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141-565: In November 1976, the hotel closed following a lethal outbreak of pneumonia-like illness the previous summer. The outbreak, later traced to bacterial growth in the hotel's air-conditioning system, killed or sickened numerous guests who had attended an American Legion convention. Despite a subsequent change in ownership, renovations, and a brief rebranding before reopening in September 1979, the Bellevue-Stratford never recovered from

282-410: A High National Romanian Council ( Romanian : Marele Sfat Național Român ) for the province's temporary administration. Marie wrote, "the dream of România Mare seems to be becoming a reality ... it is all so incredible that I hardly dare believe it." After the assembly, Ferdinand and Marie returned to Bucharest, where they were met by general mirth: "a day of 'wild, delirious enthusiasm', with

423-493: A People's Republic , the monarchy was excoriated by communist officials. Several biographies of the royal family described Marie either as a drunkard or as a promiscuous woman, referring to her many alleged affairs and to orgies she had supposedly organised before and during the war. In the years preceding the Romanian Revolution of 1989, Marie's popularity recovered and she was offered as a model of patriotism to

564-578: A gala dinner, and the pair conversed in German. She found him shy but amiable, and their second meeting went just as well. Once the pair were formally engaged, Queen Victoria wrote to another granddaughter, Princess Victoria of Hesse and by Rhine , that "[Ferdinand] is nice & the Parents are charming–but the country is very insecure & the immorality of the Society at Bucharest quite awful. Of course

705-418: A better understanding of the world than he did. Eventually, Marie came to believe that she and Ferdinand were "the best associates, the most loyal companions, but our lives intertwine only in certain matters". Ferdinand enjoyed Marie's presence during military marches and consequently, she was frequently invited to this sort of event. Marie gave birth to her first child, Prince Carol , only nine months after

846-562: A certain influence on her husband and the entire court, leading historian A. L. Easterman to write that "it was not [Ferdinand], but Marie who ruled in Romania". At the time of Ferdinand's accession, the government was led by the liberal prime minister Ion I. C. Brătianu . Ferdinand and Marie jointly decided to not make many changes in court and let people accept the transition from one regime to another, rather than force them. Thus, many of Carol and Elisabeth's servants were kept in place, even

987-669: A change in Clemenceau's attitude towards Romania after Marie's arrival. After staying in Paris for a week, Marie accepted King George V and Queen Mary 's invitation and crossed the English Channel , lodging at Buckingham Palace . Hoping to acquire as much goodwill for Romania as possible, Marie became acquainted with many important political figures of the time, including Lord Curzon , Winston Churchill , and Waldorf and Nancy Astor . She also frequently visited her son Nicky, who

1128-550: A correspondence with Shoghi Effendi , then head of the Faith, where she expressed herself as a follower of the Baháʼí teachings. Additionally, she made several public statements promoting the teachings of Baháʼu'lláh , describing him as a prophet similar to Jesus or Muhammad. This written correspondence has led Baháʼís to regard her as the first royal convert to their religion. Biographer Hannah Pakula notes that Marie "continued to attend

1269-426: A coup d'état. Carol succeeded in divorcing Princess Helen on 21 June 1928, on grounds of incompatibility. Marie's popularity was severely affected during Michael's reign and, after refusing to be part of the regency council in 1929, she was accused by the press, and even by Princess Helen, of plotting a coup. During this time, there were numerous rumours as to Princess Ileana's marriage. After talk of Ileana marrying

1410-482: A desire to be closer to her people. The Maryhill Museum of Art in Maryhill, Washington , was initially designed as a mansion for wealthy businessman Samuel Hill . However, at Loie Fuller 's behest, the building was turned into a museum instead. Hill wished it to be dedicated in 1926, and he conceived it as a monument to peace, to his wife Mary, and to Queen Marie herself. Marie agreed to come to America and witness

1551-457: A little over a month, was worsened by a cholera epidemic . Marie would look upon her first encounter with an epidemic as a turning point in her life. With the help of Dr. Ioan Cantacuzino and Sister Pucci, a Red Cross nurse, Marie travelled between Romania and Bulgaria, lending a helping hand in hospitals. These events would prepare her for her experiences in the Great War. As a result of

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1692-472: A more personal monarchy. The first years of Marie and Ferdinand's marriage were not particularly easy, and Marie would later tell her husband that "it is such a shame that we had to waste so many years of our youth just to learn how to live together!" Gradually, the couple's relationship became based on a cordial friendship: Marie accorded Ferdinand respect she believed he was due as a man and, later, as king, and he respected her because he realised that she had

1833-510: A new bacterium, which was identified as the causative organism. It thrives in hot, damp places like the water of the cooling towers for the Bellevue-Stratford's air-conditioning system, which spread the disease throughout the hotel. The bacterium was named Legionella and the disease, legionellosis , after the first victims. The empty building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. The Bellevue-Stratford

1974-567: A reputed 1,090 guest rooms, and added the top floor domed function rooms. From its beginning, the Bellevue-Stratford was the center of Philadelphia's cultural, social and business activities. It soon functioned as a sort of clubhouse for the Philadelphia establishment, not only a place where the rich and powerful dined and occasionally slept, but also the venue for their meetings and social functions. Charity balls, society weddings, club meetings and special family gatherings have all been held in

2115-505: A restless, flaring great world, where I think everything can be realised ... I know, as long as I live, breathe and think, the love for America will beautify my life and thoughts ... Perhaps Fate will allow me one day to go back to America." Prince Carol sparked a dynastic crisis when he officially renounced his rights to succeed Ferdinand on 5 January 1926, simultaneously waiving all parental rights over Prince Michael, who had been proclaimed heir apparent. A Provisional Regency Bill

2256-874: A stake in Bellevue Associates, the company under with the Rubin family had owned the building since 1978. Ronald Rubin died in April 2021, and in November 2021, his estate sold the entire Bellevue structure to Lubert-Adler Partners, for an undisclosed sum. They announced plans to completely renovate the property, at a cost of $ 100 million. They converted the largely vacant office space on the lower floors to apartments, with 200-300 units to be built out, over time. The historic lobby level public areas, which most recently housed stores, were fully restored to their original function serving hotel guests, with three restaurants. On

2397-512: A statewide convention of the American Legion . Soon after, a pneumonia -like disease killed 29 people and sickened 182 more who had been in the hotel. The vast majority were members of the convention. The negative publicity associated with what became known as " Legionnaires' disease " caused occupancy at the Bellevue-Stratford to plummet to 4 percent, and the hotel finally closed on November 18, 1976. In 1977, Dr. Joseph McDade discovered

2538-540: A stop at Vienna , where they visited Emperor Franz Joseph . Due to growing tensions between Austria and Romania (the visit took place during the ongoing movement of the Transylvanian Memorandum ), the couple's visit was brief, and they arrived in the border town of Predeal following a nighttime crossing of Transylvania by train. Marie was warmly welcomed by the Romanian people, who were longing for

