Memories of Marina and Wimbledon
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With the 2009 Wimbledon Championship starting on Monday, all eyes are firmly focussed on Andy Murray but Royal watchers will be surveying the scene for the odd Prince and Princess (and let’s face it there’s quite a few odd ones about these days). Years ago, there was no question of a Royal-less Wimbledon as the long-time President of Wimbledon All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club did her duty by attending and handing out the prizes. Of course, the lady in question is the late Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent. In elegant creations by Sir Hardy Amies (amongst others) Princess Marina became as much a symbol of Wimbledon as the players themselves, and pretty soon Her Royal Highness was taken to the hearts of the crowds as Wimbledon’s most dedicated Royal supporter.
How strange then that such an English sport should have a Greek-born Princess as its patron, but then from the moment she arrived in the UK, Princess Marina was adopted as one of our own. In 1934, the year of her marriage to Prince George (son of George V and Queen Mary), record numbers of baby girls were named ‘Marina’ as a tribute to the beautiful new Princess. As a Princess by birth, Marina was used to good living and due deference. She famously branded the Queen Mother and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester, “Common little Scotch girls” and told a biographer that only she could boast “not one drop of common blood,” and she was right. Her mother was Grand Duchess Helen Vladimirovna of Russia and her bloodline connected to every Royal House in Europe. Yet despite this, Marina very nearly ended up in the poor house. Read more…
