Princesses on the Wards: Royal Women in Nursing through Wars and Revolutions

by Coryne Hall

The first study of queens and princesses in wartime nursing, from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II Royal ladies have never been afraid to roll up their sleeves, work in wards and field hospitals, and help in the operating theater, despite their sheltered upbringing. Indeed, through wars and revolutions in Russia, Greece, Spain, Romania, Belgium, and Britain, their experiences were no different than those of thousands of other nurses. Beginning with two daughters of Queen Victoria, Princess Alice and Princess Helena, this book tells their stories and the difficulties queens and princesses faced while carving a worthwhile role in an age when the place of a well-born woman was considered to be in the home. From Empress Alexandra of Russia and Queen Marie of Romania to Princess Marina Duchess of Kent and Princess Alice of Greece (mother of the Duke of Edinburgh), all set an example of service and duty well beyond that considered necessary at the time. Here, their involvement in nursing and the lengths they went to is detailed for the first time.

Genres: History, Royalty, Nonfiction, World War II, World War I

232 pages, Hardcover

First published September 15, 2014

About the author

Coryne Hall is an historian, broadcaster and consultant specialising in the Romanovs and British and European royalty. She was born in Ealing, West London and developed a fascination for Imperial Russia in childhood when she learnt that her great-grandmother was born in St Petersburg, an almost exact contemporary of Nicholas II. The author of six books, she is a regular contributor to Majesty magazine, The European Royal History Journal, Royal Russia, Sovereign and Royalty Digest Quarterly. She acted as consultant on the Danish television documentaries “A Royal Family” and “The Royal Jewels.”
Coryne has lectured at royalty conferences in England, Denmark, Russia and America. Her media appearances include Woman’s Hour, BBC South Today, the documentaries “Russia’s Lost Princesses” and "13 Moments of Fate", live coverage of Charles and Camilla’s wedding for Canadian television and co-hosting live coverage of Prince William’s wedding alongside John Moore for Newstalk 1010, Canada. She was also the last person to have a private audience with Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. She lives in Hampshire.

Reviews

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked it well enough, just not that interesting

[Alenka of Bohemia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 and 1/2 stars.

Very interesting, though at time slipping into mere listing of institution and unfamiliar names.

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a vague knowledge of royal women who served in nursing roles. The Romanov women mostly but also about how the Queeen Alexandra nurses but aside from that I didn't know much. The book starts around the Crimean War and chapter one follows two of Queen Victoria's daughters Alice and Victoria. It ends with a brief chapter on modern nurses up to about the 70's. It seems as though every royal family across Europe both these still in existence and those swept away by revolution and war. It's an interesting look at the devotion to nursing and service these women had. Princess Marina the aunt of Elizabeth II was so determined to hide her real identity that she lined up in a reception line to meet her own husband who was president of the hospital. She also bravely worked through air raids despite the hospital being described as a glass box with so many windows. Princess Tsahai of Ethopia was another unknown story I'm glad I learned about in this book and hope to learn more about her. The most harrowing story was Princess Ileana of Romania who found herself literally behind enemy lines when the war ended and Russian troops moved in and often had to hide patients and perform secret surgeries while hiding underground and trying to evade capture everytime she snuck out in her car to run errands. There were many more fascinating stories about these women who despite being born into royalty chose to don a nursing uniform, some even earning a degree, and devoting themselves to caring for the sick and injured when they were needed the most. One star was taken off because of the war the book was structured a chapter or two per royal lady or family. So in one chapter WWI is over and the Romanovs were either exiled or murdered, then in the next the war is either just beginning or is a few years off so it jumped back and forth which got a bit confusing but it's a very small thing. It also led me too look up another book about nursing wards in planes during the war which sounded equally interesting.

[Carolyn Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read and enjoyed Coryne Hall's previous books, Little Mother of Russia, Imperial Dancer and Once a Grand Duchess and I was excited to read Princesses on the Wards. Hall discusses the history of royal women and nursing from Queen Victoria's reign to the present day. She includes both well known historical figures such as Empress Alexandra of Russia and Queen Marie of Romania and royal women who were influential in their time and deserve to better known today such as Princess Helena (Princess Christian) and Princess Alexandra (Princess Arthur of Connaught). A key theme in the book is the influence of royal women in promoting nursing as a respectable career for women of all backgrounds. Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain was particularly influential in promoting nursing as a career for Spanish women at a time when there was social disapproval directed toward female nurses outside convents. The Greek royal family had a similar impact on promoting nursing in Greece. At just over 200 pages, the book is a fairly quick read and with so many royal women profiled, I would have liked the book to have been longer to include more details of their lives before and after their nursing careers. Highly recommended.

[Moniek Bloks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many princesses were active in nursing, but not everyone knows their stories.

Princesses on the Wards by Coryne Hall covers the princesses who wanted to make themselves useful during the many conflicts in the world. 

Princesses from the Victorian age to the present day are included. From the well-known Empress Alexandra of Russia to Princess Tsehai Haile Selassie of Ethiopia - the book covers a wide range of princesses and their experiences. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of the more unknown royal women. 

The princesses are instrumental in promoting nursing as a respectable career, proving just how valuable royal patronage can be. 

It is also filled with anecdotes which bring more life to the women we think we know.

Princesses on the Wards by Coryne Hall is an excellent book and a must-read for those interested in the lives of royal women.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to finish this one in a bit of a rush, as I forgot it was due back today! Ooops.

I really enjoyed it, I had no idea that so many Royal Ladies had taken up nursing, and professionally too, taking their exams and everything! It was fascinating to read about, and even moreso considering how many of them were related and the conflicts sadly ended up being family against family. I found the last 1/3 or so of the book less interesting, but that's just my personal interest on the people invovled in it, since I'm more knowledgeable about older Royals. Definitely recommend this for anyone interested in the subject!

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at the lives of royal nurses. Some are very well known to us: Princess Alice (Queen Victoria's daughter), Empress Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia and her daughters, Queen Marie of Romania, and Princess Mary, Countess of Harewood. But there are others. Of particular note are the stories of Queen Eleonore of Bulgaria, Queen Elisabeth of the Belgians, Princess Ileana of Romania, and even modern-day princesses like Princess Alexandra of Kent and Queen Sofia of Spain.

The book is notable in that it highlights quite a few of the lesser known royals, bringing their lives and stories to light. A worthy addition to the library of any royal collector.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Across Europe, during wars and revolution, queens and princesses have rolled up their sleeves to tend to the wounded and sick. Far more than just a figurehead, they undertook nursing training and assisted where they could. A fascinating read covering the main European houses and the descendants of Queen Victoria. Detailed and informative, i was surprised at the amount of work undertaken by the ladies involved, some anonymously and under difficult circumstances. The family trees were useful and I liked the photographs. A good read.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hopscotching between the European courts, this book covers royal nurses from the mid 1800s to a bit after WWII. Each chapter focuses on one or two ladies and their actions during their conflict. It covers both the well known (the Romanovs) and the lesser known (Eleonore of Bulgaria).

What I found most interesting is how many ladies started with simple good intentions: a small hospital with 12 or so beds. And the next thing they knew, they had thousands of beds and patients and everyone looking to them for supplies and support.