2679-454: A treaty with the Entente on 17 August 1916. On 27 August, Romania formally declared war on Austria-Hungary. Saint-Aulaire wrote that Marie "embraced war as another might embrace religion". After informing their children that their country had entered the war, Ferdinand and Marie dismissed their German servants, who could only remain in their employ as "war prisoners" of sorts. Early on during

2820-507: Is a glorious cycle of song, A medley of extemporanea; And love is a thing that can never go wrong; And I am Marie of Roumania. Upon her arrival, Marie was welcomed enthusiastically with the "whistle of steamers, roar of guns in white smoke puffs against gray fog, voices cheering in a stinging rain". She was formally greeted by Jimmy Walker , the Mayor of New York City . Constance Lily Morris, author of On Tour with Queen Marie , wrote that

2961-568: Is believed that Chicken à la King was created in the 1890s by hotel cook William "Bill" King. In 1890, George Boldt was invited by William Waldorf Astor to be proprietor of the new Waldorf Hotel in New York City. Louise Boldt had been instrumental in making their Philadelphia hotel attractive and socially acceptable to wealthy women. This was probably a major motivation for Astor in asking George Boldt to become proprietor of his new Waldorf, later expanded by John Jacob Astor IV to become

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3102-590: Is magnificent and we have, against all protocol, shouted our admiration. The day remained grey, but Queen Marie carried her light within her. — The French writer Colette in Le Matin newspaper, 6 March 1919 Because Ferdinand had refused to sign the Treaty of Bucharest and because Romania had been hostile towards the Central Powers until the end of the war, its place among the winning countries during

3243-588: The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn (her paternal uncle, for whom the Duke of Albany stood proxy). Marie and her siblings, Prince Alfred (b. 1874, known as "Young Affie"), and Princesses Victoria Melita (b. 1876, known as "Ducky"), Alexandra (b. 1878, known as "Sandra") and Beatrice (b. 1884, known as "Baby Bee"), spent much of their early life at Eastwell Park, which their mother preferred instead of Clarence House , their official residence. In her memoirs, Marie remembered Eastwell fondly. The Duke of Edinburgh

3384-622: The Empress Frederick , wrote to her daughter, the Crown Princess of Greece , that "Missy of Roumania is more to be pitied than you. The King is a great tyrant in his family, & has crushed the independence in Ferdinand so that no one cares about him, & his beautiful & gifted little wife, I fear, gets into scrapes, & like a butterfly, instead of hovering over the flowers, burns her pretty wings by going rather near

3525-594: The French military mission to Romania . The ceremony was conducted by the Metropolitan of All Romania , Miron Cristea , but it was not performed inside the cathedral as Ferdinand, a Roman Catholic, refused to be crowned by a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church. After placing his crown on his own head, Ferdinand crowned Marie, who had knelt before him. Immediately, cannons were fired as a sign that

3666-490: The Paris Peace Conference was guaranteed. The official delegation was led by Brătianu, who had just begun his third term as prime minister. Brătianu's rigidity, combined with French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau 's reluctance to overlook Ferdinand's acceptance of the Treaty of Bucharest, led to open conflict and the Romanian delegation left Paris, much to the dismay of the " Big Four ". Hoping to resolve

3807-419: The Paris Peace Conference of 1919 , where she campaigned for international recognition of the enlarged Romania. In 1922, she and Ferdinand were crowned in a specially-built cathedral in the ancient city of Alba Iulia , in an elaborate ceremony which mirrored their status as queen and king of a united state. As queen, Marie was very popular, both in Romania and abroad. In 1926, she undertook a diplomatic tour of

3948-594: The Tsar of Bulgaria or the Prince of Asturias , she was eventually betrothed to Alexander, Count of Hochberg , a minor German prince, in early 1930. This betrothal was, however, short-lived and Marie never managed to conclude a political marriage for her youngest daughter, instead marrying her to Archduke Anton of Austria–Tuscany in 1931. On 6 June 1930, Carol arrived in Bucharest and made his way into Parliament, where

4089-687: The White House , the official dinner was marked by awkward moments, due to the morose attitude of President Calvin Coolidge and his wife Grace ; Marie lingered less than two hours. Before leaving the United States, Marie was presented with a bullet-proof armored town car by Willys-Knight , which she joyfully accepted. On 24 November, Marie and her children were seen off by a delegation from Washington, D.C., as they prepared to leave by ship from New York Harbor . Morris wrote that "our last view

4230-407: The "exotic" Queen of Romania. American President Woodrow Wilson remained unimpressed by Marie, and her comments on Russian laws dealing with sexual relations, which were considered inappropriate, did not help. Marie shocked many officials by waving all her ministers aside and leading negotiations herself. On this, she later commented, "Never mind, you'll all just have to get used to accepting me with

4371-420: The 1920s through the 1940s, the noted global host Claude H. Bennett managed the now 735 room Philadelphia hotel. His son, Robert C. Bennett ( Cornell Hotel School 1940), and grandson, Robert Jr. ( Drexel Hill, PA ), Professor of Hotel Management at a suburban Philadelphia community college ( Delaware County Community College ), were both on the senior management staff of the "Grand Dame" of Broad Street as late as

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4512-459: The 1970s prior to the temporary hotel closing. The Great Depression brought hard times to the Bellevue-Stratford, although it continued to be "Philadelphia's hotel." Gradually, through lack of income and attention, the hotel's glitter began to tarnish. During the 1940s and 1950s, the classic architecture and rich decorative details of the hotel were thought to be overpowering, anachronistic and even offensive. Noted hotelier Charles Todd managed

4653-663: The Act of Succession 1927 was duly declared null. Thus, Carol usurped the throne from his son, becoming King Carol II. Upon hearing of Carol's return, Marie, who was abroad, was relieved. She had been growing anxious with the direction in which the country was heading and viewed Carol's return as the return of the Prodigal Son . However, as soon as she arrived in Bucharest, she became aware that things would not go well. Carol refused to accept his mother's advice to take Helen back and never sought Marie's counsel during his reign, thus making

4794-543: The Bellevue's rooftop, they plan to install an ice rink, which the hotel originally had, and a swimming pool. The adjoining Sporting Club at The Bellevue was also renovated, at a cost of $ 10 million, and reopened in November 2023. Fire fighters responded to a small fire on December 30, 2023, in a kitchen on the 18th floor, but there were no injuries. In February 2024, it was announced that the hotel's grand ballroom and other function rooms would no longer be operated directly by

4935-482: The Boldt family $ 7,500,000 for the hotel. They refused, as the asking price was $ 10,000,000. In June 1925, the company backed by duPont, The Bellevue Company purchased the hotel for $ 6,500,000 from the heirs of George C. Boldt. It was said that $ 3,000,000 was paid in cash and a mortgage was taken over the property for $ 3,500,000. In October 1926, Queen Marie of Romania stayed at the hotel. The Royal Suite of 11 rooms on

