Etiquette and a Vivacious Duchess

Duchess Anastasia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (nee Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna Romanova of Russia) in her costume for the “Ball at the Winter Palace” in 1903 — “Prior to leaving for Cannes the Grand Duchess Anastasia acted as chaperon in Paris for a week for Mrs. Grahamme-White, formerly Dorothy Taylor, and the winsome American wife of the British aviator. The towering “Flatiron” form of the grand duchess, who is six feet two inches tall, and insists upon wearing futurist gowns of glaring colors, was a familiar figure at a smart sans souci tango palace, and Ciros restaurant. The grand duchess prides herself on her extensive American acquaintanceship.” – Photo source Pinterest

Royalty Leaving France for Winter 

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American Society Leaders Have Lost the 

Grand Dukes and Duchesses

PARIS, Dec. 27. —The American society leaders here have lost their Russian Grand Dukes and Grand Duchesses, and with their departure for different parts of Europe the winter’s social whirl has materially slackened. The greatest loss has been caused by the departure of the Grand Duchess Anastasia of Mecklenberg-Schwerin to the Rivera after spending a few brisk months as the chief guest at the tea and supper tango parties. These affairs, which have been given in the majority by Americans, proved the liveliest feature of the season. Prior to leaving for Cannes the Grand Duchess Anastasia acted as chaperon in Paris for a week for Mrs. Grahamme-White, formerly Dorothy Taylor, and the winsome American wife of the British aviator. The towering “Flatiron” form of the Grand Duchess, who is six feet, two inches, tall, and insists upon wearing futurist gowns of glaring colors, was a familiar figure at a smart sans souci tango palace, and Ciros restaurant. The Grand Duchess prides herself on her extensive American acquaintanceship. 

Since the opening of the present season, she has met in ball rooms and at dinner tables Mrs. W. B. Leeds, Anthony Drexel, Duchess De La Rochefocauld, nee Mitchell; Princess Albert Radziwill, Countess Stanislas De Castellane, nee Terry; Mr. and Mrs. Perry Belmont, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lehr, and Mrs. Moncurex Robinson, as well as numerous less prominent members of the American colony. Although 53 years old, the Grand Duchess is still vivacious as a kitten and claims to be the best royal tango dancer in Europe. Her oft recurring desire for a social fling forces her to cling to Paris, because some years ago the Kaiser banned her from the Prussian court, and she rarely sees her daughter, the wife of the Crown Prince. 

She is also ostracized by other European courts and the only people who tolerate her socially are the French and American hostesses, who regard her battering of court etiquette only with amusement. Paris makes full allowance for her effervescent Romanoff spirits. Just as the young Russian Princess, Marie, had to fly to Paris recently, because she could not tolerate the stiff, unbending ceremony forced upon her at Stockholm, after her marriage to Prince Frederick of Sweden, so the Grand Duchess of Mecklenberg-Schwerin, who before her marriage was Anastasia Michailovna, could not help breaking the bonds of German court restraint and flitting to Paris for social freedom. She plans entertaining on a large scale this winter in her villa at Cannes, which is always an open house to American guests.— Morning Press, 1913

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

Manners of Peter the Great

He once pulled off a man's wig, looked it over and threw it on the ground with an expression of large dissatisfaction.

Peter the Great’s 

“Rough and Uncouth Manners”

He was an untamed savage at the best. His manners were intolerable and his habits dissipated in the extreme. Once in the city of Amsterdam, he called to a lady, "Stop!" The woman halted, affrighted, and Peter grasped her watch chain, the curious workmanship of which had caught his eye, pulled on the watch, and after examination returned it, with never a word to say. 

Another time, he pulled off a man's wig, looked it over and threw it on the ground with an expression of large dissatisfaction. In England the Government assigned him a country seat by the Thames, where he lived a double life of studying and rioting. His favorite amusement was to drink brandy until drunk with plenty of boon companions in a tavern near at hand. His house was surrounded with a magnificent hedge, which he ruined by running a wheelbarrow.

In Russia, Peter gave great parties, and the Nobles brought their ladies to attend under an Imperial edict, danced French and Polish dances, and prisoners of war were brought from their captivity to show them how to perform. More than this, every Noble was compelled to give three parties a week, at which the guests must wear European costumes, and in this way was reversed the social life of Russia. The people did not welcome these changes.–Los Angeles Herald, 1886

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

19th C. Russian Court Etiquette

Alexander II succeeded to the throne upon the death of his father in 1855. The 1st year of his reign was devoted to the prosecution of the Crimean War. After the fall of Sebastopol, negotiations for peace were led by his trusted counsellor Prince Alexander Gorchakov. Few imagined that he would be known to posterity as a leader able to implement the most challenging reforms undertaken in Russia since the reign of Peter the Great.

