Read Online Childhood at Court, 1819-1914 by John Van der Kiste - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: John Van der Kiste
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his own, he climbed out of windows and balanced on ledges thirty feet or more above the ground unless restrained, or jumped across fast-running streams before he could swim. He slid down banisters, falling off and concussing himself, once narrowly avoiding a fractured skull. Despite a severe scolding he would do the same the next day. If sent to his room or given a sharp smack by his mother for fooling about, he would be duly penitent – and do just the same the next day. Almost every week he had some minor accident, but emerged unscathed apart from bruises or the occasional black eye.
In the spring of 1845, when Affie was nine months old, Mrs Sly resigned, and her place was taken by Mary Ann Thurston. A young widow of thirty-five, her husband had died before their first wedding anniversary and two months before the birth of their daughter Elizabeth, or ‘Libbie’. Mrs Thurston soon fitted into her new role, second only to Lady Lyttelton in the nursery hierarchy, and it was only a matter of months before Queen Victoria was praising her ‘way with the children’.
‘It gives me the greatest pleasure to be able to announce to Your Majesty that yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock the Queen was safely delivered of a Princess,’ Prince Albert wrote to King Frederick William IV of Prussia (26 May 1846). ‘The many proofs of friendship which Your Majesty has given to us assure me that you will receive the news of this gladdening event with your former interest.’ 25
To his brother Ernest, he wrote the same day that ‘Heaven gave us a third little daughter. She came into this world rather blue; but she is quite well now. Victoria suffered longer and more than the other times and she will have to remain very quiet to recover from all.’ 26 Though it was a severe and protracted labour, mother and child both made a quick recovery, and the latter grew up to be physically the toughest of the royal sisters.
She was christened on 25 July at Buckingham Palace, and given the names Helena Augusta Victoria. Two of her sponsors were present in person, the Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and the Duchess of Cambridge; the third sponsor, the Duchess of Orleans, was represented by the infant’s grandmother, the Duchess of Kent. Princess Helena disgraced herself by alternately crying lustily and sucking her thumb at the ceremony.
Lady Lyttelton left a description of Alice on her fourth birthday, 1847:
Dear Princess Alice is too pretty, in her low frock and pearl necklace, tripping about and blushing and smiling at her honours. The whole family, indeed, appear to advantage on birthdays; no tradesman or county squire can keep one with such hearty simple affection and enjoyment. One present I think we shall all wish to live farther off: a live lamb, all over pink ribbons and bells. He is already the greatest pet, as one may suppose.
Princess Alice’s pet lamb is the cause of many tears. He will not take to his mistress, but runs away lustily, and will soon butt at her, though she is most coaxy, and said to him in her sweetest tones, after kissing his nose often, ‘Milly, dear Milly! do you like me?’ 27
Vicky and Alice were always close. They shared a bedroom, each others clothes, and general confidences. Like Bertie, perhaps Alice was discouraged at being apparently put in the shade by their brilliant, clever eldest sister and looking slow by comparison. Yet she was intelligent and quick to learn, not given to showing off, and more tactful. A former dresser of the Queen, who was unusually tall, passed the royal children playing in the corridor. The Prince of Wales made a joke about her height, but Alice retorted loudly and clearly, ‘It is very nice to be tall; Papa would like us all to be tall.’ 28
Vicky took on the mantle of elder sister-protector, and sometimes this led to pranks. Aged seven, Vicky was in an obstreperous mood one day after an argument with Lady Lyttelton. Walking out of the palace nursery in a
In the spring of 1845, when Affie was nine months old, Mrs Sly resigned, and her place was taken by Mary Ann Thurston. A young widow of thirty-five, her husband had died before their first wedding anniversary and two months before the birth of their daughter Elizabeth, or ‘Libbie’. Mrs Thurston soon fitted into her new role, second only to Lady Lyttelton in the nursery hierarchy, and it was only a matter of months before Queen Victoria was praising her ‘way with the children’.
‘It gives me the greatest pleasure to be able to announce to Your Majesty that yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock the Queen was safely delivered of a Princess,’ Prince Albert wrote to King Frederick William IV of Prussia (26 May 1846). ‘The many proofs of friendship which Your Majesty has given to us assure me that you will receive the news of this gladdening event with your former interest.’ 25
To his brother Ernest, he wrote the same day that ‘Heaven gave us a third little daughter. She came into this world rather blue; but she is quite well now. Victoria suffered longer and more than the other times and she will have to remain very quiet to recover from all.’ 26 Though it was a severe and protracted labour, mother and child both made a quick recovery, and the latter grew up to be physically the toughest of the royal sisters.
She was christened on 25 July at Buckingham Palace, and given the names Helena Augusta Victoria. Two of her sponsors were present in person, the Hereditary Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and the Duchess of Cambridge; the third sponsor, the Duchess of Orleans, was represented by the infant’s grandmother, the Duchess of Kent. Princess Helena disgraced herself by alternately crying lustily and sucking her thumb at the ceremony.
Lady Lyttelton left a description of Alice on her fourth birthday, 1847:
Dear Princess Alice is too pretty, in her low frock and pearl necklace, tripping about and blushing and smiling at her honours. The whole family, indeed, appear to advantage on birthdays; no tradesman or county squire can keep one with such hearty simple affection and enjoyment. One present I think we shall all wish to live farther off: a live lamb, all over pink ribbons and bells. He is already the greatest pet, as one may suppose.
Princess Alice’s pet lamb is the cause of many tears. He will not take to his mistress, but runs away lustily, and will soon butt at her, though she is most coaxy, and said to him in her sweetest tones, after kissing his nose often, ‘Milly, dear Milly! do you like me?’ 27
Vicky and Alice were always close. They shared a bedroom, each others clothes, and general confidences. Like Bertie, perhaps Alice was discouraged at being apparently put in the shade by their brilliant, clever eldest sister and looking slow by comparison. Yet she was intelligent and quick to learn, not given to showing off, and more tactful. A former dresser of the Queen, who was unusually tall, passed the royal children playing in the corridor. The Prince of Wales made a joke about her height, but Alice retorted loudly and clearly, ‘It is very nice to be tall; Papa would like us all to be tall.’ 28
Vicky took on the mantle of elder sister-protector, and sometimes this led to pranks. Aged seven, Vicky was in an obstreperous mood one day after an argument with Lady Lyttelton. Walking out of the palace nursery in a
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