Marie of Romania

Marie
Marie wearing her regalia. Photograph by George Grantham Bain.
Queen of Romania
Reign	10 October 1914 – 20 July 1927
Coronation	15 October 1922
Born	(1875-10-29)29 October 1875 Eastwell Park, Kent
Died	18 July 1938(1938-07-18) (aged 62) Peleș Castle, Sinaia, Romania
Burial	24 July 1938 Curtea de Argeș Cathedral
Spouse	Ferdinand I of Romania
Issue	Carol II Elisabeth, Queen of the Hellenes Maria, Queen of Yugoslavia Prince Nicholas Ileana, Archduchess of Austria Prince Mircea
Names Marie Alexandra Victoria
House	House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
Father	Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh
Mother	Maria Alexandrovna of Russia
Signature

Marie of Edinburgh, more commonly known as Marie of Romania (Marie Alexandra Victoria; 29 October 1875 – 18 July 1938) was the last Queen consort of Romania as the wife of King Ferdinand I.

Born into the British royal family, she was titled Princess Marie of Edinburgh at birth. Her parents were Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. Marie's early years were spent in Kent, Malta and Coburg, in Germany. After refusing a proposal from her cousin, the future King George V, she was chosen as the future wife of Crown Prince Ferdinand of Romania, the heir apparent of King Carol I, in 1892. Marie was Crown Princess between 1893 and 1914, the longest anyone has ever held that title, and became immediately popular with the Romanian people. Marie had controlled her weak-willed husband even before his ascension in 1914, prompting a Canadian newspaper to state that "few royal consorts have wielded greater influence than did Queen Marie during the reign of her husband".

After the outbreak of World War I, Marie urged Ferdinand to ally himself with the Triple Entente and declare war on Germany, which he eventually did in 1916. During early stages of fighting, Bucharest was occupied by the Central Powers and Marie, Ferdinand and their five children took refuge in Moldavia. There, she and her three daughters acted as nurses in military hospitals, caring for soldiers who were wounded or afflicted by cholera. On 1 December 1918, the Old Kingdom united with the provinces of Transylvania, Bukovina and Bessarabia. Marie, now Queen consort of Greater Romania, attended the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, where she campaigned for international recognition of the Romanian Union. In 1922, she and Ferdinand were crowned in a specially-built cathedral in the ancient city of Alba Iulia, in an elaborate ceremony which mirrored their status as monarchs of a united state.

As queen, she was very popular, not only in Romania. In 1926, Marie and two of her children undertook a tour of the United States. They were received enthusiastically by the people and visited several cities before returning to Romania. There, Marie found that Ferdinand was gravely ill and he died a few months later. Now Queen Dowager, Marie refused to be part of the regency council which ruled the country under the minority of her grandson, King Michael. In 1930, Marie's eldest son Carol, who had waved his rights to succession, deposed his son and usurped the throne, becoming King Carol II. He removed Marie from the political scene and strived to crush her popularity. As a result, Marie moved away from Bucharest and spent the rest of her life either in the countryside, or at her home by the Black Sea. In 1937, she became ill with cirrhosis and died on 18 July 1938.

Following Romania's transition to a Socialist Republic, the monarchy was shunned by communist officials. Several biographies of the royal family described Marie either as a drunkard, or as a promiscuous woman, referring to her many alleged affairs and to orgies she had supposedly organised before and during the war. In the years preceding the Romanian Revolution of 1989, Marie's popularity grew and she was offered as a model of patriotism to the population. Marie is primarily remembered for her work as a nurse, but is also known for her extensive writing, including her critically acclaimed autobiography.

Early life (1875–93)

Prince Alfred and Princess Maria with their newborn daughter Marie, 1875

Birth

Marie was born at Eastwell Park in Kent, her parents' residence on 29 October 1875, at 10:30 a.m., in the presence of her father. Her birth was celebrated by firing the Park and Tower guns. She was the eldest daughter and second child of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Maria Alexandrovna, Duchess of Edinburgh (née Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia). She was named Marie Alexandra Victoria, after her mother and grandmothers, but she was informally known as "Missy". The Duke of Edinburgh wrote that his daughter "promises to be as fine a child as her brother and gives every evidence of finely developed lungs and did so before she was fairly in the world." As a grandchild of the reigning British monarch in the male line, Marie was formally styled "Her Royal Highness Princess Marie of Edinburgh" from birth.

Marie's christening took place in the private chapel of Windsor Castle on 15 December 1875 and was officiated by Arthur Stanley and Gerald Wellesley, Dean of Windsor. The baptism was "of a strictly private nature" due to it being performed one day after the ceremony of the death of Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert. Marie's godparents were Empress Maria Alexandrovna (her maternal grandmother, for whom Queen Victoria stood proxy), the Princess of Wales (her paternal aunt), the Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (her great-aunt, for whom Princess Helena of Schleswig-Holstein stood proxy), the Tsesarevich of Russia (her maternal uncle, for whom Count Pyotr Andreyevich Shuvalov stood proxy) and the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (her paternal uncle, for whom the Duke of Albany stood proxy).

Upbringing

Marie in 1882, by John Everett Millais. This portrait was commissioned by Queen Victoria and was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1882.

Marie and her siblings, Prince Alfred (b. 1874), and Princesses Victoria Melita (b. 1876, known as "Ducky"), Alexandra (b. 1878, known as "Sandra") and Beatrice (b. 1884, known as "Baby Bee"), spent much of their early life at Eastwell Park, which their mother preferred in stead of Clarence House, their official residence. In her memoirs, Marie would remember Eastwell fondly. The Duke of Edinburgh was largely absent from his children's lives, due to his position in the British Royal Navy, and their life was governed by their mother. Marie would later state that she did not even know the color of her father's hair until she looked at later portraits of him, believing it to be much darker than it actually was. When he was home, the Duke would often play with his children, inventing many games for them. Of all her siblings, Marie was closest to her sister Victoria Melita, who was one year younger, but whom everyone believed to be the older girl because of her stature, much to the princesses' dismay. The Edinburgh children were all baptised and raised in the Anglican faith; this upset their Russian Orthodox mother.