5076-531: The Boldts' famous landmark residence, Boldt Castle in the Thousand Islands. Opening in 1904 after two years in the making and costing over $ 8,000,000 (in 1904 dollars), the Bellevue-Stratford was described at the time as the most luxurious hotel in the nation and perhaps the most spectacular hotel building in the world. It had hundreds of guest suites in a variety of styles, the most magnificent ballroom in

5217-483: The CDC microbiologist Joseph McDade to discover the cause of the outbreak. He initially thought the cause was viral because blood and tissues from the patients failed to grow bacteria when incubated in culture medium. His subsequent attempts to isolate the viral agent in eggs included antibiotics to kill off "contaminating" bacteria. It was only when he omitted the antibiotics that the bacteria grew in eggs. Attempts to reproduce

5358-664: The Catholic ceremony took place at the Town Church, with Marie being led to the altar by her father. The Anglican ceremony was more modest and was conducted in one of the chambers of the castle. Although King Carol granted the couple "Honigtag" (one day of honeymoon), Marie and Ferdinand spent a few days at the Castle of Krauchenwies in Bavaria. From there, they left for the countryside, their journey being interrupted briefly by

5499-536: The Danish throne, was higher than her in the order of precedence . The Duchess of Edinburgh was also against the idea of a marriage between first cousins, which was not allowed by her native Russian Orthodox Church. Thus, when George proposed to her, Marie informed him that the marriage was impossible and that he must remain her "beloved chum". Queen Victoria would later comment that "Georgie lost Missy by waiting & waiting". Around this time, King Carol I of Romania

5640-540: The E-shaped building was removed from the guest room floors 12 to 18, and the back side was sealed up, creating an atrium. The historic 19th-floor Rose Ballroom atop this middle wing was retained, however, standing on seven-story stilts which ran through the atrium. The hotel portion reopened on April 1, 1989 as the Hotel Atop The Bellevue, managed under a 10-year lease by Cunard Hotels & Resorts,

5781-641: The Edinburgh girls. Other playmates included the children of Marie's maternal uncle Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich of Russia . In 1886, when Marie was eleven years old, the Duke of Edinburgh was named commander-in-chief of the Mediterranean Fleet and the family took up residence at San Antonio Palace in Malta. Marie later remembered her time in Malta as "the happiest memory of my existence". It

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5922-550: The Greek princesses had to return to their parents as soon as possible. The following day, news arrived that Marie's mother had died in her sleep in Zürich . Marie made arrangements for her departure to Switzerland, where she would take Helen and Irene to their parents and arrange her mother's funeral. Meanwhile, George and Elisabeth would remain at Sinaia. Soon enough, Crown Prince Carol proposed to Princess Helen and they were married

6063-803: The Legionnaires had been patients of Ernest Campbell, a physician in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania , who noticed that all three men had been at the Legionnaires convention in Philadelphia. He contacted the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Officials at the American Legion also began getting notices of the sudden deaths of several members, all at the same time. Within a week, more than 130 people, mostly men, had been hospitalized, and 25 had died. In total, there were 149 Legionnaires who became sick and 33 other persons associated with

6204-587: The Romanian court, and she disliked the austere atmosphere of her household. She wrote that she "had not been brought down to Romania to be adored and spoilt and made much of; she had come to be part of the machinery King Carol had wound up. She had been imported to be trimmed, educated, cut down and trained according to the great man's conception of things." When describing her early days in Romania, Marie wrote that "for long hours [she] would mope, whilst [her] young husband did his military service, all alone in rooms [she] hated, heavy German rooms". Marie's paternal aunt,

6345-512: The United States, alongside her children Nicholas and Ileana . They were received enthusiastically by the people and visited several cities before returning to Romania. There, Marie found that Ferdinand was gravely ill and he died a few months later. Now queen dowager , Marie refused to be part of the regency council which reigned over the country under the minority of her grandson, King Michael . In 1930, Marie's eldest son Carol , who had waived his rights to succession, deposed his son and usurped

6486-401: The United States, delicate lighting fixtures designed by Thomas Edison , stained and leaded glass embellishments in the form of transoms and Venetian windows and sky-lights by Alfred Godwin , and the most celebrated marble and hand-worked iron elliptical staircase in the city. The kitchen was furnished by Duparquet, Huot & Moneuse . In 1912, a large extension to the west brought it up to

6627-454: The already existing breach between mother and son complete. Desolate and almost stripped of her belief, Marie turned to the religious teachings of the Baháʼí Faith , which she found "vastly appealing". She was particularly attracted by the idea of humanity's unification under one faith , given her own religiously divided family. Introduced to the doctrine by Martha Root , Marie carried on

6768-526: The bands crashing and the troops marching and the people cheering". Allied troops took part in the celebration and Marie was elated to see the Entente on Romanian soil for the first time. Around this time, Marie became infected with the Spanish flu , with symptoms peaking a week after Alba Iulia; her diary describes "a changed being, miserable and weak, brought to the brink of despair by so much headache and terrible sickness that sapped me of my strength". She

6909-477: The births of two grandchildren destined to sit on Europe's thrones seemed to cement her ambitions. Marie's dynastic efforts were viewed by critics as those of a manipulative mother who would sacrifice her children's happiness in order to fulfil her ambitions; in reality, Marie never forced any of her children to marry. While attending Peter’s baptism, Marie met the Duchess of York , later Queen Elizabeth, by whom she

7050-412: The building was only three stories high. In 1911, Boldt added extensions to the hotel and carried it to the full nineteen stories. It was completed in 1912 at a cost of $ 850,000. In June 1919, the Bellevue was leased to T. Coleman du Pont , together with Lucius M. Boomer, president of Boomer-du Pont Properties Corporation. The ground and building were retained by George C. Boldt Jr. Boomer-du Pont offered

7191-578: The cafe and restaurant were restored and opened to the public for the highest outside dining experience in the city. In 2010, the hotel was moved from the Park Hyatt to the Hyatt division and its name was shortened to Hyatt at The Bellevue . The hotel moved to The Unbound Collection division of Hyatt in March 2018, and was renamed The Bellevue Hotel . In late 2018, New York-based Nightingale Properties bought

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7332-600: The ceremony marking the anniversary of the death of her paternal grandfather, Prince Albert . Marie's godparents were Empress Maria Alexandrovna (her maternal grandmother, for whom Queen Victoria stood proxy), the Princess of Wales (her paternal aunt), the Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (her great-aunt, for whom Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein stood proxy), the Tsarevich of Russia (her maternal uncle, for whom Count Pyotr Andreyevich Shuvalov stood proxy) and

