This film is part of Free

Marie Gwalia' (Mary of Wales)  -  Eisteddfod Bestows titles on Queen of Roumania

Even Queen Marie struggles to dazzle in her bardic robes at Pwllheli!

Non-Fiction 1925 2 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales

Overview

Queen Marie has a rare old time in Wales in 1925, being honoured by the Gorsedd of Bards at the Royal National Eisteddfod, Pwllheli, where she is assisted by Winifred Coombe Tennant (Mistress of the Robes) and Dame Margaret Lloyd George. Moving on, relieved of the unflattering druidic garb, Marie dazzles in furs and pearls when visiting Y Wern, Porthmadog, home of Richard Metheun Greaves, owner of Llechwedd slate quarry, and his wife Constance, an accomplished wood carver.

Record of 3 remarkable women who all worked ardently for their country culturally and/or politically and who all suffered the loss of a young child. Princess Marie of Edinburgh (1875-1938), grand-daughter of Queen Victoria and Tsar Alexander II, became Queen of Romania and a mother of 6 and earned the epithet 'Mamma Regina'. Winifred Coombe Tennant (1874-1956), daughter of a Welsh woman and wife of a Welsh man, lived in Neath/Castell-nedd, hence her bardic name 'Mam o Nedd'. Mother of 4, she was a JP, suffragette and a spiritualist, practising as medium 'Mrs Willett'. Margaret Lloyd George (1866-1941), bore politician David Lloyd George 5 children and was known for her extensive charitable work.