HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone.

Princess Alice was born in 1883 at Windsor Castle and was a grand daughter of Queen Victoria through her father, Prince Leopoldo, Duke of Albany. Princess Alice enjoyed a long and eventful life that encompassed nearly a century. The princess married a distant cousin, HSH Prince Alexander of Teck, the younger brother of the future Queen Mary.

Princess Alice's mother, Princess Helen, was the sister of Queen Emma of the Netherlands and this was the only link between the two Royal Houses.

When King George V changed the family name to Windsor, all the royal relations with German sounding names also changed, so HSH Prince Alexander of Teck became The Earl of Athlone, his elder brother became The Marquess of Cambridge. Princess Alice was able to keep her royal title as she had been born a Princess of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. From 1917, Princess Alice was known as HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone.

The Earl of Athlone was appointed Governor General of South Africa and Canada and together they both performed their duties brilliantly, supporting The King and Queen.

 

The Earl died in 1957, however Princess Alice lived on until 1981, making her the longest lived born royal in the British Royal Family. Princess Alice lived at Clock House, Kensington Palace and would often be seen shopping in Kensington Church Street, unrecognised by the public. With the new generation of royals, Princess Alice had been forgotten and all the work and duties she had performed just distant memories to those who remembered her.

The princess came to the public again in 1977 in the tv program Royal Heritage when she was interviewed by Sir Huw Weldon. She became a hit and everyone knew Princess Alice once more.

 

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Carol Channing, 92 on 31st January

On the 31st January, Broadway Legend Carol Channing will be 92. This amazing lady is still performing and also doing charity work for the foundation she formed with her husband, Harry, before he died.

Miss Channing is best known for her performance in Jerry Herman's smash hit, Hello Dolly! Miss Channing first performed this on Broadway in 1964 and has played the part over 5000 times. Her unique vocal range is so distinctive and you instantly know who you are listening to.

Miss Channing played Dolly in London in 1980 and I was fortunate enough to see her, she was amazing and have her all to the performance, something she does with everything she enters into. Miss Channing has played the part on Broadway several times and on many national tours in the US. There are two cast albums, the original in 1964 and the thirtieth anniversary cast album in 1994, both uniquely starring Miss Channing.

Miss Channing missed out on the film version, but for those who love this show, she is the only Dolly Levi.

Miss Channing also has another song that she is well known for and that is Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend, this was from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Miss Channing used to sing this song and then throw "diamonds" into to the audience.

Miss Channing was one of Al Hirschfeld's favourite subjects and I am fortunate enough to have a number of signed Hirschfeld limited prints, such as the one below.

Happy Birthday Miss Channing, wishing you many, many more.

 

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Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, abdicates

Following the Dutch tradition of the monarch abdicating when they feel the time is right, Queen Beatrix announced her intention to abdicate on 30 April 2013, Queens Day in the Netherlands. Queen Beatrix's mother and grandmother also abdicated and between the three queens, they have reigned for 123 years.

The Prince of Orange will be the first Dutch king since Willem III, who died in 1890.

Queen Beatrix has been very popular in the Netherlands and she hands over a secure throne to her eldest son. The Queen has been on her own since her husband, HRH The Prince of the Netherlands died and recently me of her sons was trapped under an avalanche and remains in a coma at a hospital in London.

Queen Beatrix will take a secondary role within the Royal Family once she abdicates and as her predecessors have done, may revert to the style and title of Princess. However the title of Queen may be kept.

The Queen also has a fabulous jewellery collection which the new queen will obviously be able to take advantage of.

 

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Cecilia, Countess of Strathmore

Most people have an idea of who The Queen's grandparents were, King George V and Queen Mary, both enraptured by the little girl who came into their lives in 1926. However, there was also another set of grandparents, The Earl and Countess of Strathmore, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mothers parents.

Cecilia was very much the backbone of the Strathmore family and she ensured that the family, and it was large although not for the time, grew up in loving surroundings. Cecilia and her husband were not social creatures and they enjoyed nothing more than travelling around their various houses as the seasons changed.

As a small child, The Queen would have known her grandmother very well. Many holidays were spent at Glamis and other Strathmore properties. Indeed The Queen was born in Bruton Street just off Regent Street in London, the Strathmore London home and HRH Princess Margaret was born at Glamis in 1930.

