Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's ReignAshton, John
History
Gossip in the First Decade of Victoria's Reign
Ashton, John
Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
I do not know the Evening paper from which the following “small beer”
chronicle is copied into the _Times_ of 12 Feb., but it purports to be an
“authentic account” of an accident to Prince Albert: “It appears that His
Royal Highness was walking in the Royal gardens, in company of Her
Majesty, the only attendant present being the Hon. Miss Murray, one of
the Maids of Honour in waiting upon the Queen. It not being understood
by Col. Bouverie and Lieut. Seymour that His Royal Highness intended to
skate, they were not, as usual, in attendance on the Prince, who had left
the Palace, with Her Majesty, without their knowledge. After walking for
a short time with the Queen, on the margin of the lake, His Royal
Highness put on his skates, and left Her Majesty, who remained watching
the movements of the Prince from the gardens. He had not been on the ice
more than two or three minutes, when, as he was proceeding at a rapid
rate towards the spot where the Queen was standing, and had reached
between three or four feet of the water’s edge, the ice suddenly broke,
and, instantaneously he was immersed, head over ears, in the water. His
Royal Highness immediately rose to the surface, when Her Majesty, with
great presence of mind, joined her hand to that of the Hon. Miss Murray
(telling her to stand firm, and to betray no fear), and, extending her
right hand to the Prince, dragged him to the shore. Her Majesty
manifested the greatest courage upon the occasion, and acted with the
most intrepid coolness. As soon as the Prince was safe on dry land, the
Queen gave way to the natural emotions of joy and thankfulness at his
providential escape.
“The Prince then lost no time in proceeding to the Palace, where a warm
bath was immediately prepared, and His Royal Highness, within an hour
afterwards, was sufficiently well to receive the King of the Belgians,
upon His Majesty’s arrival from Claremont. The ice in the centre of the
lake being nearly a foot in thickness, some surprise has been created
that the accident should have occurred; but it appears that the keepers
appointed to attend on the numerous and various aquatic birds which are
preserved in the gardens of the palace, had broken the ice along the
sides of the lake to enable them to take the water during the frost.
These portions had again become slightly frozen over, since they were
broken at an early part of the morning. This was unknown to the Prince,
or the Queen, and, hence, the accident occurred. There was no person
present, at the time, connected with the gardens, to point out his danger
to His Royal Highness. Yesterday morning, the Prince was suffering from
the effects of a slight cold; but, beyond this, His Royal Highness has
sustained no inconvenience.”
On the 10th Feb. the Princess Royal was christened.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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