“The day has come, & I am alone, though surrounded by many dear Children. I am writing after a very fatiguing day, in the Garden at Buckingham Palace, where I used to sit so often in former happy days. 50 years today since I came to the throne. God has mercifully sustained we through many great trails & sorrows. – I hurried my dressing this morning, in order to get down early to breakfast at Frogmore. Drove from there, with Beatrice & Liko, through the beautifully decorated town to the stations. At Paddington we got into the open landau, with the usual escort, Enormous crowds & immense enthusiasm. Drove by Edgeware Road into the Park, & everywhere the crowds were enormous. – Leopold & Marie of Belgium, who arrived 2 days ago, most kindly met me at the garden Entrances, also Ernest Coburg, & Arthur I went at once into the Picture Gallery, where all the Royalties were assembled: The King of Saxony, Rudolph of Austria, pee Louis of Bavaria, Willy & Dona, Carlos & Amelie of Portugal, Henry of Prussia, Antoine d’Orléans & the Infanta Eulalie, the Hered Gd Duke of Weimar, Ludwig of Baden, Louis, Ernie, Irène, & Alicky of Hesse, Charlotte & Bernhardt, & his brother Ernest, pce Herman of Weimar, Hermann Hohenlohe, Victoria & Ludwig Battenberg, & Philip & Louise Coburg, – an enormous party. – Afterwards I received the Queen of Hawaii, & then saw, in quick succession, the Japanese Prince Komatsu, & the Siamese Prince, & finally the Persian Prince, who speaks no English. – Rested a little, & then came the luncheon, an enormous one, in the large Dining room, which I had not used since 61. The King of Saxony took me in. I omitted to say that the Crown pce of Austria came in uniform, to thank me for having given him the Garter. Left the company soon, as I had many audience to give, which lasted till 4, & I was very tired. At ½ p. 4 came Bertie & Alix with the King of Denmark, & Willy of Greece. The former had been at my coronation, when he was quite a young man. Willy has brought with him, 2 fine gigantic sons. – After this, I rested for a little while in my room. Telegrams & letters pouring in, & I did nothing but open them. – Had tea in the Garden with Beatrice. Helen arrived, & joined us. – Had a large family dinner. All the Royalties assembled in the Bow Room, & we dined in the Supper Room which looked splendid with the buffet covered with the goid plate. The table was a large horseshoe one, with many light on it. I annex the list of the sitting. The King of Denmark took me in, & Willy of Greece sat one my other side. The Princes were all in uniform, & The Princesses were all beautifully dressed. Afterwards we went into the Ball Room, where my Band played. I talked to as many as I could & sat down with Marie of Belgium. At length, feeling very tired, I slipped away.”
Citation:
RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ (W) 20 June 1887 (PRINCESS BEATRICE’S COPIES) retrieved 26 June 2024
