The Education of a Royal Princess.
Volume 11, 1900, pgs. 384-389
[We have long wished to present our readers with some memorial of the early days of our beloved Queen, feeling that every mother would read between the lines, and learn something from the "Education" of this "Princess." A quaint little volume bound in green watered silk, published at the date of the Accession, has come into our hands, which appears to answer our purpose. It is called Victoria; An Anecdotal Memoir of Her Majesty.--Ed.] [Google dates this from 1838; an author's name has not been found.--Proofreader.]
(Continued from pg. 251.)
Coronation of King William.
"Severe was the disappointment occasioned by the absence of the Heiress Presumptive from this imposing ceremonial; for next to the King and his august Consort, the popular anticipation had decidedly rested with the greatest interest upon the appearance of the young Princess on this occasion; and the causes of her absence gave rise to angry and prolonged discussions; causes, however, did exist with which the public were entirely unacquainted.
"One morning during the week preceding the coronation, the Princess Victoria, whilst taking her airing, in company with her young friend, Miss Victoria Conroy, her governess and attendants, was, by an unfortunate accident, thrown from her pony; providentially her Royal Highness was not injured or even materially hurt at the moment, but her medical attendants recommended that for some time she should be kept quite quiet. This, it can scarcely be doubted, was the true cause of their Royal Highnesses' absence, particularly as it is an ascertained fact that, only four days before the appointed time, the Duchess and her daughter, then resident in the Isle of Wight, were expected at Claremont for the purpose of attending the coronation, and that the Duchess had appointed Lord Morpeth to be the bearer of her coronet to the Abbey.
Amusement Blended with Study
"As the mind of the young Princess became, with her increasing years, more intently occupied upon her various studies, her judicious and tender mother more anxiously sought for a variation of amusement, which might, during the hours of recreation, withdraw her attention from subjects calculated to over-excite it. Accordingly, her Royal Highness was now indulged with frequent visits to the theatres, particularly the Opera, in which she much delighted, and always appeared to take a real and quite naïve interest in the business of the scene; but these visits were always made privately, and it was the habit of the royal party to leave the Opera House regularly at eleven o'clock, seldom remaining for the ballet; during the spring season she attended the most striking exhibitions, panoramas, bazaars, &c., with which art and ingenuity have so abundantly furnished the metropolis of this great empire.
"The appearance of the young Princess at a public concert in the month of May, 1832, is thus pleasingly spoken of by one who sat near her on the occasion: 'It gave me the greatest pleasure to observe the perfectly healthful look of our little Heiress Presumptive, and not less the animation of her pretty countenance, all innocence and intelligence, untinged with even a shade of affectation.'
"Little family meetings, which her Royal Highness always thoroughly enjoyed, were likewise frequent; and the Princess was introduced, not only to the chief nobility, but to all the principal literary and scientific characters of the age, at the table of her royal mother, whose select dinner parties, convened once or twice a week, afforded the most agreeable diversity of scene and society to both their Royal Highnesses. The young Princess was thus accustomed to listen to, and gradually to join in, refined conversation upon those interesting, and in some instances, important topics, which were of her intellectual powers. Another great source of pleasure and amusement was derived from her occasional visits to the country residences of her royal relatives, but especially to Sion House, the delightful retreat of her beloved governess, the Duchess of Northumberland; here, the beauties of nature were displayed in luxuriant abundance to her admiring eye, and it afforded equal gratification to herself and her noble hostess, to walk together through these charming grounds, and enjoy the lovely scenery and romantic retirement which so eminently distinguish them.
Residence in Wales
"During the summer of 1832, a lengthened residence in the Island of Anglesey, in North Wales, and a long detour afterwards, not only gave the young Princess an opportunity of seeing a vast extent of her native country, and of gaining much important information respecting it, but introduced her personally to large numbers of the nobility and gentry, living at their country seats in the true style of English hospitality; and also gave rise to a general burst of enthusiasm amongst the populace throughout the whole of her route, such as has been seldom witnessed on any similar occasion.
Their Royal Highnesses left Kensington Palace on Wednesday, the 1st of August; and resting by the way at Powis Castle, and at Wynnstay Park, reached the place of their destination on the following Monday. Whilst stopping to change horses at the Hand Inn, Llangollen, on that day, the young daughter of Mr. Phillips, the landlord, presented the Princess with a Welsh doll, attired in full Cambrian costume, with which she expressed herself highly pleased. Their Royal Highnesses having passed through Bangor, entered the island by the Menai bridge at about half past five o'clock, and were received at Beaumaris with a joyous welcome by the congregated thousands, the Princess showing herself at the carriage window, and appearing greatly delighted with the homage she received. The sons of Mona were in raptures with her blooming appearance and prepossessing manners, testifying their approbation in their own expressive language: 'Y mae hi yn beth bach anwyl." On reaching the hotel, her Royal Highness bounded from the carriage and up the steps of the portico with a light and graceful motion, which fully confirmed the appearance of health beaming upon her countenance, and shortly afterwards presented herself upon the portico, acknowledging the greetings of popular attachment with a frankness and unaffected simplicity which found its way to the heart of everyone present, and redoubled the loyal love already surrounding her. It was the general remark, that with the bloom of healthful loveliness, the young Princess displayed all the buoyancy of spirit so beautifully characteristic of her age.
Their Royal Highnesses continued their residence at the Bulkeley Arms, Beaumaris, for about three weeks, during which time they made various excursions both by land and water, the Emerald yacht being in attendance upon their pleasure. They very soon visited the Town and Castle of Carnarvon, and examined the extensive ruins of the latter with minute attention; the Princess Victoria especially, was most interested in the inspection, and desired to be shown the apartment in which the unfortunate Edward the Second is said to have been born, the stone roof and walls of which are still perfect, expressing her surprise, that a prince of her royal house should have drawn his first breath in a room of the confined dimensions of eight feet by fourteen, in a castle, the materials of which would have built St. James's palace six times over.
