based on an article by Countess Melissa Kendal of Westmoreland
An Tir was once blessed with a lady who reigned as the only permanent royalty in the Known World. Yet many may not know her story, or how this came to be.
Her Serene Highness Janeltis Karaine Starfollower was resident in the Barony of Three Mountains for all of her days in our company. Although she was of very advanced age (being 77 years on her ascension to the throne, and 94 years at her death), her boundless enthusiasm, her appreciation of male beauty, her wicked sense of humour, her generosity of spirit and talent, her stately grace, and her belief in the monarchy coupled with her obliviousness to rank, were all hallmarks of her time at events in our kingdom.
Needlework was her first love and on March 27, A.S. XI/1977, Lady Janeltis was invited to join the order of the Laurel, and became a peer of the realm. Her legacy of needlework skill still lives on in the state banners of the King and Queen of An Tir, which were created by her own hand. One year after Mistress Janeltis was recognized as a peer, a tourney was held to determine who would succeed to the coronets of An Tir. The victor on the field that day was Viscount Sir Steingrim Stallari. In that time it was not required of those who fought in the coronet lists to reveal their consort, and Viscount Steingrim had kept his own council. As His Excellency strode forth to claim the wreath of victory, the populace fell silent, and as he spoke the name of Mistress Janeltis, all present that day roared their delight.
During her reign, Princess Janeltis so endeared herself to her populace that after she had stepped down, a petition was presented to Their Majesties James and Verena, King and Queen of the West, to ask the Board of Directors of the S.C.A. to create her Dowager Princess of An Tir, and the only permanent royalty in the Known World. In their wisdom, the Board of Directors granted the request of the populace of An Tir, and conferred upon Viscountess Janeltis Karaine, Starfollower, Mistress of the Laurel, the rank and title of Dowager Princess of the Principality of An Tir, such rank continuing forever and always.
In the years that followed, Her Serene Highness stood as such an inspiration to the people of our land through both her word and deed, that Their Majesties Manfred and Morag, first King and Queen of An Tir, decreed that the winged unicorn of Her coat of arms should be engorged by a gules coronet in token of Her rank. Likewise, Their Majesties Rorik and Berengaria added Dowager Princess Janeltis to the roll of the Lions of An Tir, in an emotional ceremony which marked the last occasion on which she was able to attend a major An Tirian event.
On Friday, July 21, A.S. XXX/1995 our beloved Dowager Princess, Her Serene Highness Janeltis Karaine, Starfollower, passed from our mortal kingdom to the realm of the stars.
[A picture of Janeltis]
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