This is a photograph from VANITY FAIR MAGAZINE that depicts the ten European princesses from the turbulent year of 1914. Having benefited from full hair and make-up, the women posed bemedaled and amused in full military regalia before the society magazine cameras.
The Royals pictured on this page were all granted the ceremonial rank of 'Colonel' in the household cavalry units within their respective principalities, as well as a few of the cavalry regiments outside their domains.
"Several of the Royal and Imperial women in Europe, who are possessed of military rank, have lost their colonelcies in foreign regiments by the World War. Thus, the Czarina and the Russian Grand Duchess, as well as Queen Mary of England, have been deprived of their commands in the Kaiser's army."
Other crowned heads to have been stripped of their bogus authority were Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm (granted the rank of Field Marshal in the British Army in 1901) and Austria's Emperor Franz Joseph (who was also granted the rank of Field Marshal in that same army in 1903).
Click here to see a colored photograph of Grand Duchess Olga reviewing the Hussars.
Click here to read about the W.W. I efforts of Prince Edward, the future Duke of Windsor.
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