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24 August 1908 — Castel Savoia, Gressoney St. Jean | |
Monday. 24th [August 1908]. Took a walk after tea with the whole party. I asked the Queen whether she had any horses in Rome. She said she had done away with them all & had not nothing but motors. I asked if she went to Count in a motor. She said, “If I ever went to Court, I would go in a motor, but since the poor King died I never go to Court. It is far better for me & for my children. Tho’ they are very attentive to me & very respectful I should only gené them & so from the first I decided not to go. I see a great many people in my own palace, I give several large dinners to Ministers &c & I have someone nearly every evening. I give 2 large concerts in the winter & often have chamber music to which I invite a few people. I have only once been to a Court ceremony which was the baptism of my eldest grandchild, when my children made a great point of it.” I think it must be this determination which causes people to say the Queen mother is not friendly with the King. In the evening sitting before the large fire she spoke of the great likeness between our present Prince of Wales & the Czar of Russia & she said there was a report that the Czarina is ill. She asked me if I knew the Czar’s mother & said she is a very interesting woman—not a bit like her sister our Queen & full of go & spirit, small with bright eyes. I asked her if it was true she is so full of pluck & she said Yes. I said it was a pity the Czar is so nervous & could not face the fear of assassination she said “Yes it would be far better for Il faut payer”! | |
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