VICTORIA: (1819-1901) Queen of the United Kingdom Great Britain & Ireland 1837-1901. A.L.S., with he

VICTORIA: (1819-1901) Queen of the United Kingdom Great Britain & Ireland 1837-1901. A.L.S., with he

VICTORIA: (1819-1901) Queen of the United Kingdom Great Britain & Ireland 1837-1901. A.L.S., with her initials VRI, three pages, 8vo, Balmoral Castle, 13^th October 1884, to Lady Ailesbury, on monogrammed black bordered mourning stationery. The Queen announces 'I cannot remain silent at this moment of deep distress when you have lost your dear Sister, my dear old playfellow whom I see before me now as the beautiful Emma Herbert when we were children together', adding that she had received the news yesterday 'without knowing of her being ill even shocked me inexpressibly & having so lately seen you & heard from you that your dear Sister was well I can scarcely believe it possible that she shd. have been taken after so short an illness! I feel terribly sad for her children. But I know how attached you are to one another & what a dreadful blow this will be to you & your sister Lady Dunmore' and concluding by asking for her true sympathy to be expressed to her correspondent's nephews and nieces. Some very light, extremely minor age wear, VG

 

Lady Mary Herbert (1813-1892) Marchioness of Ailesbury, brother of Sidney Herbert (1810-1861) 1^st Baron Herbert of Lea, British statesman and a close ally and confidant of Florence Nightingale.

 

Lady Emma Herbert (1819-1884) Viscountess de Vesci of Abbey Leix. She founded the Abbeyleix Baby Linen Society, a co-operative enabling women access to affordable baby clothing. She died on 10^th October 1884 at the age of 65.