IT WILL be very difficult to describe it, but all went off admirably. This day, fifty years ago, I had to go with a full Sovereign’s escort to St James’s Palace, to appear at my proclamation which was very painful to me, and is no longer to take place.
The scene outside was most animated and reminded me of the opening of the Great Exhibition, which also took place on a very fine day. At half past eleven we left the Palace, I driving in a handsomely gilt landau drawn by six of the Creams. Just in front of my carriage rode the 12 Indian officers, and in front of them my 3 sons, 5 sons-in-law, 9 grandsons, and grandsons-in-law.
The route was up Constitution Hill, through the Arch, down Piccadilly, past Trafalgar Square, along the new Northumberland Avenue, the Embankment, and then turned right to the Abbey. I was received by the clergy, with the Archbishop of Canterbury and Dean in the copes of rich velvet and gold, which had been worn at the Coronation.
The crowds from the Palace gates up to the Abbey were enormous, and there was such an extraordinary outburst of enthusiasm as I had hardly ever seen in London before; all the people seemed to be in such good humour. The old Chelsea Pensioners were in a stand near the Arch. The decorations along Piccadilly were quite beautiful, and there were most touching inscriptions. Seats and platforms were arranged up to the tops of the houses, and such waving of hands.
The Royalties of highest rank were seated within the altar rails. The House of Commons was below us to the left, and I recognised several persons amongst them, but did not see Mr Gladstone, though he was there.
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I sat alone (oh! without my beloved husband, for whom this would have been such a proud day!) where I sat forty-nine years ago and received the homage of the Princes and Peers, but in the old Coronation Chair of Edward III.
The Te Deum, by my darling Albert, sounded beautiful, and the anthem, by Dr Bridge, was fine, especially the way in which the National Anthem and dear Albert’s Chorale were worked in.