THE CHRONICLES OF
HER GRACE THE DUCHESS
Cy Coleman (1929-2004) Trio – You are beautiful (1958)
This song is from the Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) & Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960)
musical, Flower Drum Song produced on Broadway (1958) and the West End (1960)
-oOo-
3: IF DUCHESS WERE A DUCHESS
A FAIRY TALE FOR
THE YOUNG AT HEART – PART 1
-oOo-
The Earldom of Cumberland in England was first bestowed in 1525, but it became extinct in 1643 when the present Earl died without issue (i.e., male heir). The title, the Duke of Cumberland was then created in the Peerage of England in 1644 for Prince Rupert of the Rhine, nephew of King Charles I, however he too died without male heirs and so the title lapsed. The Dukedom 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, but he too also died without heirs, in 1708.
The third creation was for Prince 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 the Duke of Cumberland from 1726.
Left: Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland & Painted in 1747 by David Morier (1705-1770);
Right: The Duke’s Coat of Arms
-oOo-
Cumberland County in the United States was formed in 1754 from Bladen County in The State of North Carolina and named for Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. The City of Fayetteville is the County Seat of Cumberland County and was formed in 1783 from the union of the towns of Cross Creek and Campbellton and incorporated and named in honor of Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, a French military hero.
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757-1834)
-oOo-
The City is situated in the Sandhills lies between the Atlantic Coastal Plain to the southeast and the Piedmont to the northwest and was built on the Cape Fear River, which originates in Haywood and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Cross Creek is a tributary of the Cape Fear River that rises on the west side of The City and flows through its east side and finally empties into the River.
-oOo-
The following is an Official Communique from the Grand Duchess and presented by her Aide-de-camp to the members of the Press of The Duchy of Cumberland prior to the her arrival. It was immediately submitted for publication and states:
Protocol dictates that since a Grand Duchess is a Sovereign Lady, she should be referred to as Your Royal Highness. However, since The Grand Duchess of Cumberland is subject to no Monarch and also does not wish to Rule and take Dominion over the Duchy of Cumberland, she would prefer rather to be its Figurehead (i.e., the King of Great Britain & The Commonwealth). She would thereby wish that the Affairs of State be left in the hands of her Elected Officials who would then present their Edicts to her for signature into law. She would henceforth meet with The Mayor each week to discuss the Affairs of the week. As a result, she requests, and the elected leaders of the Duchy have agreed, that she be referred to as Her Grace and not Her Royal Highness.
-oOo-
The Grand Duchess of Cumberland County
Great excitement filled The City for days in advance of the Great Day! And by Friday, July 25th, 2024, it had reached fever pitch! For this was the day when The Grand Duchess of Cumberland County was to arrive and take up residence here in Fayetteville. The City was a mass of colour, as it was decked out with huge amounts of bunting, flags and banners along with photographs in order to welcome and honour her.
The Official Banner of The City of Fayetteville & The County of Cumberland
-oOo-
-oOo-
-oOo-
-oOo-
The City had been preparing for Her Grace’s arrival for weeks. The streets were now neatly scrubbed and fastooned with decoration while The Mayor has been editing his Welcome Speech constantly. In addition, The Council had arranged for huge screens had been installed throughout The City for those unable to view directly the arrival of Her Grace to The Duchy. And finally, the High School Marching Bands had been practicing their pieces daily.
Some of the Marching Bands who performed for Her Grace
-oOo-
Since Her Grace chose to arrive by train, Amtrak had graciously offered an engine to pull a special Pullman Carriage and Restaurant Car for use on The Grand Duchess’ journey to the Dutchy.
The Train that brought Her Grace The Grand Duchess to The Dutchy
Once the train pulled into the station, a member of The City Council of Fayetteville went aboard to escort Her Grace and Her Entourage from of the carriage in order the the official greeters’ waiting on the platform could be presented to her. After a few minutes, The Grand Duchess’ Aide-de-camp appeared from the train and then escorted Her Grace down from the train. The gracious Lady waved to the crowd when she first appeared and this prompted a huge number of gasps to be heard from the already adoring crowd since her beauty, although known, was startling when seen.
Waiting for the arrival of The Grand Duchess
As The Grand Duchess descended on to the platform, the gasps from the crowd gave way to cheers together with a number of Hoorays. Her Grace was led to the line of dignitaries waiting to greet her. First there was The Mayor who spoke to Her Grace for a few minutes and then introduced her to a little girl who was to present a bouquet of flowers to The Grand Duchess. This she did and followed it with a neatly executed curtsy which she had been practicing for weeks. Apparently the little girl was the winner of the lottery for this honour which had been organised by the City Council in order not to show favouritism.
The Mayor led Her Grace and her Aide-de-camp to an open coach pulled by four gleaming horses, each with their long tails neatly platted, that was to transport them to the Market House for the Official Welcome by The City.
The short journey to the Market House was led by several of the City’s High School Marching Bands who serenaded Her Grace and the jubilant crowds lining the route.