The Duchess of Edinburgh was a supporter of the idea of separating generations and Marie deeply regretted the fact that her mother never allowed chatting between the two "as if [they] were equals". Nonetheless, the Duchess was independent-minded, cultured and "the most important person" in her children's lives. At the behest of their mother, Marie and her sisters were taught French, which they detested and rarely ever spoke. Overall, the Duchess neglected her daughters' education, considering them not very bright or gifted. They were allowed to read aloud, but in the fields of painting and drawing, areas in which they had inherited Queen Victoria's talent, the girls received only a "pedestrian instruction". The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh frequently received members of the royal family at Eastwell Park, inviting them for breakfast nearly daily and in 1885, Marie and Victoria Melita served as bridesmaids at the wedding of Princess Beatrice of the United Kingdom and Prince Henry of Battenberg. Among Marie's playmates were her maternal cousins, Grand Dukes Nicholas (called "Nicky") and George (called "Georgie") and Grand Duchess Xenia of Russia, the other two Russian cousins, Grand Duke Michael (called "Misha") and Grand Duchess Olga being too young for the Edinburgh girls. Other playmates included the children of their maternal uncle, Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia.

Princess Marie, photographed in 1888

In 1886, when Marie was eleven years old, the Duke of Edinburgh was named commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean naval squadron and the family took up residence at San Antonio Palace in Malta. Marie would remember her time in Malta as "the happiest memory of my existence". It was in Malta that Marie found her first love, Maurice Bourke, the captain of the Duke's ship, whom Marie called "Captain Dear". Marie was prone to fits of jealousy when Bourke would pay more attention to one of her sisters than to her. The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were greatly loved in Malta and San Antonio Palace was frequently full of guests. Marie and Victoria Melita received white horses from their mother and went to the local hippodrome nearly daily, apart from Saturday. During their first year in Malta, a French governess oversaw the princesses' education, but, due to her failing health, she was replaced the following year with a much younger, German woman. At San Antonio, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh always maintained a room ready for Prince George of Wales, the second son of the Prince of Wales, who was in the Royal Navy. George called the three elder Edinburgh girls "the three dearests", but favoured Marie the most.

Meanwhile, as a son of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the Duke of Edinburgh became heir presumptive to the childless Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha upon the Prince of Wales's renunciation of his rights to the duchy. Consequently, the family relocated to Coburg in 1889. Marie later came to view this moment as "truly the end of a life that had been absolute happiness and joy without clouds, of a life with no disappointments or delusions and without any discordant note." The Duchess, who was pro-German, hired a German governess for her daughters, bought them plain clothing and even had them confirmed in the Lutheran faith. The family spent their summers at Rosenau Castle. Duke Ernest was described by Marie as "having his oddities"; consequently, his court was less strict than other German courts of the time. In Coburg, the princesses' education was broadened: more accent was placed on painting and music, which were taught by Anna Messing and Mrs. Helferich, respectively. On Thursdays and Sundays, Marie and her sisters went to the Coburg Theatre, an experience which they enjoyed greatly. Marie and Victoria Melita often observed their brother's friends and made comments on whom they liked better, an aspect which Marie believed was inevitable in the lives of girls who have brothers. Another activity which the girls enjoyed at Coburg was attending winter parties organised by their mother, during which they would ice-skate and play different games, such as ice hockey.

Prince George of Wales in 1893

Marriage

Marie grew into a "lovely young woman" with "sparkling blue eyes and silky fair hair" and her suitors soon multiplied. Among these was Prince George of Wales, who in 1892 became second in line to inherit the throne. Queen Victoria, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh all approved, but the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh did not. The Princess of Wales disliked the family's pro-German sentiment and the Duchess of Edinburgh did not wish for her daughter to remain in England, which she resented. She also disliked the fact that the Princess of Wales, whose father had been a minor German prince before being called to the Danish throne, was higher than her in the order of precedence. The Duchess of Edinburgh was against the idea of a marriage between first cousins, which was not allowed by her native Russian Orthodox Church. Thus, when George proposed to her, Marie informed him that the marriage was impossible and that he must remain her "beloved chum". Queen Victoria would later comment that "Georgie lost Missy by waiting & waiting".

Princess Marie in early 1893

Around this time, King Carol I of Romania was looking for a suitable bride for Crown Prince Ferdinand, in order to secure the succession and assure the continuation of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen. Possibly motivated by the prospect of removing tensions between Russia and Romania on the subject of domination in Bessarabia, the Duchess of Edinburgh suggested that Marie meet Ferdinand. Marie and Ferdinand first became acquainted during a gala dinner and conversed with him in German. She found him shy but amiable, and their second meeting went just as well. Once the pair were formally engaged, Queen Victoria wrote to Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine that "[Ferdinand] is nice & the Parents are charming–but the country is very insecure & the immorality of the Society at Bucharest quite awful. Of course the marriage will be delayed some time as Missy won't be 17 till the end of October!" Similarly, the Dowager German Empress wrote to the Duchess of Sparta that "Missy is till now quite delighted, but the poor child is so young, how can she guess what is before her?" In late 1892, King Carol visited London, in order to meet the Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Victoria, who eventually agreed to the marriage and appointed him a Knight of the Garter.

On 10 January 1893, Marie and Ferdinand were married at Sigmaringen Castle, in three ceremonies: one civil, one Catholic (Ferdinand's religion) and one Anglican. The civil ceremony was performed in the Red Hall of the castle by Karl von Wendel, the German Emperor being the first of the present witnesses to sign the marriage act. At four o'clock, the Catholic ceremony took place at the Town Church, with Marie being led to the altar by her father. The Anglican ceremony was more modest and was conducted in one of the chambers of the castle. Although King Carol granted the couple "Honigtag" (one day of honeymoon), Marie and Ferdinand spent a few days at the Castle of Krauchenwies in Bavaria. From there, they left for the countryside, their journey being interrupted briefly by a stop at Vienna, where they visited Emperor Franz Joseph. Due to growing tensions between Austria and Romania (the visit took place during the ongoing movement of the Transylvanian Memorandum), the couple's visit was brief and they arrived in Predeal following a nighttime crossing of Transylvania by train. Marie was warmly welcomed by the Romanian people, who were longing for a more personal monarchy.

Crown Princess (1893–1914)

Marie as Crown Princess, 1893. This is the first photograph of Marie taken in Romania.

Domestic life

The first years of Marie and Ferdinand's marriage were not particularly easy, and Marie would later tell her husband that "it is such a shame that we had to waste so many years of our youth just to learn how to live together!" One thing that they found they had in common was their love of their country, Marie later stating that "any mistakes we will have made, we have always had the best of intentions in mind and I am convinced that the people know this." In her diary, Marie would later write of the first years of her marriage: "we are of completely different temperaments, we cannot understand certain things because our mind works completely different. In our youth, we made one another suffer, we were like two badly mated horses, even though there always were issues upon which we agreed." Gradually, the couple's relationship became based on a cordial friendship: Marie respected Ferdinand for his superiority as a man and, later, as King, and he respected her because he realised that she had a better understanding of the world than he did. Eventually, Marie came to believe that she and Ferdinand were "the best associates, the most loyal companions, but our lives intertwine only in certain matters". Ferdinand enjoyed Marie's presence during military marches and consequently, she was frequently invited to this sort of events.

