It’s
a royal flush, thanks to Catherine de Medici!
Antique
restoration experts in Paris recently struck it rich, so to speak, while
cleaning up an ancient toilet. Apparently, the
crew unplugged the old potty and found a fancy old hair accessory, which they
believe belonged to Catherine de Medici, 16th Century French Queen
consort to King Henry II.
The
3.5-inch hair clip sports the royal green and white colors of Catherine de
Medici, as well as the “C” monogram of the French/Italian noblewoman and
grand-niece of Pope Leo X, who eventually became the Queen Mother
of France.
The latrine rehab project
quickly took a hairpin turn, or so they say.
Why
would the fancy French royal stoop to use a shared toilet, rather than the
private throne (ahem) in the regal abode? Granted, the communal commode was
part of Fontaineblue Palace, but such a queenly sort would be wont to squat in
secret.
.
.
.
Surely the aristocratic dame would perform her daily ablutions in high
style, rather than a lowly lavatory. 
According
to French lore, Catherine of Medici kept several secluded cupboards in the
castle, where she stored items of particular value. It surely seems odd that
she would carelessly drop one of her baubles in the bathroom.
.
.
How did the Queen consort’s
coiffeur clip end up in a public privy?
Was
the Catherine de Medici’s hairpin simply swiped and then swished? Or did the Queen
misplace her hairpin while spying on Diane de Poitiers, the King’s main
mistress?
No
one seems to know, although muckrakers are digging around.
Historical researchers are
plumbing the depths of such details.
As
the story of Catherine de Medici’s mysteriously misplaced hair clip unfolds, we commoners
are scratching our heads. Clearly, the Queen could not trust her own tresses …
or perhaps her personal staff.
.
.
Perhaps this paradoxical
turn of events offers hope to any who have lost items of value.
Finally,
we can stop blaming our dogs for eating our homework, our neighbors for
stealing our newspapers, the dryer monster for swiping our socks, and many
other supposed culprits of countless such unsolved crimes.
Are you still searching
for something that’s gone missing?
Maybe
the chambermaid flushed it in the chamber. Or, just possibly, the Queen dropped
it during her own ministrations.
Where’s
your homework? It’s in the can with the Queen’s barrette. Of course it is!
Mais oui! Oui! Oui! Oui!
Pardon
my French, but it may be time to clean my toilets. You just never know what one
might find in there.
Image/s:
Catherine de Medici by
Francois Clouet
Henry II and Catherine de
Medici by Vasari
Public Domain/Wikipedia
Commons Photos
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What a fun news item and post. Thanks for the laughs!
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