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Your majesty,
Firstly I have to apologize that I cannot speak French and therefore this is in English.
I'm deeply moved by you, your fate and your dignity, and I would to
know more about you. For that purpose I've been to Versailles, Petit
Trianon, le Hameau, le Conciergerie, Fontainbleau and St. Denis. Where
else should I go to learn about your history? What should I read to
know more about you?
Another question is: How do people address you? The King, your
children, your friends, your brothers and sisters as well as the
Empress and Emperor, and count Fersen etc. Is there a formal way it has
to be used in Versailles? Can people of low rank/birth speak to you
directly?
About the levee, what do you wear before the ceremony? Can it be a
dressing gown? Will a dress be re-worned or do they have to be new each
day? Are males permitted in the levee? How long does the levee take
approximately? I am assuming if your majesty is not in your apartments
in the chateau the levee will be cancelled - will the news be announced
beforehand? or do the viewers only find out when they arrive the next
morning? How long does it take to dress the hair and how often is the
hair washed for people in the court?
It was reported that when your majesty went from the Austria border to
France, you were stripped off the Austrain wedding dress and changed
into French costume, were you allowed to wear bodice? Was your
majesty's French fluent enough at age 14? Sorry if these questions seem
rude.
I found a quote that was reported to be said by your majesty "Courage!
I have shown it for years; think you I shall lose it at the moment when
my sufferings are to end?" - I personally do believe yet can you please
confirm it? Where else can I find more citations from your majesty?
I sincerely hope these questions will not disturbe your majesty's rest.
If only I could meet you it would have been my greatest and wildest
dream, yet I can only wish to see you in my dreams at night.
Yours truly,
Monica
Dear Monica,
I did receive your letter, even if it's written in english. Don't worry because Dialogus is taking care of the translation.
I am deeply touched by your desire to learn more about me. From what I
can read from people writing to me from your time, it seems like there
are a lot of mix feelings about me. I have to say it doesn't really
surprise me, but I think it's very sad. So when I received letters from
people like you, it
really touches me. I will do my best to satisfy your curiosity.
It seems you went everywhere you could to try to know me better! Have
you been to Marly? Does the castle there still exist? That's the only
place you didn't mention, really. I cannot tell you where else to go
and what to read, especially because I am not aware of what has been
written about me in your time. I just hope you will find good
writtings, has it seems they are not all good.
The Etiquette in Versailles is very strict. When I was there (and not
in Trianon), people had to wait for me to speak to them first. Then
they would address me as “Your Majesty”. Except for the King of course,
most often he uses the title “Madame” to talk to me. When my brother
the Emperor came to
visit, he addressed me as “Your Majesty” also, just as I did to him. My
children call me “mother” or “Madame”, but I do prefer “mother” and I
asked them to use it instead of anything else.
About the Levée, when I wake up I wear my shirt. That's what we use as
the “underware” or as a nightgown. If I am away, the Levée takes place
whereever I am, with the exception of Trianon, where the Etiquette as
nothing to do with what it is in Versailles. The Levée is not very
long, a couple of minutes. The hair is not wash very often, not with
water. Like everyone, I used to be wearing wigs that are well-powdered.
You are right, when I arrived in France I had to change my clothes to
wear French ones. I was not allowed to keep anything that came from
Austria. My french was good enough, I had started to learn it when I
was young and since they decided I was going to marry the Dauphin, I
had french lessons every day.
My life is not over yet, and so I don't remember saying anything like
the quote you are writing about. That said, I don't remember everything
I have been saying, so it's possible.
Again, let me tell you how touched I am by your letter. I hope this letter finds you well.
Take good care of you, dear Monica,
Marie-Antoinette
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