Carol Marie

Princess Marie of Edinburgh, born in 1875, was the daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. She spent her early years in various locations, including Kent, Malta, and Coburg. In 1893, she married Ferdinand, the Crown Prince of Romania, and became a popular figure in her adopted country.

During World War I, Marie played an active role, encouraging Romania's alliance with the Triple Entente and serving as a nurse alongside her daughters. Following the war, she was instrumental in advocating for Greater Romania's international recognition. As queen, she undertook diplomatic tours, including a notable visit to the United States. After Ferdinand's death, she became queen dowager and refused a role in the regency council. Her later life was marked by her son Carol's usurpation of the throne and her subsequent withdrawal from political life, spending her final years at Balchik Palace. She died in 1938.

Post-monarchy, Marie's image was sometimes distorted by communist regimes. However, in later years, her reputation was rehabilitated, emphasizing her patriotism and her work as a nurse. She is also recognized for her extensive writings, including her autobiography.

Born Princess Marie of Edinburgh in 1875 to Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, Marie was a granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Emperor Alexander II. Her early life was spent moving between the family's residences in England, Malta, and Germany. She was raised in the Anglican faith, despite her mother's Russian Orthodox background. After declining a marriage proposal from her cousin, the future King George V, she married Crown Prince Ferdinand of Romania in 1893. She quickly gained popularity among the Romanian people during her time as crown princess.

The outbreak of World War I saw Marie actively involved in Romania's war effort. She advocated for an alliance with the Triple Entente and, when the capital Bucharest was occupied, she and her daughters served as nurses in military hospitals, tending to wounded soldiers and those suffering from cholera. Following the war, Marie, now Queen of a united Greater Romania, attended the Paris Peace Conference in 1919 to champion the country's enlarged borders. She and King Ferdinand were crowned in 1922 in a ceremony symbolizing their rule over the newly unified nation.

As queen, Marie enjoyed considerable popularity both domestically and internationally, undertaking a diplomatic tour of the United States in 1926. Upon King Ferdinand's death, she became queen dowager. Her influence waned significantly when her son, Carol, usurped the throne in 1930, deposing his own son. Carol actively sought to diminish Marie's standing and popularity, leading her to retreat from political life. She spent her remaining years at her summer residence, Balchik Palace, by the Black Sea. Suffering from cirrhosis, she passed away in 1938.