IN WAITING
[Sidenote: 1859. Osborne, Sept. 22.]
First appearance as Groom-in-Waiting at Osborne. Her Majesty, with
the Prince Consort, had gone to Balmoral, leaving the younger Royal
children, Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice, in charge of Lady
Caroline Barrington. Never was an Admiral who felt so proud of being a
groom. Lady Caroline came of a stately family. As we walked into dinner
I felt myself smaller than I really was.
[Sidenote: Sept. to Oct.]
Carriages and steamers were at her ladyship’s disposal; it was
interesting to see how quickly the charming young Prince learned to
acknowledge the sentries’ salutes as we passed.
[Sidenote: Oct. 4.]
Delightful as the land excursions were in that beautiful island, I felt
more at ease when her ladyship proposed a trip on board the _Fairy_
steam-yacht commanded by my friend D. Welch, who handled her as if she
had been a jolly-boat. We went into Southampton Docks at a pace which
puzzled me. Lady Caroline kindly proposed a trip in carriages up to
my pretty cottage at Bishopstoke, where I had the honour of providing
tea. H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent was residing at Norris Castle. Lady
Caroline and myself went three evenings in the week to make up a rubber
of whist. H.R.H. was the only person who always lost. We were paid in
the brightest shillings, polished for the occasion.
[Sidenote: Oct. 22.]
My term of waiting was only too soon over; I was relieved by Colonel
Cavendish.
[Sidenote: Windsor Castle, Dec. 27.]
I was again in waiting at Windsor Castle, having relieved Colonel
Kingscote. Adjoining me were Captain du Plat, Equerry to the Prince
Consort; and Captain George Henry Grey, Equerry to the Prince of
Wales; these young men were old friends and agreeable companions. I
took my two hunters and put them up at Windsor. Everything was new and
interesting to me. Late, when we retired, my friends the Equerries
kindly came to my room to enjoy their smoke. In the mornings we used to
assemble in the corridor, and there wait for orders, riding, shooting,
or whatever was going on.
One morning the Equerries were wanted to attend H.R.H., while I had
permission to amuse myself, which I did by a ride in Windsor Great
Park. It appeared that the Prince Consort, having bought some pictures
in London, wanted a fit place to hang them. Passing through the
Equerries’ rooms, H.R.H. came to mine. I was, as stated, out riding.
The Prince immediately smelt smoke, and remarked, “The little Admiral
told me he did not smoke.” My friends only smiled, H.R.H. was never
undeceived! Once, when riding was the order of the day, I rode my best
hunter. On crossing one of the streams, the Prince of Wales proposed
that I should try my horse over the river instead of the bridge. I got
over, but my horse made an over-reach and struck my right heel, which
gave me pain. It was in 1840, when my father was Master of the Horse,
that a boy was found concealed in a room adjoining Her Majesty’s. Since
then, it had been the custom, when Her Majesty was about to retire,
for the Groom-in-Waiting to precede, and see the coast clear. My foot
gave me pain, and I had taken up a spot in advance, when these horrid
Equerries, whom I had not forgiven about the smoke, picked me up, and
having planted me in the right place, disappeared. I made a proper bow
when Her Majesty passed, and almost forgave my playfellows about the
smoke! The Prince Consort had introduced the Christmas Tree, and we
used to dance the Old Year out and the New Year in, to the tune of the
“Old English.” When the clock struck twelve, the band suddenly struck
up “God Save the Queen.” Everybody was very hot, and everybody kissed
his partner except myself. I had the honour of dancing with Her Royal
Highness the Princess Louise.