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20 May 1909 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Thursday. 20th [May 1909]. Ascension Day. We all went to morning service. Just at the end of the service the old verger brought me a note. I opened it just outside the church there was a steam launch & the petty officer standing waiting for an answer to the note he had brought from Lord Howe saying that the Queen & Empress & Pss Victoria proposed to come to luncheon with me at 1 today a party of 12 persons. I said to Lady Gregory who was by me, “It is impossible it is now 11.30”– She said “Oh yes you can do it don’t refuse.” I went to the pozzo in the middle of the Campo & using the iron cover as a table I wrote at the back of Lord Howe’s note—“Very much honored all right, only make it 1.30.” We hastened home & I ran up to the kitchen wh is on the 2nd floor & propounded the situation to Sear my excellent cook. Being a party of 8 in the house she luckily had food in the house & happened to have 2 unplucked pheasants. After arranging the menu with her I ran down to Giuseppe & told him to get the table ready for 19 persons– We went to Mrs Curtis to borrow her servant & telephoned to Sr Malagola to send his. Ola ran out to buy flowers. Being a fête day it was difficult to buy anything– By helping ourselves & with the help of the whole household everything was ready before the arrival of the R. party consisting of the Queen, the Empress, Princess Victoria, Lady Antrim, Adl Colin Keppel, Miss Knollys. The Russian Gentleman in waiting. I sat in the centre of the table the Empress on my right the Queen on my left. Princess Victoria on the other side of the table opposite to me– Sear rose to the occasion. The Royal sisters sat well– Lunch was served quite reasonably quickly considering we had only 4 servants, Giuseppe, old deaf Pasquale & the 2 strange servants. At this moment I am without my footman who fell ill some time ago & had to return to his home. I told the Q. of the visit of the Emperor & how he had said he had enjoyed having her & the King at Berlin. She said she thought they had been very good to go there at all considering she had only just recovered from an attack of influenza & the King had almost a bronchial attack. In fact one day he had coughed so badly at Berlin that he had nearly choked & she had rushed to him & tore off his neck tie wh had brought him air—& he must have felt very ill as he had not been at all put out with the Queen for doing this. “But with all his fine words I don’t trust the Kaiser at all” she added. After lunch she & the Empress went & sat in the Belvedere & smoked cigarettes & it was 4 o’clock before they began to say they must leave, & got into their gondolas. I & Violet Vivian got in mine & led the way to the Giudecca where Their Majesties paid a visit to the hospital. They went to every bed & spoke to each patient. In the nursing home part there was a little German bride of 12 days who had had a severe operation for appendicitis. After going round the establishment & the little garden we all went over to the Eden’s garden wh was a sight of beauty for the roses in full bloom. Mrs Eden received the Q, Emp. at the garden gate & showed them round & then gave them tea in the little arbour with with stone table & making the tea in a brass teapot as she always does. They do not live out at the garden but come every afternoon to enjoy it & to entertain any friends who may come there. They have a nice apartment in town in Pal. Barbarigo S. M. Zohenigo. Leaving the party at tea I went off to the other end of the garden in search of Mr Eden & found him lying out under the trees talking to Adl & Duchesse Canevaro– I begged the latter to join the R. party (as her husband had once been Minister for F.A.) this they very gladly did– After tea they all made a turn round the garden & took photographs & then went off & our duties were at an end. | |
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