This year, the 150th birth anniversary of Queen Marie of Romania takes centre stage in our programme of events. We started in June with the “1919: Royal Mission” theatre performance, then we travelled to Edinburgh, where we organised a three-day celebration comprising a photography exhibition, a talk, and a theatre performance. The flagship component of our celebratory programme, a major exhibition of watercolours by the Queen, is still on at Garrison Chapel Gallery until 12 October, in conversation with The Transylvania Florilegium - a collection of exquisite botanical art commissioned by King Charles III.
We continue our Queen Marie of Romania celebrations on a high note, with an event organised in association with Ashford Borough Council. This is a special evening celebrating the life and legacy of the beloved monarch, who was born in Ashford at Eastwell Manor in 1875. Through this event, we remember an extraordinary personality, highlighting her outstanding contributions to history, diplomacy, and cultural heritage.
Entrance is free, but you will need to book your place HERE. Limited seating!
The evening will begin at 6 PM with refreshments and the viewing of a photo documentary exhibition on the life and work of the Queen, produced by Peleș National Museum and The National History Museum of Romania, followed, at 7 PM, by a curated programme in the cinema screen:
Welcome & Introduction by the Mayor of Ashford
Remarks by HE Laura Popescu, Ambassador of Romania to the United Kingdom and Aura Woodward, Director of the Romanian Cultural Institute
A reading by a student from the Romanian Saturday School "St Stefan the Great"
A short talk by historian Dr Tessa Dunlop - "Queen Marie, the most vivid and unforgettable personality of WWI"
Film Screening of the documentary “Marie, Heart of Romania”, a Chainsaw Film production. Executive producer John Florescu, screenplay and direction by Trevor Poots.
Dr Tessa Dunlop is a British historian, broadcaster and bestselling author, whose work bridges rigorous scholarship and accessible storytelling. She studied Modern History at Oxford, earned an MA with distinction in Imperialism and Culture, and completed her PhD in 2020 with a thesis on representations of Romania in British public and political discourse. She is well known for her television and radio work (including presenting for BBC, Channel 5, and Discovery), and for writing narrative histories such as The Bletchley Girls, The Century Girls, Elizabeth & Philip, and Lest We Forget. In particular, Dunlop has undertaken significant research on Queen Marie of Romania, examining the Queen’s role during the First World War, her advocacy for Romania’s entry into the Entente, and her position as a cultural and symbolic figure. Tessa’s interest in Romanian-British relations and her scholarship on Queen Marie help bring to light lesser-known aspects of early 20th-century European cultural, political, and royal history.
