Queen Victoria's Journals

Extracts from Queen Vic’s Journal, shared 150 years to the day after she first wrote them. Edited by Princess Beatrice and @CatrionaRegina 👑 (unofficial)

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

My Accession Day 36 years ago! May God help me to go on & to do what is right & best for my Country.

#OTD in 1870

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

In the afternoon drove to the Glas-allt-Shiel, which was in great beauty with occasional gleams of sunshine. Beatrice & Miss Mc Gregor went with me. The dear little house looked so nice & cosy. Home at 8.

#OTD in 1870

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

[Princess] Louise took me a turn in the small pony carriage, before going to the Kirk at 12, where Dr McLeod* preached a beautiful sermon. It was dreadfully hot.

#OTD in 1870

*Norman McLeod, Scottish writer, liberal clergyman and good friend of Victoria

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

The same beautiful weather. — Walked a little with Beatrice & then sat out, in my old place writing & reading. Very hot. — Saw Dr Robertson* about various things.

*Douglas Argyll Robertson, senior surgeon at #Edinburgh Royal Infirmary

#OTD in 1870

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

Drove with Louise & Eva McDonald to Glen Bey, & was quite surprised to find it cold. Took tea on the high path, & then sat for some time sketching.

#OTD in 1870

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

A very mild fine mild evening & all smelling so sweet. Quantities of primroses in the wood beyond, which we stopped for Beatrice to pick.

#OTD in 1870

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

Dear Lenchen's* 24th birthday. Thank God! That she has been spared, & I pray she may regain her health & strength. May God bless her for many years.

#OTD in 1870

*Princess Helena, who had recently given birth to her first daughter, Princess Helena Victoria

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

[For my birthday] The dear girls gave me nosegays of lilies of the valley, specially ordered from Perth. They have been my great favourites from my childhood! My birthday table was very pretty, & I received many charming things. Had lots of telegrams

#OTD in 1870

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

When dressed, I went into my sitting room, where I was met by dear Louise & Beatrice, the only 2 of my Children I had with me. Since 28 years I had not had so few, then only Vicky & Beatrice, as Babies. Felt very sad at not having poor dear Leopold with us.

#OTD in 1870

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

My poor old birthday, my 51st! Oh! how totally different to the 22 bright ones spent with my beloved Albert. Amongst them, the brightest of all, those spent at dear #Osborne from [18]48 to [18]61!

#OTD in 1870

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

Out walking with Beatrice, past the Dairy, through the wood towards Donald Stewart's, where I got on my pony & rode round Craig Gowan & down by Invergelder home.

#OTD in 1870

Image: watercolour by Queen Victoria of Invergelder (1864). Photo: RCT

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

The Duchess read in a charming book called "Robin Grey".

#OTD in 1870

*Auld Robin Grey is an 18th century #Scots ballad about a woman who marries for money after her lover leaves. The story was rewritten by Victorian American writer Bret Harte, to reverse things to 'redeem' her

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

Decided not to go to the Kirk, as I had rather a headache, but my arm is decidedly better. — Reading Prayers & the Gospel & Epistle for the day, with Beatrice.

#OTD in 1870

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

[At Balmoral] Walked with Louise as far as dear Albert's statue, around which the ground has been levelled & shrubs been planted, which is a great improvement. Then drove round to see some of the people.

#OTD in 1870

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

[Upon arriving at Balmoral] Saw Dr Robertson* and then Grant**.

#OTD in 1870

*Douglas Argyll Robertson, recently made senior surgeon at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

** Queen Victoria's head forester, based at Balmoral

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

Had some lunch on the train after #Aberdeen & reached Ballater at [2.30]. Everything so green, all the birches out, & far more forward than usual. — Had a little tea after arriving at #Balmoral.

#OTD in 1870

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

Saw Sir J[ohn Clayton] Cowell.* — Left Windsor at 8, after an early dinner & having wished dear Leopold goodbye, with a heavy heart.

#OTD in 1870

*Cowell, a former officer, was Master of the Household at Windsor, effectively head of "below stairs".

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

Intensely hot.

#OTD in 1870

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

Drove with Louise in the Park, past Sandpit Gate, along the Western Walk, where, near the China Island, we stopped to take our tea under the beautiful fresh green trees, with all the birds singing.

#OTD in 1870

[Queen Victoria's Journals @QueenVicJournal]

Saw Gladstone who talked of Mr Ayrton, whose conduct he could not depend & whom they had had great difficulty in extricating from the scrape he had got into the other night. He said he must be kept in great order & on the next occasion anything occurred he must go.

#OTD in 1870