Marie gave birth to her first child, Prince Carol, only nine months after the marriage, on 15 October 1893. Although Marie requested the use of chloroform in order to ease the pains of labour, doctors were reluctant to do so, believing that "women must pay in agony for the sins of Eve". After persistence from Marie's mother and Queen Victoria, King Carol eventually allowed the use of the drug on his niece. Marie did not feel much joy at the birth of her firstborn, later writing that she "felt like turning [her] head to the wall". Similarly, although Marie was constantly reminded by Queen Elisabeth of Wied, Carol's wife, that childbirth is "the most glorious moment in [Marie's] life", she could only feel a longing for her mother at the birth of her second child, Princess Elisabeth, in 1894. After becoming accustomed to life in Romania, Marie began to rejoice at the births of her children, namely Princess Maria (1900–61), nicknamed "Mignon" in the family, Prince Nicholas (1903–78), nicknamed "Nicky", Princess Ileana (1909–91) and Prince Mircea (1913–16).

Ferdinand and Marie as Crown Prince and Princess, 1893

King Carol and Queen Elisabeth promptly removed Prince Carol and Princess Elisabeth from Marie's care, considering it inappropriate for them to be raised by their young parents. Marie loved her children, but found it difficult to even scold them at times, thus failing to properly supervise them. Consequently, the royal children were given somewhat of an education, but were never sent to school. As the royal household could not substitute a pedagogical institution, most of the children's personalities were severely flawed as they grew older. Prime Minister Ion G. Duca would later write that "it was like [King Carol] wished to leave for Romania heirs completely unprepared for succeeding."

Life at court

From the start, Marie had trouble adjusting to life in Romania. Her personality and "high spirits" frequently created controversies at the Romanian court, and she disliked the austere atmosphere of her household. She wrote that she "had not been brought down to Romania to be adored and spoilt and made much of; she had come to be part of the machinery King Carol had wound up. She had been imported to be trimmed, educated, cut down and trained according to the great man's conception of things." When describing her early days in Romania, Marie wrote that "for long hours [she] would mope, whilst [her] young husband did his military service, all alone in rooms [she] hated, heavy German rooms". The Dowager German Empress wrote to the Duchess of Sparta that "Missy of Roumania is more to be pittied than you. The King is a great tyrant in his family, & has crushed the independence in Ferdinand so that no one cares about him, & his beautiful and gifted little wife, I fear, gets into scrapes, & like a butterfly, instead of hovering over the flowers, burns her pretty wings by going rather near the fire!"

Marie and Ferdinand were advised by King Carol to maintain a restricted circle of friends; thus, Marie would lament that her familial circle had been shrunk to only the King and Ferdinand, "who stood in mighty awe of the iron old man, forever trembling that any action of [hers] might displease that duty-bound head of the family". The Times Literary Supplement wrote that Marie had found herself, "from the hour of her arrival in Bucharest under the tutelage of that stern disciplinarian King Carol I".

In 1896, Ferdinand and Marie moved to Cotroceni Palace, which had been especially arranged for them by King Carol. The following year, Ferdinand was struck down with typhoid fever. For days, he was delirious and, despite his doctor's best efforts, was close to dying. During this time, Marie exchanged numerous letters with her family in Britain and was terrified at the prospect of losing her husband. King Carol still had an heir in Prince Carol, whose young age presented issues; thus, the whole family desperately wished for Ferdinand to pull through. Eventually, he did, and he and Marie went to Sinaia for a period of recovery. Nonetheless, the couple was not able to attend celebrations for Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee that summer. During Ferdinand's convalescence, Marie spent most of her time with her two children, taking them on long walks and picking flowers with them. The winter of 1897/1898 was spent with the Russian Imperial family on the French Riviera, where Marie often rode horses, in spite of the low temperatures.

Marie (far right) and her sisters in mourning after the death of their father, 1900

Around this time, Marie met Lieutenant Gheorghe "Zizi" Cantacuzène, a member, albeit through an illegitimate branch, of an ancient Romanian princely family and a descendant of Prince Șerban Cantacuzino. Although not very good looking, Cantacuzène stood out using his sense of humour and fashion, as well as his talent in horse-riding. The two soon became romantically involved, but their affair was terminated after it became known by the public. As much as she condemned Marie's behaviour, her mother allowed her to come to Coburg when, in 1897, she apparently became pregnant. Historian Julia Gelardi believes that Marie gave birth to a child at Coburg; the child may either have been stillborn or sent to an orphanage immediately following its birth. There was speculation on whether Marie's second daughter, "Mignon", was Cantacuzène's daughter, and not Ferdinand's. Over the following years, Marie was also rumoured to have been romantically linked to Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich of Russia, Waldorf Astor, Prince Barbu Ştirbey and Joe Boyle.

On 29 June 1913, the Tsardom of Bulgaria declared war on Greece, thus starting the Second Balkan War. On 4 July, Romania entered the war, allying itself with Greece. The war, which lasted a little over a month, was worsened by a cholera epidemic. Marie would look upon her first encounter with an epidemic as a turning point in her life. With the help of Dr. Ioan Cantacuzino and Sister Pucci, a Red Cross nurse, Marie traveled between Romania and Bulgaria, lending a helping hand in hospitals. These events would prepare her for her experiences in the Great War. Soon after the war ended, Carol became ill.

On 28 June 1914, at Sarajevo, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was assassinated. This came as a shock to Marie and her family, who were vacationing at Sinaia when the news reached them. On 28 July, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia and, as Marie saw it, "the world's peace was torn to shreds". Then, on 3 August, King Carol held a Crown Council at Sinaia, in order to decide whether Romania should enter the war. Although Carol was in favour of his country supporting Germany and the Central Powers, the council decided against it. Not long after the council, Carol's illness worsened and he became bed-ridden; the possibility of his abdication was even discussed. Eventually, he died on 10 October 1914 and Ferdinand automatically succeeded as king.