7473-496: The convention on the evening of July 24 complaining of feeling tired. On July 30, another Legionnaire, Frank Aveni, aged 60, also died of an apparent heart attack, as did three other Legionnaires. All of them had been convention attendees. Twenty-four hours later, on August 1, six more Legionnaires died. They ranged in age from 39 to 82, and, like Ray Brennan, Frank Aveni, and the three other Legionnaires, all had complained of tiredness, chest pains, lung congestion, and fever. Three of

7614-496: The convention. The date and city were chosen to coincide with America's celebration of the 200th anniversary of the signing of the US Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia in 1776. On July 27, three days after the convention ended, Legionnaire Ray Brennan, a 61-year-old retired US Air Force captain and an American Legion bookkeeper, died at his home of an apparent heart attack . Brennan had returned home from

7755-441: The cooling tower of the hotel's air conditioning system, which then spread it through the building. This finding prompted new regulations worldwide for climate control systems . Complicating the situation was a fear among the public that the original cluster of 14 cases, six of whom died within a few days of each other, represented an outbreak of swine flu . The total number of cases reached 211, and of those, 29 had died. At

7896-578: The dedication, especially as Fuller was an old friend of hers. Fuller quickly put together a committee that supported Marie's "tour" of America and arrangements were made for her departure. Marie viewed the tour as an opportunity to "see the country, meet the people and put Romania on the map". She travelled by ship across the Atlantic Ocean and disembarked in New York, on 18 October 1926, accompanied by Prince Nicholas and Princess Ileana. Oh, life

8037-479: The disaster, and the original incarnation of the hotel permanently closed in March 1986. In 1988, the building was converted to a mixed-use development . It has been known since then as The Bellevue . The hotel portion is currently managed by Hyatt as The Bellevue Hotel . Born Georg Karl Boldt in Prussia in 1851, he immigrated to the United States as a teenager in 1864. Beginning as a kitchen worker, at age 25

8178-477: The disease in mice, the standard laboratory animal model, also failed. The disease was finally produced in guinea pigs. The CDC announced the discovery at a press conference on January 18, 1977. The bacterium was later named Legionella pneumophila . Legionella pneumophila is the most common cause, but sometimes other species of Legionella bacteria also cause Legionnaires' disease. The terms "Philadelphia fever" and "Legion fever" appear to have been used at

8319-493: The end of a life that had been absolute happiness and joy without clouds, of a life with no disappointments or delusions and without any discordant note." The Duchess, who was pro-German, hired a German governess for her daughters, bought them plain clothing and even had them confirmed in the Lutheran faith. The family spent their summers at Rosenau Castle . Duke Ernest was described by Marie as "having his oddities"; his court

8460-578: The extent of repression used to quell the 1907 Romanian Peasants' Revolt once it was too late to intercede. She afterwards took to dressing quite often in folk costume , both at home and in public, initiating a fashion trend among young upper-class women. On 29 June 1913, the Tsardom of Bulgaria declared war on Greece , thus starting the Second Balkan War . On 4 July, Romania entered the war, allying itself with Greece. The war, which lasted

8601-519: The fact that her mother never allowed chatting between the two "as if [they] were equals". Nonetheless, the Duchess was independent-minded, cultured, and "the most important person" in her children's lives. At the behest of their mother, Marie and her sisters were taught French, which they detested and rarely spoke. Overall, the Duchess neglected her daughters' education, considering them not very bright or gifted. They were permitted to read aloud, but in

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8742-441: The family". The Times Literary Supplement wrote that Marie had found herself, "from the hour of her arrival in Bucharest under the tutelage of that stern disciplinarian King Carol I". In 1896, Ferdinand and Marie moved to Cotroceni Palace , which had been extended by the Romanian architect Grigore Cerchez, and to which Marie added her own designs. The following year, Ferdinand was struck down with typhoid fever . For days, he

8883-434: The family, Prince Nicholas (1903–78), nicknamed "Nicky", Princess Ileana (1909–91) and Prince Mircea (1913–16). King Carol and Queen Elisabeth promptly removed Prince Carol and Princess Elisabeth from Marie's care, considering it inappropriate for them to be raised by their young parents. Marie loved her children, but found it difficult to even scold them at times, thus failing to properly supervise them. Consequently,

9024-573: The faults of my virtues." Marie left Paris with numerous supplies for Romania's relief, and later that year the conference resulted in the international recognition of Greater Romania, thus doubling Ferdinand and Marie's kingdom to 295,000 square kilometres (114,000 sq mi) and increasing the population by ten million. This led Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna of Russia , who briefly lived in Bucharest, to conclude that "by her charm, beauty, and ready wit, [Marie] could obtain anything she desired". In 1920, Marie's eldest daughter, Princess Elisabeth,

9165-658: The fields of painting and drawing, areas in which they had inherited Queen Victoria's talent, the girls received only a "pedestrian instruction". The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh frequently received members of the royal family at Eastwell Park, inviting them for breakfast nearly daily, and in 1885 Marie and Victoria Melita served as bridesmaids at the wedding of their aunt Beatrice and Prince Henry of Battenberg . Among Marie's playmates were her maternal cousins Grand Dukes Nicholas (called "Nicky"), George (called "Georgie"), and Grand Duchess Xenia of Russia ; their siblings, Michael (called "Misha") and Olga , were too young for

9306-581: The fire!" Easily learning to speak the Romanian language , Marie followed her mother's advice to dress carefully and show respect for Orthodox rituals. Marie and Ferdinand were advised by King Carol to maintain a restricted group of friends; thus, Marie would lament that her familial circle had been shrunk to only the King and Ferdinand, "who stood in mighty awe of the iron old man, forever trembling that any action of [hers] might displease that duty-bound head of

9447-524: The first king and queen of Greater Romania had been anointed. A feast was given in the same room where the union had been proclaimed in 1918; there, more than 20,000 peasants were offered roast steaks. The following day, Ferdinand and Marie triumphantly entered Bucharest. The splendour of the coronation was subsequently cited as evidence of Marie's theatricality. Marie would be received into the Romanian Orthodox Church in 1926, mentioning

9588-489: The following year. Marie was delighted, as she had frowned upon Carol's relationship with Zizi Lambrino and had been worried at the birth of their illegitimate son Carol , who, to her great relief, had been given his mother's surname. In 1922, Marie married her second daughter, "Mignon", to Alexander I of Serbia (later of Yugoslavia). She was delighted at the births of her two royal grandsons, Prince Michael of Romania (1921–2017) and Prince Peter of Yugoslavia (1923–1970);

9729-471: The future wife of Ferdinand, then crown prince of Romania, in 1892. Marie was crown princess between 1893 and 1914, and became immediately popular with the Romanian people. After the outbreak of World War I , Marie urged Ferdinand to ally himself with the Triple Entente and declare war on Germany , which he eventually did in 1916. During the early stages of fighting, the national capital Bucharest

9870-583: The ground floor facing Chancellor Court, with the lobby and public rooms on the remodeled 19th floor. The two domed ballrooms on that floor (the South and North Cameo rooms), were turned into the Ethel Barrymore Tea Room and a restaurant called Founders, with statues of Philadelphia fathers William Penn , Benjamin Franklin , David Rittenhouse , and Charles Wilson Peale . The middle wing of

