Read Online Childhood at Court, 1819-1914 by John Van der Kiste - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: John Van der Kiste
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sulk, she invited Alice to come exploring with her into some of the rooms they were not generally allowed to visit. When they found a servant girl cleaning the fireplace, Vicky promptly announced that they would help. The girl felt she could hardly say anything, even when the Princesses stopped working on the grate and applied the brushes to her face and clothes. They scampered away, leaving the unfortunate employee to pluck up courage to go and tidy herself up before anybody else saw her. On her way she had to walk past an amazed Prince Albert, who insisted on knowing what had happened. Within minutes a stony-faced Queen Victoria, leading a daughter firmly by each hand, marched across the courtyard to the servants’ quarters. The girl, now clean again, was called and each Princess begged her pardon. Later they were sent out by carriage to go shopping – to buy a new dress, cap and apron from their pocket money.
There was no question of the royal children being given unlimited amounts of money to indulge their every whim. Queen Victoria had known what it was like to scrimp and save. Her promise to pay off the outstanding debts left by her spendthrift father as soon as she was in a position to do so had left her with a horror of extravagance. Stockmar had never ceased to impress on her and Prince Albert how the free and easy ways of King George IV had damaged the monarchy’s standing at a time of national economic crisis. The Coburgs had had a reputation for parsimony, and Prince Albert proved himself adept at financial management. His reorganization of the royal household had been done partly with a view to cutting back unnecessary expenditure, and in some cases servants’ wages, a move which did not endear him to everyone. Punch , founded in 1841 and frequently critical of royalty in its early years, rumoured that he dabbled in railway shares, and when he won prizes at agricultural shows for animals and produce from the Windsor farms, other competitors were disgusted to watch him pocket the silver coins he received as prize money.
To some Prince Albert appeared mean, but he could never be accused of spending recklessly on the family while others went hungry. In Luton it was believed that the Queen was advocating having all children under the age of five put to death as famine was so severe. At Christmas 1842 he had suggested that they should set a good example to the nation by celebrating less lavishly than before. There were fewer courses and less wine at dinner, a mild sacrifice which could perhaps be partly – but not wholly – explained by his aversion to drunkenness and antipathy to rich food.
On 18 March 1848 a fifth daughter appeared. Princess Louise had the dubious distinction of being born during the year of revolutions. During the previous month the exiled French royal family had come to seek refuge in England, and Queen Victoria was allowed barely a moment’s rest while approaching her sixth confinement, comforting her harassed, careworn husband one moment, helping to organize accommodation for their Bourbon guests the next. The baby, she was convinced, would be sure to turn out ‘something peculiar’. Louise was perfectly healthy, and enjoyed excellent health until her death over ninety-one years later. In one sense, though, she would turn out ‘something peculiar’. As a grown woman she would prove to be the rebel of the family.
Queen Victoria lacked the maternal touch which would have put her completely at ease with her children, and in their early years she was too preoccupied with matters of sovereignty. Prince Albert also found that the call of duty and endless state papers frustrated his desire to spend as much time with his children as he liked. All the same, by and large it was a happy childhood for youngsters in the nursery at Buckingham Palace. Lady Lyttleton took care to ensure a steady balance between toys in the nursery – soldiers, dolls and tea sets – and more stimulating learning
There was no question of the royal children being given unlimited amounts of money to indulge their every whim. Queen Victoria had known what it was like to scrimp and save. Her promise to pay off the outstanding debts left by her spendthrift father as soon as she was in a position to do so had left her with a horror of extravagance. Stockmar had never ceased to impress on her and Prince Albert how the free and easy ways of King George IV had damaged the monarchy’s standing at a time of national economic crisis. The Coburgs had had a reputation for parsimony, and Prince Albert proved himself adept at financial management. His reorganization of the royal household had been done partly with a view to cutting back unnecessary expenditure, and in some cases servants’ wages, a move which did not endear him to everyone. Punch , founded in 1841 and frequently critical of royalty in its early years, rumoured that he dabbled in railway shares, and when he won prizes at agricultural shows for animals and produce from the Windsor farms, other competitors were disgusted to watch him pocket the silver coins he received as prize money.
To some Prince Albert appeared mean, but he could never be accused of spending recklessly on the family while others went hungry. In Luton it was believed that the Queen was advocating having all children under the age of five put to death as famine was so severe. At Christmas 1842 he had suggested that they should set a good example to the nation by celebrating less lavishly than before. There were fewer courses and less wine at dinner, a mild sacrifice which could perhaps be partly – but not wholly – explained by his aversion to drunkenness and antipathy to rich food.
On 18 March 1848 a fifth daughter appeared. Princess Louise had the dubious distinction of being born during the year of revolutions. During the previous month the exiled French royal family had come to seek refuge in England, and Queen Victoria was allowed barely a moment’s rest while approaching her sixth confinement, comforting her harassed, careworn husband one moment, helping to organize accommodation for their Bourbon guests the next. The baby, she was convinced, would be sure to turn out ‘something peculiar’. Louise was perfectly healthy, and enjoyed excellent health until her death over ninety-one years later. In one sense, though, she would turn out ‘something peculiar’. As a grown woman she would prove to be the rebel of the family.
Queen Victoria lacked the maternal touch which would have put her completely at ease with her children, and in their early years she was too preoccupied with matters of sovereignty. Prince Albert also found that the call of duty and endless state papers frustrated his desire to spend as much time with his children as he liked. All the same, by and large it was a happy childhood for youngsters in the nursery at Buckingham Palace. Lady Lyttleton took care to ensure a steady balance between toys in the nursery – soldiers, dolls and tea sets – and more stimulating learning
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