Queen of Romania (1914–27)

World War I

Early in the morning of 10 October, Marie received a phone call from Prince Ştirbey, who informed her that she had become queen. Although she had been mentally preparing herself for her ascension for some time, the news came as a "colossal shock" to her. The next day, she and Ferdinand were acclaimed as king and queen in the Chamber of Deputies. She would later write that "at that hour I knew I had won, that stranger, the girl who had come from over the seas, was a stranger no more." Princess Anne Marie Callimachi, a close friend of Marie's, wrote that "as Crown Princess, [Marie] had been popular; as queen, she was more loved". Marie maintained a certain influence on her husband and the entire court, leading historian A. L. Easterman to write that "it was not [Ferdinand], but Marie who ruled in Romania".

At the time of Ferdinand's ascension, the government was led by the liberal prime minister Ion I. C. Brătianu. According to tradition, Brătianu presented his letter of resignation to the new king; however, Ferdinand declined it and the couple's reign under a liberal regime began. Ferdinand and Marie jointly decided to not make many changes in court and let people accept the transition from one regime to another, rather than force them. Thus, many of Carol and Elisabeth's servants were kept in service, even the ones who were not particularly liked. With Brătianu's help, Marie began pressuring Ferdinand into entering the war; concurrently, she contacted various reigning relatives in Europe and bargained for the best terms for Romania, in case they would enter the war. Marie favoured an alliance with the Triple Entente (Russia, France and Britain), partly because of her British ancestry. Neutrality was not without perils, and entering the war with the Entente meant that Romania would act be Russia's "buffer" to possible attacks.

Marie visiting a military hospital, 1917

Marie vehemently demanded Ferdinand that he enter the war, leading the French minister to Romania, Auguste Félix de Beaupoil, Count of Saint-Aulaire, to remark that Marie was twice an ally to the French: once by birth and once by heart. Ferdinand gave in to Marie's pleas, and he signed a treaty with the Entente on 17 August. On 27 August, Romania formally declared war on Austria-Hungary. Saint-Aulaire wrote that Marie "embraced war as another might embrace religion". After informing their children that their country had entered the war, Ferdinand and Marie dismissed their German servants, who could only remain in their service as "war prisoners" of sorts. Early on during the war, Marie was involved in aiding the Red Cross and visited hospitals daily. During the first month of war, Romania fought no less than nine battles, some on Romanian soil, such as the Battle of Turtucaia.

On 2 November 1916, Marie's youngest son, Prince Mircea, who had been sick with typhoid fever, died at Buftea. Marie was distraught and wrote in her journal "can anything ever be the same?". After Bucharest fell to Austrian troops, the royal court was transferred to Iași in December 1916. There, she continued to act as a nurse in military hospitals. Once again helped by Dr. Ioan Cantacuzino and Sister Pucci, Marie attempted to stop the spreading of the typhus plague which swept through Romania and took this opportunity to send her son, Crown Prince Carol, to the outlying districts with food and water, in order to help him gain love and recognition from his future people. Daily, Marie would dress as a nurse and go to the train station, where she would receive more injured soldiers; then she would transport them to hospital.

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The assembly at Alba Iulia, 1918

After the conclusion of the Russian Revolution in early November 1917 and the victory of the Bolsheviks, Romania became, in the words of diplomat Frank Rattigan, "an island surrounded on all sides by the enemy, with no hope of assistance from the Allies". Soon afterwards, Ferdinand signed the Treaty of Focșani, on 9 December 1917. Marie considered the treaty perilous, while Brătianu and Știrbey believed it was a necessary measure for obtaining more time. Later turns of events would prove Marie to have assumed correctly. In 1918, Marie vehemently opposed the signing of the Treaty of Bucharest and was "truly the only man in Romania". The Armistice with Germany (11 November 1918) put an end to fighting in Europe and, thus, to the war.

The Kingdom of Hungary had begun conquering Transylvania in the tenth century, and it had become fully occupied by Hungarians around 1200. The idea of a "Greater Romania" had existed in the minds of Romanians in Transylvania for some time and Brătianu had actively supported the concept before the war. In 1918, both Bessarabia and Bukovina voted for union with Romania. An assembly took place at the ancient city of Alba Iulia on 1 December 1918, where Vasile Goldiș read the resolution for the union of Transylvania with the Old Kingdom. The High National Romanian Council (Romanian: Marele Sfat Național Român) was established and the resolution was supported by vote of Saxon Deputies. Marie wrote "the dream of România Mare seems to be becoming a reality [...] it is all so incredible that I hardly dare believe it." After the assembly, Ferdinand and Marie returned to Bucharest, where they were met by general enthusiasm: "a day of 'wild, delirious enthusiasm', with the bands crashing and the troops marching and the people cheering". Allied troops took part in the celebration and Marie was elated to see the Entente on Romanian soil for the first time.

Paris Peace Conference

She is magnificent and we have, against all protocol, shouted our admiration. The day remained grey, but Queen Marie carried her light within her.

— Le Matin, a French newspaper

Because Ferdinand had refused to sign the Treaty of Bucharest and because Romania had been hostile towards the Central Powers until the end of the war, its place among the winning countries during Paris Peace Conference was guaranteed. The official delegation was led by Brătianu, who had just begun his third term as Prime Minister. Brătianu's rigidity, combined with French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau's reluctance to overlook Ferdinand's acceptance of the Treaty of Bucharest led to open conflict and the Romanian delegation left Paris, much to the dismay of the "Big Four". Hoping to resolve the situation, Saint-Aulaire suggested that Marie should be sent to the conference instead. The Queen was delighted at the prospect.

Marie with her two eldest daughters in Paris, 1919

Marie arrived in Paris on 6 March 1919. She was immediately popular with the French people, due to her boldness during the War. Upon meeting Marie, Clemenceau abruptly told her, "I don't like your Prime Minister", to which she replied, "Perhaps then you'll find me more agreeable." He did, and president Raymond Poincaré noticed a change in Clemenceau's attitude towards Romania after Marie's arrival. After staying in Paris for a week, Marie accepted George V and Queen Mary's invitation and crossed the English Channel, lodging at Buckingham Palace. Hoping to acquire as much goodwill for Romania as possible, Marie became acquainted with many important political figures of the time, including Lord Curzon, Winston Churchill and Waldorf and Nancy Astor. She also frequently visited her son Nicky, who was then in school at Eton College. Marie was elated to have returned to England after so much time, writing that "it was a tremendous emotion to arrive in London, and to be greeted at the station by George and May."

