Queen Stephanie’s Letter X – 8 May 1858, London

My dear and adored Maman –

Finally, I received news from you, yesterday evening, by the telegraph of Mademoiselle Lindheim to the Countess of Lavradio, and today by the good letter which you had the kindness to write to me and which made very happy; I thank you with all my heart. I too cannot imagine at all that I have taken leave of you, but I always tell myself that it won’t be for long. I beg you, dear mother, think first of all of your health; it is a great duty that you must fulfil. It is, I believe, the priority for you now.

Life here, however, is quite tiring. It is almost 5 o’clock and it is the first moment of the day that I have for myself. This morning, after lunch, we went to Christal Palace, where we ran for two and a half hours, came back to dress, lunch, and then, for me, a reception of the whole diplomatic corps.

In a few moments we are going out with the Queen, to go to Westminster, and, tonight, we go to the opera. Tomorrow we are going to Claremont. On the 11th I leave, Pedro is very impatient, he has already wired me twice to tell me.

Aunt Marie wants to come to Plymouth, where I will embark. We are delighted to have her here, as far as I can judge by the way in which the Queen and the whole family speak of her, but the Duke doesn’t seem as well accepted, at least by Prince Albert and the Duchess of Kent; but these are only my remarks, which I only tell you, dear and good Mom, thinking that you are interested; but this should not upset you, because I may be wrong.

Farewell, dear and beloved Maman, I must leave you, because we are going out. Forgive this letter, written in haste. Papa tells you a thousand things, Leopold and I kiss your hands.

Your faithful daughter, Stéph.

I am doing very well and I am not too tired.

London, 8th May 1858.

Comment:

• Aunt Marie: Princess Marie Amelie of Baden, sister of Stephanie’s mother. She married a Scottish noble, William Hamilton, 11^th Duke of Hamilton and 8^th Duke of Brandon. This is the Duke who seems not as well accepted by Prince Albert and the Duchess of Kent. Stephanie’s aunt, however, in her opinion, is well-liked.
• Stephanie was one of the people who had the opportunity of visiting the Crystal Palace (in Hyde Park), built in 1851 to house the Great Exhibition, and destroyed in 1936 by a fire.
• When Stephanie says Lunch, she actually refers to breakfast.
• Her life continues as busy as it was before, with her taking up her role as Queen further and further: this time, she received the Diplomatic Corps.
• It is interesting that Stephanie’s style to her mother, unlike that of the previous letter, is very similar to the style she adopts to write to King Pedro of Portugal; even more interesting is that the usually very collected King was so impatient to see his bride that he telegraphed her twice!
• Stephanie is due to leave for Portugal on the 11^th May 1858, departing from Plymouth.