Advent Day 12: Christmas Eve 1848 – Queen Victoria’s Journals
- youngqueenvictoria
- Dec 12, 2025
- 2 min read
“Here is this dear day again which I ever face with such joy & which is full of so many dear recollections. So many sad & dreadful things have happened between last Christmas Eve & this one! May God grant that better & happier times are in store. Though indeed we have had happy times. Took a short walk with the 4 children, then church at 11 after which we walked down to the ice with 2 children. After luncheon went out with Albert for a short while, & took Affie, soon after we came home we began arranging our Christmas gifts which took so long that I felt quite knocked up. We were much disappointed that Mama could not come, not being very well. —
At a little before 7 we took the children into the King’s blue rooms where there was their tree surrounded by toys of all kinds. Then I went into the Kings red room where my tree was midst numbers of gifts from my beloved ones, amongst them a lovely enamel of Affie in my bracelet, a lovely seal & dear little Lenchen’s marble bust. Vicky worked me a pin cushion & sewed a pocket handkerchief & dear little Alice worked on a pair of slippers. — Mama gave us many pretty trifles — & the Queen Dow. a fine album.
After receiving my gifts I took Albert to his tree which was in the small room next to where the children’s were. My gifts were a really beautiful picture by Van Eyck, called L’Abondance & which is represented by a lovely young mother, life size but half length, looking on her sleeping twins, quiet infants who were naked but placed in a basket surrounded with corn ears, grapes etc. Then 2 views of Balmoral & Lochnagar painted by Giles, 2 fine rifles — a clock of bronze & small candle sticks, representing a Highland trophy etc, my own design. Dear Albert was so pleased with all I had given him which made me so happy.
After this we gave the ladies & gentlemen their tree & presents, the children were very happy — No one to dinner & I had my beautiful necklace Albert had given me.”
RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ (W) [24 December 1848] (PRINCESS BEATRICE’S COPIES), VOLUME 26, p185-187, RETRIEVED [30 November 2025]. Supplied by Royal Collection Trust / © HM King Charles III
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