After the end of her visit in England, Marie returned to Paris, where the people were just as excited for her arrival as they had been a few weeks before. Crowds gathered around her frequently, waiting to see the "exotic" Queen of Romania. American President Woodrow Wilson remained unimpressed by Marie, and her comments on sexual relation laws in Russia, which were considered inappropriate, did not help. Marie shocked many officials by waving all her ministers aside and leading negotiations herself. On this, she would later comment "Never mind, you'll all just have to get used to accepting me with the faults of my virtues." Marie left Paris with numerous supplies for Romania's relief and later that year, the conference resulted in the international recognition of Greater Romania, thus doubling Ferdinand and Marie's kingdom to 295,000 square kilometres (114,000 sq mi) and increasing the population by ten million. This led Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia, who briefly lived in Bucharest, to conclude that "by her charm, beauty, and ready wit, [Marie] could obtain anything she desired".

Marie as queen, early 1920s

Dynastic efforts

In 1920, Marie's eldest daughter, Princess Elisabeth, was engaged to Prince George of Greece, the eldest son of the deposed King of the Hellenes, Constantine I and of Sophia of Prussia (formerly the Duchess of Sparta). After inviting George and his two sisters, Princesses Helen and Irene, to lodge with them at Sinaia, Marie organised numerous activities for the young couple and was delighted at the prospect of marrying off her daughter, whose character was severely flawed. In October, news arrived of King Alexander's death from Greece and the Greek princesses needed to be returned to their parents as soon as possible. The following day, news arrived that Marie's mother had died in her sleep in Zurich. Marie made arrangements for her departure to Switzerland, where she would take Helen and Irene to their parents and arrange her mother's funeral. Meanwhile, George and Elisabeth would remain at Sinaia.

Soon enough, Crown Prince Carol proposed to Princess Helen and they were married the following year. Marie was delighted, as she had frowned upon Carol's relationship with Zizi Lambrino and had been worried at the birth of their illegitimate son, Carol Micea, who, to her great relief, had been given his mother's surname; the child was considered illegitimate and spent most of his life trying to prove otherwise. In 1922, Marie married her second daughter, "Mignon", to Alexander I of Serbia (later of Yugoslavia). She was delighted at the births of her two royal grandsons, Prince Michael of Romania (b. 1921) and Prince Peter of Yugoslavia (1923–1970); these births of two children destined to sit on Europe's thrones seemed to cement her ambitions. Marie's dynastic efforts were viewed by critics as those of a manipulative mother who would sacrifice her children's happiness in order to fulfill her ambitions; in reality, Marie never forced any of her children to marry without their full consent.

In 1924, Ferdinand and Marie undertook a diplomatic tour of France, Switzerland, Belgium and the United Kingdom. In England, she was warmly welcomed by George V, who declared that "apart from the common aims, which we pursue, there are other and dear ties between us. Her Majesty the Queen, my dear cousin, is British born." Similarly, Marie wrote that the day of her arrival in England was "a great day for me, one of emotions, sweet, happy and the same time glorious emotions to come back as Queen to my own country, to be received officially, in all honour and enthusiastically into the bargain – to feel your heart swell with pride and satisfaction, to feel your heart beat and tears start into your eyes, while something gave you a lump into your throat!" These state visits were a symbolic recognition of Romania's gained prestige after World War I. Whilst visiting Geneva, Marie and Ferdinand became the first monarchs to enter the newly established headquarters of the League of Nations.

Coronation

Around this time, preparations for Marie and Ferdinand's coronation as sovereigns of Greater Romania came to an end. The location chosen was Alba Iulia, which had been an important fortress in the Middle Ages and where Michael the Brave had been declared Voivode of Transylvania in 1599, thus uniting Wallachia and Transylvania for the first time. As there was no cathedral in Alba Iulia, save the Roman Catholic St. Michael's Cathedral, Marie had one built. It was constructed in Byzantine style, with its walls "dazzingly white". This cathedral became known as the Coronation Cathedral.

An elaborate set of jewelry and clothing was made especially for the coronation. Marie's crown was designed by painter Costin Petrescu and it was made in the Art Nouveau style by "Falize", a Parisian jewelry house. The crown was inspired by that of Despina, the wife of 16th-century Romanian ruler Neagoe Basarab, and it was made entirely out of Transylvanian gold. The crown had two pendants on the sides; one contained an image of the royal arms of Romania and the other, the arms of the Duke of Edinburgh, which Marie had used as her own arms prior to her marriage. The crown, which cost around 65000 francs, was payed for by the state, via a special law.

Among the guests at the royal couple's coronation were Marie's sister "Baby Bee", the Duke of York and French generals Maxime Weygand and Henri Mathias Berthelot. The ceremony was conducted by the Metropolitan of All Romania, Miron Cristea, but it was not performed inside the cathedral as Ferdinand, a Roman Catholic, refused to be crowned by a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church. After placing his crown on his own head, Ferdinand crowned Marie, who had knelt before him. Immediately, cannons were fired as a sign that the first monarchs of Greater Romania had been anointed. A feast was given in the same room where the proclamation of union had been read by Goldiș in 1918; there, more than 20000 peasants were offered roasted steaks. The following day, Ferdinand and Marie triumphantly entered Bucharest. The splendor of the coronation was subsequently brought forward as a proof of Marie's theatricality.

Visit to America

Not even the pelting rain and mist that obscured the distant Statue of Liberty could dim the royal welcome that greeted Queen Marie of Roumania as she landed at the Battery Park this morning.

— The Montreal Gazette, a Canadian newspaper

The Maryhill Museum of Art in Maryhill, Washington was initially designed as a mansion for wealthy businessman Samuel Hill. However, at Loie Fuller's behest, the building was turned into a museum instead. Hill wished it to be dedicated in 1926, and he conceived it as a monument to peace, his wife, Mary Hill, and to Queen Marie herself. Marie agreed to come to America and witness the dedication, especially as Fuller was an old friend of hers. Fuller quickly put together a committee that supported Marie's "tour" of America and arrangements were made for her departure. Marie viewed the tour as an opportunity to "see the country, meet the people and put Romania on the map". She traveled by ship across the Atlantic Ocean and disembarked in New York, on 18 October 1926, accompanied by Prince Nicholas and Princess Ileana.

Marie with Nicholas and Ileana, 1926

Upon her arrival, Marie was welcomed enthusiastically by the American people, with "whistle of steamers, roar of guns in white smoke puffs against gray fog, voices cheering in a stinging rain". She was formally greeted by Jimmy Walker, the serving Mayor of New York City. Constance Lily Morris, author of "On Tour with Queen Marie", wrote that the people were excited for Marie's arrival mainly because of her almost mythical allure, which had been created by papers and rumour throughout her life; she wrote that "the modest Queen of the Belgians had once come with her king for a brief visit and years ago the dusky Hawaiian ruler had honored us, but there had been no others. The time could not have been better set." Marie was also fairly popular within suffragette circles, where she was viewed as "a woman whose wits had devised many a coup d'état, whose brains had thought out many a difficult problem for her people, who had used the gifts given her to further every good purpose".

