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13 March 1879 — 24 Onslow Gardens | |
Thursday. 13th [March 1879]. I was still in bed when a note came to me from Charlie Eliot telling me that if I liked to make haste & get up he would give me a ticket for the nave of St George’s chapel & take me down himself to see the Duke of Connaught married so I hurried up & dressed & Charlie called about 9 & took me to Paddington station & there we happen to meet Cornelia & Lady Bowmont who got into the same carriage with us. They got out at Staines where Cornelia had her carriage to meet her. Charlie & I walked from Windsor station to the castle & arrived at the same moment as Cornelia. I got a very good front place in the nave just opposite Connie & Jenny Lind & by good luck I found myself next to Lady Skelmersdale & had a nice talk with her. 2 Miss Cadogans & Mrs & Miss Cavendish Bentinck sat near also. As my place was very near the door of the chapel & close to the room provided for the bridesmaids to wait I had an opportunity of talking to many people who were to be in the processions amongst whom were the sisters Lady Agneta Montagu & Lady Elizabeth Biddulph & many others. After waiting some time the processions arrived. The bride looked modest, fresh & good natured– Her bridesmaids were all very plain & their dresses hideous—the blue cornflowers with wh they were trimmed being purple instead of blue. The Queen was in black with white tulle cap & veil—she looked very good humoured. On entering the inner chapel I observed her to look round & I then saw John Brown follow up the tail of the procession & go to the Royal pew. The music during the ceremony was very beautiful & the organ very grand & the Eton boy’s voices very good. The weather was very cold & the Royalties had to wait in the chapel for their cloaks & until their carriages were up– The Queen looked calm & good tempered & spoke to several of those standing near. Suddenly she darted forward & shook hands with an old gentleman whom I learnt was Sir Wm Knowles. Just as the bride & bridegroom’s procession had left the chapel & before the Queen came as I was staring with all my eyes at the retreating bride, I felt my arm nudged & a voice of a man said “What do you think of that Eh!” pointing to procession, I had only presence of mind to answer “It is lovely” when I saw it was John Brown in highland costume who was evidently half drunk! It is very shameful that the Queen’s confidential servant shd be a man of that sort. After all was over I went with Connie & L to the Deanery where Connie asked for some luncheon for us. Mrs Wellesley was going to the wedding breakfast at the Castle but she had us stay to luncheon wh had been provided for Pss Christian & Pss Mary of Tecks children. We had an excellent cold lunch & Lady Skelmersdale & the Cadogan girls, the Goldschmidts were of the party besides others. Just as we had finished a little bent one eyed gentleman in uniform & cocked hat came toddling in & sat down & began to eat voraciously. I found him to be the D. of Wellington so I sat by him & talked to him till he went off by the train. Soon Mr Wellesley returned & Lord & Ly Sydney came & we had tea. At 5 the Sydneys, Connie, L & I went off by train & returned to town. Henry, Arthur & I dined with Monty at his rooms at 3 Savile Row. Met the C. Hambros & their daughter Lina, Mr Arthur Otway & Mr T. Bowles & Blanche & Edward. | |
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