Queen Victoria’s journal: King Louis-Philippe of France’s arrival at Windsor Castle, 8th October 1844

On 8th October 1844, King Louis-Philippe, of France stayed at Windsor Castle on a reciprocal visit, as the guest of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

This was the first time a reigning French King had visited England since the fourteenth century. A number of events took place during Louis-Philippe’s stay, including a State Banquet and the King’s investiture as a member of the Order of the Garter. Victoria and Albert also went on a number of excursions with their guest, who lived in England for some years during his exile at the beginning of the nineteenth century. On 10 October, they visited Claremont, home of Victoria’s uncle and Louis-Philippe’s son-in-law Leopold, King of the Belgians, Hampton Court to look at the painting collection there and then also the house at Twickenham in which Louis-Philippe lived for nearly ten years. Victoria described in her journal that they “drove out in Char-à-bancs, the King & I, sitting in front, which reminded us so much of the time at Eu”. Louis-Philippe had sent a char-à-bancs over to England as a present for the Queen after she admired the carriages in France.

“ Albert was up at 6, as he was going to start for Portsmouth, to receive the King of the French. — After my solitary breakfast, I rode on my pony with Vicky, to the Gardens where we got off & walked, riding back to the Aviary. Here us got off again, & Vicky had all the pigeons flying about her. We walked home. — At 20 m. to 2 the groom came & said the King would be here by 2, so I, & all the Ladies & Gentleman went round to the State Apartments, where we waited in the Guard Room & mama joined me. At length we saw the Escort advancing up the Long Walk, & we hastened below, I standing below the parties, under which the carriage drew up, in which the King (in the uniform I saw him in at En) Albert, & Montpensier (also in uniform) were seated. The King embraced me most warmly & kindly, saying: “Combien de plaisir j’ai à vous embrassez”, seemed really pleased. He led me upstairs, good Montpensier leading Mama. What feeling must have filled his breast on coming here, — for he is the 1rst French Sovereign, to come on a visit to the Sovereign of this country, — a very eventful speech indeed, & one that will surely bring fort good fruit. As he went up the Ground Staircase towards his apartments, the King remarked “Dien, comme d’est bien”. All those who accompanied him, come into the Drawingroom & are: M. Guizot, l’Amiral MacKan, Gén: Athalie, Gén: de Messigny, Cte de Chabannes, Col: Dumas, Barron Fain (Secretaire) Dr Fauquier & Dr Pasquis, — the greater part of whom we know. […]

[…] We then presented our people & left the King, soon after which he & Montpensier come over to the White drawing room & lunched with us & mama. He was in the highest spirits, repeating again & again, how happy he was & be here. He has met with a very enthusiastic reception & had a very good crossing. When I observed that our bread was not as good as that in France, he replied “tout est bon ici?. The Children were all brought down & presented to the King who was charmed with them. Bertie began directly examining his & Montpensier’s uniforms, asking “what’s that?” We separated after luncheon, I wrote to Uncle Leopold & Louise. Later showed the King the private side of the Castle, & I never saw again more amused & interested in looking at every picture & lust & knowing everything about everybody here in such a wonderful way. He is enchanted with the Castle, & his people the same. He had so feared, that what he had so earnestly wished for, since I came to the throne, might never take place, & now to his great joy, his wish was fulfilled. He returned to his rooms a little before 6, & then our good Chicks came to us, & dear Albert, (who was a good deal tired) played so delightfully with them. — We dined a little after 7, in our usual Dining Room. Besides the King’s suite, Mama, &c, the Duke of Wellington, Ld Aberdeen, Ld Exeter, Lord George Lennox, the St Aulaires (who stay over Sunday) Ld Sydney, Ld Charles Wellesley & Capt: Duncombe (in attendance on the King) dined Ld Byron & Sir F. Stovin, are in waiting. […]

[…] The King led me in, & I sat between him & Montpensier, whom we much like. The King talked much of En, & of having lived so long in England & liking it so much, — his being so “déuané” to me, — of poor Joinville, & “cette malheureuse brochure”, which he said was very dangerous for a Prince to have published, & about which he had spoken to Albert; — that he felt so grateful for our kindness on this matter, which Joinville himself had deeply felt. After dinner, the King gave me a really splendid album, containing 32 water colours paintings of scenes during our stay at En. They are beautifully executed & arranged & a most precious memento, as the greater part are so like what took place. Some are by Eugène Louis, Siméon Fort, Bélangé, &c -. We separated at 10, everything having gone off very well. —”

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