10011-608: The hotel after this period, bringing it back "into the black." He had managed the Lake Placid facility for the 1932 Winter Olympics , and later retired from the famed Hotel Hershey in Hershey, Pennsylvania in the 1960s. He is also known for teaching a public domain game called " The Landlord's Game " (teaching economic principles of Georgism espoused by Henry George ) in the 1930s to Charles Darrow , who later claimed to have invented it as Monopoly . The Bellevue-Stratford

10152-637: The hotel and again undertook extensive work on the building, at a cost of $ 100 million, designed by architects from RTKL Associates Inc. in Baltimore and the Vitetta Group-Studio Four of Philadelphia. The building's name was shortened to The Bellevue. The grand public areas on the ground floor were converted to 55,000 sq ft of retail space. A huge atrium was cut into the lobby and escalators were installed leading to an underground shopping area and food court. The parking garage adjacent to

10293-588: The hotel and assumed management on November 15, 1980, returning the hotel to its original name, Bellevue Stratford . Two months later, Western International was itself renamed Westin Hotels, and the hotel was renamed The Westin Bellevue Stratford in 1983. That same year, the hotel opened a 475-space parking garage on adjacent land, formerly occupied by the Art Club of Philadelphia . By the mid-1980s,

10434-465: The hotel business. Instead, since their reopening in April 2024, they have been operated by Cescaphe, a local events firm, under the name The Grand Belle. In May 2024, it was reported that the final arrangement of the mixed-use structure was: 155 residences, with twenty-four different layouts, on the former office floors 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, as well as on the former hotel floor 18; offices remaining on floors 5,6,7 and 11; 222 hotel rooms on floors 12-17, with

10575-704: The hotel division of the Cunard Line . The hotel opened to protests by unionized former employees, because Cunard was not part of the agreement to rehire them and had not done so. Cunard's hotel division proved financially unsuccessful and soon folded. Cunard terminated its lease on the hotel on February 7, 1993. The long-planned new Pennsylvania Convention Center opened in July 1993, helping increase occupancy at hotels across Center City. Interstate Hotels & Resorts of Pittsburgh assumed management in December 1994 and

10716-404: The hotel had a 70,000 sq ft fitness club built on top of it to serve the complex. The hotel rooms on floors 3 to 11 were converted into 280,000 sq ft of office space, entered through the original main entrance facing Broad Street, with the office portion opening on December 5, 1988. The hotel portion was condensed to 170 guest rooms on floors 12 to 18. The hotel was entered through a small foyer on

10857-531: The hotel lobby returned to the ground floor and the 19th floor again used solely as function rooms. The apartments began leasing in May 2024. The hotel portion reopened on November 1, 2024. 1976 Philadelphia Legionnaires%27 disease outbreak The 1976 Legionnaires' disease outbreak , occurring in the late summer in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , United States at an annual American Legion convention,

10998-607: The hotel open until April 2. However, with The Westin Bellevue Stratford's advance bookings transferred to other hotels as a result of the closure announcement, only two floors of guest rooms remained in use by that point, with only 10 to 15 guests a night in the enormous building. The union finally accepted a settlement of $ 500,000, along with a promise that the renovated hotel would remain a union shop, and agreed to an earlier closing date. The Westin Bellevue Stratford closed on March 7, 1986. The Rubin Company bought out Westin's stake in

11139-458: The hotel or in the area who also became sick. Of these 182 cases, 29 persons died. The U.S. Center for Disease Control mounted an unprecedented investigation and, by September, the focus had shifted from outside causes, such as a disease carrier, to the hotel environment itself. In January 1977, the Legionella bacterium was finally identified and isolated and was found to be breeding in

11280-473: The hotel was struggling to fill its hundreds of rooms. Philadelphia had lower hotel occupancy rates than other major East Coast cities at the time, and a lengthy conflict between city and state officials over financing for a new convention center , which would eventually open in 1993, meant that demand for hotel rooms in Center City was even lower than expected. The Westin Bellevue Stratford's occupancy rate

11421-414: The hotel's ballrooms and meeting rooms. The rich and famous, royalty and heads of state from all over the world, presidents, politicians, actors and famous writers have stayed within its walls. Fifteen U.S. Presidents, beginning with Theodore Roosevelt and ending with Ronald Reagan , have been guests at the hotel, which is respectfully called the "Grand Dame of Broad Street." Originally the western end of

11562-509: The hotel's name was shortened to match the whole multi-use complex, becoming The Bellevue . On December 1, 1996, Hyatt took over management of the hotel, placing it in their Park Hyatt boutique division and renaming it the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue . In 2007, the two restaurants and Founders bar were re-designed by Marguerite Rodgers as XIX (NINETEEN) Cafe, Bar and Restaurant. In 2009, all four balconies outside

11703-400: The local hippodrome nearly daily, apart from Saturday. During their first year in Malta, a French governess oversaw the princesses' education, but due to her failing health, she was replaced the following year by a much younger German woman. At San Antonio, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh always maintained a room ready for Prince George of Wales , the second son of the Prince of Wales , who

11844-417: The low temperatures. Around this time, Marie met Lieutenant Gheorghe Cantacuzène , a member, albeit through an illegitimate branch, of an ancient Romanian princely family and a descendant of Prince Șerban Cantacuzino . Although not very good looking, Cantacuzène stood out using his sense of humour and fashion, as well as his talent in horse-riding. The two soon became romantically involved, but their affair

11985-582: The marriage and appointed him a Knight of the Garter . On 10 January 1893, Marie and Ferdinand were married at Sigmaringen Castle in three ceremonies: one civil, one Catholic (Ferdinand's religion) and one Anglican. The civil ceremony was performed in the Red Hall of the castle by Karl von Wendel, the German Emperor being the first of the witnesses present to sign the marriage act. At four o'clock,

12126-423: The marriage will be delayed some time as Missy won't be 17 till the end of October!" German Empress Frederick , Marie's aunt, wrote to her daughter, Crown Princess Sophia of Greece , that "Missy is till now quite delighted, but the poor child is so young, how can she guess what is before her?" In late 1892, King Carol visited London in order to meet the Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Victoria, who eventually agreed to

12267-458: The marriage, on 15 October 1893. Although Marie requested the use of chloroform in order to ease the pains of labour, doctors were reluctant to do so, believing that "women must pay in agony for the sins of Eve". After Marie's mother and Queen Victoria insisted, King Carol eventually allowed the use of the drug on his niece-in-law. Marie did not derive much joy from the arrival of her firstborn, later writing that she "felt like turning [her] head to

