On 1st May 1886, Princess Patricia, daughter of Prince Arthur and granddaughter of Queen Victoria, was baptised at St Anne’s Church, Bagshot, Surrey.
“A beautiful bright day, but 10 degrees of frost, which is very serious. — Dear Arthur’s 36th birthday. May God bless & protect him for many years. What joy his birth was, on the dear old Duke’s birthday. What a never to be forgotten triumphant day, was that of the Opening of the 1rst Exhibition, all planned by my darling Albert, who 10 years afterwards was to be taken from me to realms of purer light & joy! — Ld Rosebery sent me a telegram about Greece, a very important one. Saw him after breakfast, & he told me he thought it would form the basis of a settlement. We should try to fix the promise of disarmament, recapitulating the terms of our Mem. — At ¼ to 12, left for Bagshot, with Beatrice, Liko, Ly Waterpark & Sir J. Mc Neill. Dear Arthur & Louischen were at the door, she looking well, but still rather pale. Went for a moment to the room, where Arthur’s present table was, & wished him warmly joy, & brought him a nosegay. Then, we drove to the church, Arthur, Louischen & the 2 children preceding us, & with them was also Louischen’s elder sister, & her husband the Heredy Gd Duke of Oldenburg. Lenchen Christian, & Ct Hatzfeld had been invited. Arthur met me at the Church door. It is a fine church, though rather bare, & was almost entirely empty. The sponsors, beginning with myself, (who stood nearest the altar) were, Lenchen, Elisabeth of Oldenburg, Fritz, (represented by Ct Hatzfeld) Ernest Coburg (represented by Christian, & Albrecht of Prussia, (represented by the Hedy Gd Duke of Oldenburg. — The Vicar stood within the altar rails with the Bishop of Winchester. After a little delay, the Baby appeared, in the dear old Christening robe & mantle, worn by all our 9 children, Bertie’s 5, Affie’s 5 Arthur’s 2 eldest, & dear Leopold’s 2. Adela Larking gave me the Baby, & I handed it to the Bishop, who looked so dignified & spoke so loudly & distinctly when he baptised her, & held her so well. She was so good, & awake all the time. We left the Church as we came, & then, all assembled in the Hall. I gave Louischen my present for the Baby, a pearl & diamond pendant. We lunched in the Dining room, 9 of the family, & in addition, Ct Hatzfeld & the Bishop of Winchester. The Band of the Rifle Brigade played. Went into the Drawingroom & spoke to the people who had been invited, & then sat a short while with Louischen & her sister. We left at ¼ p. 4. Christian & Liko had gone straight to London, for the Royal Academy dinner. – Ludwig & Victoria dined, as also, Ly Waterpark, J. Ely, & Major Bigge. Ly Waterpark afterwards read me Ld Hartington’s speech at Edinburgh, which is excellent.”
RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ (W) 1 May 1886 (PRINCESS BEATRICE’S COPIES) retrieved 1 May 2024
