Royal Romances of To-day

In Short

This book provides intimate, biographical portraits of three prominent early 20th-century consorts: Empress Alexandra of Russia, Queen Elena of Italy, and Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain. Based on firsthand reporting and access to court circles between 1907 and 1910, the text shifts focus from grand state politics to the "heart interest" of these women. It documents their courtships, their family lives, and the pressures of their public roles. The book has endured as a primary-source glimpse into the domestic realities of royals who lived just before the collapse of their worlds.

The Story

The narrative arc of these lives begins with the fairy-tale expectations of royal marriages and descends into the complex, often isolating reality of the palace. For the Empress of Russia, the journey starts with her arrival at the Winter Palace as a German princess, marked by an immediate struggle to navigate the rigid, often cold Russian court. She emerges as a figure of severe reserve, deeply committed to a mystical faith that isolates her from the populace. Her story is one of gathering shadows, moving from the birth of her children—whom she raises with a mixture of piety and domestic focus—to the ominous backdrop of the 1905 revolution, which the author observes from within the palace walls.

The progression of Queen Elena of Italy follows a different trajectory, rooted in the rugged independence of Montenegro. Elena is depicted as a "tomboy" princess who finds her way to the Italian throne through a whirlwind courtship with King Victor Emmanuel III. Her arc is defined by her transition from a wild, mountain-climbing girl to a dedicated mother who finds her greatest joy in private family life. Yet, the narrative does not shy away from the conflict between her personal desires and her public duty; she is portrayed as a woman who excels in domestic affection but finds the routine expectations of "Queenship" to be a tiresome, perhaps even tedious, obligation.

Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain enters the narrative as a youthful English princess, whose engagement to King Alfonso XIII serves as the emotional center of her section. Her story is marked by the dramatic, terrifying reality of modern terrorism, specifically the bomb attack on their wedding day in Madrid. The narrative follows her through the immediate aftermath—maintaining poise while her wedding gown is stained with blood—to her later life as a mother, raising children amidst baseless, damaging rumors about their health. Throughout these three accounts, the pattern is consistent: the initial, romantic promise of the royal match gives way to a life of perpetual observation, where every personal choice, from child-rearing methods to public appearance, is scrutinized. The accounts conclude with the realization that for these women, the "Queenship" is an accidental and demanding vessel, one that often threatens to swallow the individual identity of the wife and mother residing within the throne room.

How It Unfolds

The quest for the hidden life The author sets out to peel back the layers of public ceremony to find the women behind the crowns. By interviewing courtiers, servants, and palace insiders, he aims to replace distant rumors with corroborated personal details.

The romance of the engagement Each queen’s story begins with the courtship, highlighting the human moments—like a king and his fiancée shopping in a village—that exist outside of state protocol. These early chapters establish the personal chemistry that initially fuels their entry into sovereign life.

The trial of public duty As the initial romance settles into routine, the narrative shifts to the grueling demands of the position. Whether it is the Empress facing a hostile Duma or the Spanish Queen surviving an assassination attempt, the focus remains on their composure during moments of profound instability.

The domestic sanctuary The latter segments explore how these women carve out private spheres, often prioritizing their roles as mothers over their roles as consorts. The author observes them in nurseries, at family meals, and in quiet moments, contrasting these scenes with the rigid formalities of the court.

The final assessment The book closes by reflecting on the inherent difficulty of the task; the author offers a candid evaluation of each woman’s performance in her role. He concludes by weighing the burdens of their status against their personal motivations, leaving the reader with a sense of the fragility of their positions.

The People

• Empress Alexandra of Russia is a woman of immense but rigid moral conviction, whose shy, German-influenced upbringing leaves her ill-equipped for the social demands of the Russian court. She is portrayed as a devoted mother, yet her perceived coldness and reliance on mysticism create a barrier between her and her subjects.
• Queen Elena of Italy is characterized by her "Amazonian" strength and an irrepressible, adventurous spirit. While she remains a deeply loving wife and mother who finds peace in the company of her children, she struggles to reconcile her desire for private happiness with the public, ceremonial duties that she finds inherently boring.
• King Alfonso XIII of Spain is the energetic, often reckless, and remarkably brave consort of Queen Victoria Eugenie. He is presented as a man of action—a skilled motorist and sportsman—who possesses a "kaleidoscopic" personality and a deep, practical engagement with the minutiae of governing his country.
• Queen Victoria Eugenie enters the court as a radiant, sympathetic figure who is quickly tested by tragedy. She matures into a queen defined by her grace under pressure, successfully navigating the transition from a quiet life in England to the high-stakes, dangerous atmosphere of the Spanish capital.

In Its Own Voice

“Your task is difficult, because these are three good Queens, and good Queens, like all good women, have no history.”

The author reflects on the challenge of chronicling the lives of women who were expected to remain obscured by their royal duties.

“The smoke had not cleared when the King, taking the head of his bride and Queen between both his hands, kissed her tenderly.”

This observation captures the immediate, intimate reaction of the King and Queen of Spain following a horrific bomb blast on their wedding day.

“It is my impression that the Queen business bores her utterly; else she would not do it so badly.”

The author provides a frank, blunt assessment of Queen Elena’s struggle to find fulfillment in the administrative and ceremonial aspects of her station.

What It's Really About

The central argument concerns the fundamental incompatibility between the private soul and the public office of a queen. The author posits that the "Queen business" is a performance that often stifles the genuine character of those who occupy it. He examines the tension between the modern desire for personal agency—seen in Elena’s athleticism or Alexandra’s spiritual pursuits—and the archaic, rigid expectations of the monarchy. Ultimately, the book questions whether a person can remain truly "human" while serving as a symbol of the state. It treats the queens not as abstract icons of power, but as women caught in a system that demands their constant, visible presence while simultaneously stripping them of the freedom to be anything other than a consort.

Why Read It Today

Readers with an interest in the "human side" of history will find this volume compelling. It offers a rare, ground-level view of monarchs just before the cataclysm of the First World War changed their world forever. You will likely enjoy it if you appreciate biographical sketches that emphasize the texture of daily life—what they ate, how they played, and how they handled the small, embarrassing accidents of court life.

However, a modern reader must be prepared for the author’s period attitudes. The writing reflects the societal norms of 1910, including a tendency to analyze "national character" and the occasionally condescending view of what a woman’s role in education or politics should be. The style is journalistic and descriptive, often prioritizing anecdotes over deep political analysis, which provides a vivid, if sometimes fragmented, reading experience. You are reading the account of a man who traveled across Europe to gather rumors and observations, and his voice carries the earnest, slightly inquisitive tone of a reporter who believes he is uncovering the definitive truths of his era. What stays with you is the poignancy of the portraits; you are looking at women who do not yet know that their palaces are destined to become relics, or that their children are the last of a dying breed.