The Court of Shadows: The Secret World of Europe's Royalty

World War One ends at the end of 1915, Greece and Romania join the Entente at the outset of the war and Italy joins in 1915, the Bulgarians stay neutral because Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire were on the brink of collapse and would eventually fall in 1915, leaving Germany alone. Germany sues for peace and the terms are not as harsh. The horrors of the war leave a bitter taste in the collective mouths of Europe, but the monarchies of Europe survive.
What will follow are the blog articles of the "Shadow Courtier", well-connected blogger writing gossip about Europe's next generations of monarchs. Also, the French monarchy in a moderated form has been reinstated after the end of the Franco-Prussian War. Greece also retains the Wittelsbach Dynasty.
 
Last edited:
Dramatis Personae in 2013:

Shadow Courtier -
the socialite blogger behind the Court of Shadows.

Arthouros Wittelsbach - the Crown Prince of the Greek Empire.

Heraklios Wittelsbach - a Prince of Greece.

Aleksandyr Romanov -
the Grand Prince of the Russian Empire.

Anya Romanov - the Grand Princess of Russia, betrothed to Arthouros of Greece.

Dennis Bourbon - the Dauphin of France.

Beatrice Bourbon - Princess of France, Dennis' twin sister, betrothed to Aleksandyr Romanov.

Wilhelm Hohenzollern -
the Crown Prince of Germany.

Michael Hohenzollern -
the Prince of Germany.

Natasha Hohenzollern - a Princess of Germany, betrothed to Siegfried.

Siegfried Hapsburg - the Crown Prince of Austria-Hungary

Roberto Di Savoia I - the King of Italy.

Lauretta Di Savoia -
the Crown Princess of Italy, betrothed to Michael Hapsburg.

Beatrice Saxecoburg and Gotha - a Princess of Belgium, bethrothed to Siegfried Hapsburg.

Daniel Borbon - Crown Prince of Spain.

Elena Borbon - Princess of Spain, betrothed to Dennis Bourbon.

Yolanda Borbon - Princess of Spain, Queen of Italy.
 
SHADOW COURTIER POST, 1st January 2013;

It looks like the statesmen and generals aren't the only one's abuzz with the news of the Greco-Russian rapproachment. The rumour mill has been working overtime since a courtier in Petrograd snapped the beginning of another storybook royal romance as playboy Prince Arthouros of Greece with the Grand Princess Anya of Russia and her family at the Winter Palace. This is all the more intriguing since our Charming Prince Art hasn't been seen or heard from in three months.
What have you been up to Art? Where have you been since your maid leaped from the balcony of the Blachernae Palace? Have you come back to assert your place as the playboy king of Europe? #OnlyTimeWillTell
 
Then there is no WW I, not in anything like the form of OTL. I see what you're trying to do, which is interesting, but reinstating monarchy in France is a bridge too far.
The Third Republic was meant to be temporary. I mean, WWI would be completely different than OTL, but the monarchy being reinstated after the Franco-Prussian War isn't crazy by any means.
 
Then there is no WW I, not in anything like the form of OTL. I see what you're trying to do, which is interesting, but reinstating monarchy in France is a bridge too far.

I was thinking either of a pre 1900 POD for the Frehcn monarchy, specifically the king not quarrelling over the French flag but even a post WW1 royalist coup by action Francais could be on the cards.
 
Top