“It seems as if the world has traveled to the small City of Rocky Mount in North Carolina (U.S.A.) today in order to wait for a glimpse of the grand arrival of Her Grace The Grand Duchess of Cumberland!’ ……. so led the huge headline of the front page article appearing in the Russian newspaper Pravda (the erstwhile official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union) of Friday, July 25th, 2024.

This is but one comment that introduced the latest news that day and was echoed by the newspapers of the world.

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The City of Rocky Mount straddles the Tar River in the State of North Carolina which is the first stop of the train route into the northern aspect of the state, which then continues to Fayetteville, the County Seat of North Carolina, and then on to points south. This City was chosen to welcome Her Grace The Grand Duchess of Cumberland to the State of North Carolina since she was to make her entry to the state by train.

Amtrak had graciously offered an engine to pull a special Pullman carriage for use on The Grand Duchess’ journey to the state.

Once the train pulled into the station, a member of The City of Rocky Mount Council went aboard to help escort her out of the carriage and to meet the greeters. After a few minutes, The Grand Duchess’ aide-de-camp appeared and escorted Her Grace from the train. The gracious lady waved to the crowd when she first appeared and this prompted a multitude of gasps since her beauty was startling. As she began to descend the steps leading to the platform, the gasps became cheers together with a number of Hoorays.  Her Grace was led to the line of dignitaries waiting to greet her: first their was The Mayor of the City who spoke to her for a few minutes and who then introduced her to the members of his Council. Her Grace, as gracious as ever, spent a few moments talking to each member. As she moved on, each was left bewitched like so many that had been fortunate enough to meet her during her travels.

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Fairy Tale    The County was formed from land that was part of Bladen County in 1754.

The Earldom of Cumberland, created in 1525 and became extinct in 1643. The Dukedom was created in the Peerage of England in 1644 for Prince Rupert of the Rhine, nephew of King Charles I who died without male heirs. The title was created again in the Peerage of England in 1689 for Prince George of Denmark, husband of Princess Anne, younger daughter of King James II. He also died without heirs, in 1708 who also died with male heirs.

The third creation, in the Peerage of Great Britain, was forPrince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1721–1765, the third son of King George II. He was Captain-General of the British Army and victorious commander at the Battle of Culloden. He was the third and youngest son of King George II of Great Britain and Ireland and his wife, Caroline of Ansbach and was theDuke of Cumberland from 1726.

Like many before and for many who followed, I immediately fell under the spell cast by Her Grace The Duchess. As with all great beauties, she did not have to do anything to have one fall at her feet.