Cecilia, Countess of Strathmore lived long enough to see her daughter Elizabeth become Queen in 1936. She died in 1938 just before a state visit to France. The visit was cancelled for a number of weeks and undertaken later that year. Queen Elizabeth's wardrobe having been transformed from colour outfits to white, a royal mourning colour. Needless to say, Queen Elizabeth was a sensation in the French capital.

 

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Philip de Laszlo, artist

Philip de Laszlo is one of my favourite portrait artists, he seems to have painted anyone who was anyone in the first part of the 20th century. His paintings have a quality that make them appear almost photographic. Fortunately he was active for a long period and so there are many of his portraits around and they are instantly recognisable.

This one of HM The Queen when a young child. The Queen remembers him as a very unpleasant man!

De Laszlo painted most of the crowned heads of Europe and his portraits still hang in either palaces or places of exile, they really are priceless. He may have been an unpleasant character but he was still in demand.

Mabel, Countess of Airlie, a great portrait and you just know from the painting, a lady of position and influence. She was in fact lady in waiting to HM Queen Mary and died in the 1960's. Her memoirs, Thatched with Gold are well worth reading as they give a wonderful insight into her world. The book has a dust jacket and this features the de Laszlo portrait of Mabel.

 

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Merrily We Roll Along at the Menier Chocolate Factory

I spent a very enjoyable evening at one of my favourite theatres in London, watching a musical by Stephen Sondheim, Merrily We Roll Along. It was superb great cast, great story and for me, it put the songs in their rightful places after having seen the concert version as part of Mr Sondheim's 80th Birthday celebrations a couple of years ago.

I can thoroughly recommend the show, so please go get a ticket and enjoy!

Check tickets at one of the most exciting venues in London, www.menierchocolatefactory.com

 

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Queen Mary and Jewels

One of my favourite figures from recent royal history is The Queens grandmother, Queen Mary. One thing The Queen inherited from Queen Mary was one of the most fabulous collection of jewels in the World. Queen Mary was a collector who not only had an amazing eye for jewellery but could also wear a dazzlingly array at one time.

Here Queen Mary wears the Cambridge Emeralds with the Delhi Durbar tiara and various diamond necklaces and even with such a sumptuous dress, it doesn't seem to be over the top. Queen Mary could carry this off with aplomb. The jewels in the photograph are still worn today apart from the stomacher as these are no longer in fashion, I think this to be a shame as they are quite magnificent pieces of jewellery.

Many pieces from The Queens personal jewellery collection were on show at Buckingham Palace last year as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Www.royalcollection.gov.uk

 

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The Greek Meander Tiara

HRH Prince Philip inherited the Meander Tiara from his mother, HRH Princess Andrew of Greece (HRH Princess Alice of Battenberg). This fairly simple, in royal terms, tiara has proved to be very popular within the British Royal Family.

HRH The Princess Royal has used this tiara on many occasions, possibly as a tribute to her father. When Zara Phillips married in 2011, she wore the Meander Tiara.

HRH The Princess Royal has worn the tiara for official portraits and photographs and will no doubt wear it for many years to come.

 

 

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Nice Work If You Can Get It on Broadway

Spending Christmas in New York is always exciting, so much to see and everything dressed for the festive season. One of the biggest thrills for me in New York is Broadway and the amazing shows that available to see.

One show I saw last month was Nice Work If You Can Get It starring Matthew Broderick. It is a musical comedy and is full of Gershwin tunes that you instantly recognise.

We were fortunate to sit in the front row and so had an amazing view.

If you are going to New York, I can thoroughly recommend this superb show. Check it out at www.nice.work.nyc.com

 

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Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother

It is nearly eleven years since Queen Elizabeth died at the age of 101. Since then, her daughter The Queen has celebrated her Golden and Diamond Jubilee's and has eased into the role of Matriarch of the House of Windsor.

While looking at various photographs of Queen Elizabeth, I can across this delightful image that I had not seen before and so thought I would share it with you.

The image must have been taken towards the end of Queen Elizabeth's life, but what an amazing photograph.

William Shawcross has published the official life of Queen Elizabeth and also a selection of her letters, well worth reading and available from www.hatchards.co.uk

 

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