Bidspirit 拍卖 | Prince Alfred, Son of Queen

Prince Alfred, Son of Queen Victoria and Future Duke of Edinburgh – Autograph Letter Signed Concerning Music and Hunting with the Duke of Buccleuch – Holyrood, Edinburgh, 1863 – With Original Envelope Initialled “A” in His Hand - An autograph letter signed by Prince Alfred (1844–1900), second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, later Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, addressed to Miss H. Hildyard (“Tilla”), former governess and long-standing confidante of the Royal Family. Holyrood, 1 December 1863. Written when Alfred was only nineteen years old, on royal stationery bearing his attractive coloured crowned monogram. He addresses Hildyard affectionately as “My dear Tilla.” Alfred warmly thanks Hildyard for a music stool she had presented to him: “Many many thanks for the charming music stool which I received some days ago. It is very useful & very pretty…” He remarks that it had been much admired as “the prettiest piece of furniture in my room.” The musical nature of the gift is particularly appropriate in view of Prince Alfred's well-known interest in music. Alfred was an enthusiastic musician and violinist, and music remained an important part of his private life. Elsewhere, Alfred discusses his occupations and lack of time for correspondence, and describes an enjoyable afternoon spent hunting hares on horseback with the Duke of Buccleuch and his son at Dalkeith Park: “…hunting hares on horseback with the Duke of Buccleuch & his son…” The Duke was Walter Montagu Douglas Scott, 5th Duke of Buccleuch (1806–1884), a prominent Scottish aristocrat and owner of Dalkeith Palace near Edinburgh. The passage offers an intimate glimpse into the social and sporting life of Queen Victoria's young son in Scotland. Alfred also refers to having received a letter from his brother Leopold, the future Duke of Albany, another son of Queen Victoria. The letter concludes: “Hoping that you are enjoying pleasant weather / I remain / Yours very affectionately / Alfred” and is prominently signed “Alfred.” Prince Alfred served in the Royal Navy and was created Duke of Edinburgh in 1866, later succeeding as Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1893. In 1874 he married Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, daughter of Tsar Alexander II of Russia. Their daughter Marie of Edinburgh later became Queen Marie of Romania, a relationship also recorded in an early collector's annotation on the accompanying envelope. Accompanied by the original envelope, sent from Edinburgh to: Miss Hildyard Windsor Castle Berks. The envelope retains a British One Penny Red postage stamp and an EDINBURGH / DE 1 / 63 cancellation corresponding precisely with the date of the letter. The reverse bears Prince Alfred's attractive coloured crowned royal monogram/device, corresponding to that appearing on the letter paper. The front of the envelope is also initialled “A” in Prince Alfred's own hand, giving the accompanying postal cover an additional autograph element. The front further bears early pencil identification notes by a former collector or owner, identifying the writer as Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and noting that he was the father of Queen Marie of Romania.  Provenance: From a documented historical collection of 22 original letters by members of Queen Victoria's family, addressed to Miss Hildyard, governess and confidante of the Royal Family. The collection was sold in 1947 by Elkin Mathews Ltd., London, to Dr. L. O. Meredith, Cambridge, Maryland, USA. Dimensions: Each page approx. 18 × 11.5 cm. The letter comprises 4 pages, all handwritten by Prince Alfred, concluding with his clear full signature “Alfred.” Original envelope: approx. 12.2 × 7.1 cm, addressed to Miss Hildyard at Windsor Castle, retaining a One Penny Red postage stamp, Edinburgh cancellation dated 1 December 1863, a coloured royal monogram/device to the reverse, and initialled “A” in Prince Alfred’s own hand on the front.