During their time in America, Marie, Nicholas and Ileana undertook tours of several cities, such as Philadelphia. They were very popular, and were greeted with equal enthusiasm in each city they visited, so much so that "[Nicholas and Ileana] seemed fairly dazed by their tremendous ovation". Before leaving the United States, Marie was presented with a bullet-proof armored town car by Willys-Knight, which she joyfully accepted. On 24 November, Marie and her children were seen off by a delegation from Washington, D.C., as they prepared to leave by ship from New York harbor. Morris wrote that "our last view was of Her Majesty, her children on either side, waving back with that tear-and-smile of those who pass from happy scenes." Morris accompanied the queen throughout her journey and offered a very detailed account of Marie's time in America in her book, published in 1927.

Marie was delighted with the visit, and wished to return to America as soon as possible. She wrote in her diaries:

"both my children and I have but one dream: to return! To return to that stupendous New World, which makes you almost guiddy [sic] because of its immencity, [sic] its noise, its striving, its fearful impetuous [sic] to get on, to do always more, always bigger, quicker, more astonishingly a restless, flaring great world, where I think everything can be realised... [...] I know, as long as I live, breathe and think, the love for America will beautify my life and thoughts... Perhaps Fate will allow me one day to go back to America."

Widowhood (1927–38)

1927–30

Marie with Helen and Michael, 1927–30

Prince Carol officially renounced his rights to succeed Ferdinand on 5 January 1926, simultaneously waving all parental rights over Prince Michael, who had been proclaimed heir. A Provisional Regency Bill was passed, creating a regency council composed of Prince Nicholas, the Orthodox Patriarch, Miron Cristea, and the president of the Court of Cessation. However, both Marie and Ferdinand were reluctant to leave the country in the hands of a five-year-old boy, even ruled by a regency, in fear that the lands gained during World War I would be reclaimed by neighbouring countries and that political disturbances might lead to civil unrest. Nevertheless, when Marie returned from America, Ferdinand's death seemed imminent. He was suffering from intestinal cancer, and by April 1927 he had been so close to death that he had been given the last rites of the Catholic Church. He died on 20 July, in Marie's arms. She later wrote: "'I am so tired' were his last words and when he lay so quiet in my arms one hour later, I knew that I must thank God for him at least. This was rest indeed."

Michael automatically succeeded as king upon Ferdinand's death and the regency council became in control of the country. In May 1928, Carol, who had found his life abroad with Magda Lupescu unsatisfactory, attempted to return to Romania with the help of the 1st Viscount Rothermere. He was prevented from doing so by English authorities, who then proceeded to expel him from England. Infuriated, Marie sent an official apology to George V on behalf of her son, who had already begun plotting a coup d'état. Carol succeeded in divorcing Princess Helen on 21 June 1928, on grounds of incompatibility.

Marie's popularity was severely affected during Michael's reign and, after refusing to be part of the regency council in 1929, she was accused by the press, and even by Princess Helen, of plotting a coup. During this time, there were numerous rumours as to Princess Ileana's marriage. After talks of Ileana marrying the Tsar of Bulgaria or the Prince of Asturias, she was eventually betrothed to Alexander, Count of Hochberg, a minor German prince, in early 1930. This betrothal was, however, short-lived and Marie never managed to conclude a political marriage for her youngest daughter, instead marrying her to the Italian-born Archduke Anton of Austria–Tuscany in 1931.

Carol's reign

Marie in 1936, by Philip de László

On 6 June 1930, Carol arrived in Bucharest and made his way into Parliament, where the Act of Succession 1927 was duly declared null. Thus, Carol usurped the throne from his son, becoming King Carol II. Upon hearing of Carol's return, Marie, who was abroad, was relieved. She had been growing anxious with the direction in which the country was heading and viewed Carol's return as the return of the Prodigal Son. However, as soon as she arrived in Bucharest, she became aware that things would not go well. Carol refused to accept his mother's advice to take Helen back and never sought Marie's council during his reign, thus making the already existing breach between mother and son complete.

Desolate and almost stripped of her faith, Marie turned to the religious teachings of the Bahá'í Faith, which she found "vastly appealing". Marie was the first member of a royal family to become a Bahá'í. She later wrote:

"The Bahá'í teaching brings peace and understanding. It is like a wide embrace gathering together all those who have long searched for words of hope. It accepts all great Prophets gone before, it destroys no other creeds and leaves all doors open. Saddened by the continual strife amongst believers of many confessions and wearied of their intolerance towards each other, I discovered in the Bahá'í teaching the real spirit of Christ so often denied and misunderstood: Unity instead of strife, Hope instead of condemnation, Love instead of hate, and a great reassurance for all men."

In 1931, Prince Nicholas eloped with Ioana Doletti, a divorced woman. Marie strongly disapproved of her son's actions and felt hurt by Doletti's repeated attempts to keep Nicholas from communicating with his mother. Although she blamed the women in her sons' lives for a while, she came to also blame herself, for failing to educate them properly. However, she stubbornly and continually refused to meet Magda Lupescu, even after Carol's pleas. Until her last years, Marie seldom even mentioned Lupescu's name.

With Carol's mistress hated throughout the country, it was only a matter of time until opposition against the King emerged. This opposition came under the form of the Iron Guard, a group supported by Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler. After Carol turned to Ion Duca for help, the Iron Guard had Duca assassinated in December 1933. After Duca's death, Carol's popularity plummeted and there were rumours that an attempt would be made on his life at the annual independence parade. In order to avoid this, he instead had Marie attend the parade, in what would be her final public appearance.

After the parade, Carol set out to destroy his mother's popularity among Romanians and tried to push her out of the country. Marie, however, did not comply, instead fleeing to Bran Castle and Balchik, where she had built a small chapel called Stella Maris and tended to her garden. She also visited Ileana and her children in Austria. Ileana rarely received permission from Carol to visit Romania; this irritated Marie greatly. She also spent some time in Belgrade with her daughter "Mignon" and her son-in-law, King Alexander. In 1934, Marie visited England once again, where she met the Duchess of York, by whom she was enchanted.

Illness and death

Marie as Queen Dowager, painted by Elena Popea.

