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Marina de BourbonHeiress of a great family
Country:
 France |
Content:
- Marina de Bourbon: The Heir of a Great Family
- A Chance Encounter and a New Path
- A Serendipitous Meeting
- Working Together as a Family
- A Life Among Celebrities
- A Quiet Life in "Le Reve"
Marina de Bourbon: The Heir of a Great Family
Marina de Bourbon, the descendant of a once illustrious but now impoverished French family, found herself in a difficult situation during the German occupation of France. Sent to a Catholic boarding school in Brittany, Marina, like her fellow students, experienced hunger and inadequate clothing. Despite her noble ancestry, the "de" in her surname did not bring her any privileges. Marina's children also faced difficulties due to their family name, with her eldest daughter even being asked to remove the "de" from her name to avoid inequality. Determined to secure a better future, Marina decided to pursue a career.
A Chance Encounter and a New Path
Marina's journey into bookbinding began unexpectedly. She was training as a dancer with the famous Mant sisters when she shared her concerns about the instability of a ballet career with Mademoiselle Blanche Mant, who offered to teach her bookbinding as an alternative profession. Marina accepted the offer and, at the age of 18, opened a small workshop that thrived for almost a decade. Surprisingly, bookbinding proved to be a more reliable career choice than ballet.
A Serendipitous Meeting
Marina's meeting with her future husband, Duke Andre of Parma, did not occur in her workshop but on a beach in the south of France. While visiting her aunt, Marina crossed paths with Andre, who was visiting his mother, Princess of Denmark. Their encounter was unexpected and, although they had mutual acquaintances such as Jean Cocteau, they had never met before. Andre's gallant demeanor and a tattoo of a Gallic rooster on his shoulder intrigued Marina, and their conversation sparked a connection. They agreed to keep their relationship a secret and, after a month, Andre proposed to Marina. In May 1960, they married in the "Fishermen's Chapel" in Villefranche, where they first met.
Working Together as a Family
Following their marriage, Marina and Andre decided to work together. Andre, having trained as a decorator at Ecole Boulle, joined Marina in her workshop, restoring antique furniture, while Marina continued bookbinding and creating frames. Their combined efforts allowed them to expand their business and eventually open a boutique on Rue Bonaparte, hiring six craftsmen and specializing in antique trading. These were the best years of Marina's life, and she fondly remembers the time when their boutique also housed a bar, where she served coffee and mixed cocktails. The bar attracted customers, who often left with a purchase from the boutique.
A Life Among Celebrities
Marina and Andre were part of the "Jet society," a Parisian high society circle that included celebrities like Brigitte Bardot and Jean Cocteau. Marina recalls their encounters at the nightclub "Le Grand Eléphant" or the restaurant "Club S'Germaen," where they mingled with prominent individuals. Marina's close friend, Jean Shazo, a renowned dancer, was also a regular customer at their boutique. Despite their involvement in high society, Marina and Andre eventually distanced themselves from the glamorous lifestyle after the birth of their daughter Tatiana.
A Quiet Life in "Le Reve"
Marina and Andre settled in a picturesque place called "Le Reve" (The Dream), where they currently reside. Marina enjoys simple pleasures, such as chopping wood, making preserves, and tending to her flowers. Recently, she made a daring move and purchased the ruins of an old mill, embarking on a restoration project. In Paris, Marina manages an elegant boutique that sells items that inspire dreams, ranging from French champagne to Indian silk and even small helicopters. Marina continues the business she started with her husband, spending her mornings in the garden, afternoons in the boutique, and returning to the peacefulness of "Le Reve" in the evenings. The only disturbance to the tranquility comes from the cries of feral cats that occasionally seek shelter in their home.
