Advent Day 22: Christmas Eve 1858 – Queen Victoria’s Journals
- youngqueenvictoria
- Dec 22, 2025
- 2 min read
“Already Xmas Eve! It seems but yesterday, that we celebrated it, & now 2 dear Children are far away! — Fine, bright, fresh day. — Albert out shooting. I, walking with Louise & Arthur. — Very busy arranging for Xmas, sending off presents to Claremont, &c —. — Thinking much of poor dear Vicky today. — Took a short turn with Alice & Lenchen after luncheon. — Great bustle, & agitation Gave our gifts to the 3 Governesses, the dressers & maids, &c. Over to the room, arranging all.
At 6 all the Children assembled in the Audience Room, Mama, Ernest & Marie, joining us. As usual went 1rst into the room in which stood the Children’s true & present tables & then to ours, with Mama’s &
Ernest & Maria’s. Alice gave me a dear tender note from our darling absent Child! Felt so sad that she & Affie should not be with us, & know how she will have felt it! The rooms were a pretty gay sight. We gave each other useful, as well as ornamental presents, & to the younger children, of course, many toys, which caused general delight & joy.
Dearest Albert gave me beautiful things, amongst which a marble statue of darling little Beatrice, which is quite lovely. Delighted & touched at dear Vicky having worked me a guilt all herself, which Bertie saw her working at, when he was at Berlin, — so dear of her. Alice gave me a charming drawing, such a pretty composition, & so well executed. Mama & the Leiningens left at 7, & we then gave the tree & presents to the Ladies & Gentlemen, & brought them in afterwards to see our things. So delighted with all my gifts. — Alice, Ernest & Marie, the only addition to our dinner. Maj: Lindsay is here with Bertie, since a few days. — Always so sorry when Christmas Eve is over.”
RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ (W) [24 December 1858] (PRINCESS BEATRICE’S COPIES), VOLUME 46, p229-231, RETRIEVED [30 November 2025]. Supplied by Royal Collection Trust / © HM King Charles III
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