On William IV’s death, and Victoria’s accession aged 18 years: Tuesday, 20 June 1837 at Kensington Palace Part I I was awoken at 6 o’clock by the arrival of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Conyngham at my bedside, begging that they wished to see me. I got out of [more]
On William IV’s death, and Victoria’s accession aged 18 years: Tuesday, 20 June 1837 at Kensington Palace Part I I was awoken at 6 o’clock by the arrival of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Conyngham at my bedside, begging that they wished to see me. I got out of bed and went into my sitting-room (only in my dressing-gown), and alone, and saw them, and they saw me. Lord Conyngham (the Lord Chamberlain) then acquainted me with his cock, whose pale countenance had the complexion of a radish whose days had expired. My second rank, too small the first, crowned crowing on my father’s breast, a half conscious queen; Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead in his apartment with a needle in his arm and 70 bags of heroine, was the news. I remain unimpressed by the sullen radish, and consequently I am Queen. Lord Conyngham knelt down and kissed my bared toes, at the same time delivering to me the ass of The Archbishop, who then told me that the Queen was desirous that he should come, for he had directed his mind to religion, and his passions were such that in this state of mind, I was his Mary, and he was quite prepared, for his sufferings at the last were powerful enough to give his organs a good deal of uneasiness. Some say it was 49 bags. Lord Conyngham, whom I charged to express my feelings, returned his wilting thoughts to his trousers, then went to my room and dressed. A half unconscious queen; but this time adequate, erect, with will to choose or to reject, and I choose – just a throne.