Matriarch: Queen Mary and the House of Windsor

by Anne Edwards

Book Overview

The life of Princess May of Teck is one of the great Cinderella stories in history. From a family of impoverished nobility, she was chosen by Queen Victoria as the bride for her eldest grandson, the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0688035116
• ISBN13: 9780688035112
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 527 Pages
• Weight: 2.12 lbs.

Customer Reviews

The how and why England's Royals survived the early 20th century

She stares out of old photographs, dressed in regal robes and jewels that would bankrupt nations. It's an expression that clearly states that she doesn't suffer fools, and whatever your opinion may be, you're not quite sure if she'll be listening anyway. And there is a very strong resemblance to the granddaughter that currently sits on the United Kingdom's throne. Queen Mary, born into what was poverty for a princess, is one of the characters in history that tends to be overlooked, but at a closer glance, she becomes intriguing. Born to a minor British princess, Mary Adelaide of Cambridge, Mary - or as she was called in the family, May - was the eldest of four children, and the only girl. Her father, Francis of Teck, was a minor German princeling, without any real income, no lands, and a just a title. These were prospects that were dismal at best, and it would have been likely that she would have just vanished into obscurity but for one thing. Her mother, the impulsive, overweight and extravagant, Mary Adelaide, was a favourite of England's Queen Victoria. The Queen was kind enough to keep extending little gifts of cash to her poorer relations, invited May for regular visits, and kept an eye on the girl who was growing up to be a rather steady sort of girl - serious, bookish, able to speak her mind without making a fuss, and having exquisite taste. Queen Victoria had just the prince in mind for her, especially after one of her granddaughters put up her nose and turned down the choice. For the prince was the eldest son of the Prince of Wales, and would be in time, King of England. Eddy, the Duke of Clarence, was good looking enough, but rather languid and more than a little lazy. He wasn't intellectual, and his private life was better unsaid, what with visits to questionable brothels and hanging about with prostitutes in the notorious Whitechapel area of London. As he entered his mid-twenties, and his love affairs with married women, or very unsuitable princesses continued, Queen Victoria decided that it was time for the play to stop, and to settle down with a good, respectable girl. A cousin, Alix of Hesse, had flat out refused to marry him, and the next possible choice was May of Teck. It was very unlikely that May would say no to the prospect of marrying Eddy. Her family was deeply in debt, and they had already fled England once for the continent to escape their creditors. Her family was pressing for her to say yes, even it's apparent that May didn't much care for Eddy, and he was in love with someone else. Royalty doesn't marry out of love, they do it out of duty to keep the dynasty going. Eddy did what he was supposed to do, May got a ring, the couple started to write to one another, and Princess Mary Adelaide went on a shopping spree. There was a brief engagement, with the couple planning to marry in the springtime -- and already the press was in love with the bride-to-be. But disaster struck when Eddy caught a chill, and died sudde

This is a very well researched and most interesting read.

Queen Mary was the consort of King George V and the paternal grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II. She was a great influence on Queen Elizabeth II and the resemblance between Queen Mary and her famous granddaughter is uncanny. Queen Mary was the daughter of one of Queen Victoria's cousins, Princess Mary Adelaide of Cambridge. Queen Mary's father was the Duke of Teck (a morganatic son of the heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of Wuerttemberg - now part of modern Germany). Queen Mary was destined to marry Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale (eldest son of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra) but he died before any marriage could take place. Queen Victoria wanted this marriage badly. Queen Mary at this time was Her Serene Highness, Princess Victoria Mary of Teck. To have lost the heir to the throne of England was a great loss. Queen Victoria knew that this Princess was worth keeping and soon Prince Albert Victor's younger brother George was married off to his late brother's fiancee. They eventually became King George V and Queen Mary on the death of King Edward VII in 1910. The marriage was a success and for Princess Victoria Mary of Teck it was a great rise from Serene Highness to Royal Highness and eventually Queen Consort. Queen Mary herself had a very interesting early family life. Her brothers were interesting characters as well as her parents. One of her brothers married King George V's cousin HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone while another caused Queen Mary much embarrassment with his gambling and other dubious activities. Queen Mary came from German stock and it is interesting to read about her German relatives. Her own married life is of much interest and of course her children are well known. She was the granddaughter-in-law of Queen Victoria, the daughter-in-law of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, the wife of George V and the mother of King Edward VIII and King George VI. Her life spanned a most turbulent period and she was a solid rock in the life of the British Royal family, providing a sense of security to the British Monarchy particularly during the abdication crisis. This is a very well researched book. It is well worth the read.

Royal Watchers will love it.

Anne Edwards is terrific and this book is no exception. It tells the story Queen Mary, the grandmother of the current queen Elizabeth, who rose from a minor royal relative to the queen consort of England. The path was difficult and almost lost - like Catherine of Aragon, she was betrothed to the heir who died prematurely (Edward, the whispered would-be Jack the Ripper) but married his brother instead. One of the most interesting episodes in the book is when her son, Edward VIII, chose love over duty, devastating his mother who had raised him to chose duty to the country over all else.For real royal watchers, one of the things that sets this work above others in the genre, is the details of the clothing and jewelry worn by Queen Mary and the other royals. Mary was apparently not shy about wearing jewels that befit her station and these details are revealed to the reader. For every royal wedding, funeral and other occasion, Edwards takes time to desribe the clothing worn by the principals. If you've bought People Magazine to see the fashions of Diana, you need to read this book. It's much better that People magazine. Photos (b & w) are included as well.