Towering poufs, diamonds and disgust. Did Marie Antoinette deserve to be cancelled?

Judging by the sold out exhibition at the V&A ‘Marie Antoinette Style’ we are just as intrigued by the French Queen as her 18th Century courtiers. Last week I was lucky enough to visit the curation of 50 personal belongings and fell down a gilded, silk -lined rabbit hole into her fascinating life. A target of great criticism, Marie Antoinette was constantly placed in a ‘no win’ situation that would be familiar to many high-profile women today.

Labelled a ‘spend-thrift’ and known for her vast consumption of luxury goods, there is no doubt that the young Queen liked fancy diamonds, huge frocks and big parties. It was expected that she would champion French fashion and her preference for wearing simple chiffon dresses at her country residence, was highly criticised. Marie Antoinette’s extravagance pales in significance to that of the King’s brother and the vast expenditure under Louis XVI’s reign. However it was Marie Antoinette or ‘Madam Déficit’ who was blamed for the downfall of the French economy and the fiscal decisions made by other people.

Historical and courtly rumors frequently labelled Marie Antoinette as "frigid" primarily because it took seven years for her and King Louis XVI to consummate their marriage (nothing to do with her husband or the fact that she was only 14 years old). However, as the French Revolution gathered momentum and anti-monarchy sentiment grew, Marie Antoinette was frequently depicted as sordid and debauched in cartoons distributed across Paris which referenced incest and homosexuality. It seems cancel culture is not a new phenomenon.

Marie Antoinette depicted as a harpy, tearing up the Constitution.

High profile women in our society are relentlessly subjected to higher levels scrutiny over their male counterparts : Megan Markle, Monica Lewinsky, Yoko Ono. Britney Spears to name a few… Marie Antoinette was married off at 14 years old as part of a ‘peace dividend’ between Austria and France, she lost a child to tuberculosis and was constantly under the critical eye of bitchy courtiers. I am not surprised she found pleasure in fancy dresses and towering poufs. I would have done far worse had I been given a palace to play with as a teenager, can you imagine?

Kate Moss as Marie Antoinette for US Vogue, 2012

Five Small Joys in January

January can be a bit of a slog—a “Monday” that lasts 31 days. Whether you’re dodging the summer heat of the Southern Hemisphere or the winter gloom of the North, skipping straight to March sounds like a solid plan. Since we lack the witchcraft to warp time, here is your survival guide for finding joy in the gaps of the Gregorian calendar:

• Cinematic Escapism: Awards season is the perfect time to play critic. You can catch new releases like the joyous musical

  Song Sung Blue

  (released 1 January 2026) or the highly anticipated

  Marty Supreme

  (showing from 17 January). Check local showtimes via Cineworld or Merlin Cinemas.

• Garden Raves: If your local birds are “raving” to 90s bangers, they’ll need plenty of energy. You can keep the disco going by stocking up on high-energy suet or mealworms from the RSPB Shop

• Sticky Pursuits: Seville orange season is fleeting. If you’re ready to fill your house with that heavenly citrus scent, follow a classic Mary Berry Marmalade Recipe which uses the “whole fruit” simmering method for perfectly tender peel.

• Royal Indulgence: Lean into the “reduced operating hours” of winter with a trip to the V&A in South Kensington. The Marie Antoinette: Style exhibition is currently open and runs until 22 March 2026. It’s the perfect excuse to follow a viewing of royal gowns with a large slice of cake in the museum café.

• Burns Night Spirits: On January 25th, combat the dark with some traditional rituals. Check out festivities at your local pubs and restaurants. We’ll be heading to The Harbour House Flushing.

Tablecloth and napkins in ‘Granny Smith’ by Poppy and Honesty