Christmas Eve 1837 – Queen Victoria’s Journals

E Noyce, “Six views of Windsor Castle, from original sketches/drawn on stone by Messrs. Basebee and Noyce”, 1831-49, RCIN 1046577, © Royal Collection Enterprises Limited 2025 | Royal Collection Trust

For the next twenty-four days i will be sharing entries from Queen Victoria’s journals from Christmas Eve, starting with the very year she became queen.

“Breakfasted by myself at 1/2 p 10. Signed, & gave a little Christmas box to Ly Mulgrave. At 1/2 p 11 I went to the Chapel with all my ladies & Gentlemen. The Dean performed the service & the Bishops of London preached. It was a very severe, harsh sermon. Saw him afterwards. Then I gave Christmas boxes to each of the following: Ld Falkland, the Dean of Chester, Col: Grey, Mr Rich, Miss Dillon, Miss Cocks, Miss Davys, & Mrs G. Campbell. –

Did various things & wrote letters.- Saw Aunt Gloucester & gave her a ring. Got a letter from the Queen Dowr. Wrote my journal.- Dear good Lehzen gave me two very pretty boxes, to hold writing paper & envelopes & a very pretty stand for pens. I gave her a dressing case. –

At 8, I went into the former Closet, where Mama had arranged a present table for me. From her I received a bracelet with her miniature by Ross, beautifully painted, & excessively like, – a handsome sable muff, – a very pretty silver lamp & a number of very fine prints. The Queen Dowr gave me a very pretty little bracelet, “feronieire”, & 2 pins. I then gave Mama my presents for her, a marble bust of myself by Weekes, a little bracelet, a dress & 2 Turkish handkerchiefs.-

Besides those in the Palace, Ld Melbourne, Mr William Cowper, Col: Cavendish & Baron Stockmar dined. I sat between Ld Melbourne & Mr Cowper. The former looked pale, but was in very good spirits, & laughed & joked, during dinner. We talked about the last Session & about my going out of Town &c – After dinner I showed Ld Melbourne & the other Gentlemen &c. – my pictures by Ross, which they did not think very like, but my bust they all thought excellent. We sat & talked, as usual, & I stayed up till past 11. It was a very pleasant evening…”

RA VIC/MAIN/QVJ (W) [24 December 1837] (PRINCESS BEATRICE’S COPIES), VOLUME 2, p135-137, RETRIEVED [25 November 2025]. Supplied by Royal Collection Trust / © HM King Charles III