A Royal presentation brooch

designed as the monogram of Queen Marie of Romania (1875 - 1938), unmarked, in original box

(Width: 4.5cm)

Queen Marie of Romania was born Princess Marie Alexandra Victoria of Edinburgh in 1875, her father was Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (second son of Queen Victoria) and her mother was Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. Princess Marie initially refused a proposal from her cousin, the future King George V, before marrying Crown Prince Ferdinand of Romania in 1893. Crowned in 1922, she was immensely popular in Romania and abroad. When her husband King Ferdinand died in 1927 a power struggle ensued. Queen Marie's son, Prince Carol had waived his right to succession due to scandal and so the crown passed to his 6-year-old son, the now King Micheal. Though the Dowager Queen Marie was not part of the young King's regency council, her son was quick to remove her from the court, recognising her popularity and possible influence, before he returned from exile in Paris, deposed the young King and usurped the throne, becoming King Carol II. Dowager Queen Marie then lived out the remainder of her life on various country estates, before passing away in 1937.