During the summer of 1937, Marie fell ill. Her personal physician, Dr. Castellani, diagnosed with with pancreatic cancer, although her official diagnosis was cirrhosis of the liver. Marie had not been a drinker and, upon hearing of this diagnosis, she reportedly said: "then there must be a non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, because I have never in my life tasted alcohol." She was prescribed a diet of cold foods, injections and bed rest. Marie was so weak at times that she could not even pick up a pen. In February 1938, she was sent to a sanatorium in Italy, in hopes that she might recover. There, she was visited by Nicholas and his wife, whom Marie eventually forgave for her transgressions. She was also visited by Princess Helen, whom she had not seen in nearly seven years, and Waldorf Astor. Marie was eventually transferred to a sanatorium in Dresden. Growing weaker and weaker, she requested that she be brought back to Romania, in order to die there. Carol denied her a journey by airplane, instead forcing her to return to Romania by train. She was brought to Peleș Castle.

Marie's tomb in Curtea de Argeș Monastery

Marie died on 18 July 1938, at 5:38 p.m., eight minutes after lapsing into a coma. Her two eldest children, Carol and Elisabeth, accompanied by Prince Michael, were at her deathbed. Two days later, on 20 July, Marie's body was brought back to Bucharest, where she lay in state in the white drawing room at Cotroceni Palace. Her coffin was surrounded by flowers and glowing tapers and was guarded by officers of the Fourth Hussars. Thousands of people filed by Marie's bier during the three-day lying in state and, on the third day, the palace was opened for factory workers. Marie's funeral cortege was carried to the train station, passing under the Arch of Triumph. Her coffin was taken to Curtea de Argeș Monastery, where she was interred. Marie's heart, according to her own wishes, was placed in small, golden casket embellished with the emblems of the Romanian provinces and interred in her Stella Maris chapel in Balchik. In 1940, after Southern Dobrudja was returned to Bulgaria during World War II, Marie's heart was transferred to Bran Castle.

Marie was the last Queen consort of Romania, as Princess Helen was only ever awarded the title of Queen Mother between 1940 and 1947. She was one of Queen Victoria's five reigning granddaughters and one of three to retain their position as consort after the conclusion of World War I, alongside the Queens of Norway and of Spain

Legacy

File:Bustul reginei Maria din Arcul de triumf.jpg

Marie's bust in the Arch of Triumph

According to one of her biographers, Diana Mandache, Marie published 34 books and short stories, in Romanian and English alike, during her lifetime. This included her critically acclaimed autobiography, The Story of My Life, published by Cassell in London, in three volumes. The book was reviewed by Virginia Woolf, who felt it was too familiarizing of the royal family. She stated that "suppose that among the autumn books of 2034 is Prometheus Unbound, by George the Sixth, or Wuthering Heights, by Elizabeth the Second, what will be the effect upon their loyal subjects? Will the British Empire survive? Will Buckingham Palace look as solid then as it does now? Words are dangerous things, let us remember. A republic might be brought into being by a poem."

A medal depicting Marie

Even before her ascension as queen, Marie had succeeded in establishing her public image as that of "one of the best-looking and richest princesses in Europe". She was known primarily for her talent in horse-riding, writing, painting, sculpting, dancing and for her beauty. Her popularity was dimmed by two slanderous campaigns: that conducted by the Central Powers during World War I; and that led by communist officials after Romania's transition to a Socialist Republic in 1947.

During Romania's 42 years under communist rule, Marie was alternatively depicted as either an "agent of English capitalism" or as a devoted patriot who believed that her destiny was intertwined with that of Romania. In "Adevărata istorie a unei monarhii" (Template:Lang-en), author Alexandru Gârneață refers to orgies that supposedly were held by Marie at Cotroceni and Balchik and claims that, in fact, her cirrhosis was caused by her heavy drinking, even offering examples of instances when a drunken Marie needed to be carried out of a yacht by her fellow drinkers. Marie's supposed extramarital affairs were brought forward as evidence of promiscuity, which contravened communist values. It was not until the last years before the Romanian Revolution that Marie's deeds were fully recognised.

In Romania, Marie is known by the nicknamew "Mama Răniților" (Template:Lang-en), or simply as "Regina Maria", while in other countries she is remembered as the "Soldier Queen" and "Mamma Regina". Marie is also nicknamed "the mother-in-law of the Balkans", due to her children's marriages among ruling houses in the Balkans. By the time of her death, Marie's children had ruled in all Balkan countries except for Bulgaria, although her descendants no longer occupy any European throne. Marie has been called "one of the greatest figures in Romanian history" by Constantin Argetoianu, and in her memory, the Order of the Cross of Queen Marie was established in Romania.

Many of Marie's personal belongings are on display and can be viewed at Bran Castle, Marie's residence in her later years, which functions as a museum and in the Maryhill Museum of Art, which holds a permanent exhibition titled "Marie, Queen of Romania"; this exhibition includes the queen’s coronation gown, crown, silverware, gilt furniture and jewelry, among other things.

Issue

See also: Royal descendants of Queen Victoria and King Christian IX

Name	Birth	Death	Spouse and children
Crown Prince Carol later King Carol II	189315 October 1893	19534 April 1953	Married 1918, Ioana Maria Valentina "Zizi" Lambrino (1898–1953); 1 son (Prince Carol Mircea) Married 1921, Princess Helen of Greece and Denmark (1896–1982); 1 son (Michael, King of Romania) Married 1947, Elena "Magda" Lupescu (died 1977) no issue
Princess Elisabeth later Queen of the Hellenes	189412 October 1894	195615 November 1956	Married 1921, George, Diádochos of Greece later George II, King of the Hellenes (1890–1947) no issue
Princess Marie later Queen of Yugoslavia	19006 January 1900	196122 June 1961	Married 1922, Alexander I, King of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes later King of Yugoslavia (1888–1934); 3 sons (including Peter II, King of Yugoslavia)
Prince Nicholas later Prinz von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen	190318 August 1903	19789 June 1978	Married 1931, Ioana Doletti (1902/9–1963) no issue; Married 1967, Thereza Lisboa Figueira de Mello (1913–1997) no issue
Princess Ileana later Archduchess of Austria-Tuscany	19095 January 1909	199121 January 1991	Married 1931, Archduke Anton of Austria-Tuscany (1901–1987); 2 sons, 4 daughters Married 1953, Dr. Stefan Issarescu (1906–2002) no issue
Prince Mircea	19133 January 1913	19162 November 1916	None

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Styles of Queen Marie of Romania
Reference style	Her Majesty
Spoken style	Your Majesty
Alternative style	Ma'am

Marie's coat of arms.

