Dear and beloved Maman
Why don’t I have news at all? I’m heartbroken and worried. The Count of Lavradio telegraphed today to Ostend, and to Düsseldorf, to learn something, but I have not yet received an answer. I beg you, write to me soon and in great detail, about you, your feelings, finally about everything, everything; you know what I mean. Yesterday evening, the Queen came to my house and I repeated to her everything that you had asked me to say to her. She is really so good and so simple, she would inspire you with confidence and sympathy, I’m sure. Yesterday there was a dinner of about 50 people, but quite tiring after the trip we had made; I was horribly tired, we all felt like we were still at sea, which is very unpleasant. At 11 o’clock we went to bed for the sake of travellers. This morning at 9 o’clock, we had lunch, then we went for a walk in the garden, which is very pretty, visited the stables, then on returning, I made a long visit to Princess Alice who is charming; I saw my ladies and now I take this opportunity to write you two words. After lunch I will make visits, then we will go out with the queen. In the evening there is a big dinner. I am thinking of putting on my lace dress with a diadem. Yesterday I had my blue dress which was found very pretty. Tomorrow, at 3 o’clock, I receive the diplomatic corps, but in a hat and morning toilette. In the evening there is a theatre play. Sunday I will hear the Holy Mass in the Lavradio house and Cardinal Wiseman has offered to say it; then I will see there all the Portuguese who are in London and who are not presented to the Court. On Monday there will be a big ball, where I can put on my tulle dress with the golden stars, well refreshed and arranged. I think it will be fine. – I must leave you now, dear and adored Maman, and give news soon to – Your faithful daughter Stéphanie.
London May 7th. – Aunt Marie will come, I believe, to Plymouth, where I will embark; she is in Paris at the moment. I tenderly kiss the brothers and Marie.
Comment: Stephanie wrote at least two letters to her mother in two days. Her mother seems to have been quite unwell, leaving Stephanie to worry over her health and well-being. Her schedule, however, was quite hectic from the start: after arriving in London, she immediately had to attend a fancy dinner with 50 people; having gone to bed at 11, she would have to get up pretty early, so she could sit at the breakfast table by 9 in the morning. Afterwards, she would have had to go to the garden and the stables, pay a visit to Princess Alice, and her ladies. After lunch, she would call on more people, then she would go out with the Queen. She’s beginning to truly take up her new responsibilities even before setting her foot on Portuguese lands.
A few things to notice:
- Her visit to Princess Alice, who had just turned 15 at the time, and was therefore still single; a few years afterwards, however, she would be married to the Duke of Hesse. Stephanie also had the opportunity of meeting Prince Albert, only three years before his premature death at the age of 42.
- The Portuguese community in London (and, therefore, a significant Catholic community) gathered at the home of the Count of Lavradio, who had his diplomatic duties, and whom Stephanie seems to have liked in previous letters. Her ladies also seem there to receive her. The Countess, having become her maid of Honour, is not going to return to Portugal right away.
- Stephanie seems concerned in giving her mother every detail, not only about her day, but her appearance: she seems determined to make a good impression. One starts to realise the richness of her wardrobe, with several different dresses to be worn, as well as a diadem; but also the difference in what is the appropriate style. In the morning, she was going to receive people in a hat and a morning attire, which was not appropriate for other occasions in the afternoon; the next weekend, a ball awaited her, and she has a diadem ready to be worn.
About the people mentioned:
- Cardinal Wiseman: Born Nicholas Patrick Stephen Wiseman in 1802, he was fifty-five years old when Stephanie visited, and the Archbishop of Westminster according to the Catholic hierarchy. There is still a catholic school in UK named after him.
- Aunt Marie: Princess Marie Amelie of Baden, sister of Stephanie’s mother. She married a Scottish noble, William Hamilton, 11th Duke of Hamilton and 8th Duke of Brandon
- Marie: Stephanie’s sister, Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, who later became Princess Marie of Belgium, Countess of Flanders. She was actually a prospective spouse for Edward VII, but her being Catholic prevented the match. However, she later married Prince Philippe, son of Leopold I of Belgium. They had five children.
- The other siblings: Leopold, the heir, who travelled with Stephanie to England. Carol I, who became King of Romania. Prince Anton, who died at age 24, after being wounded during the Austro-Prussian war. Frederick, married Louise of Thurn and Taxis (the child of Helene “Nene”, sister of famous empress Elisabeth of Austria); had no issue.
The Historian Chronicles 