“Again this dear blessed day returned for the 7th time without my adored Husband! It seems impossible, more like a dream, receding husband& farther, though all is engraved on my grateful loving heart. Sweet Baby, growing alas! so big, & losing all her Baby ways, which her dear Father loved so much, came in to me before I got up & brought me some flowers. A beautiful warm day. — Gave the Children each a trifle, in remembrance of the day & went up to see our poor darling Leopold, to whom I gave a pin & sleeve links. While I was with him a telegram was brought in, announcing that dear Vicky had had a son at 3 this morning. How nice that it should just be on this day, & how it would have pleased dearest Albert. — Rode with Lenchen & Baby, & on our way back, planted a tree, a kind of holly, from Japan, in the place where one had been blown down. — Resting, reading & writing. — Drove in the afternoon with Louise & Baby to Ryde & back. It was so fine. On coming house went to dear Leopold & had with him, renaming same time talking with him. — The Dss of Atholl, Ly Susan M. & Mr Sahl dined. – Heard that dear Vicky & Baby were going on well. Over to wish dear Leopold good night, which he always likes me to do. — Then the Duchess read. – So ended this once bright happy day!”
© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2012
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