Titles and styles

• 29 October 1875 – 10 January 1893: Her Royal Highness Princess Marie of Edinburgh
• 10 January 1893 – 10 October 1914: Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Romania
• 10 October 1914 – 20 July 1927: Her Majesty The Queen of Romania
• 20 July 1927 – 18 July 1938: Her Majesty Queen Marie of Romania

British arms

As a male-line grandchild of a British Sovereign, Marie bore the arms of the kingdom, with an inescutcheon for Saxony, differenced by a five-point label argent, the outer pair of which bore anchors azure, the inner roses gules, and the central a cross gules. In 1917, the inescutcheon was dropped by Royal Warrant from George V.

Honours

Marie was a recipient of the following national and foreign honours:

• Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (Romania)
• Legion d'Honneur (France)
• Médaille militaire (France)
• Dame of the Order of the Crown (Italy)
• Dame of the Order of the Crown (India)
• Dame of the Royal Red Cross (United Kingdom)
• Dame of the Royal Order of Victoria and Albert (United Kingdom)
• Dame of Justice of the Venerable Order of Saint John of Jerusalem (United Kingdom)
• 1,007th Dame of the Royal Order of Queen Maria Luisa (Spain)

Ancestry

Family of Marie of Romania

16. Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld 8. Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha 17. Countess Augusta of Reuss-Ebersdorf 4. Albert, Prince Consort 18. Augustus, Duke of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg 9. Princess Louise of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg 19. Duchess Louise Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 2. Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha 20. George III of the United Kingdom 10. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn 21. Duchess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 5. Queen Victoria 22. Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (= 16) 11. Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld 23. Countess Augusta of Reuss-Ebersdorf (= 17) 1. Marie of Edinburgh 24. Paul I of Russia 12. Nicholas I of Russia 25. Duchess Sophie Dorothea of Württemburg 6. Alexander II of Russia 26. Frederick William III of Prussia 13. Princess Charlotte of Prussia 27. Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 3. Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia 28. Louis I, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine 14. Louis II, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine 29. Landgravine Louise of Hesse-Darmstadt 7. Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine 30. Charles Louis, Hereditary Prince of Baden 15. Princess Wilhelmine of Baden 31. Landgravine Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt

References

Bibliography

• Aronson, Theo (1973). Grandmama of Europe. London: Cassell. ISBN 0-304-29063-7. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Botoran, Constantin; Moisuc, Viorica (1983). România la Conferința de Pace de la Paris (in Romanian). Cluj-Napoca: Dacia. OL 18196100M. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Ciubotaru, Ștefania (2011). Viața Cotidiană la Curtea Regală a României (in Romanian). Bucharest: Cartex. ISBN 606-8023-13-7. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help); Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |ignore-isbn-error= ignored (|isbn= suggested) (help)
• Crawford, Donald (2011). The Last Tsar: Emperor Michael II. Edinburgh: Murray McLellan Limited. ISBN 978-0-95700911-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Daggett, Mabel Potter (1926). Marie of Roumania. New York: George H. Doran & Co. OCLC 1075530. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Duca, Ion G. (1981). Amintiri Politice. Bucharest: Humanitas. ISBN 978-973280183-3. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Easterman, Alexander Levvey (1942). King Carol, Hitler and Lupescu. London: V. Gollancz Ltd. OCLC 4769487. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Elsberry, Terence (1972). Marie of Romania. New York: St. Martin's Press. OCLC 613611. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Gauthier, Guy (2010). Missy, Regina României (in Romanian). Bucharest: Humanitas. ISBN 978-973-50-2621-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Gelardi, Julia (2005). Born to Rule. London: St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 978-0312-32423-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Giurescu, Ștefan (1972). Istoria României în Date (in Romanian). Bucharest: Editura Enciclopedică. OCLC 637298400. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Horedt, Kurt (1958). Contribuţii la istoria Transilvaniei în secolele IV-XIII (in Romanian). Bucharest: Editura Academiei Republicii Populare Romîne. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Hupchik, Dennis (1995). Conflict and Chaos in Eastern Europe. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-312-12116-7. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Mandache, Diana (2001). "The Marriage of Princess Marie of Edinburgh and Ferdinand, the Crown Prince of Romania". Royalty Digest. 10 (119): 333–38. ISSN 0967-5744. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
• Mandache, Diana (2011). Later Chapters of My Life: The Lost Memoir of Queen Marie of Romania. Gloucestershire: Sutton. ISBN 0-7509-3691-6. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Marghiloman, Alexandru (1927). Note politice, 1897-1924. Bucharest: Institutul de Arte Grafice "Eminescu". OCLC 23540746. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Maria Pavlovna of Russia (1932). A Princess in Exile. New York: Viking. OCLC 1372354.
• Marie, Queen of Romania (1990). Povestea Vieții Mele (in Romanian). Vol. 1. Iași: Moldova. ISBN 973-9032-01-X.
• Marie, Queen of Romania (1991). Povestea Vieții Mele (in Romanian). Vol. 2. Bucharest: Eminescu. ISBN 973-22-0214-9.
• Marie, Queen of Romania (1991). Povestea Vieții Mele (in Romanian). Vol. 3. Bucharest: Eminescu. ISBN 973-22-0215-7.
• Morris, Constance Lily (1927). On Tour with Queen Marie. New York: Robert M. McBride & Co. OCLC 2048943. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Pakula, Hannah (1984). The Last Romantic. New York: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-671-46364-0. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Pope-Hennessy, James (1959). Queen Mary, 1867-1953. London: G. Allen and Unwin. OCLC 1027299. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Rattigan, Frank (1924). Diversions of a Diplomat. London: Chapman and Hall Ltd. OCLC 11319209. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• Saint-Aulaire, Auguste Félix de Beaupoil, Count of (1953). Confession d'un Vieux Diplomate (in French). Paris: Flammarion. OCLC 3450664. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Sullivan, Michael John (1997). A Fatal Passion: The Story of the Uncrowned Last Empress of Russia. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-42400-8. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
• van der Kiste, John (1991). Princess Victoria Melita. Gloucestershire: Sutton. ISBN 0-7509-3469-7.
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External links

• Queen Marie of Romania, a resource for articles and novels about Marie.
• Marie of Romania at Find a Grave
• The British Pathé has made available various archives of films taken including Marie of Edinburgh:1914, 1917, 1924, 1930, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1938
• Royal Romania, Diana Mandache's official blog.