For Queen Victoria, Wednesday 20th August 1884 began like any other. The morning was “splendid, but very hot” as she took breakfast under a tree at her beloved Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Then, at 11:30 she received the news that the Abyssinian envoys had arrived with gifts from King John of Abyssinia.
Upon entering what I presume was the Council Room, as this is where Victoria met all official guests, the Queen and her youngest child, Princess Beatrice, were greeted by the ladies and gentlemen of the royal household, along with two “handsomely dressed” Ambassadors, accompanied by “an inferior, but very handsome man”, who wore lion skin over his white clothes. Also in the room were some of gifts from the King. This included some “handsome saddles & trappings, & black leopard skins”, which were placed on tables, draped on stands and laid out on the floor. Overall, the Queen described the scene as being “very picturesque”.
After the envoys had presented Victoria with a letter and showed her the visible gifts, two men named Lidji Mearchea and LidgiJohn Mashasa Worke entered the room, leading a small, three-year-old African elephant named Gwola. Recognising that the Isle of Wight perhaps wasn’t the best place for such an animal, Queen Victoria soon arranged for him to be transferred to and cared for at the “Zoological Garden” in Regent’s Park, now known as London Zoo. So, although Gwola was only at Osborne for a matter of days, his visit is certainly one that shouldn’t be forgotten!
© Queen.Victoria.Roses 2025
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