12408-568: The minds of Romanians in Transylvania for some time and Brătianu had actively supported the concept before the war. In 1918, both Bessarabia and Bukovina voted for union with Romania. An assembly took place in the ancient city of Alba Iulia on 1 December 1918, where Vasile Goldiș read the resolution for the union of Transylvania with the Old Kingdom . This document, supported by Romanian as well as Saxon deputies, established

12549-519: The news reached them. On 28 July, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia and, as Marie saw it, "the world's peace was torn to shreds". Then, on 3 August, King Carol held a Crown Council at Sinaia, in order to decide whether Romania should enter the war. Although Carol was in favour of his country supporting Germany and the Central Powers , the council decided against it. Not long after the council, Carol's illness worsened and he became bed-ridden;

12690-461: The ones who were not particularly liked. With Brătianu's help, Marie began pressuring Ferdinand into entering the war; concurrently, she contacted various reigning relatives in Europe and bargained for the best terms for Romania, in case the country should enter the war. Marie favoured an alliance with the Triple Entente (Russia, France and Britain), partly because of her British ancestry. Neutrality

12831-511: The people were excited for Marie's arrival mainly because of her almost mythical allure, which had been created by papers and rumour throughout her life; she observed that "the modest Queen of the Belgians had once come with her king for a brief visit and years ago the dusky Hawaiian ruler had honored us, but there had been no others. The time could not have been better set." Marie was also fairly popular within suffragette circles, where she

12972-403: The population. Marie is primarily remembered for her work as a nurse, but is also known for her extensive writing, including her critically acclaimed autobiography. Marie was the eldest daughter and second child of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh , and the former Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia , respectively the son of Queen Victoria and the daughter of Emperor Alexander II . She

13113-465: The possibility of his abdication was even discussed. Eventually, he died on 10 October 1914 and Ferdinand automatically succeeded as king. On 11 October 1914, Marie and Ferdinand were acclaimed as king and queen in the Chamber of Deputies . Princess Anne Marie Callimachi, a close friend of Marie's, wrote that "as Crown Princess, [Marie] had been popular; as queen, she was more loved". Marie maintained

13254-662: The prestige Romania had gained after World War I. Whilst visiting Geneva , Marie and Ferdinand became the first royals to enter the newly established headquarters of the League of Nations . The location for Marie and Ferdinand's coronation was Alba Iulia , which had been an important fortress in the Middle Ages and where Michael the Brave had been declared Voivode of Transylvania in 1599, thus bringing Wallachia and Transylvania under his personal union . An Orthodox cathedral

13395-462: The public areas were painstakingly restored to their 1904 appearance. 44,000 square yards of carpet were imported from Ireland, 25 tons of marble came from Portugal and crystal chandeliers were sourced from Uruguay. The hotel reopened on September 26, 1979, managed by Fairmont Hotels , as the Fairmont Hotel . The following year, Western International Hotels bought a 49-percent interest in

13536-431: The regency council took charge of his role as monarch. In May 1928, Carol, who had found his life abroad with Magda Lupescu unsatisfactory, attempted to return to Romania with the help of the 1st Viscount Rothermere . He was prevented from doing so by English authorities, who then proceeded to expel him from England. Infuriated, Marie sent an official apology to George V on behalf of her son, who had already begun plotting

13677-526: The royal children were given some education, but were never sent to school. As the royal household could not provide what a classroom education would have, most of the children's personalities became severely flawed as they grew older. Prime Minister Ion G. Duca would later write that "it was like [King Carol] wished to leave for Romania heirs completely unprepared for succeeding." From the start, Marie had trouble adjusting to life in Romania. Her personality and "high spirits" frequently created controversies at

13818-571: The same?" After Bucharest fell to Austrian troops, the royal court was transferred to Iași , capital of the Moldavia region, in December 1916. There, she continued to act as a nurse in military hospitals. Daily, Marie would dress as a nurse and go to the train station , where she would receive more injured soldiers; then she would transport them to hospital. After the conclusion of the Russian Revolution in early November 1917 and

13959-523: The seventh floor to be occupied by Queen Marie and her entourage of 19 has a history. Among the world-famous people who have occupied the suite are President and Mrs. Calvin Coolidge , Cardinal Mercier of Belgium, President and Mrs. Woodrow Wilson , Marshal Joffre , General John J. Pershing , President and Mrs. Warren G. Harding , a brother of the Emperor of Japan , Sir Esme Howard , Ambassador Jules Jusserand , and Ambassador Auckland Geddes . During

14100-448: The sides; one contained an image of the royal arms of Romania and the other, the arms of the Duke of Edinburgh, which Marie had used as her own arms prior to her marriage. The crown, which cost around 65,000 francs , was paid for by the state, via a special law. Among the guests at the royal couple's coronation were Marie's sister "Baby Bee", the Duke of York and French generals Maxime Weygand and Henri Mathias Berthelot , who had led

14241-516: The signing of the Treaty of Bucharest , giving rise to her description as "truly the only man in Romania". The Armistice with Germany (11 November 1918) put an end to fighting in Europe and, thus, to the war. In the tenth century, the Principality of Hungary had begun conquering Transylvania, which Hungarians had fully occupied by around 1200. The idea of a " Greater Romania " had existed in

14382-575: The site of Peleș Castle , for a period of recovery. Nonetheless, the couple was not able to attend celebrations for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee that summer. During Ferdinand's convalescence, Marie spent most of her time with her two children, taking them on long walks and picking flowers with them. The winter of 1897/1898 was spent with the Russian Imperial family on the French Riviera , where Marie often rode horses, in spite of

14523-571: The situation, Saint-Aulaire suggested that Marie should be sent to the conference instead. The Queen was delighted at the prospect. Marie arrived in Paris on 6 March 1919. She was immediately popular with the French people, due to her boldness during the War. Upon meeting Marie, Clemenceau abruptly told her, "I don't like your Prime Minister", to which she replied, "Perhaps then you'll find me more agreeable." He did, and president Raymond Poincaré noticed

14664-532: The throne, becoming King Carol II. He removed Marie from the political scene and strove to crush her popularity. As a result, Marie moved away from Bucharest and spent the rest of her life either in the countryside or at Balchik Palace , her summer residence in Southern Dobruja by the Black Sea . In 1937, she became ill with cirrhosis and died the following year. Following Romania's transition to

14805-600: The throne. Queen Victoria, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Edinburgh all approved, but the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh did not. The Princess of Wales disliked the family's pro-German sentiment and the Duchess of Edinburgh did not wish her daughter to remain in England, which she disliked. She also disliked the fact that the Princess of Wales, whose father had been a minor German prince before being called to

14946-803: The time of the outbreak and for shortly thereafter, although at least one 2008 source which covers disease in a historical narrative sense also included "Legion Fever" as alternate name. Both the World Health Organization in 2018 and the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2017 only use the term Legionnaires' disease to refer to the serious version with pneumonia. CDC investigators quickly discovered outbreaks of respiratory disease caused by L. pneumophila dating back to 1959. Marie of Romania Marie (born Princess Marie Alexandra Victoria of Edinburgh ; 29 October 1875 – 18 July 1938)

