Experimental Blog #21

Comments on "Born to Rule" - Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria by Julia P. Gelardi

Since genuine aristocracy in the European form was prohibited in the American Constition adopted in 1788, it is, perhaps, not so common for Americans to know the truth, both good and bad, about monarchy and its government. Such as, for instance, how "royals" provide instruction, by their examples, on how the rest of their people should face and manage life's many common problems.
The histories of these 5 Queen Consorts of 5 European countries reveal what, supposedly, the "best" of Europeans can do or become when they are given the freedom and power of monarchs; which is far more, although not unlimited, than what the great majority of more common people ever experience.
Of these 5, the author's favorite seems to be Marie, the Queen Consort of Rumania, and that is easy to understand, just from reading the many quotations from Marie's many letters, books, and conversations. The Queen Consorts of Greece and Spain, Sophie and Victoria Eugenie, seem also to have been extraordinary people. Queen Consort Maud of Norway, although a very fine lady, didn't seem to have as much opportunity to reveal her potential in the smaller and more stable and democratic country of Norway.
In most contrast, the awful history and tragic death of Tsarina of Russia Alexandra has eventually become well known, but is it really easy to honestly imagine that somebody else could have done much better in her overwhelming circumstances?