The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-03-10 00:00:00

QUEEN CHRISTINA "AT HOME."

A correspondent of Galignani's Messenger has
written a description of the home-life of the Queen
Regent of Spain. Queen Christina, he says, who is
now 30, "can be either very affable or very haughty,
just as the circumstances may require. She is kind
and gentle to those who come to her in trouble, but
cold and hard to those who forget or neglect to do
their duty towards her. To those who approach het
timidly and in a bashful manner the Queen has a
charming quiet way of putting them at their ease that
makes it quite pleasant. to converse with her. Often
when listening to so:ite old general or courtier who is
bent on flattering her, and who fancies that he is
delighting her with excessive praise, the Queen un-
consciously indulges in a very mocking smile and a
mischievous look that is as becoming as appro-
priate. She is fond of reading and loves music.
A telephone connects the palace and the opera-house,
so that her Majesty can listen to the singers
without having to leave her room. The Queen has
always occupied the same apartments since her
marriage, and has made them comfortable and home
like. The grand old furniture and massive carved
cabinets and tables of the Houses of Austria and
Bourbon still remain in many rooms, but their stiffness
has been softened down with numerous pretty and
costly ornaments, Pictures by modern Spanish artists,
bronzes, china, and brie-A-brae. Flowers are always
found in profusion in the Queen's apartments.
Although the Royal children live somewhat separated
from their mother, they are frequently with her,
and at any hour of the day or night she can have easy
access to them. The Queen has always one lady of
honour with her, the Duchess de Medina de las
Torres, a widow, and many other damas de honor,
nearly all court beauties or wives of grandees of
Spain. These ladies live in their own palaces and
take turns in remaining a week with the Queen de
servicio, or on duty, as they say. The ladies of honour,
generally two at a time, are with her Majesty from morn-
ing until night, and if the Queen receives a visit or goes
out to make one, they stand or sit behind her chair.
The Regent's household is ruled by the
Duke of Medina Sidonia, an old grey-haired
courtier. Her private secretary is Count
Morphy, who was King Alphonso's tutor and after-
wards his secretary. Count Morphy is a faithful fol-
lower of the Spanish Bourbons, and was with them in
exile. The Queen has her own physician, Dr. Riedel,
who came from Austria with her. She has two aides-
de-camp, who are on duty on certain days and are
changed every three years. They really form part of
the family during their stay in the palace. It is said
that the Royal table is not always well served, and !
that the wines especially are inferior. The late King I
had not the slightest idea what a good cellar meant.
There are many stories afloat telling how badly he
was fed, and how he once said to a foreign Ambassa-
dor who went to see him at the Pardo Palace that he
would give anything for a good chicken-broth. At
. the Royal dinners and banquets one finds everything
that money can procure, but somehow or other
nothing seems well prepared. Queen Christina is
fond of outdoor exercise. She walks, rides, or drives
1 out every day, and often takes the children with her
in a phaeton which she drives herself. The Queen
always rides a tall English thoroughbred that belonged
to King Alphonse!'