Queen Maud - 1906

Handmade 60 mm Tin Soldier of Queen Maud of Norway.

Queen Maud was born as Princess Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria in London on November 26, 1869. She was the daughter of the British heir to the throne, later King Edward VII, and Queen Alexandra, and grew up in the British royal family with strong ties to Denmark through her mother. In 1896, she married her Danish cousin, Prince Carl, who in 1905 was chosen to become King of Norway under the name Haakon VII. This made Maud Norway’s first queen in almost 600 years who was not also queen of Denmark or Sweden. She was crowned alongside her husband in Nidaros Cathedral in 1906.

Maud was known for her elegant style and strong connection to Britain. She regularly visited her homeland and was always dressed in the latest fashion. One of her most famous traits was her extremely narrow waist, which she accentuated with corsets—a beauty ideal that was very popular during the Edwardian era. Her silhouette became a symbol of the era’s aristocratic elegance.