Princess Louise to Lady Margaret

Balmoral Castle, Scotland, 10 October 1870

Dear Margaret,

I am writing to solicit your congratulations, for I am engaged to be married. Six days ago, on the banks of Loch Muick where the queen’s little widow’s house sits, Lord Lorne declared himself. Such was the strength of his feelings that he did so without first obtaining Her Majesty’s consent, though we both felt certain that she would approve of the match, and we have already been proved right. Lorne’s father, the Duke of Argyll, is similarly delighted, and the formal announcement is to be made today.

And so, M., you may send me your felicitations, and tell me how delighted you are for me, for I am very satisfied to have achieved my aim of not marrying a foreigner; and though he is a commoner, I have found in Lorne a most amenable husband who will be happy for me to indulge my artistic pursuits after we are married. (Having taken up residence on the other side of the world, you will not be aware of the acclaim I have been receiving for my sculptures and I, being ever inclined to hide my light under a bushel, have chosen not to enlighten you. However, I can with all due modesty point to some very high praise indeed for my latest efforts from those qualified to comment.)

The wedding will be next year, most likely in the spring, and will be a very grand occasion, for my humble attempts to stand in for the queen in the years since you deserted us have been exceedingly well received by the Great British Public. My marriage has been much anticipated by them—some (though not I!) would call it the match of the decade—and we wish to reward them for their loyalty with a great spectacle.

I shall design my dress myself, for no-one knows better than I just what flatters my figure—not even Alix, whose taste has of late become much praised. (I, of course, have always thought her understatedly elegant.)

I am sure you have a great deal of your own news to share. As you can imagine, I will have scant time for tittle-tattle, but I would be happy to receive word from you. I was obliged to ascertain your whereabouts from the duchess, an odd state of affairs, Margaret, considering the length of our friendship. Your mother forwarded me a selection of your writing from various American periodicals. It was very strange to see them attributed to you. I must assume social mores in the New World are very different from here. Your mother seems to be very enamoured of your talent. I am afraid I do not feel qualified to comment.

I must dash; the queen requires my services! I am so much in demand, and likely to be more so every day when the announcement is made later. Such a whirlwind of activity lies ahead regarding the arrangements. Oh, M., remember how we always promised that whichever of us married first would have the other as her bridesmaid?

I look forward to receiving your well wishes on the day, since you will not be able to attend the ceremony, and will end with my own felicitations for your birthday which is today. What a coincidence! You will forgive the absence of a gift.

With best wishes,

Louise