History's first influencer? Marie Antoinette still receives letters
Key takeaways
- Two hundred and forty years after their last stay at the Château de Fontainebleau south of Paris, France's King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette are again taking centre stage there.
- By: Stéphanie TROUILLARD The Château de Fontainebleau will mark Queen Marie Antoinette’s legacy in 2026.
- “Those who write to her play along wholeheartedly.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Two hundred and forty years after their last stay at the Château de Fontainebleau south of Paris, France's King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette are again taking centre stage there. Some 4,000 letters have been sent to the late queen under the chateau’s “Write to Marie‑Antoinette” initiative, showing that she in particular is still a subject of fascination to the public.
By: Stéphanie TROUILLARD The Château de Fontainebleau will mark Queen Marie Antoinette’s legacy in 2026. © Studio graphique FMM Most of the letters addressed to Marie Antoinette received by the Château de Fontainebleau begin with the same honorific: "Your Majesty".
“Those who write to her play along wholeheartedly. They address her in a very formal and respectful manner,” said Sylvain Moulène, director of development and communications at the royal palace, some 60 kilometres southeast of Paris.