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I.THEPREGNANCIESANDCONFINEMENTS
becauseofthescreen-andheevenincludedinhisreportadrawingofthe
screenshelteringherfromtheeyesoftheministers.Also,itisnotlikely
thatErrollcouldhearclearlytheconversationbetweentheQueenand
DrLocock.Ifso,whywerethewordsoftheQueennotheardbytheother
offcialswhowouldcertainlyhavesharedthemwithothers?Onthe
otherhand,thereportofDrFerguson,whowasveryclosetothebedof
theQueen,statedthatonhearingDrLocockdeclarethataprincesswas
born,utheveryfrstwordswhichIheardwerefromtheQueen[:]‘Ifear
itwillcreategreatdisappointment’”.
ErrollalsotoldGrevillethatlaterthebabywasubroughtstarknaked”
intotheroomwheretheministerswereandwaslaidonatable(already
prepared).FergusonwritesthatuassoonastheChildwasremovedfrom
theBeditwascarriedbyMrsPegleythemonthlynursefortheInfant,222
nakedandwrappedinaflannelthro’ourroom,directtotheMinisters-
wholookedonitandthenrapidlydisappeared”.
223
TheObserveradds:
HerRoyalHighnesswasforamomentlaiduponthetablefor
theobservationoftheassembledauthorities;buttheloud
tonesinwhichsheindicatedherdispleasureatsuchanexpo-
sure,whiletheyprovedthesoundnessofherlungsandthe
maturityofherframe,rendereditadvisablethatsheshould
bereturnedtoherchambertoreceiveherfrstattire.
224
LordLevesoninformedhisfather,LordGranville,thattheQueenudoes
notminditsbeingagirl,shesaid,wemusthopeitwillbeaboynexttime.”
225
WhatevertheQueen’sexactwordsafterlearningthesexofthechild,
shewasdisappointed.InJuneshehadwrittentoherUncleLeopoldthat
ifheruplagues”weretobeurewardedonlybyanastygirl”,shewould
drownit.226However,shenownotedinherjournal:uAfteragoodmany
hourssuffering,aperfectlittlechildwasbornat2intheafternoon,but
alas!agirl¬aboy,aswebothhadsohoped&wishedfor.Wewere,Iam
afraid,sadlydisappointed…”227TheQueenwas,however,gratefulforget-
tingthroughtheordealsafely.PrinceAlberttoo,wasratherdisappointed:
uAlbert,fatherofadaughter,youwilllaughatme!”hewrotetohisbroth-
er,Ernest.228uIshouldhavepreferredaboy,yetasitis,Ithankheaven”,
hewrotetwodayslater.229YearslatertheQueenwrotetoVickysaying
sherememberedudearPapa’sgreatkindnessandanxiety-thoughhewas
disappointedyouwerenotaboy”.230TheDuchessofKentalsoadmitted
thatuwewerealittledisappointedthatitwasnotaBoy”.231Whenin1858
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