Lot 835: [VICTORIA]: (1819-1901)

[VICTORIA]: (1819-1901) Queen of the United Kingdom Great Britain & Ireland 1837-1901. COWELL GEORGIANA ELIZABETH (1846-1927) Wife of Major-General Sir John Clayton Cowell (1832-1894) Master of the Queen's Household and Lieutenant-Governor of Windsor Castle. A fine, interesting small series of four A.Ls.S., G. E. Cowell, twenty-nine pages (total), Windsor Castle, 4th - 7th April 1884, each to her mother, on black bordered mourning stationery. Cowell's social letters largely focus on events in and around Windsor Castle following the untimely death of Queen Victoria's son, Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany, on 28th March 1884 and state, in part - 'Such a beautiful day & everything has been beyond words touching & imposing…..the music was divine as the…..bands played Beethoven's Funeral March, Chopin's & the Dead March in ''Soul'' as our dear Prince's coffin passed into the Albert Chapel, shouldered by the Highlanders & with the Queen immediately behind it - How she nerved herself is beyond humankind - not a tear or a quivering muscle & she drove in the procession right thro' the town, with the four grey ponies & scarlet liveries. The full sunshine & the tender green of the early spring all combines to make it simply beautiful. The grey Castle & Chapel all so peaceful & quiet' (4th April 1884; the day of Prince Leopold's funeral), ' ''His Body is buried in peace'', we have all laid Him at rest, with the most beautiful , most touching & loving ceremony that human hearts could render……never, as long as life lasts, can one forget the……solemnity of everything, all so reverent & quiet……The only thing I sadly missed was our dear old Dean's tender, quavering tones, which made a great difference in the way the Service was read. Tomorrow I will try & write you a more full account of it all' (5th April 1884), 'As none of the papers seem to me to convey a full idea of the intensely pathetic ceremonies of the past two days (the Daily Telegph. is by far the best) I must try & write some faint description - In the first place the matter was singularly propitious…..By the Queen's particular wish we ladies all assembled on the Guard Room roof to witness the procession passing up the street……the only sound were the tolling bells of St. George's…..the big Royal Standard floating over all from the top of the Round Tower so we paused; until just as one o'clock struck, came the first boom of the minute guns, announcing that the train had arrived & in the distance below us we could catch the lamenting wail of the Pipes - in a few minutes this changed for the soft full chords of the opening bars of Chopin's Funeral March, sounding marvellously strange with the deep accompaniment of the muffled drums, & then we knew they had started! Presently came in sight……the gun carriage drawn by eight splendid dark brown gun horses…..adorned by an enormous wreath of Imperial Violets sent by the Empss. Eugenie (Her boy was a Gunner!) the coffin covered…..& on it laid the Black feather bonnet with the 'white hackle'……the Princes marched on either hand & immediately behind the Prince of Wales with the Crown Prince & the Gd. Duke of Hesse…..following them, saddest sight of all, the riderless horse……then the Queen's carriage with the white ponys ''in Review Order'', scarlet grooms & outriders followed by……The Prince's Household & the rest of the Househd. in Waiting & the long procession closed with the Guard of Honour…….perhaps the most striking moment of all was when the gun-carriage wheeled under Henry VIII's gate into the Castle yard……where the Highlanders took possession of their honoured burden - not to leave it again until laid in the last earthly resting place. The Queen followed them into the Chapel & so ended the first part of the ceremony - more impressive & more beautiful in its simple grandeur than any words can express. In the evg……we went into the Meml. Chapel & I cannot tell you of the beauty of the flowers, the whole place was perfumed by the masses of violets, gardenias, roses, lilies & white lilac, the floor had been laid with black cloth & the wreaths were spread on this……At 8pm the tapers (in Charles I & Queen Anne's own silver candlesticks) were lighted, & the Chapel was left in charge of Captn. Brooke Hunt & 8 of the soldiers…..at a ¼ to 11 I went into Chapel, Lady Ponsonby & I were the only two invited ladies…..gradually the Chapel filled…..The Queen & Princesses filed into their seats……& then occurred one of the most striking & strangest effects of all - in the profound hush & silence……the precious load was gradually lowered to the level of the floor & then…..they finally adjusted the Union Jack around the coffin……& then the Dean read the service & it seemed as if the Anthem was a requiem for all the Holy Dead……whilst the final hymn was being sung, the Queen glided away in the shadows & in the immediate pause which followed, we could hear distinctly the Pipers outside……I think nothing could have been more infinitely touching or solemn for it was all so simple, so reverent, so orderly……& yet by the beauty of surroundings, the richness of colour & the perfect stillness, the scene was impressive beyond measure. The foreigners were very much struck by the way everything was carried out & all present were very much impressed by the splendid way in which the soldiers did their work' (6th April 1884), 'It was settled yesterday that the Queen & Princess Beatrice will go to Darmstadt next week for about a fortnight…….& everyone thinks it is a very good thing, especially for poor Prss. Beatrice who sorely needs a little change……The Queen is wonderfully well; marvellous, in many ways, as I have often thought Her - the courage & determination with which she has gone through everything has been beyond anything one cd. have imagined……We had a most touching sermon from our most excellent Dean yesterday. He has managed everything this week so well…..The Queen has got two most efficient & excellent young servants. The poor Dean has been nearly torn to pieces in many ways, but his quiet tact & judgment have never failed……Indeed I do not think any Sovereign cd. be more loyally served than She is by many. The Prince of Wales has said that he does not know how he cd. have managed….' (7th April 1884). A good series of letters with interesting content providing a first hand account of the funeral of Prince Leopold. Some very light, extremely minor age toning to a few pages of the letters. VG, 4 Prince Leopold (1853-1884) Duke of Albany. The youngest son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the Duke of Albany suffered from haemophilia which contributed to his untimely death at the age of 30 whilst staying in Cannes on 27th March 1884. He was buried in the Albert Memorial Chapel at Windsor.