-oOo-
The Market House in Fayetteville
The Market House is located in the rotary at the centre of the junction of Green, Person, Gillespie and Hay Streets of The City. Once Her Grace and the various dignitaries were in position, The Mayor officially welcomed Her Grace to The Dutchy and to The City of Fayetteville and following this, he presented the members of his Council to the her. Her Grace, as gracious as ever, spent a few moments talking to each member. As she moved on, each was left bewitched, as was the case with the many that had been fortunate enough to meet her during her travels. Finally, members of various Societies notable for their work in The Duchy were presented.
Presentations
During the official welcome, a number of additional speeches were made by various members of the City Council. And after these, The Mayor offered The Key to The City to Her Grace who graciously accepted who then made a short speech of thanks and gratitude for the kindness shown to her since her arrival which the adoring crowd received with great gusto.
The Key to The City
-oOo-
Such magnificence had not been seen since in the City of Fayetteville since the visit of Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette in March 1825.
-oOo-
Once the official ceremony was complete, Her Grace, Her Aide-de-camp and The Mayor returned to the coach, which then set off along Hay Street on their journey to her Place of Residence, Welmar Palace at the centre of Welmar Heights Park in the west of The City.
Her Grace The Grand Duchess being transported to her home at Welmar Palace
(Official Portrait by Ms Paula Creech)
The route to Her Grace’s residence was lined with cheering adoring crowds of three or four people each eager to catch a glimpse of The Grand Duchess. Never in anyone’s memory was there ever a spectacle like it. Her Grace acknowledged the adulation with smiles and constant waves to the crowd.
-oOo-
As noted in the newspaper articles that appeared the following day, and whose sentiment has since been echoed around the world, it is perhaps said best by The Maharaja of Rangoon & Yangon Region:
Like many before, and for those who are now following, everyone in The City appeared to immediately fall under the spell cast by Her Grace The Grand Duchess. As with all great beauties, it is evident that she needs do nothing to have the world fall at her feet!
The Maharaja of Rangoon & Yangon Region
-oOo-
It seems as if the world has traveled to the City of Fayetteville in North Carolina (U.S.A.) today in the hope of catching a glimpse of this mysterious lady who has bewitched the whole world. Her Grace The Grand Duchess of Cumberland arrived to take up residency in the Duchy today and was greeted with loud cheers and good wishes as she rode through the streets. It seems that the gracious Lady was quickly taken to the hearts of her people!
From Pravda (the erstwhile official newspaper of the
Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union)
DATELINE Friday, July 25th, 2024
-oOo-
While Her Grace settled into her new home that evening, the citizens of Fayetteville continued their celebrations and spent their evening feasting and making merry which were to continue into the early hours of the following day ……. and beyond, as the scenes following will clearly show!
The Chris Barber (1930-2021) & His Jazz Band with Ottilie Paterson (1932-2011) performing
There’ll be a Hot Time in Old Town Tonight, which was written in 1896.
The music was written by Theodore August Metz(1848-1936) & lyrics by Joe Hayden.
The Wedding Dance by Pieter Bruegel The Elder (1525 or 1530-1569)
-oOo-
-oOo-
-oOo-
And how many felt the day after the festivities!
-oOo-
The First Official Portrait of Her Grace The Grand Duchess of Cumberland with her Aide-de-Camp
(Portrait by Mrs. Kathy Morkrid)
-oooOooo-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Her Grace and I would like to thank Ms Paula Creech and Mrs. Kathy Morkrid
for allowing their photographs to appear here.
I would also like to thank Mrs. Mariela Lugo, Mrs. Bona Starkeson and Mr. Nathan Edeson
for their help with translations.
-oooOooo-
Click here to GO to:
THE CHRONICLES OF HER GRACE THE DUCHESS
4. IF DUCHESS WERE A DUCHESS – A FAIRY TALE
PART 2
—oooOooo—
—oooOooo—
—oooOooo—
Click here to GO to:
PAGE THIRTY-ONE: IN MEMORIAM
CASANOVA/PUPPY 14th JUNE, 2010 – 25th MAY, 2024
LIFE WITHOUT CASANOVA/PUPPY
—oooOooo—
Charles, I loved your fairy tale! It took me a long time to be able to read it because it was in white against a black background. My eyes are not so good anymore. When my Kindle is at 20% the writing turns white against a black background and I cannot read anymore, but I charge it and I can read again. Well, I cannot do that with the computer, that is why it took me so long. Anyhow, I loved the history, the photographs and the music. The last song was very nice, but the first was even better, very slow and soothing , I loved the look of everything but the contrast of white letters against a blue background was really hard. Charles, 99.9% of your readers are not losing their eyesight, so, go on doing what you are doing because it is great. again, sorry it took so long.
I found the story very interesting and informational!
I found out the tale is really good and some good information about it and great information about it and everything but overall an amazing tale .
This tale is a great read. Nice to finally read about Her Grace, The Duchess. The music is nice touch as well.
We enjoyed reading the fairy tale of Her Grace
the Duchess.We loved the music and the beautiful
pictures .
This was absolutely delightful, and I bought the story 100%! It’s exactly the way the press would cover an event of this magnitude, and I loved all the journalistic touches. I just about fell out of my chair laughing when I came to the announcement in Hebrew—hilarious! The images in all the Stories of London pages are such a treat for me, as someone taking art history classes. It’s exciting for me to see the artwork I’ve studied used in this context.