History's first influencer? Marie Antoinette still receives letters

Article excerpt

Two centuries after Marie Antoinette's death, the Château de Fontainebleau has launched a "Write to Marie-Antoinette" initiative that has already attracted some 4,000 letters from the public. The exhibit, which marks a return of King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette to the spotlight at the château south of Paris, reveals that the 18th-century queen continues to captivate modern audiences. The phenomenon raises a playful question: was history's most famous queen also its first influencer? The letters suggest that Marie Antoinette's legacy, whether as symbol of royal excess, fashion icon, or tragic historical figure, maintains surprising cultural currency.