Queen Marie of Romania / Bibliography / Last Chapters of my Life

QUEEN MARIE OF ROMANIA was one of the most brilliant monarchs of the twentieth century. Described by one biographer as 'the most voluptuous queen in Europe' she distinguished herself during the First World War when she publicly opposed the peace agreement between Romania and Germany. She was also a gifted writer, and in the mid-1930s, publication of three volumes of her memoirs, The Story of My Life, brought her worldwide renown. Yet, until now, her story has remained incomplete. This recently discovered last memoir of Queen Marie reveals through her own eyes those later chapters of her life.

The granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Tsar Alexander II of Russia, Marie was brought up at Eastwell Park in Kent. Glamorous and beautiful, she had men falling at her feet, yet at the age of seventeen she married the shy Crown Prince of Romania. It was a step that was to propel her on to the stage of international politics, and see her venture upon unofficial diplomatic missions, earning her the title of an 'irresistible ambassador'.

Her last memoir, written from the period following the First World War until the end of 1922, includes both the fascinating trivia and intimate details of her daily life, and also brings us alongside her as she witnesses world-changing events. From the 1919 Peace Conference—at which Queen Marie met Clemenceau, Poincare, Woodrow Wilson and Hoover—to her last meeting with her mother, the Duchess of SaxeCoburg; and from her informal visits to Paris, London and Transylvania to the first parliament of Greater Romania, the memoir gives great insight into the life of this extraordinary queen.

'After two years' occupation, Romania had been mercilessly plundered; the enemy had laid hands upon absolutely everything. Food was becoming scarcer and scarcer; we were once more facing famine . . . . '

'Mr Hoover . . . had no desire to charm! Spare of words, dry, reserved, a little frowning, his attitude was not particularly congenial, but ... we met and talked earnestly as I had heard of his great competence, and I had just cause for which to plead.'

'Mr Lloyd George loved talking, company stimulated him; he was full of fun and wit; thoroughly enjoying his own jokes.

I let myself be carried away by his undeniable charm, all the time wondering how much he really understood about Europe.'

' . . . a year-old letter from Ducky [the queen's sister Victoria Melita who married the Tsar's cousin] reached me from Finland where they were still quasi-prisoners and unable to get away. They had lost absolutely everything, nothing today remains to them, not even hope.'

DIANA MANDACHE is a Romanian historian who specialises in the history of the Romanian royal family and Eastern European history. She is the editor of Americans and Queen Marie of Romania, and author of Romania, Mitteleurolpa si Balcanii [Romania, Central Europe and the Balkans]. She now lives in London.

Diana Mandache with Princess Margarita and Prince Radu at the release of Capitole târzii din viaţa mea. Memorii redescoperite, the Romanian version of Later Chapters, 28 June 2007, Athénée Palace Hilton, Bucharest.

Valentin and Diana Mandache at the book release 28 June 2007, Athénée Palace Hilton, Bucharest. Valentin did the English to Romanian translation of the book.

The Royal Romanian Family—King Mihai, Queen Ana, Princess Margarita, and Prince Radu—at the book release 28 June 2007, Athénée Palace Hilton, Bucharest.