Marie Of Romania

Marie (Romanian: Maria), born Princess Marie Alexandra Victoria of Edinburgh, was born on 29 October 1875 and died on 18 July 1938. She was the last queen of Romania, reigning from 10 October 1914 until 20 July 1927 as the wife of King Ferdinand I.

She was born into the British royal family at Eastwell Manor in Kent, England. Her parents were Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. Her father was a son of Queen Victoria, and her mother was the daughter of Emperor Alexander II of Russia. Marie was baptized in Windsor Castle on 15 December 1875, with her godparents including Empress Maria Alexandrovna and members of European royal families.

Marie spent her early years at Eastwell Park, Malta, and Coburg. In Malta, she lived at San Antonio Palace, where her family resided between 1886 and 1889 when her father was commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet. In Coburg, her education was limited, focusing chiefly on painting and music, and she was raised in the Anglican faith despite her Russian Orthodox mother’s preferences.

In 1892, she was proposed as a bride for Prince George of Wales, future King George V, but she declined. Instead, in 1893, she married Ferdinand, Crown Prince of Romania, at Sigmaringen Castle. The marriage was conducted in three ceremonies—civil, Catholic, and Anglican. Princess Marie became Crown Princess of Romania, where she gained popularity among the Romanian people.

She and Ferdinand had five children, including their son, Carol (later King Carol II), and their daughter, Princess Elisabeth. Early in her marriage, Marie experienced difficulties adjusting to court life in Romania and faced opposition from her mother-in-law and the Romanian court hierarchy. Nonetheless, she learned Romanian and gradually integrated into Romanian society.

During World War I, Marie urged her husband to join the Allied side, which Romania did in 1916. She actively participated in nursing and aid work and acted as a symbol of national unity. Her involvement extended to campaigning at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, where she promoted the international recognition of Greater Romania, which incorporated Transylvania, Bessarabia, and Bukovina following their union and the end of the war. In 1922, Ferdinand and Marie were crowned in Alba Iulia in a ceremony emphasizing their status as the rulers of the newly enlarged Romania.

Following Ferdinand’s death in 1927, her son Michael ascended the throne. Marie, as queen dowager, refused to participate in the regency for her grandson. Her later years were marked by political upheaval, notably her son Carol II’s return to the throne in 1930 and her subsequent exclusion from political affairs. She resided mainly in the countryside or at Balchik Palace, her summer residence in Bulgaria.

In 1937, Marie became ill with cirrhosis, and in 1938, she died at the Pelișor Castle. Her remains were taken to Bucharest and later interred at Curtea de Argeș Monastery. Her heart was placed in the Stella Maris chapel at Balchik, then transferred to Bran Castle during World War II.

Marie authored numerous books and her autobiography, "The Story of My Life," was published posthumously in 1934–1935. She was also a prolific letter-writer; her correspondence and diaries provide a detailed account of her personal and public life. She was known for her contributions as a nurse, writer, and her influence in Romanian national identity. After her death, her legacy was reevaluated, and she remains recognized as a significant figure in Romanian history.

Her titles included: Her Royal Highness Princess Marie of Edinburgh (1875–1893), Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Romania (1893–1914), Her Majesty The Queen of Romania (1914–1927), and Her Majesty Queen Marie of Romania (1927–1938). She received numerous honours from Romania and other countries and was portrayed posthumously in statues, busts, and works of art.