of both Buksh and Karim and had already given them instructions to do many of the jobs previously done by her maids.
On 30 August, after a meeting with General Dennehy, where she discussed further arrangements for her servants, she noted: ‘Abdul is beginning to teach me a little Hindustani which interests me very much.’ A few days later, the ever-patient Reid received another of the Queen’s notes titled ‘Attendance’. This time the Queen was worrying about their English lessons. 4 ‘Abdul Karim and Mohd Buksh will wait at the Queen’s breakfast daily, whether it be in the house or out of doors,’ she wrote. ‘After breakfast is over, they will go to their quarters and from 11.30 to 1.30 p.m. be engaged with their English teacher in learning colloquial English. At 2 p.m. they will both always be in attendance at Her Majesty’s luncheon.’
The Queen instructed that after lunch they would, on alternate dates, remain in attendance on her. Mohammed Buksh, she said, on ‘ his day’, would remain with her till she went out unless he was desirous of going to his room. She had different plans for Abdul Karim, however, who was rapidly becoming her favourite. She insisted that Karim, on his day, would not remain with her beyond one hour, as he would have to join his English teacherfor lessons in reading and writing. The Queen wanted Karim to quickly become fluent in English as she felt she had a lot to learn from him. As a result, Karim was to have nearly double the lessons that Buksh had.
Buksh had to take on the extra work while Karim attended his extra lessons. The Queen wrote: ‘When he [Karim] goes, Mahomed will relieve him in his attendance on her majesty and during the hour while Abdul is on duty, will go to the nursery to wait about where he pleases.’
The Queen wanted Buksh and Karim to be in attendance for some time before dinner, ‘commencing when her Majesty comes in [after her tea-time carriage ride] and remaining till the time to dress for dinner’.
Further complicated instructions followed. Depending on what time the Queen returned from her evening ride, Karim and Buksh were to do some additional waiting, replacing the Queen’s maids. If the page was on duty at the foot of the stairs, then they could remain in attendance upstairs. Reid handed the notes to Ponsonby. Between their studies and attendance on the Queen, it was clear that Buksh and Karim had a busy schedule on all days. Karim was busier; in addition to his extra lessons he still had to teach the Queen. Both servants braced the Scottish chill and took enthusiastically to their duties, enjoying a quiet walk in the grounds when they could snatch some time.
The Balmoral routine involved outdoor pursuits. Deer-stalking was a favourite pastime and the evening ended with a torch-lit dance around the carcasses. The Queen always indulged her Scottish subjects and allowed the gillies to down large amounts of whisky and sing songs. Often they drank to the memory of Prince Albert round the cairn erected for him, the Queen watching with a mixture of sadness and joy. The senior members of her Household, like Ponsonby and Reid, had little enthusiasm for these events, but she enjoyed them. She now had Karim and Buksh for company to watch the dances. It was their introduction to the Highlander’s life at Balmoral.
The Braemar gathering for the Highland games was an annual event that the Queen always attended, though her Household never cared for it. The games involved the throwing of heavy stones and clubs and a considerable amount of Highland dancing. Karim found some of the games similar to the ones in India. This year, the weather was like a ‘matchless August morning’, recorded Reid. The slight traces of fog which had enveloped the castle all night had vanished before the bright sunshine and the woodlands were richer in russet brown and gold. The gillies’ ball was held on 10 September in the iron Ball Room of the castle, with the servants
On 30 August, after a meeting with General Dennehy, where she discussed further arrangements for her servants, she noted: ‘Abdul is beginning to teach me a little Hindustani which interests me very much.’ A few days later, the ever-patient Reid received another of the Queen’s notes titled ‘Attendance’. This time the Queen was worrying about their English lessons. 4 ‘Abdul Karim and Mohd Buksh will wait at the Queen’s breakfast daily, whether it be in the house or out of doors,’ she wrote. ‘After breakfast is over, they will go to their quarters and from 11.30 to 1.30 p.m. be engaged with their English teacher in learning colloquial English. At 2 p.m. they will both always be in attendance at Her Majesty’s luncheon.’
The Queen instructed that after lunch they would, on alternate dates, remain in attendance on her. Mohammed Buksh, she said, on ‘ his day’, would remain with her till she went out unless he was desirous of going to his room. She had different plans for Abdul Karim, however, who was rapidly becoming her favourite. She insisted that Karim, on his day, would not remain with her beyond one hour, as he would have to join his English teacherfor lessons in reading and writing. The Queen wanted Karim to quickly become fluent in English as she felt she had a lot to learn from him. As a result, Karim was to have nearly double the lessons that Buksh had.
Buksh had to take on the extra work while Karim attended his extra lessons. The Queen wrote: ‘When he [Karim] goes, Mahomed will relieve him in his attendance on her majesty and during the hour while Abdul is on duty, will go to the nursery to wait about where he pleases.’
The Queen wanted Buksh and Karim to be in attendance for some time before dinner, ‘commencing when her Majesty comes in [after her tea-time carriage ride] and remaining till the time to dress for dinner’.
Further complicated instructions followed. Depending on what time the Queen returned from her evening ride, Karim and Buksh were to do some additional waiting, replacing the Queen’s maids. If the page was on duty at the foot of the stairs, then they could remain in attendance upstairs. Reid handed the notes to Ponsonby. Between their studies and attendance on the Queen, it was clear that Buksh and Karim had a busy schedule on all days. Karim was busier; in addition to his extra lessons he still had to teach the Queen. Both servants braced the Scottish chill and took enthusiastically to their duties, enjoying a quiet walk in the grounds when they could snatch some time.
The Balmoral routine involved outdoor pursuits. Deer-stalking was a favourite pastime and the evening ended with a torch-lit dance around the carcasses. The Queen always indulged her Scottish subjects and allowed the gillies to down large amounts of whisky and sing songs. Often they drank to the memory of Prince Albert round the cairn erected for him, the Queen watching with a mixture of sadness and joy. The senior members of her Household, like Ponsonby and Reid, had little enthusiasm for these events, but she enjoyed them. She now had Karim and Buksh for company to watch the dances. It was their introduction to the Highlander’s life at Balmoral.
The Braemar gathering for the Highland games was an annual event that the Queen always attended, though her Household never cared for it. The games involved the throwing of heavy stones and clubs and a considerable amount of Highland dancing. Karim found some of the games similar to the ones in India. This year, the weather was like a ‘matchless August morning’, recorded Reid. The slight traces of fog which had enveloped the castle all night had vanished before the bright sunshine and the woodlands were richer in russet brown and gold. The gillies’ ball was held on 10 September in the iron Ball Room of the castle, with the servants
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