Victoria, Princess Royal (1840-1901) - Page 4

Saschana · #61 04-30-2010, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by persian85033

I think perhaps she felt guilty for her son's deformed arm, and that also contributed.

She indeed felt guilt. In one of her letters she wrote something like "His arm fills my life with bitterness and I was never happy to have him [Wilhelm]". Maybe it wasn't so much his withered arm itself that he blamed her for but all those horrible treatments to cure both his arm and posture of his head.

Vasillisos Markos · #62 05-01-2010, 10:52 PM

Withered arm or no, Willy was extremely disagreeable to one and all and detested by most of his relatives.

Iluvbertie · #63 05-02-2010, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasillisos Markos

Withered arm or no, Willy was extremely disagreeable to one and all and detested by most of his relatives.

There is the cause and effect issue to consider as well.

Would he have been so disagreeable had he had a normal arm and thus not had to have all the treatments? Did having a deformed arm affect his personality or would his personality have been the same regardless? This is the eternal 'nature versus nurture' argument of course?

Vasillisos Markos · #64 05-02-2010, 09:19 AM

True, Wilhelm may have developed an inferiority complex which made him treat others in such a horrible manner. It was probably a combination of factors: his arm, his interfering grandparents, and his own personality.

Roderick · #65 05-02-2010, 04:56 PM

I would add his mother to the list also.

Russophile · #66 05-03-2010, 03:11 PM

I am reading Sullivan's "Fatal passion" about Ducky and he quotes Van Der Kiste saying the Vicky said that Alix was not suited to be the Russian consort as she was too absorbed with her self-importance. Anybody have anything on this??
Thanks!

Vasillisos Markos · #67 05-03-2010, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russophile

I am reading Sullivan's "Fatal passion" about Ducky and he quotes Van Der Kiste saying the Vicky said that Alix was not suited to be the Russian consort as she was too absorbed with her self-importance. Anybody have anything on this??
Thanks!

I got nuttin'

Why was Van Der Kiste quoting Empress Frederick and her observation about the Russian Empress?

Russophile · #68 05-03-2010, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasillisos Markos

I got nuttin'

Why was Van Der Kiste quoting Empress Frederick and her observation about the Russian Empress?

I'm at the part where Ducky marries Ernie and Nicky and Alix's "engagement" is overshadowing everything. Ducky is not pleased--it was her day after all, Victoria is not pleased--not liking the Russians and evidently, neither is Vicky. So I wondered.

Vasillisos Markos · #69 05-03-2010, 10:03 PM

Russo darling,

It sounds to me like Ducky's feelings were justified and it was well known Victoria was not fond of the Russians. As for the princess royal, maybe she did not like her niece and thought she would make a poor consort for anyone. After all, Willy was in favor of the union for the dynastic alliance but I don't believe anyone was thrilled, at first, about the young lovers uniting.

persian85033 · #70 05-04-2010, 02:11 PM

I don't think anyone really thought Alix was suited to Tsarina, except perhaps Ella and Serge. Wilhelm just wanted it because it would be a good alliance.

Russophile · #71 05-04-2010, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasillisos Markos

As for the princess royal, maybe she did not like her niece and thought she would make a poor consort for anyone.

No doubt she was thinking along the lines of "We didn't do THAT in MY day!" Though from the limited information I have on Vicky, can you imagine?? I mean she knew what? At least 3 languages by the time she was 5? Well read, well bred via Albert's influence. And here is Alix. . . yeah. You get the picture.

Vasillisos Markos · #72 05-04-2010, 04:31 PM

Vicky, from all accounts, had a formidable intellect and was probably intimidating to other royals, although I don't recall reading that she was rude to others.

Russophile · #73 05-04-2010, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasillisos Markos

Vicky, from all accounts, had a formidable intellect and was probably intimidating to other royals, although I don't recall reading that she was rude to others.

From my limited knowledge I don't believe she was given who she was brought up by. I suppose a woman with her formidable intellect would intimidate a lot of people. She was her father's daughter after all!

Roderick · #74 05-05-2010, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasillisos Markos

Vicky, from all accounts, had a formidable intellect and was probably intimidating to other royals, although I don't recall reading that she was rude to others.

Not rude perhaps but she was described by one author as `notoriously tactless`.

Vasillisos Markos · #75 05-05-2010, 11:21 AM

I know many intelligent people who are also tactless. It seems that many intelligent people are unable to relate to us "lesser mortals" and although not unkind, they often leave bruised feelings in their wake.

Osipi · #76 05-05-2010, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasillisos Markos

I know many intelligent people who are also tactless. It seems that many intelligent people are unable to relate to us "lesser mortals" and although not unkind, they often leave bruised feelings in their wake.

Why does the Duke of Edinburgh come to mind right now? I'm sorry but I couldn't resist this. His quips amuse me so much sometimes.

Russophile · #77 03-24-2011, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vasillisos Markos

I know many intelligent people who are also tactless.

I resemble that remark. . .

Interesting though, don't you think, that Vicky tried to continue her father's progressive views and that didn't sit well at all with the German court? I wonder if that made Vicky and Albert closer?

Marie of The Sea · #78 03-24-2011, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russophile

I am reading Sullivan's "Fatal passion" about Ducky and he quotes Van Der Kiste saying the Vicky said that Alix was not suited to be the Russian consort as she was too absorbed with her self-importance. Anybody have anything on this??
Thanks!

I have read that Alicky was an imperialist and wanted Nicky to reign as such.

[QUOTEAlexandra was very supportive of her husband Nicholas, yet she often gave him bad advice. She was a fervent advocate of the "Divine Right To Rule", and believed that it was unnecessary to attempt to secure the approval of the people. Her aunt, German Empress Frederick, wrote to Queen Victoria that "Alix is very Imperious and will always insist on having her own way; she will never yield one iota of power she will imagine she wields..." ][/QUOTE]
King, Greg The Last Empress, p.93

Though she may have been considered 'brave' for turning down Prince Albert, Duke of Clarence, such a snub wouldn't have gone down very well within a portion of the family.

Tsaritsa · #79 03-25-2011, 02:59 PM

I wonder if Vicky was so much her fathers' daughter that she treated Wilhelm in the way she had witnessed her father treating Bertie. It would be perfectly reasonable, given that she was Alberts' favourite child, for her to emulate her rolemodel and no higher form of praise.

Russophile · #80 03-25-2011, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsaritsa

I wonder if Vicky was so much her fathers' daughter that she treated Wilhelm in the way she had witnessed her father treating Bertie. It would be perfectly reasonable, given that she was Alberts' favourite child, for her to emulate her rolemodel and no higher form of praise.

Now there's an interesting concept!