15087-556: The time of the outbreak, epidemiological investigation protocols did not include active participation by both laboratory specialists and investigators. No effective communication existed between scientists in the field interviewing patients, and those in the laboratory testing specimens. While the Centers for Disease Control responded rapidly, as did the Pennsylvania Health Department, it took six months for

15228-603: The victory of the Bolsheviks , Romania became, in the words of diplomat Frank Rattigan, "an island surrounded on all sides by the enemy, with no hope of assistance from the Allies". Soon afterwards, Ferdinand signed the Treaty of Focșani , on 9 December 1917. Marie considered the treaty perilous, while Brătianu and Știrbey believed it was a necessary measure for obtaining more time. Later turns of events would prove Marie to have assumed correctly. In 1918, Marie vehemently opposed

15369-423: The wall". Similarly, although Marie was constantly reminded by Carol's wife Elisabeth that childbirth is "the most glorious moment in [Marie's] life", she could only feel a longing for her mother at the birth of her second child, Princess Elisabeth , in 1894. After becoming accustomed to life in Romania, Marie began to rejoice at the births of her children, namely Princess Maria (1900–61), nicknamed "Mignon" in

15510-428: The war , Romania gained possession of Southern Dobrudja , including the coastal town of Balchik ( Balcic ), which Marie would come to cherish in 1924 and use to host her residence, called The Quiet Nest . Soon after the war ended, Carol became ill. On 28 June 1914, at Sarajevo , Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated . This came as a shock to Marie and her family, who were vacationing at Sinaia when

15651-549: The war, Marie was involved in aiding the Romanian Red Cross and visited hospitals daily. During the first month of hostilities, Romania fought no less than nine battles; some, such as the Battle of Turtucaia , took place on its own soil. On 2 November 1916, Marie's youngest son, Prince Mircea, who had been sick with typhoid fever , died at Buftea . Marie was distraught and wrote in her journal: "Can anything ever be

15792-701: The world-class institution known as the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel . With his success at managing the enormous Waldorf-Astoria, George Boldt decided to build a similarly large and luxurious hotel in his home town. He acquired the Stratford Hotel across Walnut on the southwest corner and commissioned the grand 19 floor Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, designed in the French Renaissance style by G.W. & W.D. Hewitt , with Purdy and Henderson, Engineers. These Philadelphia architects also designed

15933-424: Was "a great day for me, one of emotions, sweet, happy and the same time glorious emotions to come back as Queen to my own country, to be received officially, in all honour and enthusiastically into the bargain – to feel your heart swell with pride and satisfaction, to feel your heart beat and tears start into your eyes, while something gave you a lump into your throat!" These state visits were a symbolic recognition of

16074-488: Was 55 percent, far below the 65–70 percent necessary to break even. It had operated at a total cash loss of $ 25 million from 1979 to 1985, never once turning a profit since its restoration. As a result, the hotel's owners announced in January 1986 that the hotel would close on February 2. A lawsuit by the union representing the hotel's 450+ employees over the short notice given to its members, resulted in an agreement to keep

16215-520: Was Cantacuzène's daughter, and not Ferdinand's. Over the following years, Marie was also rumoured to have been romantically linked to Grand Duke Boris Vladimirovich of Russia , Waldorf Astor , Prince Barbu Știrbey and Joe Boyle . In 1903, Ferdinand and Marie inaugurated the Pelișor Castle , an Art Nouveau castle in Sinaia that King Carol commissioned for the royal couple. Marie only learned of

16356-591: Was born at her parents' residence, Eastwell Manor in Kent , England, on 29 October 1875, at 10:30 a.m., in the presence of her father. Her birth was celebrated by firing the Park and Tower guns . She was named Marie Alexandra Victoria, after her mother and grandmothers, but she was informally known as "Missy". The Duke of Edinburgh wrote that his daughter "promises to be as fine a child as her brother and gives every evidence of finely developed lungs and did so before she

16497-655: Was built as the Coronation Cathedral in 1921–1922. An elaborate set of jewellery and clothing was made especially for the coronation. Marie's crown was designed by painter Costin Petrescu and it was made in the Art Nouveau style by Falize , a Parisian jewelry house. The crown was inspired by that of Milica Despina , the wife of 16th-century Wallachian ruler Neagoe Basarab , and it was made entirely out of Transylvanian gold. The crown had two pendants on

16638-459: Was closest to her sister Victoria Melita, who was one year younger, but whom everyone believed to be the older girl because of her stature, much to the princesses' dismay. The Edinburgh children were all baptised and raised in the Anglican faith; this upset their Russian Orthodox mother. The Duchess of Edinburgh was a supporter of the idea of separating generations, and Marie deeply regretted

16779-535: Was delirious and, despite his doctor's best efforts, came close to dying. During this time, Marie exchanged numerous letters with her family in Britain and was terrified at the prospect of losing her husband. King Carol still had an heir in Prince Carol, whose young age presented issues; thus, the whole family desperately wished for Ferdinand to pull through. Eventually, he did, and he and Marie went to Sinaia ,

16920-525: Was enchanted. In 1924, Ferdinand and Marie undertook a diplomatic tour of France, Switzerland , Belgium and the United Kingdom. In England, she was warmly welcomed by George V, who declared that "apart from the common aims, which we pursue, there are other and dear ties between us. Her Majesty the Queen, my dear cousin, is British born." Similarly, Marie wrote that the day of her arrival in England

17061-581: Was engaged to Prince George of Greece , the eldest son of the deposed King Constantine I of Greece and Marie's cousin Sophia. After inviting George and his two sisters, the Princesses Helen and Irene , to lodge with them at Sinaia, Marie organised numerous activities for the young couple and was delighted at the prospect of marrying off her daughter, whose character was severely flawed. In October, reports of King Alexander 's death came from Greece;

17202-424: Was fairly in the world." As a grandchild of the reigning British monarch in the male line, Marie was formally styled "Her Royal Highness Princess Marie of Edinburgh" from birth. Marie's baptism took place in the private chapel of Windsor Castle on 15 December 1875 and was officiated by Arthur Stanley and Gerald Wellesley , Dean of Windsor . The baptism, "of a strictly private nature", took place one day after

17343-601: Was hired by William Kehrer, steward of The Philadelphia Club , as his assistant steward at the time of the 1876 Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia . Soon after, he married his employer's daughter, Philadelphia-born Louise Kehrer. Prominent members of the Philadelphia Club assisted the couple in setting up their own hotel, the Bellevue, at the northwest corner of Broad and Walnut Streets, in 1881. A small hotel, it quickly became nationally known for its high standard of service, elite clientele, and fine cuisine; it

