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8 July 1889 — 1 Queen Anne Street | |
Monday. 8th [July 1889]. Cecil came up to town & went with Kate, Henry & me down to the Hatfield party for the Shah. We were invited for the luncheon. The P. & Pss of Wales & family & the Shah & suite were staying at Hatfield. Lunch in the large hall & several tables. People were told whom to take in but Henry & I somehow missed & went in together. At the door Genl Ellis met us & offered me his arm. Henry found a place at the same table next the Shah’s brother in law & delighted his heart by addressing him in Persian. Kate & Cecil lunched in another room so we did not meet till after lunch in the garden. The Shah had with him a horrid little boy, son of a shepherd whom he insists upon carrying abt with him—there being a prophecy that if the child dies the Shah will die. We saw the child stuffing at luncheon & thus doing his best to bring about a premature end. The Shah was walked abt after lunch & people presented to him—amongst them was Henry. H.M. looked bored till Henry addressed him in Persian when he cheered up & asked his name & then said he knew about him—nothing to my advantage said Henry as I was connected with a man who was a rebel to your father’s authority at wh the Shah laughed. H.M. is a horrid cruel looking dirty kind of creature & seems thoro’ly bored with European life & its hurry. After luncheon the people invited to the garden party arrived—but many were deterred by the weather wh in London was bad. Here it hardly rained at all– Abt 5 the Shah & party left with an escort of guards. The Wales came to the doors to see him off. We then made our way to the Station & got into a train to return to town where we arrived tired abt 7. Sophy Palmer whom I had seen at Hatfield came to see me on her way home & we all had tea in my bedroom. | |
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