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Mystery of Marie-Antoinette's Love Letters Revealed
Photographer: Christophe Petit Tesson
Marie-Antoinette, born on 02 November 1755 in Vienna, Austria, who became the Queen of France and Navarre by marrying Louis XVI, entered one of the darkest chapters of the French Revolution when she died at the guillotine in Paris on 16 October 1793. Loathed by Republicans for representing the betrayal and greed of the elites, she still haunts modern France due to the wrongdoings of the Revolution and the Reign of Terror.
Her rumored relationship with the knight Axel de Fersen from 1774 until her death has never been confirmed and generations of historians have tried to decipher the letters between these two supposed lovers. There are even rumors that the heir to the throne, Dauphin Louis XVII (1785-1795) was their love child. De Fersen, who was stationed in Paris as the Swedish ambassador to France, corresponded with the Queen throughout the Revolutionary period, and on several occasions tried to help Europe’s monarchies to rescue the French royal family, to no avail. He fled France after Marie Antoinette’s execution. After his return to Sweden, his family and his descendants never publicly spoke of their forbidden relationship.
To protect the state’s security, the correspondence were coded and cyphered using traditional methods of numbers and letters. But the most sensitive and controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. These sections have still never been fully deciphered despite various analyses carried out over the past decade.
But modern science, with its new testing techniques, has sparked hopes of revealing more secrets of this centuries-old love affair.
The current campaign, a collaboration led by the National Archives (where the original letters are housed), the Museum of Natural History (which provides the forensic analysis) and the Fondation de France (which finances the project) is based on a chemical analysis of vintage ink and sequencing of analysis by high-definition scanner. The combination of techniques have allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020.

A Marie-Antoinette's portrait displayed at the 'Conciergerie' of the former Justice court in Paris, France, 28 November 2019 (reissued 16 April 2020), where the last Queen of France before the French Revolution Marie-Antoinette was jailed before being sentenced to death for trahison by the Revolutioner's Court in 1793. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

People visit the Marie-Antoinette's cell transformed into an Expiatory Chapel at the 'Conciergerie', former Justice court in Paris, France, 28 November 2019 (reissued 16 April 2020), where the last Queen of France before the French Revolution Marie-Antoinette was jailed before being sentenced to death for trahison by the Revolutioner's Court in 1793. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier prepares an original letter of the Queen Marie Antoinette for an High Definition analysis in a laboratory in Paris, France, 043April 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier prepares an original letter of the Queen Marie Antoinette for an High Definition analysis in a laboratory in Paris, France, 03 April 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier prepares an original letter of the Queen Marie Antoinette for an High Definition analysis in a laboratory in Paris, France, 03 April 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier prepares an original letter of the Queen Marie Antoinette for an High Definition analysis in a laboratory in Paris, France, 04 April 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier prepares an original letter of the Queen Marie Antoinette for an High Definition analysis in a laboratory in Paris, France, 04 April 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

A folder contains an original letter from the Kignt de Fersen to Marie Antoinette dated 10 October 1791 before an High Definition analysis in a laboratory in Paris, France, 03 April 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier prepares an original letter of the Queen Marie Antoinette for an High Definition analysis in a laboratory in Paris, France, 04 April 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier prepares an original letter of the Queen Marie Antoinette for an High Definition analysis in a laboratory in Paris, France, 04 April 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier shows results on a screen of an original letter of the Queen Marie Antoinette's High Definition analysis in a laboratory in Paris, France, 03 April 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier checks results on a screen of an High Definition analysis of an original letter of the Queen Marie Antoinette in a laboratory in Paris, France, 04 April 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

A sentence "je vous aime a la folie" (lit: I love you madly) is seen on a screen from an original letter of the Queen Marie Antoinette's High Definition analysis in a laboratory in Paris, France, 03 April 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Exterior view of the conservation department of the National Archives building where the original letters of the Queen Marie Antoinette are archived, in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, 15 May 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Interior view of the conservation department of the National Archives building where the original letters of the Queen Marie Antoinette are archived, in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, 15 May 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Researchers work in the study room of the National Archives building where the original letters of the Queen Marie Antoinette are archived, in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, 15 May 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Interior view of the conservation department of the National Archives building where the original letters of the Queen Marie Antoinette are archived, in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, 15 May 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Interior view of the conservation department of the National Archives building where the original letters of the Queen Marie Antoinette are archived, in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, 15 May 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier (R) talks with Isabelle Aristide (L), National Archives heritage curator at the conservation department of the National Archives building where the original letters of the Queen Marie Antoinette are archived, in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, 15 May 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier works at the conservation department of the National Archives building where the original letters of the Queen Marie Antoinette are archived, in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, 15 May 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier works at the conservation department of the National Archives building where the original letters of the Queen Marie Antoinette are archived, in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, 15 May 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier works at the conservation department of the National Archives building where the original letters of the Queen Marie Antoinette are archived, in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, 15 May 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier works at the conservation department of the National Archives building where the original letters of the Queen Marie Antoinette are archived, in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, 15 May 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier works at the conservation department of the National Archives building where the original letters of the Queen Marie Antoinette are archived, in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, 15 May 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier shows a sentence "mon tendre ami il y a une chose qui me tourmente" (lit: my dear friend there is one thing that torments me) on a screen at the conservation department of the National Archives building where the original letters of the Queen Marie Antoinette are archived, in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine, near Paris, France, 15 May 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier poses for photographs in front of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, 28 November 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

General view of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, 28 November 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Exterior view of the Research and Conservation center of the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, 28 November 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier watches a presentation of his work at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, 28 November 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier watches a presentation of his work at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, 28 November 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier shows a sentence "toute votre personne est tellement lie a mon existence" (lit:
your whole person is so linked to my existence) during a presentation of his work at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, 28 November 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

French researcher Fabien Pottier shows a sentence "toute votre personne est tellement lie a mon existence" (lit:
your whole person is so linked to my existence) during a presentation of his work at the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France, 28 November 2019. Generations of historians have tried to decipher the coded letters between Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France, and the knight Axel de Fersen. The most controversial passages were crossed out in ink, making them illegible. A collaboration led by the National Archives, the Museum of Natural History and the Fondation de France has allowed analysts to decrypt the never-before-seen passages in their original form, and will be revealed to the public over the course of 2020. EPA-EFE/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON