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

Old Italian and German Royal Etiquette

 “The King only speaks Italian and French, so the conversation is generally in those two languages. French, of course, is supposed to be a universal language.”  – Photo of Quirinal Palace in Italy taken by Wolfgang Moroder.

The dinners at the Quirinal Palace in Italy are far more simple as to etiquette than that of England. The same formality is observed in the entrance of the King and Queen, but the conversation is more general and the Queen does not wear her gloves. She converses in English fluently. The King only speaks Italian and French, so the conversation is generally in those two languages. French, of course, is supposed to be a universal language. 

The dinners of Germany are not long, but they are formal and tedious, and the cooking does not commend itself to all tastes. The perfection of a dinner is found in London, generally at the house of Ambassadors, who combine the Excellencies of all nations with the follies of none. After asking the consent of the ladies present, the Italian and Turkish embassies allow the smoking of cigarettes between the salad and dessert. This fashion prevails in France and Russia, ladies smoking quite freely as men. – Harpers Bazaar, 1887

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

Etiquette and Ambassadorial Skills

Isaac Wayne MacVeagh was an American politician and diplomat. He was the Ambassador to Italy from March 1894 to March 1897, when King Humberto I reigned. The best Ambassadors keep abreast of not only a country’s current events, but the preferences and pleasures of its Monarch, Prime Minister or President. Following news feeds would have given Ambassador MacVeagh the following news nugget – “King Humberto of Italy has so great an affection for custards, and very sweet ones at that, that he will get up in the night to partake of one. To vary the custard eaten by ordinary mortals, however, this Royal personage has his flavored with tea.”

Ambassador MacVeagh
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King Humberto Gives Him a Cordial Welcome 

Rome, March 11– The Honorable Wayne MacVeagh, Ambassador to Italy, was given a cordial welcome and an audience this afternoon by King Humberto. In conformity with Italian court etiquette, no speeches were delivered. Mr. MacVeagh and his party returned to the Grand Hotel in the state carriages. Every ceremony due the high rank of the American Ambassador was paid to him. – Los Angeles Herald, 1894

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