Queen Victoria’s Journal - The birth of Princess Victoria, 1st December 1840
- Victoria Regina
- Dec 1, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 21, 2024
On the 21st November 1840, Queen Victoria gave birth to her first child, Princess Victoria, at Buckingham Palace
“I am taking up my Journal again, which was interrupted by my confinement, & am writing, as well as I can, from memory & short notes. – Just before the early hours of the morning of the 21rst. I felt very uncomfortable & with difficulty aroused Albert from his sleep, who after a while, got Clark sent for. He came at ½ p. 2, Albert bringing him into the Bedroom. Clark said he would go to Lucock. Tried to get to sleep again, but by 4, I got very bad and both the Doctors arrived. My beloved Albert was so dear & kind. Lucock said the Baby was on the way & everything was all right. We both expressed joy that the event was at hand, & I did not feel at all nervous. After a good many hours suffering, a perfect little child was born at 2 in the afternoon, but alas. a girl & not a boy, as we both had so hoped & wished for. We were, I am afraid, sadly disappointed, but yet our hearts were full of gratitude, for God having brought me safely through my ordeal, & having such a strong, healthy child. Dearest Albert hardly left me at all, & was the greatest support & comfort. When he went to see Ministers, & the Baby was taken by Mrs Pegley (the monthly nurse for the Baby) into the room in which they were assembled, I saw good Lehzen for a moment. Dear Mama also came & was much relieved & delighted.-Albert had a late, hurried luncheon, & went to the Council at 4. I felt quite well & without a pain of any kind. Had some food & then, a good long sleep. – 1 awoke on the 22nd, having slept admirably & felt as well as if nothing had happened. Had an excellent appetite. Mama came to me for a little while & I also saw Lehzen & Stockmar for a moment. The dear little Baby was brought in to me several times & she was seen by numbers of people, Albert showing her. -The next days passed quietly & comfortably in the same way, & gradually I was allowed to do a little more. I have got a Wet Nurse for the Baby, a Mrs Ratsey, a fine young woman, wife of a sail maker at Cowes, Isle of Wight. – Albert read me letters from Uncle Leopold & Louise, delighted at my safe confinement. -On the 27th I was rolled unto my Dressingroom, – such a pleasant change. Mrs Lilly (my monthly Nurse) whom I like so much, is indefatigable & has looked splendidly after me.-Mama has been coming daily. – Occasionally my nights have been rather less good, but on the whole, all is going extremely well, & lam recovering fast. I am always settled for the night by ½ p. 10. – Albert has been reading to me a Despatch about the taking of St. Jean d’Acre, which is a great thing. – On the 30th was rolled into my large sitting room, a great pleasure, & the Baby was moved up into her new Nursery, having been till then in my large Dressingroom. – To return to the 1rst of December. I went again into the Sitting room, & at ½ p. 1, the Queen Dowr came to see me followed, after luncheon, by Aunt Gloucester. The Baby was in the room. – At 5, Albert brought in my good Ld Melbourne for a few moments, whom I was very glad to shake hands with & to see again. – After my dinner, Albert having his, in my room, he read me a curious letter from the King of Hanover, Mama came in, about 8, but did not remain long. We 2 played at “Ecart锑”
© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2012 © Bodleian Libraries © ProQuest
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