An event marking 150 years since the Queen’s birth and the 105th anniversary of the conclusion of the Trianon Treaty
This year, the 150th anniversary of Queen Marie of Romania's birth takes center stage in our programme of events. Starting in June, we invite you to a series of ambitious and high-impact events that will celebrate the iconic figure of the Queen, a key bridge personality between our country and the United Kingdom, and her significant role in history.
RCI London is proud to inaugurate its Queen Marie 150 Season with a compelling one-woman show, “1919: A Royal Mission”. The performance is conceived, directed, and presented by the celebrated actress and director Liana Ceterchi. Inspired by “Later Chapters of My Life: A Lost Memoir of Queen Marie of Romania” (Diana Mandache, 2004), the production offers a deeply evocative dramatisation of Queen Marie’s pivotal role in shaping the post-war European order. Set against the backdrop of a war-torn continent seeking a new equilibrium, the play brings to life the Queen’s unofficial yet critical diplomatic mission to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, where she emerged as a vital voice for Romania’s national interests. Through this intimate and eloquent portrayal, Liana Ceterchi invites audiences to rediscover the luminous spirit and indomitable will of Queen Marie – Romania’s most iconic sovereign — and to engage anew with the legacies of diplomacy, resilience, and national rebirth.
1919: A Royal Mission
By and with Liana Ceterchi
Adaptation based on "Later Chapters of My Life: A Lost Memoir of Queen Marie of Romania” by Diana Mandache
Performed in Romanian with English surtitles
Lighting, Sound, Video & Surtitles: Leo Băcică
Running time: 105 min. no interval
The performance blends documentary precision with artistic sensibility to unveil the complexities of a queen navigating a world on the cusp of transformation. From her survival of the Spanish flu to her audacious engagements with world leaders, Queen Marie becomes both a symbol and agent of Romania’s modern destiny. Her diplomatic tour of England, her triumphant return home, and her moving visit to Transylvania – newly unified with the Kingdom of Romania – mark the defining moments of a nation reborn.
The production culminates in the resplendent Coronation at Alba Iulia on 15 October 1922 – an enduring symbol of unity and sovereignty for Greater Romania. But more than a pageant of historical remembrance, “1919: A Royal Mission” is a poignant meditation on the enduring role of women in diplomacy, the delicate architecture of peace, and the shaping of national ideals in times of uncertainty.
By revisiting the Treaty of Trianon – signed on 4 June, 1920 alongside the foundational treaties of Versailles, Saint-Germain, Neuilly, and Sèvres – the play serves as a vital act of historical reflection. The treaty’s legacy, which redrew borders and redefined identities, is central to understanding the evolution of Europe and Romania’s place within it.
About Queen Marie of Romania
(Marie Alexandra Victoria; 29 October 1875, Eastwell Park, Kent, England – 18 July 1938, Pelișor Castle, Sinaia, Romania)
Queen Marie of Romania, born Princess Marie of Edinburgh, was the daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (second son of Queen Victoria), and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia. Raised at the crossroads of British and Russian royal traditions, she brought to the Romanian throne a cosmopolitan vision and a formidable presence.
Married to Crown Prince Ferdinand in 1893, she became Queen Consort of Romania in 1914. Her reign coincided with one of the most tumultuous and transformative periods in the nation’s history. Throughout the First World War, she emerged as a national symbol of courage and compassion, working as a nurse, visiting the front lines, and serving as a rallying figure for both soldiers and civilians.
In 1919, Queen Marie played a decisive role in Romania’s diplomatic efforts at the Paris Peace Conference. Though acting without an official portfolio, her eloquence, charisma, and political acumen impressed the Allied leaders, and she proved instrumental in securing international recognition of Romania’s post-war territorial gains, particularly the unification with Transylvania.
A gifted writer and diarist, Queen Marie left a rich literary legacy, including memoirs, essays, and correspondence that offer valuable insight into her public and private life. She is remembered not only as a sovereign but as a visionary and modern woman, an advocate for Romanian unity, a patron of the arts, and a devoted builder of the nation’s cultural identity. Her crowning achievement, both symbolically and politically, came with the Coronation at Alba Iulia in 1922, marking the fulfilment of the national ideal of Greater Romania. Today, Queen Marie remains an enduring figure of dignity, diplomacy, and devotion to country.
Queen Marie was a widely beloved and well-known figure both in Romania and abroad. King George V of Great Britain once said, “Beyond our many and important common purposes, there are also other strong ties between us. Her Majesty the Queen, my dear cousin, was born in Great Britain.”
When: 04 Jun 2025, 19:00 – 21:30
Where: Romanian Cultural Institute, 1 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PH, UK
