Bidspirit 拍卖 | Princess Beatrice, Daughter of Queen

Princess Beatrice, Daughter of Queen Victoria – Autograph Letter Signed Following the Birth of Her First Son, Prince Alexander of Battenberg – Windsor Castle, 1886 – with Original Envelope - An Autograph Letter Signed (ALS) by Princess Beatrice (1857–1944), youngest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Written at Windsor Castle on 20 December 1886, less than a month after the birth of her first child. Addressed to Miss Hildyard (“Tilla”), governess and educator to members of the Royal Family. Beatrice apologizes that her recent illness had prevented her from writing sooner to thank Hildyard for her kind wishes and congratulations. She happily refers to having “a dear healthy little boy” and to her good recovery. The child was her first son, Alexander Mountbatten (1886–1960), later 1st Marquess of Carisbrooke, a grandson of Queen Victoria. Beatrice also refers to Bäuerlein and to games of backgammon, which remind her of her childhood and of Hildyard teaching her the game – a particularly personal reference illustrating the longstanding relationship between Beatrice and her former governess. The letter concludes affectionately and is signed in her own hand: “Yours very affectionately, Beatrice.” Accompanied by the original envelope, addressed to Miss Hildyard, 8 St. Katherine’s, Regent’s Park, London, retaining its postage stamp and London postal markings dated 20 December 1886. The reverse bears an attractive coloured royal crown. An old pencil identification note, apparently added by a previous collector or owner, appears on the front. Provenance: From a documented historic collection of 22 original letters by members of Queen Victoria's family, addressed to Miss Hildyard, governess to the Royal Family. The collection was sold in 1947 by Elkin Mathews Ltd., London, to Dr. L. O. Meredith of Cambridge, Maryland, USA. The letter consists of a folded sheet forming 4 pages, all handwritten by Princess Beatrice. Each page measures approximately 18.5 × 11.3 cm. Accompanied by the original envelope, measuring approximately 11.9 × 9.5 cm.