“This day is one of the greatest & most glorious days of our lives, with which, to my pride & joy the name of my dearly beloved Albert is for ever associated it is a day which makes my heart swell with thankfulness. We began the day with tenderest greetings & congratulations on the birthday of our dear little Arthur. He was brought in at breakfast & looked beautiful with blue ribbons on his frock. Mama & Victor were there, as well as all the Children 8 our dear guests. Our little gifts of toys were added to by ones from the pre & PiS. – The Park presented a wonderful spectacle, crowds streaming through it, – carriages & troops passing, quite like the Coronation Day, & for me. the same anxiety. The day was bright, & all bustle & excitement. At 1 p. 11, the whole procession, In 9 state carriages, was set in motion. Vicky & Bertie were in our carriage (the other children & Vivi did not go). Vicky was dressed in lace over white satin, with a small wreath of pink wild roses, in her hair, & looked very nice. Bertie was in full Highland dress: The Green Park & Hyde Park were one mass of densely crowded human beings, in the highest good humour & most enthuslastic, I never saw Hyde Park look as it did, being filled with crowds as far as the eye could reach. A little rain fell, just as we started, but before we neared the Crystal Palace, the sun shone & gleamed upon the gigantic edifice, upon which the flags of every nation were flying. We drove up Rotten Roe & got out of our carriages at the entrance in that side. The glimpse through the iron gates of the Transept, the waving palms & flowers, the myriads of people filling the galleries & seats around, together with the flourish of trumpets, as we entered the bullding, gave a sensation I shall never forget, & I felt much moved. We went for a moment into a little room where we left our cloaks & found Mama & Mary. Outside all the Princes were standing. In a few seconds we proceeded, Albert leading me; having Vicky at his hand, & Bertie holding mine.
The sight as we came to the centre where the steps & chair (on which I did not sit) was placed, facing the beautiful crystal fountain was magic & impressive. The tremendous cheering, the joy expressed in every face, the vastness of the building, with all its decorations & exhibits, the sound of the organ (with 200 instruments & 600 voices, which seemed nothing), & my beloved Husband the creator of this great Peace Festival, inviting the industry & art of all nations of the earth, all this, was indeed moving, & a day to live forever. God bless my dearest Albert, & my dear Country which has shown itself so great today. One felt so grateful to the great God, whose blessing seemed to pervade the whole great undertaking.
After the National Anthem had been sung. Albert left my side, & at the head of the Commissioners, – a curious assemblage of political & distinguished men, – read the Report to me, which is a long one, & I read a short answer. After this the Archbishap of Canterbury offered up a short & appropriate Prayer, followed by the singing of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, during which time the Chinese Mandarin came forward & made his obeisance. This concluded, the Procession of great length began which was beautifully arranged, the prescribed order being exactly adhered to The Nave was full of people, which had not been intended & deafening cheers & waving of handkerchiefs, continued the whole time of our long walk from one end of the bullding, to the other. Every face, was bright & smiling, & many even, had tears in their eyes. Many Frenchmen called out “Vive la Reine”. One could of course see nothing, but what was high up in the Nave, & nothing in the Courts. The organs were but little heard, but the Military Band, at one end, had a very fine effect. playing the March from “Athalie”, as we passed along. The old Duke of Wellington & Ld Anglesey walked arm in arm, which was a touching sight. I saw many acquaintances, amongst those present. We returned to our place & Albert told Ld Breadalbane to declare the Exhibition to be opened, which he did in a loud voice saying
“Her Majesty Commands me to declare the Exhibition opened”, when there was a flourish of trumpets, followed by immense cheering. We then made our bow. & left. All were commissioners, the executive committee, &e. Who had worked so hard a to whom such immense praise is abe, seemed truly happy, & no one more so than raxtor who may feel justly proud. He rose from an ordinary gardener’s boy! Everyone was astounded & delighted. The return was equally satisfactory, – the crowd most enthusiastic & perfect order kept. We reached Palace at 20 m. past 1 & went out on the balcony, being loudly cheered. The pce & pas were quite delighted & impressed. That we felt happy & thankful, – I need not say, — proud of all that had passed & of my beloved one’s success. I was more impressed by the scene I had witnessed than words can say. Dearest Albert’s name is for ever immortalised & the absurd reports of dangers of every kind & sort, set about by a set of people, – the “soidisant fashionables & the most violent protectionists, – are silenced. It is therefore doubly satisfactory that all should have gone off so well, & without the slightest accident or mishap. Phipps & Col: Seymour spoke to me with such pride & joy, at my beloved one’s success & vindication, after so much opposition & such difficulties, which no one, but he with his good temper, patience, firmness & energy could have achieved: Without these qualities his high position alone, could not have carried him through. – Saw, later in the evening good Stockmar after having had a little walk & he rejoiced for & with me. There was but one voice of astonishment & admiration. The “Globe’ had a beautiful article, which touched me very much. – I forgot to mention that I wore a dress of pink & silver, with a diamond ray Diadem & little crown at the back with 2 feathers, all the rest of my jewels being diamonds. The Pss looked very handsome & was so kind & “herzlich”. An interesting episode of the day was the visit of the good old Duke on his 82nd birthday to his little godson, our dear little Boy. He came to as at 5 gave lttle Arthur a gold cup, & toys, which he had chosen himself. Arthur gave him a nosegay. – We all dined “en famille”, the Children staying up a little longer, & then went to the Covent Garden Opera, where we saw the & nest acts onte muguenots, given as beautiuly as last year weas fathe tired, but we were both so happy & full of thankfulness for everything.”
Citation:
RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ (W) 1 May 1861 (PRINCESS BEATRICE’S COPIES) retrieved 8 June 2024
