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Tuesday, August 5, 2008
How did Elisabeta meet Marc Favrat?
They met in Paris in the 1950s. Elisabeta had wanted to establish a literary salon but was disenchanted because she "was unable to attract the people who flocked to her fellow Romanians," which included Marthe Bibescu and Elena Varescu.
According to the writer, John Wimbles, she "continued "her personal pursuit of happiness." Marc was only 26-years-old when they met. He soon became her equerry or Grand Chamberlain ... or toyboy. He served her well. Elisabeta wanted her cousin, the Prince of Hohenzollern, to grant Marc a title, but the Prince would not agree. Wimbles says this would have been unacceptable for a German to give a Frenchman a noble title so soon after the war. But the head of the Sigmaringen could not grant titles. Germany was a republic, and the Prince of Hohenzollern was a royal in name only. Titles had been abolished in 1919. For another, the Prince of Hohenzollern had lost the ability to grant titles in 1849, when Princes of Hohenzollern-Hechingen (now extinct) and Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen ceded their rights to Prussia.
Undaunted, Elisabeta decided to adopt Marc. This adoption was formalized in June 1956. She wrote: "Marc has changed my life. When I was ill, he came to help me. My dearest wish is to adopt him."
She died on November 15, 1956. The cause of death was a heart attack. She lived at the Villa Rose Alba, Avenue d'Antibes, in Cannes.
John Wimbles wrote an excellent four-part series on Elisabeta, which was published in Royalty Digest in 2003. The magazine is not available electronically, so you will not find it online.
Thank you very munch indeed, Marlene ! I now wonder how could the Prince of Hohenzollern grant Radu Duda with the title "Prince of Hohenzollern Veringen" in 1999if the family lost that ability since 19th century and Germany is a republic since 1918 ! Was it a real,valuable title,or just a joke ? A soap opera ? Romania is a republic since 30 dec.1947,but you see,King Michael has recently granted his son in law with the title "Radu,Prince of Romania".
ReplyDeleteKng Michael asked his kinsman the Prince of Hohenzollern to create a title for Radu .. but in reality, the prince could not do this. However, he -- as head of the H-S family issued an Urkunde which gave the name of Hohenzollern-Veringen to Radu. Nowhere in the Urkunde does it say Titel (title). However, in royal circles, the Urkunde was recognized (although not legally binding) as a title, and accepted as such. King Michael was his his prerogative to change the succession, and create titles - even though he no longer reigns ... in fact, he did the smart thing by changing the succession
ReplyDeleteInteresting story. I always get the impression Elisabeta must have been a bit aloof. I suppose this shows she was also lonely!
ReplyDeleteMarlene,
ReplyDeletethe Hohenzollern-Veringen "name/title" is still odd as the Prince of Hohenzollern can of course to not give names under the Germany system. We have discussed it many times.
I am in full agreement with you that King Michael was smart to change the law of succession in Romania and made Radu a Prince of Romania. I feel that for the first time the dynasty ahs been established as a truely and exclusively Romanian dynasty and not merely as a branch of the House of Hohenzollern. I feel that this is a very decisive and positive move by the King. In my assessment the King truely took care of his house and prepared it for the future.
Marc Favrat - after the adoption what was his civic name in France? What happened to him after the Queen's death. Are thgere any pictures of this guy?
I think he had the surname von Hohenzollern. He was born March 8, 1924 at Paris; died March 5, 2000 at Paris. I have never seen a photo of Favrat.
ReplyDeleteThanks Marlene!!
ReplyDeletequite interesting
"google-ing" did not bring any results.
But yes, Marlene, John Wimbles has a huge picture of Marc Favrat, taken in 1962 after the death of Elisabeta, in the 4th part of his very well written and researched series of articles on Queen Elisabeta of the Hellenes. It's in Royalty Digest, July 2003, issue 145, page 14.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are right .. however, I cannot post that photo due to copyright restrictions ...
ReplyDeleteHi Marlene! I really would like to buy John Wimbles's articles about Queen Elisabeta? Unfortunately, I don't know where to seek... Could you help me to find where to look for it? It's a pitty that the only study about the queen is now unfindable! (sorry for my poor English and thank you for your help).
ReplyDeleteConstantin, Royal Digest is not available online. It was a bi-monthly journal with a small number of subscribers. However, contact me privately .. you can find the email address on my blog, and I may have other suggestions.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4431318
ReplyDelete