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31 March 1871 — Madrid | |
Friday. 31st [March 1871]. I woke with a headache so I breakfasted in bed & did not get up till in time to dress to go to court. My dress looked well– Emilia came to see me dress– At 1 we went to the Palace. Mme Canitz & Elisabeth had arrived. We sat waiting in an anteroom some time & then Del Cerro fetched us Legation by Legation according to our precedence to the Queen’s apartments. When Mmes Canitz & Karnicky had come out of the inner room we went in– I made a curtsey in the door way & another when the Q. came forward & shook hands with me. She immediately began the conversation in English saying she was out of the habit of talking Eng. Asked how long we had been here whether I spoke Spanish, Where our Queen was—& abt the marriage of the Pss Louise—she then shook hands & I retired & found the King was standing on the other side near the door—he shook hands & spoke a few words & I complimented him on the Q’s English & withdrew into the outer room to wait while the rest went in. After a while we were conducted to the Salle des Ambassadeurs & stood in a row opposite the throne. The K & Q. came in & stood close to the steps of the throne in front of us. The ladies of her Court at her left. They were the Dss de la Torre & Dss de Tetuan the Marss of Sardoal & the Ct of Alamina. They are not her appointed Court but only invited for the occasion. On the right of the throne stood Serrano & the Ministers. The doors were then opened & the “défilé” began—all the Civil Authorities, officers, academics &c passing thro’ & bowing as they passed the K. & Q. There were said to be 2000 in all. When all had gone by the Q. came across & shook hands with us ladies as did the K & they returned to their apartments & we got our carriages & went home by 3 o’cl: I went straight to bed as my head was so bad. | |
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