HOMELESS QUEENS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 May 1928, Page 11

HOMELESS QUEENS

TOERHAPS the unhappiest women in all the world are the tragic, dethroned, and exiled queens , of Europe. , Once, like the Afghan Queen, they had their magnificent palaces, their State visits to other countries, and the respoctful homage of millions of admirers. To-day, they are in exile, without homes, and dependent upon the charity of others. Nothing is left them of the grandeur of former years 1 but poignant memories. The most tragic figure among the exiled queens is the Dowager Empress Marie of Russia. Far away from the scene of her former glory, she still clings pathetically to the belief that her son, Czar Nicholas, is not dead. Mercifully the final tragedy, when her son was brutally murdered with his family, has been blotted from her memory. By her marriage to the heir to the Russian throne, later to become Czar Alexander 111., the young princess became mistress of immense palaces, far greater than those of any other sovereign. Her jewels, which, included the famous Orloff diamond, were priceless. Though she lost a step in rank when hex husband died, as the mother of the new Czar she was still powerful and mighty. But the Red Revolution changed ad that. At one stroke she found herself an outcast. To-day she is spending her last years in her girlhood home, poorer even then'when she went away. Among Europe’s fallen Royalties €inother tragic figure is the ex-Empress Zita, the widow of the unfortunate Karl of Austria. At one time one of the most beautiful and spectacular figures in the Austrian Court, she now lives on a pittance in a Spanish village. -V sail, disillusioned woman with her eight fatherless and almost penniless children, she has suffered the greatest ■hardships ia her battle with poverty. One by one the famous jewels which once gleamed on her throat have been sold to provide food. Her husband died unable to pay his rent, and for months she wandered from country to country. The ex-Empress was a Bourbon princess, and when Prince Karl led her to the altar it was acknowledged that it was a Teal love match, for they had known each other for many years. Forced to abdicate on the morrow of the Annistaec, Karl made two unsuccessful and illadvised attempts to regain his throne. The end came in exile at Madeira, where he died. In a tiny villa were packed the exEmpress, about to become a mother for the eighth time, his seven, children, and ■his staff. Furniture had to be hired or

DRIVEN INTO EXILE

borrowed; the only heat that could ibo got was from green wood, and meat meals were unobtainable. Literally homeless, the ex-Empress was at last aided -by some charitable Spaniards and others, who subscribed enough money to buy her a tiny house. Here, a shadow of her former self, she struggles to educate her children.

There was a time when a visit 'by Queen Amelio of Portugal to London crowded the streets with cheering people. To-day, as an exile, she wanders disconsolately between France and England, almost unnoticed by the. mob. Queen Amclie underwent the terrible ordeal of seeing her husband and eldest son killed in her sight. For two years after this she strove to help her second son, King Manoel, to keep his throne. But another revolution broke out and both were driven into exile. Two other queens who are suffering exile are ex-Queen Sophie, sister of the Kaiser, and her daughter-in-law, the ex-Queen Elizabeth, wife of King George, the last King of Greece. Queen Sophie was twice driven out of Greece. Forced out by the Venizelist Revolution in 1917, her husband King Constantine was called back to the throne by a popular vote. Six years later, however, another revolution sent him once more into exile. For : a time-' Cons'tantinc’s son, George, was installed as king, while his wife, formerly Princess Elizabeth of | Rumania, became queen. But the Royal ■pair were expelled from Athens in 1923, and all his property confiscated by the Republican Government. “It’s a rotten job being a king,” he stated after he had reigned a year. He spoke truly, for now he and his queen are exiles, and have not sufficient means lo live on.

China also has its Royal outcast in the person of the Empress Pu Vi. The principal wife of the Pretender to tlio Dragon Throne, who was regarded by thousands of former subjects of his father, the last EmperoT, as “The Son of Heaven,” she is now struggling to keep a home on an income little more than that received by a Chinese merchant ’s clerk.

When her marriage took place the ceremonies lasted for a week. , It made her mistress of porcelain palaces, beautiful fairylike gardens, and an army of retainers. Then came the end of the dream. The little Empress awoke one morning to find Republican soldiers aiming machine guns at her husband instead of his Maneliu retainers striking their heads devoutly nine times on the floor. The Imperial couple were driven forth lo poverty and obscurity.