Tea at Trianon: A Royal Anniversary

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

A Royal Anniversary

Sixty years ago today....

The Monarchist reports....

Today is also the ninety-fifth birthday of Archduke Otto. Share

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: I caught some of it on TV. I am trying to visualize them as a model of fidelity and perseverance in all things. It probably would be easier if we had not been subjected to all the dirty laundry, not that any of us can throw stones.; November 20, 2007 at 11:52:00 AM EST
elena maria vidal said...: I think it is the longest royal marriage in history.; November 20, 2007 at 11:53:00 AM EST
Anonymous said...: Technically, Prince Henri and Princess Isabelle of France (married 1931, he died 1999) and Prince Bernhard and Queen Juliana of the Netherlands (married 1937, both died 2004) had longer marriages, but sadly both couples separated in their old age, though they never divorced. The marriage of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip is certainly the longest SUCCESSFUL royal marriage.

Thank you for honouring the royal anniversary. A refreshing contrast to those ultra-sectarian Catholics unable to see past Henry VIII!; November 22, 2007 at 11:31:00 AM EST
Lucy said...: They look so young and sweet in that photo. Happily I have basically escaped hearing anything unpleasant about the Queen and Prince Philip's marriage - so much better than all I've heard about their children. I don't see why it matters if there have been any issues - far more important is that they are still very much together. I pray we may all know such long-lasting love!; November 22, 2007 at 2:58:00 PM EST