The Fascinating Marie

Crown Princess Marie of Romania

"Princess Marie was already famous for her beauty: she had wonderful eyes of such a rare shade of grayish blue that it was impossible to forget them. Her figure was tall and slender as a young poplar, and she bewitched me so completely that I followed her about like a shadow. I spent sleepless nights conjuring up her lovely face. Once, she kissed me; I was so happy that I refused to let my face be washed that night. She was much amused to hear about this act of boyish infatuation, and many years later when I met her again at a dinner given in London at the Austrian Embassy, she reminded me of the incident." 

--Prince Felix Yusupov 

'Crowned Ophelia'

The Grand Duchess Elizabeth, c1890

"She is fair, winning, gifted, the most brilliant and accomplished of all the Queen's grandchildren, with beauty of so fragile and delicate a type that they call her a 'crowned Ophelia'."

While reading "Royal Girls and Royal Courts" by M.E.W Sherwood, I came across this interesting passage about the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna ('Ella'). It intrigued me that Ella was called  a "crowned Ophelia". I haven't read anywhere before that she was called like that. Perhaps there is something about the character Ophelia (I assume from Shakespeare's 'Hamlet') which made the comparison with Ella. I'm not sure.

"Ophelia" by Arthur Hughes, 1865

Queen Hortense: Recollections by the Duchess d'Abrantes

From the memoirs of Laure Junot, Duchess d'Abrantes:

"Hortense de Beauharnais was at this time, 17 years old; she was as fresh as a rose, and though her fine complexion was not relieved by much color, she had enough to produce that freshness and bloom which was her chief beauty; a profusion of white hair played in silky locks round her soft and penetrating blue eyes. The delicate roundness of her figure, slender as a palm tree, was set off by the elegant carriage of her head; her feet were small and pretty; her hands very white, with well-rounded nails. But what formed the chief attraction of Hortense was the grace and suavity of her manners which united the Creole nonchalance with the vivacity of France. She was gay, gentle and amiable; she had wit, without the smallest ill temper, is enough to be amusing. A polished and well conducted education has improved her natural talents; she dances excellently, sang harmoniously, and performed admirably in comedy. ...She became one of the most amiable princesses in Europe. I have seen many, both in their own countries and in Paris, but I never knew one who had any pretensions to equal talents. She was beloved by everyone..."

Queen Hortense

The Courage of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth

This is an excerpt from the memoirs of Prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski, a Polish stateman in Russian service and a best friend of Tsar Alexander I, where he recalls the night of the murder of Tsar Paul I in 1801, and how he admired the courage that was displayed by the future Empress Elizabeth Alexeievna, wife of Alexander I and the woman rumored to be his great love.

"During the first terrible moments Alexander was so absorbed by his remorse that he seemed incapable of saying a word or thinking of anybody. His mother, on the other hand, was in a passion of grief and animosity; the only member of the Imperial family that retained her presence of mind was the young Empress [Elizabeth]. She did her utmost to console Alexander and give him courage and self-reliance. She did not leave him during the whole of the night, except when she went for a few moments to calm her mother-in-law and persuade her to stop in her room and not expose herself to the fury of the conspirators. While in this night of trouble and horror some were intoxicated with triumph and others plunged in grief and despair, the Empress Elizabeth alone exercised a mediatory influence between her husband, her mother-in-law, and the conspirators. "

The murder of Tsar Paul I of Russia, March 1801

Portrait of the Grand Duchess Elizabeth

"Sunny"

This is my favorite portrait of the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia. It was painted by Frederick August von Kaulbach in the early 1900s.

Below is a description about the Empress taken from the book Royal Romances of Today by Kellogg Durland. When I first read it, the very first thing that came to my mind is this Kaulbach portrait, a favorite of her husband Nicholas I, which perfectly captured the Empress's beauty and melancholy.

"The most beautiful Queen on any throne," she was called when she first became Empress of all the Russias. She is tall and stately, her hair is luxuriant and rich in colour. Eyes that some call blue and some call grey look out through long, dark lashes, and in them lies a great sadness, an appealing wistfulness touched with regret, a silent melancholy betraying soul tragedy. Yet as a child she was known as "Sunny".

Three Graces: The Daughters of Nicholas I of Russia

It was said that they were Raphael's ideal of loveliness... And that these ladies were highly-exceptional not just because they were the Tsar's daughters, but because they were remarkably talented and that they possessed special qualities unusual for princesses... These three sisters were the daughters of Tsar Nicholas I of Russia. Below are descriptions of the sisters from the book Alexandra Feodorovna, Empress of Russia.

"The grand duchess Maria was extremely lively, of quick perceptions, condescending, winning all by her goodness of heart, full of life and energy, and free from all petty forms and prejudices. Her presence never checked the most easy or unreserved conversation; she was courteous to those whom she liked, and loving to her friends; her father's dignity was reflected in her regular feaures, while the heart and freshness and energy of her mother invested her whole being with a singular charm."

"The majestic mien of the grand duchess Olga evinced more calm repose; hers was a finished beauty, more remarkable for stateliness, never in intercourse with other for a moment forgetting that she was of regal birth, and concealing her real goodness of heart by a certain degree of reserve. Her perceptive faculties were not so quick as those of her elder sister, but her studies more profound; her disposition led her thoroughly to investigate every subject and every question, and to persevere with industry and patience in all that she undertook."

"The two eldest daughters most resembled their father, but the youngest, Alexandra, bore a greater likeness to their mother, and indeed to Queen Louise also. Till the age of 13, she gave no promise of equalling her sisters in beauty or talent; she showed very little inclination for serious matters, and cared more for childish games; but suddenly a change took place that astonished her mother, and a few months seemed to have done the work of years. This change occured in Alexandra in her 13th year; her charming figure was developed, her pretty features refined, an eager interest in her studies ensued, and unexpected talents were displayed. From this time, she showed a love for music, and for singing in particular; and occuppied herself much about nature."





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Source: 

Alexandra Feodorovna, Empress of Russia. Orig. in German by August Theodor von Grimm, translated in English by Lady Grace Wallace.