman Empire. Over the centuries various rulers had tried to unify the German states without success until Bismarck. Resulting largely from his efforts, the varying German kingdoms united into a single country. Bismarck's psychology and personal traits have not been so favorably received over time, and historian Jonathan Steinberg portrays a demonic genius who was deeply vengeful, even toward his closest friends and family members. 

Bismarck and the Crown Princess Victoria

London, November 25th— Court circles in Berlin are discussing the reconciliation which has just been effected between Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Bismarck. Their hostility had been of many years' duration, and was known to all the world, although it was thinly veiled by court ceremony. Many reasons have been assigned for it, but its real origin was the utter incompatibility of the Chancellor and the Princess. 

Prince Bismarck scorns and condemns the little niceties of polite society, and estimates women only as a factor in the problem of the continuance of the German nation. The Crown Princess had her education in a court and country where women arc treated with much deference, and where the canons of etiquette cannot be violated without serious consequences. The Princess has been, next to the aged Empress, the first lady in Germany, and refused to submit to what she termed Bismarck's boorishness. The result was warfare, sometimes open, sometime covert, as the necessities of court life required. 

Now there has been a reconciliation, and the question is; Which power conquered? The story most current in Berlin is as follows ... The Crown Princess, powerful as she is now, will be still more so when she becomes Empress of Germany. This must happen soon, and may happen at any time. 

The Chancellor is cultivating the friendliest relations with the Crown Prince, who may soon be Emperor, and has fouud it also desirable to propitiate the Crown Princess. He has, therefore, instituted certain reforms in his household and in his manners which makes his personality less disagreeable to her Imperial Highness. — Sacramento Daily Union, 1884

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