17484-472: Was in Malta that Marie found her first love, Maurice Bourke , the captain of the Duke's ship, whom Marie called "Captain Dear". Marie was prone to fits of jealousy when Bourke would pay more attention to one of her sisters than to her. The Duke and Duchess were greatly loved in Malta, and San Antonio Palace was frequently full of guests. Marie and Victoria Melita received white horses from their mother and went to

17625-487: Was in the Royal Navy. George called the three elder Edinburgh girls "the three dearests", but favoured Marie the most. Meanwhile, the Duke of Edinburgh became heir presumptive to his childless paternal uncle, Ernest II, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha , upon the Prince of Wales's renunciation of his rights to the duchy. Consequently, the family relocated to Coburg in 1889. Marie later came to view this moment as "truly

17766-458: Was inevitable in the lives of girls who have brothers. Another activity which the girls enjoyed at Coburg was attending winter parties organised by their mother, during which they would ice-skate and play different games, such as ice hockey . Marie grew into a "lovely young woman" with "sparkling blue eyes and silky fair hair"; she was courted by several royal bachelors, including Prince George of Wales, who in 1892 became second in line to inherit

17907-507: Was largely absent from his children's lives due to his position in the British Royal Navy , and their life was governed by their mother. Marie later stated that she did not even know the colour of her father's hair until she looked at later portraits of him, believing it to be much darker than it actually was. When he was at home, the Duke would often play with his children, inventing many games for them. Of all her siblings, Marie

18048-546: Was less strict than other German courts of the time. In Coburg, the princesses' education was broadened: more emphasis was placed on painting and music, which were taught by Anna Messing and Mrs. Helferich respectively. On Thursdays and Sundays, Marie and her sisters went to the Coburg Theatre, an experience which they enjoyed greatly. Marie and Victoria Melita often observed their brother's friends and made comments on whom they liked better, an aspect which Marie believed

18189-473: Was looking for a suitable bride for his nephew, Crown Prince Ferdinand , in order to secure the succession and ensure the continuation of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen . Possibly motivated by the prospect of removing tensions between Russia and Romania on the subject of control over Bessarabia , the Duchess of Edinburgh suggested that Marie meet Ferdinand. Marie and Ferdinand first became acquainted during

18330-507: Was not without perils, and entering the war with the Entente meant that Romania would act as Russia's "buffer" against possible attacks. Eventually, Marie demanded of Ferdinand in no uncertain terms that he enter the war, leading the French minister to Romania, Auguste Félix de Beaupoil, Count of Saint-Aulaire, to remark that Marie was twice an ally to the French: once by birth and once by heart. Ferdinand gave in to Marie's pleas, and he signed

18471-511: Was occupied by the Central Powers . Marie, Ferdinand and their five children took refuge in Western Moldavia . There, she and her three daughters acted as nurses in military hospitals, caring for soldiers who were wounded or afflicted by cholera . After the war, on 1 December 1918, the historical region of Transylvania , following Bessarabia and Bukovina , united with the Old Kingdom . Marie, now queen of Greater Romania , attended

18612-786: Was of Her Majesty, her children on either side, waving back with that tear-and-smile of those who pass from happy scenes." Morris accompanied the queen throughout her journey and offered a very detailed account of Marie's time in America in her book, published in 1927. Marie was delighted with the visit, and wished to return to America as soon as possible. She wrote in her diaries: "both my children and I have but one dream: to return! To return to that stupendous New World, which makes you almost guiddy [ sic ] because of its immencity, [ sic ] its noise, its striving, its fearful impetuous [ sic ] to get on, to do always more, always bigger, quicker, more astonishingly

18753-673: Was passed, creating a regency council composed of Prince Nicholas; the Orthodox Patriarch, Miron Cristea ; and Gheorghe Buzdugan , the president of the Court of Cassation . However, both Marie and Ferdinand were reluctant to leave the country in the hands of a five-year-old boy, even overseen by a regency, for fear that the lands gained during World War I would be reclaimed by neighbouring countries and that political disturbances might lead to civil unrest. Nevertheless, when Marie returned from America, Ferdinand's death seemed imminent. He

18894-577: Was sold in June 1978 to the Richard I. Rubin Company for $ 8.25 million. Developer Ronald Rubin had a personal connection to the hotel and wished to see it saved. Decades before, his father Richard Rubin, a Ukrainian immigrant, got his first job delivering shoes from exclusive local stores to guests at The Bellevue-Stratford. Rubin undertook a $ 25-million restoration of the hotel. The guest rooms were completely gutted and their number reduced from 725 to 565, while

19035-540: Was suffering from intestinal cancer , and by April 1927 had come so close to death as to be given the last rites of the Catholic Church. He died on 20 July, in Marie's arms. She later wrote: "'I am so tired' were his last words and when he lay so quiet in my arms one hour later, I knew that I must thank God for him at least. This was rest indeed." Michael automatically succeeded as king upon Ferdinand's death and

19176-427: Was terminated after it became known by the public. As much as she condemned Marie's behaviour, her mother allowed her to come to Coburg when, in 1897, she apparently became pregnant. Historian Julia Gelardi believes that Marie gave birth to a child at Coburg; the child may either have been stillborn or sent to an orphanage immediately following its birth. There was speculation on whether Marie's second daughter, "Mignon",

19317-535: Was the first occasion in which a cluster of a particular type of pneumonia cases were determined to be caused by the Legionella pneumophila bacteria. Previous outbreaks were retroactively diagnosed as being most probably caused by Legionella bacteria. On July 21, 1976, the American Legion opened its annual three-day convention at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . More than 2,000 Legionnaires, mostly men, attended

19458-513: Was the headquarters of the 1936 and 1948 National Conventions of the U.S. Republican Party and the 1948 Convention of the Democratic Party . On October 30, 1963, President John F. Kennedy appeared at a campaign dinner for Philadelphia mayor James Tate at the Bellevue-Stratford, weeks before he was assassinated . The hotel's reputation began to decline in the 1960s. In 1976, the hotel gained worldwide notoriety when it hosted

19599-513: Was the last queen of Romania as the wife of King Ferdinand I . Marie was born into the British royal family . Her parents were Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (later Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha), and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia . Marie's early years were spent in Kent, Malta and Coburg . After refusing a proposal from her cousin, the future King George V , she was chosen as

19740-484: Was then in school at Eton College . Marie was elated to have returned to England after so much time, writing that "it was a tremendous emotion to arrive in London, and to be greeted at the station by George and May." After the end of her visit in England, Marie returned to Paris, where the people were just as excited for her arrival as they had been a few weeks before. Crowds gathered around her frequently, waiting to see

19881-504: Was viewed as "a woman whose wits had devised many a coup d'état, whose brains had thought out many a difficult problem for her people, who had used the gifts given her to further every good purpose". During their time in America, Marie, Nicholas and Ileana undertook tours of several cities, including Philadelphia . They were very popular, and were greeted with equal enthusiasm in each city they visited, so much so that "[Nicholas and Ileana] seemed fairly dazed by their tremendous ovation". At

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