Russian Imperial Court Dance Etiquette

According to Russian etiquette, no subject who is not attached to the Court, can dance with the Princesses of the blood. A young Lieutenant of Hussars, ignorant of the established etiquette, asked the Grand Duchess Olga to dance with him, and she, who saw by his “orders” that he was a Crimean, consented. The Emperor, who saw his sister “polking” with the young sub, sent for the latter as soon as he had left his partner, and smilingly told him that he had committed an offence against etiquette. “As I hear,” continued the good-natured monarch “that you distinguished yourself greatly at Sebastopol, I take you into my Adjutantar; and now, as you are attached to the Court, you can dance with the Grand Duchess again, if she has no objection.” — Wide West News, 1856

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

Etiquette and Girls in Crowns

Alexandra Fyodorovna was Empress consort of Russia as the spouse of Nicholas II, the last Emperor of the Russian Empire. A granddaughter of Queen Victoria, she was born "Alix of Hesse and by Rhine." She was given the name Alexandra Fyodorovna upon being received into the Russian Orthodox Church. Alexandra was also a maternal great-aunt of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and first cousin twice-removed to his wife Queen Elizabeth II. In 2000, the Russian Orthodox Church canonized her as "Saint Alexandra the Passion Bearer."

Girls Who Wear Crowns

The evident beauty of the Russian Empress' face is so overshadowed by an expression of patient, pathetic melancholy that she arouses sympathy and curiosity in everyone. Undoubtedly the Czarina is not a happy woman. Russian Empresses have little enough to inspire content, and this pale, pretty creature with the sad eyes and mouth, endures daily such tests of her physical strength and moral courage as few American women would care or consent, for all the Russian state and power, to undergo.

Her husband, on the whole, is a kindly young man who is considerate, even affectionate, but he can do very little to mitigate the severe, even cruel, Russian court etiquette to which she must bow. With her he shares the daily terror of assassination, and with his people he laments the fact that the Empress has not yet given an heir to his throne. 

In spite of her beauty and her virtues, the Empress is not loved by the Russian people nor consulted and confided in by her husband as her mother-in-law, Empress Dagmar, the dowager, was. She has neither the robust physique nor the ambitious interests of the clever dowager, and court intrigues, squabbles, and etiquette distress, disgust and fatigue her.

It is a fact well known that up to the very day before her betrothal, she resisted the change of her religion and Christian name that every Russian Empress consort must yield to. Again and again, she has fainted at the long receptions, balls and reviews through which, in spite of her illness, she is obliged to stand, and the only true comfort and solace she finds in her dreary splendor is the personal services and attentions she is allowed to lavish on her tiny girls. 

In sharp contrast to this sad-faced Empress of the vastest domain in Europe, is the young, pretty Queen of the tiniest, cleanest, freest little kingdom on that continent. The Queen of Holland lives far more like a popular, petted young belle of society than a sovereign. While the Czarina never puts her foot out of her door without the heaviest guard, Queen Wilhelmina goes shopping, walking, skating and riding when the whim seizes her, with a single attendant, and that often but a favorite lady in waiting. 

For all her love of junketing, dancing and outdoor sports the Dutch Queen is a conscientious worker, and just now she feels deeply interested in the International Peace Congress that meets on the 18th of May in one of her palaces, the House-on-the-Wood, just outside The Hague. — The Sacramento Daily Union, 1899

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

Etiquette History and Monarchs

Nine European Monarchs Gathered in 1910 — Standing, L-R: King Haakon VII of Norway, King Ferdinand I of Bulgaria, King Manuel II of Portugal,Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany (King of Prussia),King George I of Greece, King Albert I of Belgium.

Seated, L-R: King Alfonso XIII of Spain, King George V of the United Kingdom, King Frederik VIII of Denmark.

How to Address a Monarch

The simple title “Madame,” reduced in practice to “Ma'am,” is, as most people know, all that serves between Queen Victoria and her court to mark the former's dignity as the ruler of a world-wide empire. Had Britain a King he would be no more than “Sire,” the old French- form of “Sir,” sacred to royalty. 

With us the term “Majesty” is only for servants and ceremonial occasions. There are few other courts where this wholesome simplicity prevails. The Emperor of Germany is “Majestat”— there is no pronoun in the title— to all and sundry, even to his family, except when in absolute privacy. 

The Emperor of Austria is “Eurer Majestat” at all times and under all circumstances, the King of Greece is “Votre Majeste” —French being the court language— and our recent visitor, the King of Sweden, is “Ers Majestat.” Their royal consorts are addressed with the same formality. 

Only, at the courts of Belgium and Italy may the sovereign be greeted as “Sire” or “Madame,” though the etiquette of the Russian court permits it when the French language is being used. When Russian is being spoken, Nicholas II is to his courtiers and officials “Czar,” employed like the Prussian “Majestat,” without a pronoun. — The London Mail, 1900

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