Christopher Hibbert - Edward VII - The Last Victorian King

p. 277 Kaiser’s conversation with King in Berlin: Grosse Politik der Europaischen Kabinette, 28, No. 10260, quoted by Brook-Shepherd, p. 345.

p. 282 King consults gypsy: Lincolnshire Papers, Lord Carrington’s journal. p. 283 King and Arthur Ponsonby: Elibank Papers, National Library of Scotland. ‘The King resents that Ponsonby, with his name, with his having been in the Diplomatic Service, and after having been Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman’s private secretary, should have voted as he did’ (18 June 1908). The King ultimately relented, however, and gave instructions for Ponsonby ‘to be invited to the Court Ball’ on 10 July 1908 (Asquith Papers).

p. 284 King on suffragettes: Asquith Papers, 3 June 1908.

p. 284 Florence Nightingale and O.M.: Sandars Papers, 6 November 1903. p. 284 Women on Divorce Commission: Asquith Papers, 5 September 1909.

pp. 284–285 Whitehall procession: Lincolnshire Papers, Lord Carrington’s journal.

pp. 285–286 King’s complaint about Asquith’s colleagues: Asquith Papers, 19

July 1909.

p. 297 Carrington at deathbed: Lincolnshire Papers, Carrington’s journal.

As Lord Great Chamberlain, Carrington supervised the arrangements of the lying-in-state in Westminster Hall: ‘17 May 1910. I dressed and went into Westminster Hall. Everything in perfect order.… Then Big Ben began to toll, the Dead Match was heard and the procession filed into Palace Yard.… The sight was most impressive. He lay there in the presence of the royal family, high officials and the two Houses of the Lords and Commons. The widowed Queen stood next to her son dressed in the simplest way … no trimmings or ornaments of any kind. She scarcely looked forty, so slim and upright and trim. The new King wore naval uniform and the Garter. When the service was over [his mother] knelt a few moments in prayer, and then he took her by the hand and led her away.… Poor Princess Victoria looked hopelessly miserable. Princess Christian, Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice, all old women now … and my oldest and best friend stiff and cold in his coffin.… The Hall looked magnificent, a silence that could be felt; and the officers standing immovable at their posts.… It was a wet night but the crowds stood patiently through the dark hours — a forest of umbrellas and people shivering and stamping their feet to keep warm.… Quite 25,000 were unable to obtain admission when the gates were shut at 10 p.m. Yet all day [the procession past the coffin] had gone on.… New carpets have been put down as they were completely worn out.… At eleven the King of Portugal came with Soveral [who was] terribly pale and upset. He held my hand for quite two minutes saying over and over again, “This is too awful.” He then knelt and prayed before the coffin.… He feels the King’s death terribly.…

19 May 1910. We had a hard morning — many people trying to get in who had no right.… At 1.45 we had notice that King George and the Emperor of Germany were coming to Westminster Hall at 2.45 and that the Hall was to be closed for three quarters of an hour. The police were aghast, and said they could not be responsible for anything that might happen. So I got a taxi and went off to Buckingham Palace and met Francis Knollys coming out. He took me to the Household Dining Room where the German suite were having luncheon and [I arranged for the Emperor to go through the Star Chamber Court so that he could lay his wreath] without any stoppage of the crowd.… I received a telephone message from Probyn saying that the Queen Mother desired me to take off the label on her wreath and send it to her.… The inscription read, “For my beloved husband from his broken-hearted and lonely wife, Alix.”… A curious thing happened last night. Just as Queen Alexandra was momentarily expected, the Speaker and Arthur James and some ladies in evening dress passed into the Peers’ enclosure. One of them was Mrs George Keppel … and the Queen Mother expected every minute! An awkward situation. [Lewis Harcourt, the First Commissioner of Works], to my astonishment, volunteered to go and get rid of them, and so saved the position. Mrs Keppel walked back into the Speaker’s House: and a very great difficulty was avoided.… Queen Alexandra had her veil up and seemed perfectly calm: she looked beautiful.… I then ordered the Palace to be shut up and went to bed. Winston Churchill and a large party drew up: luckily Pom McDonnell [Sir Schomberg McDonnell, Secretary to the Office of Works] had not left and he absolutely refused them admittance. With this party was a brute of an American who pushed by and peeped round the screen, which was put to block the view, and came back grinning, saying, “I’ve seen him after all.” The Beast! … The behaviour of the crowds has been simply marvellous. People waiting patiently for hours. Hundreds passed the night in the rain. They all went by from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. quietly and reverently without intermission. Many curtsied, Catholics knelt and crossed themselves, children in arms were carried past. There was no noise, no pushing, no confusion.…

May 20 1910 … I was in the Hall by 7.45. It turned out a gloriously fine day.… The gun carriage and escort were waiting and everything ready about 9.15. The King, the German Emperor and eight kings rode into the yard [actually seven — of Denmark, Greece, Belgium, Bulgaria, Norway, Portugal and Spain]. They dismounted and Queen Alexandra, the Empress of Russia, the Princess Royal and Princess Victoria drove up. The Queen and the Empress got out and I took them into the Hall, where the Archbishop conducted a short service. The coffin was then … carried to the gun carriage. The equerries placed the pall on the coffin. The German Emperor kissed the Queen as he handed her into the carriage. The Queen patted the neck of the late King’s charger and Caesar, the King’s dog, which was led by the Highland Piper; and my duties were over.’

pp. 297–298 King’s consideration: Knollys, Carrington, Hardinge Papers. The King had not always been so thoughtful as a younger man. Francis Knollys told Rosebery in 1885: ‘April is [Harry Stonor’s] month of waiting and he naturally expected to go to Ireland. Yesterday, however, the Prince told me he had been thinking it over and that he thought Ellis would be more useful. I am afraid Harry, though of course he will not say so or admit it, will feel it a little. I wish the Prince would not do these things, as people who are fond of him cannot but be a little “hurt” by them.’ (Rosebery MSS., 16 March 1885.)

Northumberland Papers (Alnwick Castle) Grosvenor MSS (Grosvenor Estate Office)

Goodwood Archives (Chichester, County Record Office) Romilly Diaries (Cambridge University Library)

Crewe Papers (Cambridge University Library)

Hardinge of Penshurst Papers (Cambridge University Library)

Dossier du Roi Edouard VII (Bureau des Archives, Préfecture de Police, Paris) Wellington Archives (Stratfield Saye)

Henry Poole & Co. Records (Cork Street) Lincolnshire Papers (Bodleian)

Gordon Cumming Papers (National Library of Scotland) Rosebery Papers (National Library of Scotland)

Minto Papers (National Library of Scotland) Haldane Papers (National Library of Scotland) Combe Papers (National Library of Scotland) Elibank Papers (National Library of Scotland)

Carrington Papers (Aylesbury, County Record Office and Bledlow Manor) Gibbs Papers (Oxford, County Record Office)

Cadogan MSS (House of Lords Record Office) Acland Papers (Bodleian)

Earl Grey Papers (Department of Palaeography, University of Durham) Manchester Collection (Huntingdon, County Record Office)

Downe Papers (Northallerton, County Record Office) Londonderry Papers (Durham, County Record Office) Devonshire Collections (Chatsworth)