Rare photos of Nguyen Dynasty’s last palace maid

Mrs. Ding when she was young.

Her funeral took place at the Kien Thai Vuong Palace in the central city.

Nguyen Nhu Tri, son of Le Thi Dinh, said she was born in 1920 and she was a granddaughter of prince Ung Quyen, third brother of Kings Kien Phuc, Ham Nghi, Dong Khanh.

Duke Ung Quyen was the only prince who had never become king in the Nguyen Dynasty.

Mrs. Dinh was knowledgeable about many royal rituals, activities, costumes, makeup, and cuisine. She was always ready to provide information and help researchers and journalists who wanted to learn about royal life of Vietnam.

Tri said his mother, at the age of 8, was summoned to serve the Queen Thanh Cung, wife of King Dong Khanh and Queen Tu Cung, wife of King Khai Dinh.

After the August Revolution in 1945, she followed Queen Tu Cung as her maid at An Dinh Palace. After the Queen died, Mrs. Dinh moved to Kien Thai Vuong Palace to take care of the altars of Kings Dong Khanh, Kien Phuc, Ham Nghi and Khai Dinh and later King Bao Dao.

Mrs. Ding when she was young.

Mrs. Dinh was knowledgeable about many royal rituals, activities, costumes, makeup, and cuisine. She was always ready to provide information and help researchers and journalists who wanted to learn about royal life of Vietnam.