Marie antoinette biography history channel

The history. Great Characters. She arrived at the French Court aged only fifteen. From the time of her marriage to the Dauphin Louis, heir to the throne, she found it difficult to adapt to French customs and when she became Queen, she committed more and more blunders, often unwittingly, which gradually alienated public opinion, helping to tarnish her image in a most disastrous way.

A highlight of the lavish festivities to mark the royal wedding was the inauguration of the Royal Opera. The young Dauphine became the first lady at Court. The ageing King had in fact become very unpopular and his death on 10 May was looked on with relief throughout the kingdom. Marie Antoinette became Queen when she was not yet twenty years old.

Marie Antoinette enjoyed entertainment and was influential in choosing shows to be put on at Court. She encouraged artists and she loved court balls. As was required by her position, she also entertained her circle in her apartments, where she was a keen player of billiards and cards, often playing to excess, both losing and winning large sums, to such an extent that the King became worried and banned some of the more risky games that were swallowing up entire fortunes.

Marie Antoinette was a musician, playing the harp and the harpsichord. She could also sing.

Marie antoinette children

The Queen also devoted a lot of time to fashion, much to the chagrin of her mother, who regularly lectured her on this subject. Surrounded by a circle of friends whom she had chosen herself although not always wisely , she preferred to remain in her Private Chambers , located behind her State Apartments and which she hoped to extend into the floor above, and in the Petit Trianon , built by Louis XV and given to her as a gift by Louis XVI on his accession.

In , after eight long years of marriage, she finally gave birth to her first child. The Queen was always an affectionate mother and was close to her children.