On the Duchess' birthday, their Royal Highnesses made their public entry into Bangor in an open carriage; and on this occasion, they appeared, in compliment to the fair maids of Cambria, in the head-dress of the country, the Welsh hat, which national costume the ingenuous countenance of the Heiress Presumptive well became.
Their Royal Highnesses afterwards removed to Plas-Newydd, the noble mansion of the Marquis of Anglesey, and here they remained for many weeks, enjoying daily, either in their yacht or carriage, some distant excursion, or riding on horseback for several hours, deriving, the young Princess especially, the greatest benefit from the exhilarating mountain breezes; her health and spirits were indeed excellent, and her growth during this period remarkable.
Beaumaris Eisteddfof
Perhaps the greatest gala which occurred during this period was the National Eisteddfod, celebrated in Beaumaris Castle; and great was the disappointment to the youthful enthusiast in music, when, on the appointed morning, the rain descended, and the winds blew so chilly and so damp, that the prudence of the royal mother prohibited the promised enjoyment; but the weather cleared up towards the afternoon sufficiently to enable them to partake of the entertainment at Baron Hill, the fine seat of Sir Richard Bulkeley, where their Royal Highnesses gratified the successful candidates by themselves investing them with their respective prizes. The company at the music meeting all adjourned, by the hospitable invitation of Sir Richard, to his grounds, where the ceremony was performed at four o'clock on the terrace in front of the mansion; the young Princess performing her part in it with mingled grace and sweetness, dignity and diffidence. Shortly afterwards, their Royal Highnesses, with their host and hostess, and a numerous party, sat down to dinner, the Princess on this occasion taking her seat at table, as was her constant habit, on the right of her mother. At seven o'clock the assembly broke up to enable the young Princess to reach her temporary home, at the distance of six or seven miles, at an early hour.
Tour in the Midland Counties.
"The visit of the Heiress Presumptive and her illustrious mother aroused to the highest pitch the enthusiasm of devoted loyalty in Cambria. Her beacons blazed--her mountain fires were lighted--her rocks and woods--her hills and valleys rang with the shouts of welcome; never indeed was there witnessed such intensity of feeling as that displayed on every occasion of their Royal Highnesses' public appearance amongst this warm-hearted people. The youthful Princess was of course the principal object of attraction, and the joyous greeting she always met with from the peasantry and the quarrymen, by whom she was styled, 'Y frenines fach' or 'Reinas Bache,' could scarcely be surpassed. The Duchess and her daughter were, on their part, delighted, not only with their reception in the island, but with the variety of interesting objects and lovely scenery with which it presented them; and seemed most anxious to reciprocate in every possible way those sentiments of attachment which they rejoiced to inspire. During their residence of more than two months between Beaumaris and Plas-Newydd, they may literally be said to have gone about continually doing good; and it is difficult to decide whether their munificent acts of charity, or their kind, condescending, and at the same time, dignified, demeanour towards all classes, made the most lasting impression on the minds of the Welsh.
"On Monday, the 15th of October, their Royal Highnesses took their departure from this fascinating residence, and at six o'clock in the evening, reached Eaton Hall, near Chester, after a most gratifying journey through Denbighshire and Flintshire. At this magnificent mansion of the Marquis of Westminster, their Royal Highnesses passed Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, during which period the Princess was present at the public ceremony of opening a new bridge over the Dee at Chester, afterwards inspecting this ancient and remarkable city with its venerable Cathedral; took upon herself the responsibility of sponsor, standing godmother in person to the infant daughter of Lord and Lady Robert Grosvenor, who was named after her Victoria-Charlotte; and particularly enjoyed on the last day a delightful archery fete given in the Marquis's grounds, at the conclusion of which she sat down to dinner, served in a style of princely magnificence to two hundred and fifty guests.
"On Friday morning the Duchess and her daughter took leave of the Marquis of Westminster and his family to proceed to Chatsworth, where they remained till the following Wednesday. The Duchess of Kent made use of the opportunity thus afforded, to show the Princess Victoria the extensive cotton manufactories of Messrs. Strutt, at Belper. Her Royal Highness was much interested in the explanations she received of the variety of machinery in use at this establishment; and with her usual fondness for children, was especially delighted with the gladsome countenances and neat appearance of those employed in the manufactory, noticing them repeatedly with expression of the most cordial kindness.
"From Chatsworth their Royal Highnesses made a picturesque day's journey through portions of the romantic counties of Derby and Stafford to Shugborough; they alighted by the way for about two hours at Alton Towers, the seat of the Earl of Shrewsbury, where they partook of luncheon, and viewed the unique gardens and various curiosities of this baronial residence.
"During Thursday and Friday their Royal Highnesses rested at Shugborough Park, the residence of the Earl of Lichfield, by whom they were received with the same liberal hospitality which had greeted them on their preceding visits. The young Princess was shown to the public on the day after her arrival, at a review of the Staffordshire Yeomanry in his Lordship's Park, where thousands had an opportunity of contemplating her engaging countenance and affable manners. It was observed of her here, that although she evidently made an effort to assume an air of becoming dignity, she could not altogether chase from her features an expression of childish satisfaction at the attention she excited and the homage she received.
(To be continued.)
[Note - Part 5 appeared in issue number 6 for 1900; presumably June. No further continuations of this article appear in 1900.]
Proofread by LNL, Jul. 2011